Gluttons come in all shapes and sizes, and as such, appearance its not its measure. Rather, gluttons make a god of their stomach. Paul says this quite clearly in Philippians 3:17-20, our primary text for Sunday's message. When food and drink are excessively or improperly valued, this vice distorts the proper nourishment and joy they are intended to give. Underneath it all is a starving soul seeking to make an idol of something that will never satisfy. Gluttony is "A Recipe for a Starving Soul." Of course, gluttony extends beyond the stomach and has a broader application to anything we consume. Wonder what that looks like, and how we make steps to overcome it?

Greed says, "It's Never Enough!" The insatiable desire for more money, and for the things that money can buy, feeds the next deadly sin which we will examine. Jesus meets this vice head on in the text for Sunday, Matthew 6:19-34, where he declares, "You cannot serve both God and Money." In the battle for you heart, greed is a direct competitor with the creator of all things. We have the illusory belief that money will satisfy us, but as a "god" it will always leaves us wanting. More. And more. This is quite a contrast to trusting in the God who promises to provide what we need, a reality that is experienced more and more as we practice the virtue of generosity. Such liberality fosters a freedom and peace that money can never buy.

When expressed with actions or words, anger can be the most obvious of all seven of the vices. But it can also manifest itself in a smoldering resentment that eats away at the soul. James says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" So we know that anger can work against what God wants. But how is that the case, and how do we begin to make progress in overcoming it? Listen now, as we explore this subject together!

As we explore the Seven Deadly Sins, this week we turn to envy, which says in essence, "I Want What You Have (And Don't Want You to Have It!)." Envy is miserable, and wants others to share in the misery. Its cousins are jealousy and covetousness - unpleasant relatives for sure. We will use Genesis 37:1-11 as a springboard passage to consider its insidious fruit, but also explore corresponding virtues that can combat envy and move us forward in our journey of faith.

This week, we start a new series looking at "The Seven Deadly Sins," those classic enemies of the soul which plague mankind and assail the believer in his or her progress in faith. As we will see, the goal of this endeavor is not simply navel-gazing, but life transformation. They are "deadly" because they are serious, and as we will discover, something so toxic requires intentional countermeasures - which isn't possible to pursue without identifying the enemy! Our first stop is "Pride: It's All About Me." Pride, according to many who have written about these things, is the source of the other sins, so we will treat it first and foremost. Pride puts "self" at the center, instead of God. And while none of us is exempt from its allure and temptation, we can all embrace humility as we learn to embrace and apply the Gospel. So strap on for the ride ahead, and pray our souls are challenged and edified in the weeks to come.

As we begin 2020, we are challenging each other to grow in the discipline of Scripture memory. Pastor Marc will give a context and a method for participating in the effort on Sunday from Psalm 1, which details "Your Path to the Blessed Life." Let's pray that together we pursue clear (2020?!) vision in the new year.

In the midst of a wicked, confused, and unjust culture we can often swing between emulating this brokenness ourselves and being deeply hurt by its consequences. This week in the second chapter of Daniel we hear God's prophet demonstrate godly character, worship and humility. Daniel's hope is grounded in his anticipation of God's rule as fulfillment for his nation. God's written revelation to the homeless nation of Israel also provides promises to us in Mason, Ohio as we conclude 2019.

In Matthew 2:1-12, Magi from the East follow a star that guides them to the birth of the Messiah. It's the stuff of movies, but this script was written by the one who spoke Creation into existence. We will see, as the saying goes, that "Wise Men Still Seek Him."

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

In Acts 18:1-11, we get a glimpse into Paul's time in Corinth, a wild and crazy city where the former Gospel-hater spends considerable time sharing what true freedom means. We find Paul weary as he enters the city, and the grace that he is preaching comes to him as well in the middle of his trying journey. Together, we will see how God give us "Strength to Carry On" when we are wearing thin.