Archive for September 2017

Humble Leadership

September 29, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 Numbers 20:1-13 Acts 13:32-41 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:14-25 FIELD NOTES In the book of Exodus, God had instructed Moses to use his staff to part the Nile and again to us his staff to initiate a flow of water from the rock at Horeb. Now…

Read More

Do I Have to Wait?

September 28, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 25:1-9 Ezekiel 12:17-28 James 4:11-16 This week’s sermon text:  Romans 7:14-25 FIELD NOTES In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven society, most people do not like to wait for anything. We often say things like, “I cannot wait until Christmas,” or “I cannot wait until the semester ends,” or “I can’t wait…

Read More

Become Like Children

September 27, 2017 DAILY READING Matthew 18:1-5 This week’s sermon text: FIELD NOTES I think we all have some area of insecurity in our lives. In our Matthew passage, the disciples question Jesus, “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” It appears that the disciples want to confirm their own significance in the…

Read More

Be Wise About the Company You Keep

September 26, 2017 DAILY READING Romans 16:17-20 Psalm 119:97-104 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:14-25 FIELD NOTES In today’s reading, Paul’s final words and advice to the Romans are a warning to them about the people they hang around. Think about the last time you left your friend’s house, dinner party, or some other gathering…

Read More

Are You Enthusiastic About the Law?

September 25, 2017 DAILY READINGPsalm 119:97-104This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:14-25 FIELD NOTES Do you follow the rules? Or do you often think, ‘the rules don’t apply to me’? Or what about the mantra, “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission”? Personally, I’m a rule follower; I find that rules are there to keep…

Read More

The Danger of Riches

September 23, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 Exodus 16:22-30 Matthew 19:23-30 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:13-25 FIELD NOTES William Barclay writes regarding these verses in Matthew, “Riches have three main effects on a [person’s] outlook: Riches encourage a false independence. Riches shackle a [person] to this earth. Riches tend to make a [person]…

Read More

Examine Yourselves

September 22, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 Exodus 15:22-27 2 Corinthians 13:1-4 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:13-25 FIELD NOTES In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul encourages the church to examine themselves to see if they truly are living according to faith in Christ. The church at Corinth had begun to doubt…

Read More

Bitterness and Complaining

September 21, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 Exodus 15:22-27 2 Corinthians 13:1-4 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:13-25 FIELD NOTES As anyone with survival skills will tell you, one of the most important things to find when lost in the wilderness is drinkable water. You won’t last long without it! When God brought his…

Read More

A Mentor’s Legacy

September 20, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 77 2 Kings 2:1-18 Mark 11:20-25 This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:13-25 FIELD NOTES This story in 2 Kings depicts Elisha sticking close to his mentor Elijah throughout a long journey so that he may witness Elijah’s being taken up to heaven. At the end of the journey, the…

Read More