St. John's United Methodist Church | Baton Rouge

Category: Worship Series

At St. John’s our pastors often preach in series, connecting our worship experiences across a number of Sundays.

  • Take Care

    Take Care

    Care is at the heart of who we are here at St. John’s. We are passionately committed to the care and well-being of others. Throughout October, we will read scripture and hear messages about how we are called to “Take Care” of God’s creation, our spiritual health, our church, and one another.

    We invite you to become a caretaker alongside others on Commitment Sunday, October 27th, when you will be invited to make a pledge to the ministries of St. John’s in 2020. We will celebrate with a Potluck Brunch at 9:30 a.m. in lieu of Coffee Time and Sunday School that day.

    Sunday, October 6, 2019
    Take Care: Creation Care
    Psalm 24 and Isaiah 65: 17-25
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday, October 13, 2019
    Take Care: Spiritual Self Care
    Romans 11:33-12:2
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday, October 20, 2019
    Take Care: Caring Together
    Matthew 25:1-13
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday, October 27, 2019
    Take Care: Sharing Together
    Matthew 14:13-21
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Caring Conversations

    Throughout October and the Take Care stewardship campaign, we’ve enjoyed hearing from a few St. John’s family members about why they’ve chosen St. John’s and why they give, both financially and with their time.

    October 6 – Rhonda Tucker
    October 13 – Fran Anderson
    October 20 – John Toney
    October 27 – Dave & Bonnie Byland
  • Renewal

    Renewal

    Renewal: Reflections from Pastor Lane’s Renewal Leave

    Join us on September 15 as Pastor Lane starts a three-week sermon series, in which she shares some of the insights and blessings she experienced during her renewal leave.

    September 15

    Regaining Vision
    Mark 10:46-52
    View sermon

    September 22

    It’s All About Relationship
    Matthew 16:13-17
    View sermon

    September 29

    Lighten Up
    Exodus 20:8-11
    View sermon

  • Listen, Love, Leap

    Listen, Love, Leap

    The journey to a deeper faith life can be summed up in three words: Listen, Love, Leap! God is constantly speaking to people, but too often we struggle to hear and discern the message.

    On June 16 we begin a series that calls us to quiet our thoughts and hearts and LISTEN to what God has to say. Our obedience to this simple discipline opens our hearts to LOVE God and neighbors in deeper and more holy ways. This love then inspires us to LEAP in joyful response.

    Join us as we open our hearts and minds to God’s surprising Word, as we Listen (Sundays in June), Love (Sundays in July) and Leap (Sundays in August).

    June 16, 2019

    God Still Speaks
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    Revelation 21:1-6
    View sermon

    June 23, 2019 

    Distractions
    Rev. Ken Irby, Baton Rouge District Superintendent 
    1 Kings 19:1-4; 8-15a 
    View sermon

    June 30, 2019

    Persistent Listening
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton
    Matthew 7:7-14
    View sermon

    July 7, 2019

    Loving God
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton
    Romans 12:4-14, 17 & 18
    View sermon

    July 21, 2019

    Loving Our Neighbor 
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    Mark 12:28-34
    View sermon

    July 28, 2019

    Love Yourself
    Morgan Dynes, summer ministry intern
    1 Peter 2:4-10
    View sermon

    August 4, 2019

    Don’t Just Stand There, Live the Sermon!
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    Colossians 3:12-17
    View sermon

    August 11, 2019

    It Isn’t Easy
    Rev. Larry Norman
    Luke 12:49-56 and Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2
    View sermon

    August 18, 2019

    Do Not Grow Weary!
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    Hebrews 11:29-12:3
    View sermon

    August 25, 2019

    The Leap of Faith
    Rev. Marie Williams
    Luke 13:10-17
    View Sermon

  • Be Still

    Life is full of movement. Movement is not a bad thing. If we are moving, we are living. We are making progress. Movement, though, is also exhausting—both physically and mentally. But sometimes we wonder, “Am I really getting anywhere?”

    God says, “Be still.” The scriptures place an importance on intentional time taken to be still before God. It’s in those times that we get to know God and we remember who should be directing our movement. It’s hard to stop, but its necessary if we hope to connect with God and if we hope to be moved where God want us to go. 

    Lent, the 40-day season before Easter, is about taking time to “Be Still,” to pray, read the Bible, think, reflect, listen, and to be given hope and power to move in the direction that God intends. Join us each week for “Be Still,” our Lent Worship Series, focused simply on slowing down so there can be lasting change.

    Download a five week devotional and small group study guide.

    March 10, 2019

    “Be Still and Know”
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton
    Psalm 46
    View Sermon

    March 17, 2019

    “Knowing and Saying No”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    Mark 1:30-39 

    March 24, 2019

    “Dismissing Distractions”
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton
    Luke 10:38-42

    March 31, 2019

    “Peace! Be Still!”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    Mark 4:35-41

    April 7, 2019

    “When the Sun Stands Still”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    Joshua 10:12-15

  • Just Mercy

    Just Mercy

    Sundays in February

    How are we called to be channels of God’s mercy in an all-too-often-unjust world? “Just Mercy,” our February sermon series, will engage us in conversations that spark redemption. We will come face to face with some of the most pressing challenges of the day, learn to tell the truth about our fears and shortcomings, and respond in meaningful ways together. This 4-part series is anchored in scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary.

