Archive for July 2017

July 15, 2017 Daily Reading Isaiah 2:1-4 Psalm 119:105-112 John 12:44-50 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesThis passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures. It is a vision of God’s Kingdom: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against…

July 14, 2017 Daily Reading Romans 15:14-21 Psalm 65:9-13 Isaiah 48:6-11 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesI may be a pastor, but I often find it challenging to share my faith with others, especially people who I think will be skeptical of my beliefs. I don’t want my evangelism to be a turnoff…

July 13, 2017 Daily Reading Exodus 3:1-6 Psalm 119:105-112 Romans 2:12-16 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesHow many times I have wished that God would send me a burning bush! We face so many decisions, big and small, in life. Should I change jobs? Move closer to an ailing parent? Adopt a child?…

July 12, 2017 Daily Reading John 13:1-17 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Genesis 29:31-35 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesJohn is a gospel full of symbolism. In today’s passage in John, Jesus is not only literally washing the feet of the disciples, but he speaks of how he washes us clean spiritually. How beautiful…

July 11, 2017 Daily Reading Romans 3:1-8Song of Solomon 2:8-13Genesis 29:1-14This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesIn this larger section of Romans, Paul fleshes out a theology of sin and what it means to be sinful. He tries to get at what it means to be righteous by exploring what it means to be…

July 10, 2017 Daily ReadingRomans 1:18-25Song of Solomon 2:8-13Genesis 27:30-46This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesI have to admit, I really struggle with passages that are full of God’s wrath and judgment like the passage from Romans today. I like to think of God as loving and gracious, not angry and scornful. But it…

July 8, 2017 Daily Reading Luke 10:21-24 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:18-29 Zechariah 4:1-7 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesEven the greatest swimmers cannot swim forever stranded in the Pacific Ocean without help. They need someone to save them. They need a savior. If you are ever drowning in water and someone comes…

 July 7, 2017 Daily Reading Romans 7:7-20 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:1-17 Zechariah 2:6-13 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesPaul’s inner conflict is ours, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For…

July 6, 2017 Daily Reading Zechariah 1:1-16 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 25:19-27 Romans 7:1-6 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesRichard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were bitter political enemies. Just before he died, Humphrey told Nixon that life was too short to be bitter enemies. He asked Nixon to forgive him. They reconciled.…