Whispering Pines Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this Sunday as we remember the commission that Jesus gave His disciples. At the conclusion of our service we will also have the opportunity to hear from those who went on this year’s mission trip to Puerto Rico. The mission left behind by Jesus for His disciples to follow is multifaceted. Matthew 28 records the simple message that we are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands. In Acts 1, Luke records Jesus saying that we are to His witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then Judea & Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. Of course, Jesus gives us many more directives about how to go about doing this. Join us this Sunday as we remember the heart of Jesus’ mission for us – and to celebrate the good that comes when we follow Him ‘to the ends of the earth.’-Pastor Nate Roschen
“The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Num. 6:24-26 This Community Sunday we are going to gather together to reflect on what was understood to be the greatest blessing known in the Old Testament. This blessing was given to Aaron, the priest, and his sons, to be used as a verbal blessing over the people of God. The blessing – was that God would see you, turn His face toward you, look at you.It’s interesting how much this thought has changed in our minds. How many children have been warned that “God is always watching you,” or that “He sees everything that you do!”? The gaze of God, intended to be a blessing, is now often used as a threat, a warning. How can we recover our understanding of God? How can we remember that His presence is a blessing? Join us this Community Sunday as we explore the deep human need that we have to know and be known by God – for God to see us as we are.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Do we see God as He is? Or as we wish Him to be?At the beginning of the book of Job, we are introduced to a man named Job who is blameless and upright. He fears God and turns away from sin. He loves the Lord and enjoys His many blessings. The question is raised: Does Job do so, only because he has not suffered?And then… God allows every good thing in Job’s life to be taken away.The Book of Job is a dramatic irony. We know the story better than the characters in the story do. We see everything going on in heaven and on earth, but the characters don’t know anything. The point is to read this book and feel driven to yell at the characters – Why don’t you get it? Why don’t you understand?This book, like no other, lets us behind the curtain to see God more clearly. It is intended to frustrate us in terms of the humans in the story. Then something in ourselves and our limited perspective can be revealed. Join us as we continue this epic story of Job.-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week we move from one difficult book to another. In Ecclesiastes we dealt with a number of issues that are universal to the human experience: The inability of worldly pleasures to satisfy us, and the tension that exists in a world where the wicked seem to fare just as well as those who strive to do good. We saw a man who acquired things, great wealth, family, possessions and positions. We saw him flounder, finding everything, ultimately, to be meaningless, a chasing after the wind. He deemed only one thing to be worthwhile, obedience to God. Now, we turn to Job. A man who had everything – and lost it. It’s here that we find a deep-rooted and practical theodicy – a theology of suffering. When bad things happen to us – we ask the same question that Job and all of his friends were asking: Why? We ask this question, not into the void – but to God. Join us as we explore Ecclesiastes’ opposite.-Pastor Nate Roschen
The second half of Ecclesiastes repeats many of the same themes from the first – but it does so in a way that leads to its ultimate conclusion. The book has a lot to say about all that is not worthy of our time – our attention – our drive. In this way, it is a “negative” book in that it highlights many of the problems and shortcomings in our lives. But – at the end, Solomon, Qoholet, the author of our book, comes to the conclusion that there is one thing that is not, is never, meaningless vanity – obedience to God. That is something that we would all agree with, at least on paper. Whether we live that out in our lives is another thing entirely. But this is why Ecclesiastes was written – in the hopes that we could learn from someone who tried it all and was left wanting. Join us for our conclusion to this tremendous Old Testament book!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Ecclesiastes 5 seems like a departure. The author has continually highlighted all that is meaningless and vain. In the previous chapter, he speaks to oppression and corruption – saying it is so bad that it would be better to not be alive to see it.Chapter 5 follows all of this, and the calmness, the wisdom, the proverbial nature of it is striking. Here, the author lays out some thoughts on how to respond. He offers advice. Having acknowledged that so much is broken and seemingly beyond repair, “What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted” (Eccl. 1:15). He speaks now to making the most of what we have – doing what we can, what is actually meaningful – a life with God. Join us, as we continue our study of Ecclesiastes this week!-Pastor Nate Roschen
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9In chapter 4, the author of Ecclesiastes begins to explore ways of coping with all of the meaningless and oppressive things that happen under the sun. He is distraught by the amount of violence, cruelty, and corruption. He goes as far as to say that it would be better to be dead, or to have never been born – than to have to bear witness to all of the evil that exists in the world.Of course, he is being hyperbolic here. But hopefully we catch his point, that how people live apart from God is hard to look at. It’s here that the author offers something helpful – facing life together. A concerted effort of people choosing contentment, together. Join us as we explore the wonderful 4th chapter of this book of wisdom! -Pastor Nate Roschen
Every time we gather for the church campout – I think of Christ’s first public address – His Sermon on the Mount. The people that day were gathered in a beautiful and life-giving place, surrounded by wildflowers, feeling the breeze off the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee).And the words they heard from Him… Were even more life-giving. They were words of hope. He spoke as One with authority, peeling back the layers of human rules and regulations that had be painted on to the Word of God. He stripped lose layers away – revealing a gospel, simple, and beautiful.Join us this Sunday at the Axton Ranch – as we reflect on these primary truths that we believe – and the compelling Christ whose Words are still revolutionary today.-Pastor Nate Roschen
“To everything, turn, turn, turnThere is a season, turn, turn, turnAnd a time to every purpose under heaven.” - The Byrds, 1965Chapter 3 is the hinge chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes – on this chapter, everything else turns. As you read your way through the pairs that the author has assembled to begin this chapter, you may notice something. With each pair of opposites; birth and death, planting and harvesting, killing and healing – the human being is not in control.The human being is involved, but in no way decides when any of these things will happen. Planting crops happen when creation is ready for it. Harvest occurs when the crops are ready to be picked. Human beings are active participants, but have no control over when any of these events will take place, and what their outcomes will be. Join us as Ecclesiastes tells us about our God, His Creation, and our role in it all.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Approaching God in prayer. How should one address an intimate and loving God who is also the creator and sovereign ruler of the universe? This Sunday we will explore what it truly means to approach God, not as “renters” trying to earn His favor, but as beloved sons and daughters welcomed into His family through Christ. We will reflect on the posture of prayer marked by humility, dependence, and adoration, and encourage us to rest in the privilege of calling the King of the universe “Our Father.” Jason Moat
