This month the title of my sermon this month is
The Second 3 Reasons: Love, Co-Agency, and Free Will
I’ve compiled a list of 20 Reasons to Have Faith in God. These are reasons for everyone, but I’m thinking about the non-believer. They are foundational. My long-term goal is to preach on all 20 reason, each discussing 2 or 3 of the reasons.
This sermon is on reasons #4-#6.
- God seeks our love. God wants a two-way loving relationship with each of us. We engage with God in various ways, including prayer. The first commandment is to love God.
Bible verses: Deuteronomy 7:9; John 1:10-13; Revelation 3:20.
Song: How To Be Yours by Chris Renzema – lyrics - We are co-agents with God. God makes us co-agents in the world. God wants the best for his people. God gives us responsibility for both taking care of the earth’s resources and the people of the earth. When we care for other people we do it on God’s behalf.
Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Peter 2:9-10
Songs: He Who Began a Good Work in You by Steve Green – lyrics
Do Something by Matthew West – lyrics - Free will. God created us with the free will and the power to choose between good, apathy, and evil. There are choices that are beneficial for us and the world and
there are choices that are detrimental to ourselves and others. We should choose the former, but often we do not.
Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 16:9; Galatians 5:13.
Songs: (there’s Gotta Be) More to Life by Stacie Orrico – lyrics
Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House
On our mission trip to Granite City, IL we toured and worked for the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House in East St. Louis, IL.
Information about the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House can be found at 
https://lessiebatesdavis.org/. This is part of the Golden Cross ministries of our UMC Conference.
https://bit.ly/JRO-Sunday-Aug-2022