Kane Community Methodist Church

06/03/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

When the Room Shook

Pastor Calvin Cook

Scripture Focus: Acts 4:23-31

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." — Acts 4:31

I wonder what it would take today to shake the room. Not the building itself, but our hearts. I am longing for that Pentecost like prayer that shakes the very core of everything. A fire burning not necessary to consume but to refine. Fire does both!

The prayer recorded in Acts 4 comes at a difficult moment in the life of the early church. Peter and John had been arrested. Religious leaders had threatened them. The very people who had crucified Jesus were now warning His followers to stop preaching in His name.

The church was young, vulnerable, and facing opposition from every direction. Yet what amazes me most is what they did not pray for.

They did not pray for God to remove their enemies.

They did not pray for comfort.

They did not pray for an easier path.

Instead, they prayed for boldness.

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)

As I reflect on that prayer, I cannot help but compare it to many of our prayers today. Did you notice the urgency in the first word of the verse -“Now”. They were not only praying with an expectancy of what “the Lord” was going to do, but they were seeking this boldness “now”. Not when the people had time, or would make time it was “now”. This pauses me to think how we often pray for convenience, safety, success, and relief from difficulty. None of those prayers are wrong. Yet the early believers understood something we often forget: the message of the cross needed to be shared now and of course that following Jesus was never promised to be easy.

The struggles of the first-century church may look different from ours, but the challenges remain. We face discouragement. We face criticism. We face uncertainty about the future. Churches struggle. Families struggle. Businesses struggle. Communities struggle.

Many of us are asking, "How do we keep going?"

The answer may be the same one God gave the early church.

Pray. It was something the early church devoted themselves to – Prayer (Acts 2:42)

They were devoting themselves to prayer not just for answers but for courage. Not just for solutions, but for boldness. Not just for comfort, but for the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4 reminds us that God often does His greatest work when His people feel their weakest. The threats did not disappear. The opposition did not end. But the believers left that prayer meeting stronger than they entered it because they had encountered the presence of God. When was the last time you were part of a Holy Spirit refining prayer time?

Perhaps the room that needs shaken today is not a sanctuary or church building.

Perhaps it is my heart.

Perhaps it is yours.

May God fill us once again with His Spirit so that we can faithfully follow Jesus wherever He leads, even when the road is difficult.

Prayer - Lord, when fear tempts me to be silent, fill me with courage. When challenges seem overwhelming, remind me that You are greater. Shake anything in my life that keeps me from following You fully, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may live and speak boldly for Christ. Amen.

06/02/2026

🌭 Join Us During the Town-Wide Yard Sale! 🌭

We will be serving up hot dogs and cold drinks during the upcoming town-wide yard sale! Stop by when you need a quick bite, a refreshing drink, and a chance to visit with friends and neighbors.

📍 112 Greeves St
📅 Saturday, June 6th
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Hot dogs and drinks will be available for a donation, with proceeds helping support our church and community ministries.

Whether you’re out bargain hunting or just looking for lunch, we’d love to see you there! Invite your friends and come hungry! 🌭🥤

06/02/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

Thrown Under the Bus

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 2, 2026

Scripture Focus: Acts 2:37b; John 8:47

"what shall we do?" — Acts 2:37b

"Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." — John 8:47

There are a whole litany of things circulating in my heart and mind this morning. So, pause with me as I ramble through some of these thoughts.

Have you ever felt like you were doing exactly what God was calling you to do, only to find yourself thrown under the bus by someone you trusted?

Perhaps it was a friend who misunderstood your intentions. A family member who questioned your motives. A church member who criticized your efforts. A co-worker who took credit for your work. Or maybe it was someone you had stood beside, supported, and encouraged, only to have them turn against you when things became difficult. I share this because these have been recent concerns that have been shared with me from people who are trying to figure life out, what a relationship with Jesus should look like, and where is their place in life and living faithfully.

If we're honest, these moments that we consider betrayal hurt deeply.

What makes it even harder is that many times we are not trying to serve ourselves. We are genuinely attempting to follow the leading of God. Even care for others. We have prayed, listened, stepped out in faith, and obeyed what we believed the Holy Spirit was asking us to do.

Then suddenly, criticism comes.

People desert you.

Opposition appears.

Trust is broken.

For whatever the reason, I often find myself hurting when people who were such an intricate part of my life over the years, know are seldom seem or heard from. I also seek forgiveness for those who have felt betrayed or deserted by me.

Do you ever find yourself asking in these situations asking yourself, "Lord, what am I supposed to do now?"

That question is not unlike the question asked in Acts 2. After Peter preached under the power of the Holy Spirit, the people were cut to the heart and cried out, "what shall we do?"

It was not a question of self-defense. It was not a question of how to win an argument. It was not a question of how to get even. It was a question of surrender. "What shall we do?"

I believe that same question serves us well when life throws us under the bus. Not, "How do I prove I'm right?" Not, "How do I make them understand?" Not, "How do I get back at them?" But rather, "Holy Spirit, what would You have me do?"

Jesus gives us insight in John 8:47: "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."

The challenge for every believer is deciding whose voice we will listen to when we are wounded. Will we listen to hurt? Will we listen to anger? Will we listen to fear? Or will we listen to the voice of God?

The Holy Spirit rarely leads us toward bitterness. Instead, He calls us toward faithfulness, perseverance, humility, forgiveness, and trust.

Sometimes the greatest victory is not defending ourselves. Sometimes the greatest victory is continuing to walk in obedience while trusting God to defend us. When others misunderstand you, keep listening. When others criticize you, keep listening. When others throw you under the bus, keep listening. Because those who belong to God hear His voice. And His voice will always lead us forward.