We have grown up believing in the value of pursuing happiness. We’re taught from an early age that this right is God-given, and vital to our lives. Did you know that the founding fathers meant so much more by this phrase than a mere pursuit of pleasure?In the 1700’s, what they meant by “happiness” was much more closely aligned with what we intend by using the word “virtue.” A life of happiness was a virtuous life. A satisfying life was one that sought more than your own good, but the good of country, community, and neighborhood.In Ecclesiastes 2, the author describes his wild pursuit of pleasure. He builds and designs and takes for himself – everything that he wants. What happens then? What happens when the dog catches up with the car? Join us, as we explore humanity’s search for meaning. What makes for a meaningful life?-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week we begin a series that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. We’ll look first at Ecclesiastes and then the book of Job. These books are fascinating in that in Ecclesiastes we have an individual who gained everything they wanted, and in Job, an individual who lost it all. They cover the extremes of the human experience, and I will argue – come to similar conclusions about what is meaningful in life.Ecclesiastes is a Greek translation of the Hebrew word Qoholet, meaning “teacher” or “member of an assembly.” If you’ve ever opened the pages of this book, you probably have a sense that this book is depressing, sorrowful – looking at life and declaring it hopeless or meaningless. This couldn’t be much further from the truth. Join us as we explore this remarkably relevant book and see together the value it has for us today!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this week as we celebrate Mother’s Day and the significance of the women in our lives who draw us nearer to Christ!Also, this week we’re going to be looking at the mission and purpose of the church. What makes a church ‘successful’? What does success even mean when it comes to the mission and work of the church?In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul is speaking into a church full of dysfunction. The list of sins and errors of the Corinthian church is extensive. So, Paul communicates to them about the foundation of what a church is and does.The church is to be on mission. The church should grow where it’s planted. The strength of the church is that it is One in Christ – and because of this, it is able to have unity in diversity. Each person that makes up an Ekklesia (the Greek word for gathering, assembly, or church) is different, and church functions best on mission when each person is valued and uses their gifts to the fullest. Join us as we remember and celebrate our mission together! -Pastor Nate Roschen
How does one move or grow, gain confidence, from the pit of despair? This is where Peter found himself. He had perhaps the furthest fall. From bold and brash to humiliated and small. But Jesus does not allow Him to stay there. In our final week in John – Jesus circles back, seeks Peter out, and begins building back the confidence and character that Peter will need for the rest of his life. So much happens in chapter 21. John, the author of this gospel hints at a number of elements in the narrative that are not, and are never, fully explained. Join us as we see Jesus do what only He can do. Watch as Peter runs to meet the Lord – dives in, and is met with redemption!--Pastor Nate Roschen
A mercy of God was baked into the Jewish law concerning prisoners at Passover. They had a custom of releasing one prisoner. One individual would be set free, their actions forgiven, their crimes reprieved. The choice was presented to the people again that year. Who do you want to see freed? Jesus, the healer, friend of sinners? Or Barabbas, conspirator – leader of uprisings? And the crowds chose – Barabbas. What does their choice reveal to us today? Does this choice, one of many on the way to the cross – have relevance for us as we consider the choices we make in our lives around allegiance, hope, and desire? Join us as we explore this choice of Barabbas – and what it means for us today!--Pastor Nate Roschen
With the remainder of our time in John, I want to highlight a few moments in the final four chapters that need to be understood. Together we will explore Peter’s denials, the release of Barabbas, and the full-circle redemption arc of Peter in John 21.This week, we will be looking at Peter’s denials in John 18. If you have read the gospels, you know Peter. You have probably known a few “Peter types” in your lifetime, or you may be a “Peter” yourself. He was always the first to raise his hand and offer a bold answer. He was sure of himself, to the point of arrogance. But God had big plans for Peter. Join us as we explore what happens to Peter - the mistakes made so that transformation could take place!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week, we’re going to take a break from John’s gospel, to share a teaching of Christ. In Matthew 7, Jesus offers a parable to those on the hillside with Him. He tells a simple story about two different people who build their homes on very different foundations. Ultimately, it’s a tale about resiliency and how to prepare one’s life for the inevitable trials that come.Resiliency is something we’d all like to grow in. We’re all aware that life presents challenges, and regardless of how capable we feel, we’d all like to be more sure, settled, and rooted. Jesus’ parable here is all about this. Join us this Sunday as we explore resiliency and find our rootedness in Jesus. -Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us on Easter Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for our Easter Brunch. We will enjoy a potluck breakfast and fellowship, and then gather for our Easter Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. as we remember the reason for our hope – Christ’s resurrection. Please see these services as opportunities to invite friends and neighbors – as we spend intentional time together in worship and prayer – sharing our hope in Christ and the goodness of God at Easter!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week for Palm Sunday we look at a story that is timely and vital to understand today – Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey in Mark 11 and John 12. At a time when frustrations were boiling over with their Roman oppressors, the people of Israel were prepared to put all the weight of their expectations into one man. So, they threw down their palm branches. They threw down their cloaks. They cried out Hosanna!And they, like so many people in human history since that day – put their hope in the human way of doing things. An earthly king, a ruler, a fighter, to give them relief and earthly peace. All of their expectations were placed into these palm branches, thrown down before the Messiah. He came to save – but not in the way any of them expected, through a means more grim, to provide a hope greater than they could have asked for. Join us this Sunday to remember what we know to be true about power and expectations.-Pastor Nate Roschen
John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the Gospels. Here, He prays for Himself as He faces the cross, for His disciples, and the unity of future believers (us!). It is often called the “High Priestly Prayer” because as Christ was preparing to face the cross and to bear the sins of the world, He paused to intercede on our behalf – just as the High Priests interceded for Israel in the Old Testament.Jesus tells us what His inner thoughts were as He prayed this prayer. He was going to the Father soon, and wanted His disciples to have “the full measure of joy within them” (17:13). Jesus’ words here concerning unity are some of the most compelling in Scripture. As we consider how Jesus prays for us, we reflect on the thought that He had us on His mind, even as He faced the cross. Join us this Sunday as we follow after Him!-Pastor Nate Roschen
In this week’s study of the book of John, Jesus gives further instruction concerning two important topics. First, He expands upon what He has said earlier in this gospel about the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in verse 7, “Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.” Jesus expressed that it was good news that He was departing and sending His Spirit to us. We will explore all of these wonderful benefits together.After this, Jesus shares with us about how He will turn the disciple’s grief into joy. He uses the metaphor of a woman giving birth to explain to the disciples, and to us, what is about to happen. He again does not deny the reality of the pain to come – but reminds them of a sure thing – that it will result in joy and new life. Join us this Sunday as we hear the words of Jesus together. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33-Pastor Nate Roschen
In John 15, Jesus offers His seventh and final “I Am” (ego eimi ) statement: I am the Vine. He is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way the Truth and the Life, and now – The Vine.There is a lot of beauty and practical thoughts for living wrapped up into this simple metaphor. Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him – we can do nothing. His desire for His people is that we have life, and do good in the world. This has always been God’s desire for His people since Genesis 12. But this is a unique moment in the Bible where Jesus explains the theology behind the instruction, with an analogy that all can understand. Join us this Sunday as we listen to the words of Jesus.-Pastor Nate Roschen
After a tumultuous and challenging chapter 13, Jesus comforts His disciples in a variety of ways in chapter 14 as He prepares them, and Himself, for His crucifixion. Jesus assures us that He will go to prepare a place for us, promises the Holy Spirit to help and guide His followers, and affirms that He is the way to the Father. This is critical to catch – Jesus does not show us the way to the Father, but tells us that He is the way to the Father.I believe that John’s deepest desire is for us to see that Jesus is the revealer of God and in this revelation, to find life. In our worry about the world, the future – about tomorrow – Jesus comforts us. By what He has to offer, we can know a peace – a peace unlike anything the world has to offer. Join us this Sunday as we find comfort in the Lord.-Pastor Nate Roschen
