In the final message of his sermon series “Drought: Experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dry Seasons,” Pastor David explores self-control as the most personally challenging spiritual fruit because it requires self-denial rather than outward action toward others. Using Paul's athletic metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, he explains that spiritual discipline often requires enduring discomfort to achieve greater goals—striking a blow to our bodies to make them slaves to Christ's purposes rather than our own desires.

Pastor David emphasizes that "everything is spiritual" and that "self-control is a physical solution to a spiritual problem." He challenges us to identify areas needing control—what goes into our mouths (consumption), what comes out of our mouths (words), how we spend time and money, or our overall emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health. He references Jesus' teaching in Matthew 15:18-19 about how what comes out of the mouth reflects the heart.

For those not seeing the Fruit of the Spirit developing in their lives, Pastor David offers practical steps: reading the Bible daily, praying throughout the day, attending church weekly, and refusing to let other activities become idols that take priority over God. He encourages us to "choose to break the patterns of the past," assuring us that while developing self-control may require discomfort or even pain, the Holy Spirit will help us if we are willing to try as we aim toward hearing Christ's "well done good and faithful servant."

We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this sermon, Pastor David Dorn explores the contrast between anger and gentleness through his personal journey beginning with Hurricane Katrina. As a 19-year-old college student, he discovered that anger temporarily relieved his anxiety and helped him function amid devastating loss. However, God confronted him about this anger, teaching him that while anger might produce immediate results, it leaves destructive marks.Pastor David anchors his message in Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger," and points to Jesus' self-description in Matthew 11:28-29 as "gentle and humble in heart." Though our culture often portrays gentleness as weakness, Pastor David emphasizes that Jesus chose gentleness as His defining characteristic. The sermon concludes with the powerful truth that "anger leaves its mark... but gentleness leaves a legacy," challenging us to consider which attribute others will learn from us.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this sermon, Dr. Paul Spellman delves into the Methodist tradition of asking ordinands if they're "going on to perfection." He explains that this question isn't about achieving sinlessness, but rather about understanding our relationship with God on our faith journey. Dr. Spellman then explores the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, describing them as recurring Markers along our spiritual path rather than checkboxes to complete.The sermon emphasizes that we all experience different seasons in our faith journey, with times of abundance and drought. Dr. Spellman provides examples of how people experience the Holy Spirit, including the dramatic Pentecost event (Acts 2:1-13), John Wesley's "strangely warmed" heart, and Paul's reflection on fighting the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7). He concludes by reassuring us that wherever we are in their faith journey, God has us right where He wants us to be.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this sermon, Pastor David explores the concept of goodness as one of the Fruits of the Spirit. He begins with the starfish story, illustrating how even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone's life. He emphasizes that goodness is not merely an attitude but must be expressed through action, benefiting others around us.

Drawing from his Boy Scout experience, Pastor David encourages believers to adopt a lifestyle of doing good daily. He stresses that goodness should be practical, making those around us emotionally secure, physically safe, and loved. He also addresses the challenge of maintaining goodness during spiritually dry seasons, reminding us that expressing goodness to others can be like finding an oasis in a desert.

Pastor David concludes with a powerful quote from Mother Teresa about the challenge of loving those close to us. He applies this concept to goodness, encouraging believers to show kindness not only to those far away but also to family members and fellow believers who may test our patience. He reminds us that we receive goodness from God and should urgently share it with others, making a difference one person at a time.

We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this sermon, Pastor David delves into the concept of kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit, indicating a growing relationship with Jesus. Using the analogy of a highly-recognized Texas business sign, he explains how signs indicate experiences, relating this to how kindness signifies Christ's presence in our lives. The sermon emphasizes that kindness is not a sign of weakness but rather a choice made from a position of strength. Pastor David references Ephesians 4:31-32, urging us to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" and instead "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Drawing inspiration from Mr. Rogers, Pastor David highlights the transformative power of kindness. He addresses the challenge of showing kindness when we don't feel like it or when others don't seem to deserve it. He quotes Jesus' words from Luke 6:32-36, emphasizing the importance of loving our enemies and doing good without expecting anything in return.

We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In week four of our nine-week series "Drought: Experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dry Seasons," Pastor David delves into the fruit of patience as described in Galatians 5. He begins with a humorous personal story about losing patience with customer service, using it to illustrate how our growth with Jesus is not always linear. The pastor emphasizes that patience is about capacity – the more we grow with Jesus, the greater our capacity to be patient with others becomes.

Pastor David introduces the concept of forbearance, explaining it as refraining from enforcing what others owe us. He draws a parallel to God's patience with us, encouraging us to grow in our capacity for patience by recognizing God's vast patience towards us. The sermon then shifts to the importance of waiting on God, referencing James 5:7-11 and the story of Job. Pastor David shares personal experiences of waiting on God's guidance and provision, demonstrating how these experiences have strengthened his faith and increased his capacity for patience.

We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In week three of our nine-week series "Drought: Experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dry Seasons," Pastor David explores the concept of peace as one of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. He explains that spiritual fruit, including peace, comes in seasons, much like physical fruit. The pastor emphasizes that peace can be cultivated through perspective, especially by embracing Jesus' promise in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."Pastor David highlights the importance of faith in accepting God's peace, distinguishing between belief in God's existence and relying on Him for our existence. He argues that peace grows in proportion to our faith, which is directly correlated to the depth of our prayer life. He also addresses the need to confront problems rather than ignore them, stating that sometimes peace can only be found on the other side of dealing with difficult situations. He concludes by describing peace as the outgrowth of our partnership with God, exemplified in the serene imagery of Psalm 23, despite life's challenges.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this sermon, which is week two of our nine-week series, Drought: Experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dry Seasons, Pastor RaMona Riggs delves into the nature of joy, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness. She explains that while happiness is based on external events, joy is an internal state given by the Holy Spirit. Pastor RaMona addresses the challenges of maintaining joy during difficult times, like the story of Paul and Silas singing hymns in prison (Acts 16:25-28) and as exemplified by Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and writings during Nazi Germany.To nurture joy, Pastor RaMona encourages believers to stay connected to Jesus through prayer and Scripture, practice gratitude, serve others, and guard their hearts against cynicism. She concludes by challenging the congregation to choose joy, reminding them that true joy is not just a feeling but a powerful witness to the world of God's faithfulness.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In week one of our nine-week sermon series, "Drought: Experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dry Seasons", we begin with the fruit of Love. Pastor David shares that love is often tested in dry seasons. When we feel abandoned, overlooked, or weary, the challenge is to still love God and others with the love that comes from the Holy Spirit. Based on scripture from Galatians 5:22-25 and 1 John 4:7-12

We invite you to connect with us:⁠https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor David delves into the depths of human suffering and loss, beginning with his personal experience of losing his grandfather. He then connects this universal experience of pain to the disciples' anguish on Good Friday, when they watched their hope die on the cross.Pastor David uses poignant lyrics from the song "You Were On The Cross" by Matt Maher to illustrate the common human question, "God, where were you?" in times of despair. He addresses various life situations where people might feel hopeless, from struggling marriages to health crises. The sermon culminates in the powerful realization that God, through Jesus' crucifixion, has experienced the depths of human pain firsthand. Rev. Dorn concludes by reminding us that even when we lose faith, God remains faithful, and we are called to wait for the dawn of hope to reappear, just as the disciples did before the resurrection.We invite you to connect with us:⁠https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx