Repentance
July 3, 2020 DAILY READING Romans 7:7-20 FIELD NOTES How do we take control of sin in our lives? First, we have to acknowledge it. We have to admit we are committing a sin. Secondly, we have to truly repent—turn away from it. If we have hurt people we should seek amends. We must make restitutions. We have to realize our…
Read MoreLegalism
July 2, 2020 DAILY READING Romans 7:1-6 FIELD NOTES I think when we talk about self-control, we often neglect to talk about legalism. Legalism is when we define our faith by doing what we think is right rather than what we think is wrong. Legalism is when our faith is defined by what we do, rather than…
Read MoreMold Me
July 1, 2020 DAILY READING Jeremiah 18:1-11 At the Potter’s House 18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from…
Read MoreDoubt and Certainty
June 30, 2020 DAILY READING 1 John 4:1-6 FIELD NOTES I wonder sometimes what it is like to just know everything. I wonder what absolute certainty must feel like. Doubt is a real thing in my life and I have always, and will probably always struggle with it. One of my biggest challenges of self-control is not…
Read MoreControl Issues
June 29, 2020 DAILY READING 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 FIELD NOTES We can’t control a lot in life. We can’t control who are family is. We can’t control where our parents raise us. We can’t control if we will be laid off or not. We can’t control if our kids will be boys or girls. We can’t control if we win…
Read MoreThe Fruit of Self-Control
This sermon is the final week of our series on the Fruit of Spirit! Each week, we’ve explored a different fruit and how its wisdom can be applied to our lives. Our Scripture reading: Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Fruit of the Spirit By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,…
Read MoreWhy Do We Hope?
June 27, 2020 DAILY READING 1 Peter 3:15 – “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” FIELD NOTES People in the UMC have long stood for justice for all people. Over the centuries we’ve been…
Read MoreThe Allure of Gentleness
June 26, 2020 DAILY READING Matthew 11:29 – “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” FIELD NOTES This week we are examining the fruit of gentleness, imagining new and powerful ways we can birth gentleness into the…
Read MoreGracious Words are a Honeycomb
June 25, 2020 DAILY READING Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” FIELD NOTES This week we are examining the fruit of gentleness, imagining new and powerful ways we can birth gentleness into the world around us. There’s an old Celtic custom that somehow found…
Read MoreBe Gentle
June 24, 2020 DAILY READING “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12 FIELD NOTES This week we are examining the fruit of gentleness, imagining new and powerful ways we can birth gentleness into the world around us. As a parent of…
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