Posts by jhumphries

September 13, 2017 DAILY READINGExodus 13:1-10This week’s sermon text: Romans 6:1-14, 15-23 FIELD NOTESWe’ve all been through hard times, some harder than others. Our question today is: how do we remember those moments when God brought us through hard times? The story of the Exodus is not a small story. Many of our hardships will…

September 12, 2017 DAILY READINGExodus 12:29-42This week’s sermon text: Romans 6:1-14, 15-23 FIELD NOTESHow many times have you read the story of the Exodus? How many times have you heard it taught in Sunday school or worship? I have read this story multiple times and seen just about every movie made about it, and yet,…

September 11, 2017 DAILY READINGPsalm 121This week’s sermon text: Romans 6:1-14, 15-23 FIELD NOTESToday I want to highlight a different translation of this familiar Psalm. This is from The Voice translation: A song for those journeying to worship.I look up at the vast size of the mountains—   from where will my help come in times…

September 9, 2017 Daily ReadingMatthew 23:29-36This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesJesus doesn’t mince words in today’s passage. His infamous “Seven Woes” speech is pretty cutting against the Pharisees. Here he calls them out for their belief that had they been alive during the time of the prophets, they would have listened, rather than ignore,…

September 8, 2017 Daily ReadingPsalm 149This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesWhat does the word praise mean to you? When I was a child, I would sit in the pews at church during the hymns and I would color my bulletin, or play with whatever small toy I had managed to sneak in. I did…

September 7, 2017 Daily ReadingExodus 9:1-11This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesCan you imagine what Pharaoh must have been feeling in the midst of the story of Moses and the Exodus? In our passage, we see just one of the many plagues God unleashes on the Egyptian people for the sake of freeing the Israelites.…

September 6, 2017 Daily ReadingMatthew 12:22-32This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesWe’ve all heard the cliché, “A house divided cannot stand.” Often we use this phrase to call for unity. Here, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, defending against their claims that he performs his miracles under the power of Beelzebul, the prince of Demons.…

September 5, 2017 Daily ReadingPsalm 83:1-4This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesWho is against God? It sounds harsh to say. We want to believe everyone is God’s(and indeed God created and loves all of his children), but some of us actively disobey, and even seek to destroy the Kingdom of God. These people sow hate…

September 4, 2017 Daily ReadingPsalm 83:1-4This weekend’s scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Field NotesIn times of great strife, we often wonder, “Where is God? Why is God silent?” So often in times of trouble, we struggle with what we perceive to be the silence of God. The Psalmist here begs for God to come to the defense.…

September 2, 2017 Daily ReadingsPsalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45bExodus 4:1-9Psalm 26:1-8Jeremiah 15:10-14This week’s sermon text:  Matthew 8:14-17 Field NotesIn the Bible, there are essentially five ways God provides healing. Jesus provides instant healing as in the case of today’s scripture. With his simple touch, he healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus creates the conditions where healing takes place…