Herb Blum spoke at Covenant Connection on Sunday, August 9, 2026."Stir Up the Gift Inside You "Click here to download the notes and listen to the audio: https://covenantconnection.sermon.net/22548205 You can subscribe / follow the podcast for the sermons: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d4d96426-8560-4524-b21b-ac5f62d8db06/ovenant-connection### Sermon Recap#### 1. Iron Sharpens Iron (Proverbs 27:17) Nate Beck The opening devotional centered on the idea that spiritual growth requires godly relationships that challenge us.Key points: • Just as iron sharpening iron creates friction, spiritual growth often comes through correction, mentoring, and accountability. • True friends help expose blind spots and encourage growth rather than simply telling us what we want to hear. • Christians should not be offended by constructive feedback when it is given in love. • Believers are called to help sharpen one another so they can grow stronger in their faith and resist spiritual attacks.A practical example was given from both professional mentoring and Christian fellowship, emphasizing that people often achieve growth because someone challenged them to improve.#### 2. Stir Up the Gift of God (2 Timothy 1) The main teaching focused on stirring up the gifts, faith, power, and calling that God has already placed within believers.Major themes included:• The resources believers need are already available through Christ and the Holy Spirit. • Studying and meditating on Scripture is how believers "stir up" what God has placed inside them. • Feelings should not lead a person's life; God's Word should. • Fear, worry, and doubt were described as distractions that can hinder believers from walking in their calling. • God's power, love, and a sound mind are already available to believers, but they must actively engage with Scripture and faith. • Worry was contrasted with faith, with an emphasis on replacing fearful thoughts with God's promises. • Believers should focus on God's purpose and calling rather than being distracted by less important activities.#### 3. Walking in Love A significant portion of the message emphasized that:• Love is central to the Christian life. • God's love ("agape" love) is a choice and a spiritual nature, not merely an emotion. • Christians are called to love others regardless of whether that love is returned. • Faith operates through love, making love essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness.Theme #4: Stop Letting Feelings Lead• Feelings were described as followers, not leaders. • Fear, worry, and doubt were portrayed as distractions that pull people away from God's purpose. • The antidote is renewing the mind with God's Word and speaking God's promises.Theme #5: Walk in Your Calling• Every believer has a God-given purpose. • Many people know what God has called them to do but allow distractions or fear to delay obedience. • The message encouraged listeners to return to the assignment God originally placed on their hearts.Theme #6: Love Is the Foundation• Faith works through love. • Agape love is an act of will, not merely an emotion. • Christians are called to love others whether that love is returned or not. • Walking in God's love is central to living out God's will.### Main Takeaway The central message was: Believers must intentionally stay in God's Word, allow it to shape their thinking, stir up the gifts and power God has already placed within them, walk in love, and embrace the calling God has given them rather than being driven by fear, feelings, or distractions.### One-Sentence SummaryHerb's sermon challenged listeners to stop being driven by feelings and fear, immerse themselves in God's Word, stir up the gifts already placed within them, embrace their calling, and walk in the love of God.