    All are invited to read Bryan Stevenson’s compelling book of stories, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Our series is loosely based on principles from the book. Stevenson is a man of deep faith and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, out of Montgomery, AL. He works for the exoneration of wrongly convicted persons of color, minor children who have been sentenced as adults, and others who have been mistreated by the criminal justice system.

    February 3, 2019

    Luke 4:(16-20) 21-30
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton
    View sermon

    February 10, 2019

    Luke 5:1-11: “Change the Narrative”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    View sermon

    February 17, 2019

    Luke 6:17-26 (the beatitudes) “Don’t Lose Hope”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    View sermon

    February 24, 2019

    Luke 6:27-38 “When Courage is Uncomfortable”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn
    View sermon

  • The Wesley Challenge

    21 Days to a More Authentic Faith

    Join St. John’s United Methodist Church for The Wesley Challenge, built around 21 questions that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, encouraged the first Methodists to ask one another. Through weekly sermons, small groups, and daily devotional readings, we will explore how we can develop the spiritual habits, practices and actions that can lead to a thriving Christian life.

    Download Week 1 Devotionals
    Download Week 2 Devotionals
    Download Week 3 Devotionals

    Sermon Series, beginning Sunday January 6

    The three sermons, starting January 6, will introduce the upcoming week’s questions and will encourage you to work through the questions at home.

    Sunday January 6

    Relationship with God – An Upward Focus
    Acts 17:26-28
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday January 13

    Relationship with Self – An Inward Focus
    Romans 12:1-2
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday January 20

    Relationship with Others – An Outward Focus
    Romans 12: 3-18
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Join others in the 21-Day Challenge!

    On Tuesday, January 8, we will start a 4-week study led by Margaret and Phil Sprunger that explores the 21 questions and applies them to our modern-day lives. The study will meet on Tuesdays in January, (8, 15, 22 and 29), at 6:30 p.m. (Childcare will be available upon request.) Study books cost $15 (put Wesley study in memo line).

    Even if you are unable to attend the study, you can order a book if you would like to participate on your own. Reserve your book by contacting Pastor Deirdré by phone (939-1425) or email.

    Sunday School classes and other small groups may want to use this book as a study during the month of January. The three sermons (preached on January 6, 13 and 20) will introduce the upcoming week’s theme and questions. The small group study is intended to be used after each week is experienced, therefore, to follow along most closely to the sermon series, your class would want to start reading the week of January 6 and have your first class session on January 13.

  • Let Heaven & Nature Sing

    From the psalms that implored the earth to make a joyful noise to the very first Christmas where choirs of angels sang, music has told the story of God’s glory, greatness and unending love. This season we will let familiar Christmas carols guide our Advent journey as we implore all creation to sing the glory of Christ’s light, shining even in the midst of the darkness.

    Pre-Advent
    November 25

    Hanging of the Greens, both services

    Advent 1: Hope
    December 2, 2018

    Luke 1:8-20, 57-64– Zechariah’s Song
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Advent 2: Peace
    December 9, 2018

    Luke 1:39-56 – Mary’s Song
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Advent 3: Joy
    December 16, 2018

    Christmas Cantata: I Hear the Prophet Callin’

    December 21, 2018

    The Longest Night Service

    Advent 4: Love
    December 23, 2018

    Luke 2:8-20 – The Angel’s Song
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Christmas Eve: Christ Candle
    December 24, 2018

    4 p.m. – Family-friendly 
    7 p.m. – Traditional

    Christmas 1
    December 30, 2018

    Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon’s Song
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

  • Thanks Living

    How do we turn thanksgiving into thanks-LIVING? Join us in this season of thanksgiving as we learn to live lives of gratitude and joy through a 2-part sermon series November 11 and 18, 2018.

    November 11

    Colossians 2:1-7
    “Abounding in Thanksgiving”
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

    November 18

    Philemon 1:1-7 
    “In Praise and Thanks for Partners”
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

  • Keep Our Vision Growing

    October Stewardship Campaign and Sermon Series

    God’s vision for St. John’s is that we be known as a center for feeding people spiritually and physically in our community. We live that out by sharing our gifts through worship, witness and service so that others will know God and become disciples of Jesus Christ. 

    Our October worship series, “Keep Our Vision Growing,” will take a look at three ways we grow our vision – through gratitude, grace and generosity. Join us Sundays in October as we “Keep Our Vision Growing,” by honoring the past, serving the present and providing for the future.

    Learn more about our 2019 stewardship campaign, “Keep Our Vision Growing,” by downloading the brochure we made. You can also download a pledge card here if you didn’t pick one up at church.

    Sunday October 7: Gratitude Sunday

    Growing Through Gratitude
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday October 14: Grace Sunday

    Growing Through Grace
    Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday October 21: Generosity Sunday

    Growing Through Generosity
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    Sunday October 28: Commitment Sunday

    Keep Our Vision Growing
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

  • How To … A Practical Guide to Everyday Life

    September 2018

    The epistle of James is one of the most practical books in the Bible. This short letter takes a no-nonsense approach to life. For James, our faith is to be expressed outwardly and practiced in community. He is straightforward and direct, with a call to put our faith into action. Join us each Sunday in September as we discover how to live out our faith in Jesus Christ as we study the epistle of James.

    September 2, 2018

    Everyday Saints
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    September 9, 2018

    Mercy Triumphs
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

    September 16, 2018

    The Power of Our Words
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon

    September 23, 2018

    Sermon
    Rev. Deirdre’ Halliburton, associate pastor
    View sermon

    September 30, 2018

    A Faith That Prays
    Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
    View sermon