Today is the fifth and last message in the series “Godly or Wicked.” We have learned critical distinctions between what is good and evil and established a spiritual and moral framework to overcome evil behaviors and threats. For example, we have talked about generosity vs. greed, and kindness vs. arrogance. I distinguished between what may be sinful and what is actually evil in each message. Having a lack of understanding of what is morally good or bad, making bad choices, and hurting people because we don’t know better is not necessarily evil, probably sinful, but not evil. But evil is a willful desire to hurt others without any empathy. Evil people are not greedy, arrogant, and violent because they don’t … Read More
Godly or Wicked: Kindness or Arrogance
Today is the fourth message in the series “Godly or Wicked.” So far, we have explored some distinctions between what constitutes godly and wicked. Here are some highlights from the previous messages Most human beings are good. They care about their family and friends, respect the right to life of other human beings, and contribute to their community’s safety and wellness, whether passively or actively. Of course, we are still sinful, and sometimes we may say and do wrong things and cause harm, but that is not the driving force of our nature. Then there are bad people. In my opinion, they are very few, but they are very real. They willfully desire to hurt and abuse others for their … Read More
Godly or Wicked: Generosity vs Greed
Today is the third message in the series “Godly or Wicked.” This series aims to help us distinguish between what is good and what might be evil. The purpose is to warn against what leads to evil and encourage to follow what leads to goodliness. This series is not about becoming judgmental (far from it!) but wise in discerning behaviors that may be inclined to evil and behaviors that lead to godliness—whether in other people or us. In the first message, I defined what evil looks like by quoting Psalms 10, where wickedness is described through specific behaviors: The wicked persecute, scheme, and ambush, they boast of the evil desires of their heart and are greedy and arrogant. Verse 9 … Read More
If I Can Help Somebody
Good morning! My name is Michele Sisson, and I serve as church secretary here at New World United Methodist Church. I have placed the altar arrangements to honor the memories of my grandmothers, Mary Jones Russell and Harriet Garrett Sisson. Those two precious women had the biggest hearts and the most generous spirits of anyone I have ever known. I have very fond memories of them sharing the need to be generous and kind with me while a very young girl. This passage of scripture reminds me of those teachings: “For we are what He has made us, created by Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life”. Ephesians 2:10 (NRSV) As Pastor … Read More
Godly or Wicked
Today we start a new series of messages talking about Godly or Wicked. I chose this topic because it is my opinion that often we don’t know how to distinguish between what is good and what might be evil. Sometimes we are naïve and trust people who may not be good for us, and other times we are quick to judge others as bad because we simply don’t like them or agree with them. As a father, I want my children to be wise enough to know the difference between good and evil for the sake of themselves and those around them. And as a pastor, I want the same for us as a congregation. Therefore, the purpose of this … Read More