Blessed be the Lord! Meditate. Examine. Build. Be. Our roadmap for approaching Advent as a spiritual discipline. Meditate. Ponder. Reflect. Contemplate. Intentionally considering, thinking about, our need for a Savior is the first step on our way to adoring Jesus. Read December 3: The Long-Awaited Visitation Reflect. What attitude does John Piper suggest we should […]
Rejoice in God your Savior. Yesterday we were given a roadmap, a guide, for our spiritual journey through Advent: Meditate. Examine. Build. Be. As we continue reading through Joy to the World each day, incorporate the roadmap into your devotional time. Meditate on your need for a Savior, examine your current life in Christ, build […]
Turn your heart to the Lord. We’ve read the Preface and the Introduction. The way is prepared to begin the devotional readings in Joy to the World. Read December 1: Prepare the Way Reflect. What did you learn about spiritual preparation during Advent? Meditate on your need for a Savior. Examine the current state of […]
Joy begins with Jesus. Monday, November 30 The day after the First Sunday in Advent is ALWAYS Monday. Mondays are typically busy back-to-the-weekly-grind days, especially after a Thanksgiving weekend. And now, with Christmas so near, for many the days get even more packed and schedules a bit tighter. We hope you’ll withdraw from the hectic […]
The start of a spiritual discipline. Today is the First Sunday of Advent. It’s the day we begin preparing our hearts for celebrating the day the Son of God left His home in heaven and entered the world as one of us. It’s the day to begin reading Joy to the World by John Piper. […]
Don’t Worry: Thankfulness A Message on Colossians 3:12-17 For Jacksonville First United Methodist Church Nov. 22, 2020 By Doug Wintermute dwinterm@yahoo.com Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV) As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each […]
O, come let us adore Him! It’s time to turn our hearts to the wonders of the Babe in the manger. Grow Team’s offering to assist you in preparing your heart to adore Jesus is Joy to the World: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper. The readings begin on December 1 and focus on […]
Don’t Worry: Faith A Message on Hebrews 11:1-3 For Jacksonville First United Methodist Church Nov. 15, 2020 By Doug Wintermute dwinterm@yahoo.com Hebrews 11:1-3 (NRSV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds […]
Don’t Worry: Planting Seeds A Message on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 For Jacksonville First United Methodist Church Nov. 8, 2020 By Doug Wintermute dwinterm@yahoo.com 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NRSV) And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed […]
Don’t Worry: Eternity A Message on John 6:41-51 For Jacksonville First United Methodist Church Nov. 1, 2020 By Doug Wintermute dwinterm@yahoo.com John 6:41-51 (NRSV) Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of […]
