"Core Faith" Series 2026

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“Core Faith” Series Summary (July 2026)
It is easy to feel empty in a world hollowed out by conflict and uncertainty.  In Romans 8, Paul calls us to be filled with the love of God.  In our Core Faith series, we will explore basic Christian beliefs alongside the wisdom of John Wesley, including the primacy of grace, life in the Spirit, hope for all creation, and the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  Join us in July as we rediscover our “Core Faith” and find hope in a community of Christ’s love. 



July 5 | - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
DELIGHT IN THE LAW: As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence, we are right to feel a mix of pride in our ideals and humility in their unfulfilled promise.  In Romans 7:15-25a, when Paul admits, “I do not do the good I want,” he expresses the contradiction we all experience between our highest aspirations and our lived reality.  The teachings of Scripture and our United Methodist principles point us in the right direction, but we must also depend on God’s grace to put them into practice and live according to Christ's example.  When have rules summoned your better self?

July 12 | - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
SETTING OUR MINDS: We live in a noisy world with many things competing for our attention.  In Romans 8:1-11, Paul encourages us to set our minds on Christ to help reorient our lives toward compassion, wisdom, courage, and hope.  For United Methodists, faith is not only about believing the right things but also being transformed into the likeness of Christ through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.  Through the means of grace, the Spirit gradually forms us into people of love.  What helps you focus on God?

July 19 | - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
WAITING WITH LONGING: Numerous challenges confront life on our planet, from pollution and habitat destruction to overconsumption and loss of biodiversity.  In Romans 8:12-25, Paul calls us to see creation’s groaning as bound up with our own salvation.  In the Wesleyan tradition, loving God goes hand in hand with loving our neighbors and caring for God’s world.  How do you participate in God’s future?

July 26 | - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
MORE THAN CONQUERORS: We often think of victory as dominance or success.  In Romans 8:26-39, Paul encourages us to be “more than conquerors.”  We do not need to strive for invincibility because the Spirit intercedes for us.  Paul invites us to trust God’s love in Christ so that we can be a supportive community that bears one another’s burdens.  What helps you feel connected to Christ?

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