Philip’s Focus

Seven Deadly Sins

When I was Associate Pastor in the 1980s, I was busy with many responsibilities: youth, evangelism, missions, visits to our members, weddings, funerals, and preaching of course. One other opportunity was leading Bible Studies for the congregation. When the new chapel was built in 1984, a Bible study was the first activity to break in the new building. The format caught on and this rhythm for many studies over two years.

I remember fondly the format I used which included two sessions of the same study to reach more people. The mission was accomplished, well attended, and one of the week’s highlights. The Monday night session was at 6pm and was followed by a Tuesday morning 10am session.

We studied books of the Bible, conversion, evangelism, and gifts of the Spirit. These sessions produced much learning, fellowship, and fruit. I have exciting news… beginning February 28 and throughout the six weeks of Lent we are going to offer this kind of format again!

We are offering a Seven Deadly Sins study on Tuesdays throughout Lent. We want everyone to attend this study, so we are providing two times, 9am and 6:30pm This will be a pastoral team effort with Dr. Bradford, Rev. Langford, Rev. Garvin, and I leading the study.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins? PRIDE, ENVY, ANGER, SLOTH, GREED, LUST, and GLUTTONY. Sin is the root cause of everything that is not right. It is harmful, and it hurts and alienates people. If we want to be a better person, church, and world we take sin seriously and CONFESS, REPENT, and RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS.

The Bible teaches us both the sinful human condition and the possibility of redemption. Romans 6:23 says… “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (NLT). Sin is a human problem. But our solution is in Jesus Christ our Lord who died for our sins. In such times as now, turning away from sin and toward God is what we need.

Praying that you are marking your calendar now to participate in this study beginning February 28 at 10AM or 6PM.

Shalom, Philip

Lead Pastor

Dr. Philip McVay

philip@shalimar-umc.org

Week of February 5, 2023