This Sunday we are going to be exploring 1 Samuel 7, and the invitation God gives us to join His plan of salvation and redemption in the world. Samuel’s call for the Israelites to return to the Lord gives us a clear picture of repentance and reminds us of God’s faithfulness in all circumstances - no matter how near or far we may feel from His presence in our current season. Consider how victory and defeat are defined within God’s economy, and how that impacts every facet of our life. --Micah
From chapter 12 to chapter 13 of John’s Gospel, we move into the second half of this book. The first 12 chapters of John all concern Jesus’ public ministry, where He sought out a wide range of men and women who would believe. As we move into chapter 13, we shift our attention to Jesus’ private ministry. For the next five chapters, Jesus is alone with His disciples, before Jesus’ final glorification in the final few chapters.This week, we look at a quintessential story of Jesus. Jesus weaves together the truth of His upcoming sacrificial death and a model of true servanthood. He does this by lowering Himself to wash the feet of His disciples. There are so many implications here to explore – from Jesus’ mission and purpose, to the way He desires for His followers to live, to what exactly He is trying to teach us about receiving from Him. Join us as we explore this story together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
A candid discussion of the space between life-affirming care and pro-choice culture, and how Alternatives responds by engaging people where decisions are actually made, not where slogans live.James Everett grew up in Colorado Springs and came to faith in Christ at age 19 while stationed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. He served as a Sergeant at Colorado Department of Correction. He also has spent fourteen years in local government in leadership roles centered on accountability and organizational stability. He now focuses on mentoring teen and adult men to know Christ, understand themselves, and be prepared to protect and cultivate healthy relationships with their pregnant partners.-James Everett
In this next chapter of John’s gospel, we come across what is perhaps the most extravagant love ever expressed toward Jesus in His time on earth. Mary – a friend of Jesus – pours an expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipes His feet with her hair. While this story is shockingly similar to a story recorded in Luke 7, scholars agree these are separate incidents.Here we are confronted by what it means to love Jesus. What devotion to Him can look like – how it is to be expressed. An interesting and challenging question arises – this perfume was very costly, worth a year’s wages, it could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. But instead, it is spilled on the feet of Jesus. Mopped up with a woman’s hair. How do we love Jesus in this world? How do we honor Him with our choices and with our actions? Join us as we delve into this fascinating chapter together!- Pastor Nate Roschen
In John 11, we meet Jesus addressing a very human concern – death. His friend Lazarus has died, and facing an opportunity to confront our most raw vulnerability, our own personal fate – Jesus shows His power over even death.In Luke 16, Jesus told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the crescendo of that parable being when the rich man shares his deepest desire for his brothers to be saved from the terrible fate of separation from God, Abraham responds, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’This would turn out to be remarkably accurate. There were many mourners in Bethany that day, friends of Lazarus, who knew of his passing and participated in his burial. But when Lazarus stepped out of the tomb they refused to believe. Join us this Sunday as we explore this familiar story – and see a Jesus who meets us in our need, and addresses our deepest concerns.-Pastor Nate Roschen
In John 10 we find Jesus going into detail to describe for us, through a metaphor people of His day would have felt and understood, the way He thinks of our relationship. He described Himself as a good shepherd, one who cares well for His sheep. And what we find here, has the power to change us, and to change the way we see Jesus.We find in the metaphor of John 10, a nearly equal number of things that Jesus is and is not. He affirms that there are things a false shepherd, or a hired hand would do – that He would never do. But we also find a number of examples of selfless ways our shepherd will watch over us, care for us, protect us – that are stunning. No other god behaves this way. No other god even attempts to paint a picture like this. Come and join us, as we learn about the best shepherd together.-Pastor Nate Roschen
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. - Psalm 100:5 ESVThanks for letting us come to share what God is doing in Uganda. --Scott Brookins
As we return the Gospel of John after this season of advent, we find Jesus restoring a man’s sight who had been blind from birth. There is a great deal to glean from this passage. Jesus heals this man with a very unique and interesting method. He miraculously heals this man on a Sabbath day, which creates tension with the religious authorities. Finally, Jesus teaches the man he has healed that He came to bring sight to the blind, but also to make the sighted spiritually blind.Why does Jesus heal as He does? What lessons can we learn from how Jesus prioritizes healing of those in need on Sabbath days? Jesus confronts our nature, and shows us what we should emphasize during the course of our lives. Join us as we explore another important story from the life and ministry of Jesus.-Pastor Nate Roschen
On Sunday, December 28th, we’ll prepare to head into the New Year with a fresh look at the life and teachings of Jesus – based on Scripture from both Old and New Testaments. Paul describes for us in 1 Corinthians 13, and Jesus would model for us with His life – a still more excellent way. Join us as we seek to follow Jesus’ way heading into 2026!-Pastor Nate Roschen
The advent of Jesus Christ is the embodiment of John 3:16. God so loved the world – and so… Christ came to earth. His advent is the manifestation of God’s love for the world. But we must not allow our understanding of God’s love to remain merely at such a large-scale. God’s love for the world was expressed in many small, private, and personal ways.Over the course of His time among us – Christ loved the world, yes, but He loved people. He learned their names, their stories. If we are to do the same – loving our neighbors – we must know their names. Join us as we explore Jesus’ personal and compassionate love for the individuals that make up His creation! -Pastor Nate Roschen
There may be no other time of the year where the difference between happiness and joy is more evident. Happiness, as I’m sure you’ve learned, is circumstantial, derived from our experience. Joy is something else entirely, derived from a knowledge of our relationship with God – and His love. This joy is hard-won. Christ earned an eternal joy for all those who look to Him as Lord and Savior at the cross and the resurrection. But this joy was glimpsed, certainly, at Christmas. It is a joy won through pain as the Son of God submitted Himself to His creation. Join us this Sunday, as we see the joy that Christ brought to the neighborhood – this costly gift – won through pain. -Pastor Nate Roschen
The world that God created – and the one He desires – is one of peace. But, as we saw last week, this was not the world that Jesus was born into. Over the course of 400 years, Judea had been under the thumb of six other powers. There was no peace, no stability, no comfort to be found.When God moved into the neighborhood – He brought with Him a peace that can only be found in Him. He was called the Prince of Peace, and Luke’s gospel recounts that peace would come to those on whom His favor rests.Still, as we examine Jesus’ life and His teachings, there is often a noticeable lack of peace. How He spoke of peace was alien to His audience, and when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds were looking for a certain kind of peace – but they would never have it. How does Jesus bring peace? And how do we join Him in His peacemaking? Join us this Sunday as we continue our way through this advent season.-Pastor Nate Roschen
What happens when God moves into the neighborhood? For us, this question is no longer a hypothetical – Jesus Christ, the Son of God – took on flesh and came to earth. He walked our ground, knew our temptations, felt our vulnerabilities. He moved into the neighborhood.This advent season we will explore the comfort, as well as the challenge of this fact. What are the implications of God coming into our midst - to live among us? We don’t need to wonder – what would He do? He did. This week we’ll look at examples of the hope that Jesus brought to the villages and communities that He visited in His time on earth. We have much to learn from our God who is our example. Join us this advent season! -Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this Sunday as we read the passage of the adulterous woman in John 8. Jesus is being pressed by the Pharisees to lay judgement on an adulterous woman. In the end, Jesus tells her “Then neither do I condemn you,” Why did He not condemn her? Jesus has a plan for this woman and for you and me. God so desperately wants your presence with him in eternity that Jesus willingly took on the judgement meant for us to grant us access to the kingdom of heaven. -Elder Jason Moat
