Religious Rituals and Faith
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…
Read MoreA Wrathful God
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…
Read MoreThe Command to Rest
Surrendering to the Life Guard
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…
Read More“Yes, But” vs. “Yes, And”
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…
Read MoreAction vs. Blame
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.…
Read MoreRepent
July 5, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 Matthew 11:20-24 Isaiah 51:1-3 Psalm 119:161-168 Jeremiah 18:1-11 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesOne person held the 4 key positions at a church I pastored. He told me that God had provided many miracles for his family and him during the previous 3 years. After we…
Read MoreTest the Spirits
July 4, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 1 John 4:1-6 1 Kings 18:36-39 Psalm 119:161-168 1 Kings 21:1-16 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field Notes Happy 4th of July! What word from God does our nation need right now? In our scripture, John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are…
Read MorePraise Daily Reading
July 3, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 Genesis 22:15-18 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Psalm 119:161-168 1 Kings 21:1-16 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesHappiness depends upon events that happen such as jokes, celebrations, and victories. When the event is over, the happiness fades. Joy comes from a relationship. No matter what happens to us,…
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