Check YourSELF February 8, 2026 — Fifth Sunday After Epiphany Rev. Alice Horner Nelson (she/her) This sermon preaches that the most detrimental lack of self control is not the inability to refrain from harmful behaviors. The most damaging lack of self control is the inability to get ourselves to act and care for the suffering in our society. We can be so focused on ourselves that we can’t feel the Spirit stirred within us to get our SELF to take action. It’s not just about how we’re able to resist things that don’t serve us, it’s also about motivating ourselves to live as God calls us to. There are certainly poisonous behaviors and addictions we can possess, but our culture and society is focused too much on what we’re NOT supposed to do. Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16; Matthew 6:1-21