July 19, 2017 Daily ReadingMatthew 13:10-17Psalm 142This week’s sermon text: Matthew 11:28-30 Field NotesScholar N.T. Wright says about Jesus in his book, “John for Everyone”: “He and His father are giving evidence that He is the Messiah; but if this is so, He is bringing the light that they cannot escape. As He has come…

July 18, 2017 Daily Reading Ephesians 4:17-5:2Psalm 142This week’s sermon text: Matthew 11:28-30 Field NotesA few years back, just before I attended seminary, I found myself in the mountains of Guatemala working to build a hurricane shelter with a local pastor. This man was amazing. While he lived and pastored a church 4 hours away…

July 17, 2017 Daily Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8Psalm 142This week’s sermon text: Matthew 11:28-30 Field NotesOne thing my mother always reminded me as I left the house for school was, “Behave like we taught you to behave.” Paul tells the Thessalonians the same thing. “You know the instructions we gave you in Jesus Christ,” he…

July 15, 2017 Daily Reading Isaiah 2:1-4 Psalm 119:105-112 John 12:44-50 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesThis passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures. It is a vision of God’s Kingdom: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against…

July 14, 2017 Daily Reading Romans 15:14-21 Psalm 65:9-13 Isaiah 48:6-11 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesI may be a pastor, but I often find it challenging to share my faith with others, especially people who I think will be skeptical of my beliefs. I don’t want my evangelism to be a turnoff…

July 13, 2017 Daily Reading Exodus 3:1-6 Psalm 119:105-112 Romans 2:12-16 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesHow many times I have wished that God would send me a burning bush! We face so many decisions, big and small, in life. Should I change jobs? Move closer to an ailing parent? Adopt a child?…

July 12, 2017 Daily Reading John 13:1-17 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Genesis 29:31-35 This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesJohn is a gospel full of symbolism. In today’s passage in John, Jesus is not only literally washing the feet of the disciples, but he speaks of how he washes us clean spiritually. How beautiful…

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…

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…