Throughout the world – people are hungry. We are familiar with the heartbreaking stories – and the pictures of people who are starving for food. But that’s not the whole picture. Many of those same poor people - - and many rich people with an abundance of food - - and people who have healthy families – who have experienced great accomplishment and gained power and position and the praise of other people – are still hungry. Often towards the end of their careers – or lives, they admit that they are still unfulfilled and unhappy – and without hope. They still have an unsatisfied hunger. Jesus Christ can satisfy that hunger. And He is the only one who can truly satisfy – and the only one we need. He gives a new, vastly superior quality of life – and one that endures forever! He is the Bread of Life which came down from heaven! He who comes to [Him] shall never hunger, and he who believes in [Him] shall never thirst. (Jn. 6:35). -- Michael Patrick (guest speaker)
In the New Testament, Paul exhorts his audience to be thankful approximately 45-50 times. Let that sink in for just a moment. Why? Why do followers of Christ need to be reminded to live a life of gratitude? In this life we live in the “already but not yet.” Somewhere between the pavement and the stars. We have been granted salvation by God, our eternal life with Him has begun, and yet we still experience heartbreak, disappointment, and grief.So, we are reminded in Scripture – that the evidence of God’s goodness is not simply our own lives. The evidence is the life of Christ – it is God’s actions toward us. This Sunday we’ll be looking at stories from the Exodus – God’s deliverance of His people from their circumstances - and their responses to Him. Join us this Sunday for our Community Thanksgiving Service – where we remember what God has done – and learn to respond to His goodness in a way that brings His loving kindness to others. -Pastor Nate Roschen
In John 6 the season of Passover is approaching, and as the people of Israel reflect on God’s deliverance from Egypt, the passing through the Red Sea and God’s provision of manna from heaven – Jesus returns to Galilee, feeds people with bread and fish miraculously, and walks upon the water.This is what God does - the sorts of actions that define Him. He feeds, protects, rescues and guides – though calamity may surround His followers. Join us this Sunday as we walk through these memorable stories of Jesus and see the connections between His work here and the Passover that His followers would have been familiar with!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week we follow Jesus to the pool at Bethesda. Here Jesus encounters a number of people on the fringes of society - the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed. Through engaging them in conversation – He learns that one of the men is a paraplegic, an invalid for 38 years. The challenges of a paraplegic in the twenty-first century pale in comparison with a person in the first century. His life would have been agony up to this point, crawling to move, isolated and unhygienic.This man is here to be healed. The belief was that on occasion, an angel would come along and stir the pool of Bethesda, and the first person to get into the pool would be healed. Jesus ignores this superstition, and simply tells the man to pick up his mat and walk. He does. He is healed.Join us this week as we explore Jesus’ heart here, as he selects the most vulnerable and most cast-off to heal, and then engages with the legalism of the religious as they confront this healing on the sabbath. Come and know the heart of Jesus!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Few stories in Scripture share the radical and counter-cultural nature of Jesus like John 4. Here we find the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Responses to this story have been varied. Some are genuinely troubled by the words they exchange, others find radical hope, while many more are confused – such was certainly the case with Jesus’ own disciples.What we have here is a story of such authentic love that it not only broke cultural norms – it radically affected an entire town. It is difficult to read these stories of Jesus and not wonder – how different would our world be if Christians were known only for our love and kindness? Join us as we follow in the dust of our Savior, Jesus!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week, in John 3, we are met with story of Jesus and Nicodemus. This is another story that is exclusive to the gospel of John – Nicodemus is never mentioned outside of this book.Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, comes to Jesus in the night, in order to gain understanding. He believes that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God – because no one could perform the signs Jesus does if God were not with him (John 3:2). What we find in their interaction is stunning. Jesus confounds him, puzzles him, explains the kingdom of God in terms Nicodemus has never considered.Much of what happens here is a common experience for anyone who encounters Jesus. We find, through Him, that God has more for us than we ever would have asked or imagined. Our worldview is challenged – and then transformed. Join us as we explore this fascinating conversation!-Pastor Nate Roschen
In this second chapter of John – Jesus and His disciples (just four of them at this point) are invited to a wedding. Jesus is not separate from the people. He is no celebrity. In attending this wedding, He isn’t leading or officiating the service. He simply attends. And what happens there will be understood as His first miracle. A miracle that would communicate what He had come to the earth to do.In chapter 2 we see some of the extremes of Jesus’ behavior while on this earth. At Cana – He is approachable, a man of the people, kind, generous. And later in the chapter, when He goes to the temple – and finds people selling in the temple courts – Jesus makes a whip, overturns tables, and creates a scene. Both of these scenes are recorded for our benefit. Both tell us a lot about Jesus and His mission. Come – let’s reflect on the life of the Savior. -Pastor Nate Roschen
This Sunday, Rachel Ney will be coming to share during service. Rachel grew up in our church and now serves with Unto, the humanitarian ministry of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). For the past two years, she has been serving as a missionary intern and is now building her ministry partner team in preparation for long-term ministry. Rachel will be sharing with us this Sunday about her next steps as a missionary and inviting you to join with her in her work.
The fourth Gospel is the legacy of John’s ministry – and it is no less beloved today than it was in the earliest years of the faith. This week we introduce this book, as well as its author. Immediately, we’re ushered into a very different setting from Matthew, Mark and Luke. John’s Gospel is passionate, definitive, and bursting with literary energy. In the pages of this book, we will be introduced to a portrait of Jesus that is deeply satisfying.Join us this week as we step into the first chapter of this book to learn about the centrality of Christ, and the attitudes and hearts of those who prepared the way for Jesus and who walked with Him in His ministry. We’ll also take some time to understand the methodology in John’s writing of this book. Come and see the story of Jesus’ life and ministry!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Last week we began a discussion around marriage and relationships. We saw Scripture define how and why we are relational creatures. Our relational identity finds its origin in our creation in the image of a relational God.This week we turn to praxis – what do we do with this? How can our relationships reflect our faith? How can our marriages tell of God? And how do we, as a community of faith – use our relational nature to expand the Kingdom of God? Join us as we explore more of marriage and relationships – and then, seek to live them out missionally, together. -Pastor Nate Roschen
The first thing I want to convey in describing this two-week series on marriage & relationships is that nearly everything that I have to say about marriage will be applicable to relationships and friendships. In this two-week series we will be taking a look at God’s desire for Christian relationships and friendships. Our God is a relational God and He has made us to be relational creatures.All people are made in the imago dei – the image of God. This not only gives value to every human life – it also tells us a lot about who we are, how we function, and what we need. Join us for these couple of weeks at the beginning of September as we reflect on what Scripture tells us about what we need from each other – how we can be intentional in building and edifying one another – and how we can learn from Jesus in all of this!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Worship is often used to describe certain parts of our lives, whether it is our daily devotions, our time at church on Sunday, or our time in the car listening to worship music. Psalm 96 explains the life of a believer in light of the God we worship. With the numerous distractions of our day-to-day life and the multiple directions we are so often pulled, this psalm reminds us to remain fixed on our Savior. With joy the psalmist instructs us to live our lives worshiping, and to let that worship flow into every part of our lives.Who we worship, why we worship, how we worship, and the result of worship are necessary questions for us to ask, and Psalm 96 gives clarity to those questions. Jesus speaks to worship that is not locative but rather worship of the Father that is in spirit and truth. Join us this Sunday as we worship and as we grow in our understanding of what it means to be worshipers of our King.Micah Ward