As we pray this morning please consider this Reflection Question: When you feel wounded or betrayed, whose voice do you tend to hear first—your hurt, the opinions of others, or the voice of God?

Prayer: Lord, when I am hurt, misunderstood, or betrayed, help me resist the temptation to react from my emotions. Instead, teach me to ask, "What shall I do?" and then listen carefully for Your answer. Give me ears to hear the Holy Spirit, courage to obey, and faith to trust You with the outcome. In Jesus' name, Amen.

06/01/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

Cut to the Heart

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 1, 2026

Scripture Focus: Acts 2:37 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"

This past week as we continued with sharing thoughts on Pentecost and the movement of Holy Spirit causing the followers of Jesus to respond and become a movement themselves, I was caught by the words once again of Peter in Acts 2:37.

Acts record these thoughts: Peter stood before the crowd on the Day of Pentecost and boldly proclaimed the truth about Jesus Christ. He spoke of the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the lordship of Christ. The people listening were not merely hearing information. They were experiencing conviction. Luke tells us they were "cut to the heart."

The phrase “cuts to the heart” paints a powerful picture. It is not the image of a small emotional response or a passing feeling. It describes something deep within them being pierced. The Holy Spirit took the truth of God and pressed it into their hearts until they could no longer ignore it.

As I preached this weekend, I found myself lingering on this phrase “cut to the heart” and asking a simple question:

What about God is cutting to our hearts today?

Is it His holiness reminding us that we have become comfortable with things we once resisted?

Is it His love revealing how far we have wandered from Him?

Is it His call to forgive someone we have refused to forgive?

Is it His invitation to trust Him with a burden we have carried alone?

Is it His challenge to step into ministry, mission, generosity, or obedience?

Too often we hear God's Word and quickly move on to the next thing. We listen to sermons, read devotionals, attend worship services, and study Scripture, yet sometimes we never stop long enough to ask what God is saying to us.

That is why I believe the 22 questions that John Wesley included into the daily rhythm of the Holy Club have become so important for us today. Today I believe we need to also consider these questions in our personal lives. Especial for today as we speak how scripture speaks to us, questions 7 and 8 are vital: 7. Did the Bible live in me today? 8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day? And I would ask how is scripture changing your life daily?

The crowd at Pentecost did not leave unchanged. They did not simply say, "That was a good sermon." They asked a life-changing question: "Brothers, what shall we do?"

The conviction of scripture and God’s word is never meant to end with emotion. It is meant to lead to response. How are you responding to scripture and God’s word being proclaimed?

Whenever God cuts our hearts through His Word, His Spirit, or His gentle prompting, the proper response is not defensiveness, excuses, or delay. The proper response is surrender.

What if we approached every encounter with God by asking that same question? "Lord, what shall I do?"

Not what someone else should do.

Not what the church should do.

Not what should the preacher do.

But what should I do?

Pentecost reminds us that when the Holy Spirit moves, hearts are changed, lives are transformed, and people respond.

Today, listen carefully. Pay attention to what God is stirring within you. If something is cutting to your heart, don't ignore it. Instead, ask the question that changed thousands of lives that day: "Lord, what shall I do?"

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me ears to hear Your voice and a heart willing to respond. When Your Spirit convicts me, help me not to resist or delay. Show me what You are saying to me today and give me the courage to obey. Amen.

05/31/2026

You are invited and we hope to see you and worship with you! Services today at 8:30AM and 11:00AM - plus lunch at noon!

05/30/2026

Worship with us!

05/30/2026

8:30 AM service bulletin and announcements for the week of 5 31 2026

05/29/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

Pastor Calvin Cook

Making Room, One Breath at a Time

May 29, 2026

Life rarely slows down on its own. The days fill quickly—responsibilities, conversations, concerns, expectations. Before we realize it, our attention is scattered and our focus divided. It isn’t that God has moved away. It’s that our lives have become crowded.

Scripture reminds us where peace is found:

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." — Isaiah 26:3

Peace comes not from controlling everything around us, but from staying—remaining—making room for God in the middle of it all.

As I reflected on this idea, I was reminded of the disciples' request to Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus responded with words we now know as the Lord's Prayer. He did not give them a lengthy sermon on prayer. He simply said, "Pray like this..." (Matthew 6:9).

What if the heart of prayer is not found in saying more words, but in making room for God through simple, intentional words that bring us back to Him?

Could our breath prayers become a modern expression of that same invitation?

When the mind begins to wander: "Lord, keep me focused on what matters most."

When life feels overwhelming: "God, guard my focus and guide my steps."

When weariness settles into the soul: "Jesus, steady my focus."

And perhaps, in this season, one simple breath prayer rises above them all: "Make room for God, one breath at a time."

Each prayer becomes a moment of surrender. A pause. A holy interruption in a busy day. Not because the words themselves are powerful, but because they turn our attention back to the One who is.

Making room for God doesn't require a retreat, a perfect schedule, or an empty calendar. It begins with a willing heart and a single breath offered back to Him.

One breath.

One prayer.

One moment of surrender.

And often, that is enough space for God to do His greatest work.

05/28/2026

We know you’ve been waiting patiently for the songs to be posted for this week’s 8:30 worship service - and here they are!

(Song 3 of 3)

Casting Crowns - Until The Whole World HearsLyric video by Joshua Paul ManinggoSong: Until The Whole World HearsArtist: Casting CrownsAlbum: Until The Whole ...