Our Mission Statement:
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world
Sunday 15 9:00 am Sunday Worship at KUMC 10:00 am Coffee Fellowship at KUMC
10:30 am Sunday School/Adult Bible Study at KUMC 10:30 am UMW will meet in the Youth Room at KUMC
11:00 am Sunday Worship Pleasant Corners UMC 5:00 pm Worship Music Team 6:00 pm Confirmation Class at KUMC
Mon 16 6:30 pm People Group meets at UMC
Wed 18 9:00 am M & M's meet at KUMC 3:30 pm Ministry Group meets at KUMC 6:30 pm Youth Group at The Bridge in Mantorville
Sunday 22 9:00 am Sunday Worship at KUMC 10:00 am Coffee Fellowship at KUMC
10:30 am Sunday School/Adult Bible Study at KUMC 11:00 am Sunday Worship Pleasant Corners UMC 5:00 pm Worship Music Team 6:00 pm Confirmation Class at KUMC
Pastor Jake Hanson
Youth Gathering at
The Bridge
509 Main Street
Mantorville
Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 pm
Come & Join in the fun!!
Pastor’s Lesson for the Week
Giving an Account and Having an Answer
1st Peter 3:15 “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with all gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their sense and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
“Why if God is so good, do so many bad things happen?” “What happens to those who never believe in Jesus because they never heard… does God cast them into hell too?” “How can I even believe the Bible anyways?” “What is the proof that the faith I hold to is real… is there any?”
These are the sorts of deep questions in a Christian’s life that keep us up at night. Whether we want to admit it or not, questions like these (and MANY more) can haunt us when we encounter them. Often it will be a coworker or a family member who brings them up. Sometimes we ask them ourselves. In the above verse from 1st Peter, we read that we are all as Christians supposed to be able to make a defense and give an account for what it is that we believe. The reason for this is laid out in the above verse from 2nd Timothy. Having an answer and giving an account helps to lead all of us directly to the truth, and gives us an escape from the snare of Satan. Note that all of these answers are to be given with “gentleness and reverence.” It does no good to have a correct answer for a difficult question regarding Christianity but to give it in a snobbish manner. Answering the kinds of questions that all of us encounter (Does God really send people to hell? If God created everything, did He create evil? Etc.) should be done expressly with the goal of exposing truth. It should be done in a loving manner. Answering the deep questions and giving an account for the faith you hold isn’t about winning an argument, it is about showing that what you hold as truth is actually true. To that end, knowing that we as Christians should be doing this, you may be asking where it is that you find the answers to these deep questions. There are a couple of places to look.
The first place to look for answers to the deep questions regarding Christianity is in scripture. In our day and age we can do a lifetime’s worth of research in a few minutes by typing the question into a search engine on the internet. This at least will give you a starting point in which to read. Secondly, after reading what scripture says about a particular topic, do your homework into the background of those verses. Read about the context, ask why those verses are there, and apply them to the real world. Use your God-given reasoning ability to walk through these difficult questions to find the conclusion. See what great thinkers in Christian history have said about this question. Did Martin Luther have anything to say? How about John Wesley, or C.S. Lewis, or John Lennox, or Karl Barth, or St. Augustine, so on and so on. Just as we wouldn’t expect a short and easy answer for why magnets work like they do, so too we shouldn’t expect a short and easy answer for the deep questions regarding the Lord. HOWEVER, just as we would expect an answer for any tough scientific or historical or mathematical question, so too should we expect an answer for the tough questions regarding our faith. Additionally, this is part of the reason why the church body exists. We are here to support each other and help each other in answering the tough questions in life. To this end, know that your church is actively going to be tackling some of these deep questions this next month.
Starting the third week in September, we are going to be taking a look at some deep and difficult questions head on from the pulpit. Within this newsletter there is a sheet with twenty-nine questions and a fill-in spot at the bottom. These questions are the kind that are mentioned above, and with your input (meaning you circle your top six and mail or turn in to the office the sheet) we are going to be looking at the six most asked questions. If a question that you have is not answered in this go around, know that we will be revisiting these questions in the future. Additionally, you are always encouraged to talk to me. I don’t know everything, but I will do my darndest to help you find the answers to the tough Christian questions that you hold.
One final though on all of these difficult Christians questions for you: know that you are not the only one who comes across doubts and fears. Every single one of us (myself included) will fight with doubts and struggles in our lives over the deep questions in Christianity, but there are answers and good reasons to hold to the faith. Don’t give up or be discouraged just because you or another have a question regarding the faith that you can’t answer, because there is an answer just waiting for you to discover. You very well may find your faith strengthened and your friend coming to church if you are able to give an account and an answer.
God Bless, we look forward to hearing from you!
-Pastor Jake
New to Our Church?
Recently our churches have been growing! If you are one of the new folks who are attending with us, or if you are coming back after a while, know that we are excited to see you and meet you. Please come and meet with me after church, (or if you see me in the community) as I would love to individually meet with you. Know that you are important, and that you have a place here in our community churches. God Bless you, see you around!
Faith Village Sunday School
Resumes Sunday Sept. 8th at 10:30 am
Kasson UMC
KUMC is located just
three blocks west of the Kasson Pool
at 801 5th Ave NW, Kasson MN 55944
Pleasant Corners UMC
Pleasant Corners is located about half way
between Kasson and Dodge Center.
Physical Address: 21927 650th Street
Kasson, MN 55944
Mail to: 801 5th Ave NW
Kasson, MN 55944
Kasson and Pleasant Corners
United Methodist Churches
507-634-7823
Congregations of faith
Community Service
Our outreach programs help us bring the gospels to life every month.
Kasson Worship 9:00 am (Nursery Available)
Pleasant Corners Worship 11:00 am
Fifth Sundays Congregations worship together
Apply the Good News to your daily life.
Teen Programs
Our youth programs help teens learn to navigate those toughest of years.