In this final message in our series on prayer – we come to the conclusion of Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. Here Jesus prays for you. And what He prays for us – is that which we long for. I don’t know that it has ever been fully realized – at least in our eyes and from our perspective – but it’s necessary and vital to our testimony. He prays for our unity.Unity and peace have very different meanings from a worldly perspective. They are both relatively passive ideas. They are the absence of something, rather than active participation in something. Jesus prays for the latter. Join us this Sunday as we see what Jesus prays for you!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week, we continue to seek out the heart of Jesus as He prays for us in John 17. What we find Him praying for is fascinating – unexpected. He prays in this chapter for protection for His followers as they serve as His witnesses and ambassadors in this world. But the focal point is always around one thing: Our witness.Christ never guarantees freedom from illness, pain, loneliness, or death. His prayer is that we would be One, and that we would be protected as we traverse the challenges of our lives – in order that our witness be protected. Consider with me this week – that Christ’s intentions for our lives are nearly identical to the designs He had on His own. That we would have a similar touch, reach, scope, and intention. Join us as we come to know His heart through His prayer for us!-Pastor Nate Roschen
The prayers we’ve looked at so far in this series have been both memorable and memorized. These prayers have been given by God for His people to pray. They are instructive, telling us more about who God is and what He desires.This week we begin to look at a prayer that is less familiar, but no less important. In Christ’s high priestly prayer, offered in John 17 – Jesus prays for us. Join us as we dive into this book and this prayer – offered by the Son of God on your behalf. What does Jesus pray for as He prepares Himself for the cross?-Pastor Nate Roschen
One of the great blessings of praying a prayer like the Lord’s Prayer is that we join with generations of Christians who have prayed this prayer over the centuries. It is a prayer that looks forward, and acknowledges that history is moving in a direction.This prayer – offered by Jesus in response to a direct question by His disciples as they sought to know how to pray – is loaded with instruction. It is a prayer that takes us outside of ourselves, while also acknowledging our very practical and tangible needs. Join us this Sunday as we examine this prayer that we’re all very familiar with – through a historical lens – as Jesus teaches us how to pray.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Community Sunday – a week where our focus is on the fact that the gospel we pin our hopes on is meant to go beyond these walls. This week’s message will take a look at the compelling nature of Jesus Christ.Sometimes it’s the simpler stories of Jesus that convey the most about the depth of Jesus’ love. In Matthew 9, Jesus is in a hurry. He’s rarely in a hurry, never in a rush. But He is here. A girl is dead. Jesus has been contacted by her father with an urgent mission to go and pray for her. Jesus got up, immediately, and went with His disciples to see the girl.But on the way – a new need arises. Humanity brushes past Him. Just as needy, just as broken. How does Jesus respond? In this story we find a Savior that we need. A Savior we could have never expected – but dearly, desperately, needed. Join us, and take a friend by the hand!-Pastor Nate Roschen
“Jesus loves me” is one of the earliest songs about the Christian faith that many of us ever learned. The song is simple and catchy, and reminds us of God's ability to love and care for us. Not long after we learn this song and important concept – we’re taught that we are to, in turn, love God. We’ve grown up with this understanding – we’ve never known teaching about God apart from it.But the concept of loving the God you worship – was entirely new to the Ancient Near East when it was introduced in the book of Deuteronomy. Other gods were feared, worshipped, sacrificed to, but never loved. In the Shema – we learn about the love of God – and the love we are to have for Him. Join us as we explore this essential understanding around prayer!-Pastor Nate Roschen
What is a blessing? The oldest recorded passage of Scripture written down anywhere in the world is a blessing – the one that the priests were commanded to bless the Israelites with. As we continue our study of prayer – we turn our attention to a prayer for the greatest gift imaginable in the Old Testament – God’s presence and favor. The Israelites were taught to pray real prayers - not abstract and intangible, but real and personal. Join us this week as we turn to the book of Numbers to see how the history of the Jewish people gave important context to their need to learn to pray in such a way. We will study together this first example of a model for prayer and blessing. -Pastor Nate Roschen
Prayer is one of a number of spiritual disciplines that Christians are to put into practice – meant to be a staple of our lives – along with reading Scripture, fasting, and sabbath rest. But what is prayer? What does it do? What is its purpose? Over the course of the next seven weeks, we’re going to explore the purpose and intention of prayer. We’ll do so by looking at prayers that are offered throughout Scripture. This Sunday we’re going to introduce the topic and look into the theological conundrum of prayer. We’ll poke and prod at some of our bigger questions around the practice of prayer. Join us as we launch this new series!-Pastor Nate Roschen
The last book of our Old Testament is a book about the love of God. The love found here is not some fluffy emotion. It is sure and certain. It is hard won and selfless. It is expressed in ways here that by its very nature – leads us to repentance and obedience.The book begins with Israel doubting the love of God. This struggle, this doubt, this uncertainty, is the doorway to much of humanity’s sin. We hedge our bets with idols and place our hopes in governments because we doubt the love of God. How will God respond? How will He convince us? Join us this Sunday as we wrap up our sermon series on the prophets.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this Father’s Day as we give thanks for the fathers and men of our congregation and our community. We are grateful for their influence and passionate faith!This Sunday we continue our study of the prophets by turning to the book of Haggai. Haggai was a prophet during the time of Judah’s return to the land after the exile. During this time the people were hesitant to rebuild the temple. The apathy they experienced from their suffering and loss led them to focus on themselves and not God. God speaks through Haggai to encourage them to do what they thought was pointless – rebuild the temple. Join us this week as we explore obedience in the face of apathy.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Since the Fall – there has been conflict and tension on this earth. Struggles that don’t seem to ever resolve. These kinds of tensions leave us with a sense of Us vs. Them. Like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s – these ongoing conflicts leave us in a lurch. The book of Obadiah speaks into one of these conflicts, a sore spot for the nation of Israel, its ongoing feud with Edom.Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, and like the prophetic book of Nahum, it is dedicated to the judgment of one nation – Edom. Edom had betrayed Israel, preyed on her, and took advantage of her when she was weak. And as we have seen in the other prophets – we are left to wait and watch – for what God will do. Join us this week as we study together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
If you have ever known devastating loss, a grief that you didn’t know how you’d ever get past – then Daniel is your book. Daniel was just a young man when he was led into Babylonian exile. 90% of Judah was killed in this time, so in a sense, Daniel was one of the “lucky ones.” As we’ll see this week, Daniel lost not only his past and his present life, but also much of his future on earth was taken from him as well.These are all of the earthly conditions. These are the human concerns. The book of Daniel is about what God will do in the midst of them. Join us this Sunday as we see God show up in the life of Daniel and his friends and they cope with their grief. Join us as we explore this book and the heart of God put on display within.-Pastor Nate Roschen
In Galatians Chapter 1, we will explore Paul's passionate message to the church. He highlights the importance of faith in Christ over adherence to the works of the law and expresses his astonishment at the Galatians' transition to a distorted version of the gospel. The chapter emphasizes the necessity for believers to understand God's true plan for salvation—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.-Ken Klepper
