Archive for October 2020

The Unexpected

October 19, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 2:1-12 FIELD NOTES Can you imagine, you’re sitting there, inside the house listening to Jesus when all of a sudden a burst of light comes through the ceiling and a paralyzed man is lowered through the roof, hoping to be healed?  And what does Jesus do?  He acknowledges their faith and…

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The Power of Community

This week’s preacher: Dr. Davis Chappell. This week we begin our series, Power-Full, on the power of Jesus. This series is the second in our year-long focus on intentional discipleship called “Walking with Jesus.” Learn how you can be more intentional in your walk with Jesus at bumc.net/journey. Our Scripture reading: Mark 2:1-12

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Christ’s Immeasurable Grace

October 17, 2020 DAILY READING Ephesians 4:1-7 FIELD NOTES Our devotions all week have revolved around how we can measure a person’s faith.  What are the marks of a disciple of Christ?  How do you measure spiritual growth?  I struggle with perfectionism.  Instead of seeing how God is using me or how I am growing in my faith, I…

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The Measure of Love

October 16, 2020 DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 FIELD NOTES Sometimes when we use words and phrases like “Love like Jesus” or “motivated by love,” it is difficult to tangibly understand what we mean.  What does “love like Jesus” look like in the reality of the refugee crisis in Myannmar in 2017?  What does it mean to…

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Measuring Our Faith

October 15, 2020 DAILY READING 1 John 4:16 FIELD NOTES “God is love; and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”  This week, Davis asked us in his sermon, “How might you measure a person’s faith?”  To measure a person’s height, you would use a yardstick or tape measure.  To measure a…

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The Fruit of the Spirit’s Not an Apple

October 14, 2020 DAILY READING Galatians 5:22-23 FIELD NOTES We know that we are called to be disciples of Christ, but how do we know if we are on the right track?  What are the marks of a Christian disciple?  One of the most famous verses of the letter to Galatians is the passage of the fruit…

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Living with a Humble Heart

October 13, 2020 DAILY READING Romans 12:3 FIELD NOTES It is so easy for me to get a little full of myself when I’m good about serving at missions events, caring for my colleagues, and checking in with my friends to make sure they are doing okay.  It becomes so easy for me to pat myself…

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Every Stage of Life

October 12, 2020 DAILY READING Romans 12:9-21 FIELD NOTES As a pastor in the adult discipleship department at church, I have been asking people what spiritual practices (or Wesley calls them “spiritual disciplines”) have helped them to grow deeper in their faiths.  Spiritual practices like prayer, Bible study, and serving others often come up.  One time,…

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The Prayer of the Church

This week’s preacher: Dr. Davis Chappell. This week we finish our series, Teach Us to Pray, on the prayer life of Jesus. This series is the first in our year-long focus on intentional discipleship called “Walking with Jesus.” Learn how you can be more intentional in your walk with Jesus at bumc.net/journey. Our Scripture reading:…

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Perfect Creation, Perfect Word

October 10, 2020 DAILY READING Psalm 19 FIELD NOTES Have you ever experienced a sunrise or sunset that renders you completely speechless? Is there a place in this world, in nature, where your soul just feels closer to God? There are many ways to connect with God, but for many of us, God feels incredibly…

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