Guest Preacher Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum

Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum, who prefers to simply be called Andy, is the Regional Minister of the Christian Church in the Southwest.  He is married to Lori Mangum.  They both graduated from West Texas A&M University.  They have three children.  Madison Coleman who is married to Taylor, Andrew Mangum and Joshua Mangum.  They have identical twin granddaughters, Annaleigh and Elizabeth Coleman.  Andy is a graduate of Brite Divinity School (MDiv) and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (DMin).  He served in youth ministry at First Christian Church, Amarillo and Central Christian Church in Weatherford, Texas.  He has served as pastor at First Christian Church, DeSoto, Texas, First Christian Church, Irving, Texas, and First Christian Church in Arlington, Texas. 

Dr. Mangum will be our guest preacher on Sunday, 6/7/2020.
Sermon Intro: 
Those who recite the Nicene Creed confess faith in the “Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life.”  While we often think of the Holy Spirit as one who guides, equips, convicts and comforts, scripture also speaks of the Spirit as the force of God which animates creation (Psalm 104:30).  In our focus text for this series, the Spirit’s participation in creation is symbolized in “Fruit.”  Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia, “The Fruit of the Sprit is  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  I am reminded of the many Sunday School lessons that placed these virtues on paper apples, pineapples, oranges and bananas.  If we were lucky, the teacher would go through the extra effort of having actual fruit and we would be given grapes, or orange wedges, or apple slices to chew on while we studied the scriptures.  I used to love that imagery—I still do.  However, the direct or indirect message we received through these lessons is the we were to cultivate these virtues within ourselves through our own force of will.  Yet, fruit of the Spirit is more than an object lesson for Paul.  Fruit is more than a symbol of life.  Fruit is the embodiment of life.  It is the womb of a tree or vine or bush.  Without fruit there is no complex plant life.  To speak of the fruit of the Spirit is to speak of God’s generative act in forming us and making us.  We do not produce out of our own character.  Fruit of the Spirit emerges from us through the Spirit’s act.  Fruit emerge from us through the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. 

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