The unearned freedom, flourishing, and favor of God is not only endlessly enjoyed in Christ, but graciously extended through His Spirit-filled Church.As Christians, we can struggle to remember that God’s grace towards us doesn’t end with us. God has given us the gift of extending His grace to those around us. Enjoying the jubilee of knowing, and being known by Christ, compels us to love those who we might not naturally be drawn to. Jesus challenges our hearts which often desire to build our own kingdom, instead of laboring with God in growing His kingdom. Luke 4 is a beautiful reminder of the gift we have extending the grace we’ve received to those in need. -Michael TenBarge
Join us this Mother’s Day as we come together to thank God for the inspiring and godly women in our lives. This Mother’s Day we give thanks for the women who have been instrumental in the growth of the Christian faith, for the women in our own lives who nurtured our understanding and poured into us, and for the ways Christ elevated women and gave them a voice during His time on earth and ever since.This Sunday we will be focusing in on the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel. In Hannah I see the kind of unwavering faith and persistence that defines the women of faith that I have learned and benefitted from. Please join us as we recognize the women and mothers in our lives this Sunday!-Pastor Nate Roschen
It is around 587 B.C. and the Babylonians are storming Judah in all directions – destroying, murdering, and deporting the Jews from their land, the land that God gave them! What will happen to the faithful remnant? Why is God allowing the faithful to suffer with the sinners? How can a God who hates evil allow evil to come upon Judah and Jerusalem, his sacred city. Habakkuk seems to stand before God with his arms crossed and says, “God, I am waiting for an answer.” And God says I will give you an answer and you will not believe it. God is using Babylon as an instrument of judgment and ALL people – whether faithful or not – will be judged. God says to the righteous that you must live by faith! I will bring good where you see evil. Your perseverance and your waiting will glorify God, refine your faith, and ultimately lead to your salvation. Knowing this, the faithful must live through judgment rejoicing in their God and Savior, and leaning on the strength of their sovereign Lord. This is our future and this is our hope.Professor Jim Greenberg
The prophet Micah speaks to us out of his own humble beginnings. Micah was from Moresheth, a small village in Southwest Judah. As he grew up he was a witness to the greed, excess, and corruption of the privileged classes. But it was not just the sinfulness of the people that Micah confronts – he confronts their worship. More so than other prophets, Micah asks the question, “What does God truly want from us?”Micah boldly confronts the worship of his fellow Hebrews who worship God with “hands full of blood” and “sins like scarlet.” We cannot worship God and remain silent about the needs of the world around us. Worship is meant to nurture the people of God. Then we can become a people of peace, a people of commitment. Join us as we explore this beautiful and timeless book together.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…” – John 11:25Throughout the course of the year great emphasis is placed on the cross, and rightly so. The cross of Christ is a powerful symbol for us of the love and forgiveness of God. We cannot know who God is apart from the cross. It reminds us of the cost of our sinfulness, and God’s goodness in that He is willing to pay the cost Himself.Often, the resurrection is kept at a simmer on the backburner of our spiritual lives. I believe this happens for a few reasons, it is often overshadowed by the cross and the power of that symbol. But it is also harder for us to get a handle on. If the cross is the payment of God’s love, then the resurrection is the proof of God’s power. Join us this Easter Sunday as we explore this great gift – that still changes us, and still changes our world!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Please join us this coming Sunday for our Palm Sunday Service! On Palm Sunday we remember Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem. The whole city was stirred. Men and women threw down their coats and olive branches before Him as he came down the rode on the foal of a donkey.But away from the noise and excitement, the priests of the temple went about their work – and read that day from Psalm 24. This Psalm only further heightens the intensity of the paradoxical nature of that day. Who was this Messiah? What has He come to do? What were and are our expectations of Him? Join us as we take another look at Palm Sunday through the lens of Psalm 24.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Isaiah writes a book of judgement and hope to the people of Judah. In their rebellion against God, their religious hypocrisy, their worship of idols and moral corruption, God reveals Himself to be holy, and the one and only true God. A righteous and just God that addresses sin, but he is also loving, patient, a promise keeper and redeemer. Join us this Sunday as we look at the character of God through the book of Isaiah and what implications that has for us today. Elder Jason Moat
In this third and final week of studying the book of Hosea, we turn to the second half of the book, to see God’s response to the sinfulness and adultery of His people. How does God respond when His own people are as sinful as those who don’t know Him? When the people meant to be a blessing – fail to be? What is His divine response? Lament.Like a parent mourning over their lost children – God laments over His people who have rejected Him:“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah?Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” – Hosea 6:4 Join us this Sunday as we witness divine lament and come to more fully understand the heart of God.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Each one of the 66 books that make up our Bibles is important because each one conveys something unique about our God. As we continue our way through the book of Hosea, we see that this book is primarily about the love of God. Another important aspect of this book that we will explore this week is the personal nature of sin.To sin against God is not like bending the rules with a landlord or an employer – but a violation of the love relationship that we have with God. Hosea compares this with adultery – the prophet himself taking on an adulterous relationship to expose sinfulness for what it truly is. Join us this week as we see the love of God displayed – even to the unfaithful.-Pastor Nate Roschen
“Jesus Loves Me” – For many of us, this may be the first Christian song that we ever learn to sing ourselves. The words are simple, the tune is catchy, and an important truth is communicated – we are loved by God. Of course, the love of God is brought to its fullness in the death of Jesus on the cross. But in the Old Testament – how would one know the full extent of the love of God? How was it expressed? How was it represented?As we continue making our way through the prophets, we come to the prophet Hosea. If you aren’t familiar with this prophet and the events of his life – you will be stunned to learn what his life can teach us about the love of God. Please join us this week as we introduce this book, and learn about the heart of God together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14The book of Amos, and Scripture as a whole, does everything that it can to knock us off center. To remind us that this life isn’t primarily about us. A life of faith is not one of pleasing the God – earning His favor by getting Him to cover over to your side and perspective. It is about uprooting yourself, and humbly, gently, passionately – coming to God.The ”if” at the beginning of 2 Chronicles 7:14… is a big “if.” The truth of Amos is that most of Israel – nearly all – failed. They did not uproot themselves and come near to God. But some did. And even though they did not obey God perfectly – they came to God in expectation that His grace would be sufficient in their shortcomings. Join us this week as we wrap up the book of Amos!-Pastor Nate Roschen
We often say that God is in control. But what does that mean? To what extent? How far-reaching is our God? And how should we understand this – should we be comforted by God’s sovereignty? Or fearful because of it?The book of Amos explores the sovereignty of God as He works among His people. God is described here as a Father who loves His beloved so dearly, so desperately, that He both cherishes and disciplines them. He is described as being in total control – willing and allowing things to happen on the earth – wasting nothing.We may be tempted to reject this – the world certainly does. But we will see that when properly understood, God’s sovereignty is a most comforting and reassuring doctrine, and much preferred to leaving our lives left to fate, to chance, irrevocable natural law, or our short-sighted selves. Join us as we study the prophets together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
You won’t want to miss this Sunday morning! Lori Ann Satriano Arfsten, Director of Communications & Community Engagement for Alternatives Pregnancy Center, will be with us to share about the daily work of the pregnancy center and how you can be involved with positive solutions! Lori will explore how we can focus on the humanity of women facing an unplanned pregnancy and at the same time stand for the dignity and value of the life she is carrying. There will also be a table of resources and time to ask questions during lunch!
Why is it so hard to soften a hardened heart? This is one of the big questions that the prophet Amos explores in his book. The people of God – people who have access to God, His Word, a history of His actions and benevolence – are hard of heart. What will change them?Most people do not want to face their failure. We see that to be true at all ages. But the people of God (outside of a small remnant), had failed. As Amos 2 describes, they were “selling the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.” This was the people of God. They didn’t resemble Him, didn’t act mercifully as He does. What does God do with a hardened heart? How can He move us beyond complacency? Join us this Sunday as we continue our survey of the prophets!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Kevin and Trina Mayfield will be with us this coming Sunday - both in Sunday School and in the morning service. They have been involved in missions full time for over 40 years. The majority of that time they were church planters in Ecuador, SA, where they helped establish 5 national, autonomous churches, a camp ministry, and a couple of Bible Institutes. In 2021, they became Area Leaders for Biblical Ministries Worldwide. They oversee the missionaries in 7 countries - Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay and Argentina.In Sunday school, they will be sharing more about their church planting in Ecuador, and in the morning service, they will be explaining their roles as Area Leaders, along with preaching the Word of God. Please join us to hear from missionaries that we support!
Repentance is a word that I’m confident we’re all familiar with. We associate it with confession, owning up to sin, asking for forgiveness. The prophet Joel speaks to a nation that has a lot of repenting to do – but it seems to have forgotten how.Joel uses one word to communicate what repentance to God ought to look like – Lamentation. Lament is the process of coming to understand our sin. It is an understanding that our relationship with God – and others – has been impacted. Lament is not, “I sinned.” Lament looks like, “How did I sin?” or “What did my sin do to other people?”Joel communicates to us the sort of person God is looking for in relationship. One willing to be honest, thoughtful, considerate, and courageous enough to return to God with empty and open hands. Join us this Sunday as we continue our journey with the prophets!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us as we begin a new series – a survey of the Old Testament prophets. The prophets are some of the most interesting figures in the Biblical text. They lived under grueling and disillusioning circumstances – yet spoke with a powerful mix of courage and compassion to a people who often rejected what they had to say. They were the very messengers of God – tasked with calling the people of God to return to Him.This week we’ll be introducing the prophets, and we’ll take a look at the first of the prophets we’ll be covering in this series, Jonah. Jonah is unique as a prophet in a number of ways; sent to a foreign nation, a reluctant prophet, on the run from God, seemingly at odds with God. You know the Sunday School version of this story. But who was Jonah? What was his mission? And did he accomplish it? Join us as we begin this exciting journey through the prophets together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14bOne of the dangers of leading lives that are so often influenced by the hustle and bustle of day-to-day necessities is that we can fail to look at the big picture. James demands of us, “What is your life?” What is the direction of it? What are you chasing? What are you after?Jesus tells us in John 14:6, definitively, that He is The Life. He is not one path of many, one good option, a potential source. He is the life. He’s talking about worth. He’s declaring Himself to be sufficient, enough – satisfying. Join us this Sunday as we explore Jesus’ claims in John 14:6!-Pastor Nate Roschen
In addition to claiming to be “The Way,” Jesus also claimed to be “The Truth.” As with all three claims that Jesus makes in John 14:6, this claim is definitive. Jesus is not merely claiming to know truth or have access to truth, but to in a sense, “be” truth.Psalm 85:10 is a helpful verse to understand what is meant by this. It tells us that in God, “Kindness and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have embraced.” God is both love AND truth. God has authority, in effect, He “lays down the law.” Come and join us this Sunday as we explore the fullness of Jesus’ claim to be “truth.”-Pastor Nate Roschen
This Sunday we will explore how Matthew came to see Jesus’ ministry as the fulfillment of the words of the prophets. Jesus’ message is a light in dark places but maybe not in the way wed expect.”-Daniel Martinez
As we make the turn into the New Year and prepare to study the prophets of the Old Testament this Spring, I find it important to make a pit-stop at the foundational teachings of Jesus. In John 14, Jesus is comforting His disciples as He prepares them for His crucifixion and death. Thomas, ever curious, asks of Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6Join us this week, and for the next several weeks, as we take a look at this foundational teaching of Jesus – that He is indeed the way, the truth, and the life. What do these comparisons mean? What is Jesus getting at? And how can these teachings change our understanding of Christ and His mission?-Pastor Nate Roschen
Please join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. In this intimate service, we will reflect on the coming of Emmanuel – God with us. The birth of Christ was good news, not just for the powerful, but “for all people.” Join us as we celebrate this great and glorious gift of God.
“What should I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me?”-Psalm 116:12When we receive a gift from someone who loves us, our response should always be the same. We long to return the favor. To give as we have been given. The ultimate response from followers of Christ to what God has done at Christmas is to look to give back.Obviously, God has no need of anything we have to give. What do we have to give? This is the plight of the little drummer boy – the classic Christmas song. “I have no gift to bring – that’s fit to give our king.” So, what can we do? How should we respond? Thankfully, Scripture speaks to this. As we prepare Him room, join us as we explore Isaiah 53 and Psalm 116 to find our obedient response.-Pastor Nate Roschen
As we wait in expectation, asking God to do what only God can do – we are not removed or separate from what God is doing at Christmas. God desires us, draws us, to change. Those who witnessed the birth of Christ, the shepherds, the wise men – they were never the same again.As witnesses of God in this world – we see His great love, His forgiveness, His mercy – we also, can never be the same again. Those who are forgiven will also forgive. Those who have been shown mercy will also show mercy. This is not accomplished through intellectual enlightenment, or the “magic of Christmas” – it’s accomplished by God. Join us this Sunday as we explore how the coming of Emmanuel changes us as we explore Psalm 51 and the book of Malachi together. Come and prepare Him room!-Pastor Nate Roschen
As we prepare room for God in our lives, we move from expectation to request. Scripture is full of instances where people cried out to God because of their great needs. This week we’ll explore several texts where people voiced their requests to God as they awaited a Messiah.When do we ask of God? In the worst of times? When we’ve exhausted all other options? Or do we live in relationship with God to the point where our communion with Him is full of divine push and pull, request and deliverance? Join us this Sunday as we look to Isaiah and the Psalmist in preparation for Christmas.-Pastor Nate Roschen
This year our theme for advent will be, “Prepare Him Room.” Of course, this line is taken from the ever-popular song, “Joy to the World!”“Joy to the world the Lord is come Let earth receive her king Let every heart prepare Him room…“What does it mean to prepare Him room? This concept comes to us from Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, where he was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there simply was not room enough for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at the inn. But this concept has been taken to describe the necessary preparations and decisions involved with making room for Christ in our lives.What will this look like? Each week of advent we will be looking at one aspect of this. We must expect, ask, change, and give. Join us this first week as we see what Scripture has to say about expectation and what it means to look to God in expectant hope – desiring His intimate presence among us.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Here in this concluding section of his letter to the Philippians, Paul does all that he can to propel this little church forward. By his talk and by his walk, Paul has shown that we can have joy in the midst of suffering and trials. For those who have been compelled by Christ, it is our pleasure, our most sincere desire – to follow after Christ in joy.As we wrap up this letter and spend some time summarizing what we ought to take away from this four-chapter book, we will reflect on the picture that Paul has painted for us. Paul envisions a Christ follower who is not merely comforted by being non-anxious, but who is missional in their non-anxiousness. The life we are called to lead is certainly a blessing for us – it is the best possible life! But it is also a blessing for others – a witness to Christ and His goodness! Join us this Sunday for the conclusion of Philippians!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Please join us this Sunday for our Community Thanksgiving Service! We will begin with a time of worship, prayer, and reflection on God’s Word, and then enjoy a time of food and fellowship together.This Sunday, we will be taking a look at what Scripture tells us about choosing to have a grateful heart. What is at the core of thankfulness? What allows for joy and growth in difficult seasons? Join us as we see a consistent message throughout Scripture of how God uses restlessness, frustration, disappointment and doubt to grow us in compassion and grace. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.– Philippians 4:12-13
In this passage of Philippians from the middle of chapter three to the middle of chapter four, Paul describes in plain language the motivation and behavior of those who claim citizenship in heaven, and those who “live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul speaks boldly about what we need to look out for, but then turns to address our own behavior. What we are called to in this passage is, in a word, attractive.With the Spirit of God’s help – we can live a life defined by some vital words: safe, glorious, thankful, gentle, free from anxiety, peaceful, mindful. I am confident that we would all agree that more people, defined by these terms, are needed in our world. Join us this Sunday as Paul describes what a life following after Christ ought to look like, and how to get there!-Pastor Nate Roschen
The first half of Philippians chapter 3 highlights a couple of important ideas. The first is that nothing that nothing about us – what we have, what we do, and what other people say about us – is worth having confidence in. Paul, of all the Jews of his time, had reason to be confident in who he was. He was highly educated, well-respected, from the best tribe and family. But none of that counted for anything eternally.The second thought shared in this passage is that Paul – wise, educated, experienced Paul – still wanted to know God more. His desire to know God truly and intimately never waned. He wanted more of God. And if that is true of Paul, what does it say of us? Join us as we continue making our way through Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi!-Pastor Nate Roschen
As human beings we are often drawn to formulas. What is the best recipe for a good chili? What is the formula for the perfect day off? What is the best way to raise a child? How many books have been sold: recipe books, self-help books, etc. that are meant to teach us these formulas? But life is often more complex than that. There is not often one formula that will solve the problem for us. And the same thing is true of the church. There is no one, singular, formula. Every church needs to navigate their given cultural context. You can’t copy and paste a church model that works in one geographic area to another and expect the same results.This is part of why Paul writes his epistles uniquely each time. Different churches have had different struggles, and different gifts. But at the end of Philippians chapter 2, we find some guidance that is useful anywhere and everywhere. Paul wants the church to “shine…like stars in the sky.” Join us this week as we explore both the “how” and the “why” of this encouragement from Paul!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week, in one of the most familiar passages of the book of Philippians, Paul makes a further plea for the Christians of Philippi to concern themselves with their witness to the world. The beginning of Philippians two is one of the strongest arguments for humility and a gospel-centered life found within Scripture, and this week we’ll dive into the context of this passage.Paul does not base his plea on a good business strategy or the latest research. He bases his ask on the person of Jesus Christ. This might sound like a big commitment, an impossible task… But if our target must be Christ. As Christians we commit ourselves to follow after Christ, not Paul or Apollos, or any other human figure. Join us as we examine Paul’s words here, and apply them to our lives.-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week, as we move beyond Paul’s introduction to the Philippians, we come to the main portion of his letter. The first century, while certainly different from our own time, left Christians facing many of the same challenges that we do today. There were so many potential battles to be fought, causes to stand for or against, issues to be raised among people who genuinely wanted to follow Christ as nearly as they could.But for Paul, as we’ll see, it was all about witness. Everything was an opportunity. Every challenge was another chance for the Christian to respond in such a way that Christ would be made known. The important thing was to ensure that “In every way… Christ is preached”!Join us this Sunday as we explore this letter together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
This week we begin our new study of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. We will spend some time this week digging into the historical context of this letter. Why was it written? What was happening in Philippi at the time? What we’ll find is a thoughtful and caring letter sent to a church that was suffering - from an author who was also going through his own struggles.This week, as we explore the context and introduction to this letter, we’ll be encouraged by an early church that seemed to emphasize the right things, put their faith in action, and found joy even in the midst of the suffering they were experiencing. The message of Philippians is needed today. You and I need to be reminded to hold fast to the gospel – and embody it!Join us this Sunday as we journey through this letter together!-Pastor Nate Roschen
What is it that Jesus is inviting you to not lose heart over in your life, as you trust God for His timing, especially in anticipation of His return?Join us as we explore Jesus' words to us from Luke 18:1-8 this Sunday.- Barry Vegter
What does it look like to trust God? Is it just saying the words? I believe that one of the complicating factors to the act of trusting in God is that we hear of it so often, ourselves declare it so often, that we can believe it is actually happening when little evidence exists that it actually is. To trust God is a holistic act. It would be foolish to say that one entrusts God with their soul, but not their finances. But as ridiculous as that sounds, is it not commonplace? In Luke 12, Jesus speaks out against greed and arrogance concerning the future with a very direct parable. What is so compelling here is that we find our own words, the way we speak so freely about life – coming out of the mouth of Jesus. He cuts us to the quick. He takes us to task. We live with an arrogance about tomorrow. Our trust in God must become more holistic, more vibrant, more honest about the concerns of our lives. Join us this Sunday as we look into this final parable.– Pastor Nate Roschen
The goal of Women’s Bean Project is Supporting and Inspiring women through Social Enterprise. The Women’s Bean Project provides job training and employment to women facing significant barriers to work, selling high-quality food products made by these women to support their mission.Women’s Bean Project is a nonprofit social enterprise. We have a food manufacturing business tied directly to our transitional employment program. One cannot exist without the other. We believe all women have the power to transform their lives through employment. So we hire women who are chronically unemployed and we teach them to work making nourishing products that we sell across the U.S. Through their work at Women’s Bean Project, women learn to stand tall, find their purpose and break the cycle of poverty. Because when you change a woman’s life, you change her family’s life.VISIT OUR WEBSITE:https://www.womensbeanproject.com/stories/
Easter Sunday Join us this Easter Week for our Good Friday Service (3/29) for a time of reflection on the cross and the significance of Christ’s passion and crucifixion. Then, on Sunday (3/31), join us as we remember Christ’s resurrection, the promise of our salvation! As we remember the passion of Christ, we are humbled by God’s willingness to live a spotless life, die in our stead, and rise again after three days. Christ’s sacrifice is truly extraordinary. No king ever dies for their citizens. No god ever dies for their followers. But Christ came for us. Join us as we reflect on the significance of His sacrifice, and consider our response to Jesus, the Savior! -Pastor Nate Roschen
Palm Sunday 2024:From the Gospel of John Join us this Easter Week for times of remembrance and celebration. We begin this coming Sunday with Palm Sunday, where we remember and reflect on Christ’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, the introduction to the events of the Passion of Jesus – leading to His crucifixion and resurrection. On Palm Sunday, we remember the cheering crowds who welcomed into Jerusalem by throwing down palm branches and cloaks before Him. They cheered Jesus on – they welcomed Him as a coming King. Only days later He would be crucified. Palm Sunday is a day to examine our hearts and to consider… What did they expect of Jesus? And what do we expect, today? What has Christ come to do? And what has He come to do, in me? -Pastor Nate Roschen
In Romans 12, Paul commands the Christians in Rome concerning how they are to live. Paul does not have in mind a few minor changes, but complete and total transformation for Christians. