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DAILY READING Psalm 135; Daniel 3:1-30; 1 John 2:3-11 FIELD NOTES Are we saved by grace, or are we saved by works? This theological question has been around a long time and is as important today as ever. The Reformation seemed to clear this up for us. Luther was certain: the church stands or falls…

DAILY READING Luke 6:43-45 FIELD NOTES The CEB translation of the passage today says, “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what…

DAILY READING Revelation 3:1-6 FIELD NOTES It’s a harsh word that God delivers to John about the church in Sardis- a church that appears alive, but is indeed dead.  The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature.  This means that while it shows us the “end times,” it creates for us an eschatology, a theology of end times, and knowing…

DAILY READING Revelation 2:8-11 FIELD NOTES Scrolling through the news for even a minute reminds us of the brokenness of the world. Today’s passage in Revelation of the church in Smyrna serves as a reminder that even in the midst of great strife or uncertainty, we must remain strong in our faith in Jesus Christ.  We…

DAILY READING 2 Chronicles 20:1-23 FIELD NOTES Did you notice in today’s passage in 2 Chronicles that Jehoshaphat, the ruler of the Jews in Judah, called a nation-wide fast as a means for the Jews to prepare their hearts to hear from God?  Fasting was and is a spiritual practice that is meant to draw us…

DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 FIELD NOTES Like yesterday’s reading, this passage in 1 Corinthians is a reminder that doing religious things like baptism and partaking in communion as if they are a checklist for salvation is not the faith Jesus calls for.  I don’t know if you can relate, but if you are like me,…

DAILY READING Romans 4:1-2 FIELD NOTES In verses 6-8 of today’s reading in Romans, God’s blessing belongs not to those who perfectly obey the law, but to those who in faith accept God’s free gift of forgiveness and grace.  As we approach this Lenten season, I have been seeking a path of repentance and spiritual awareness…

DAILY READING Matthew 14:22-33 FIELD NOTES Over five hundred of us were at a small group training event for youth ministry. At one point, the leaders read Matthew 14:22-33 about Peter walking on water. Our leader asked, “If you were to get out of your boat of security and walk on the water of faith,…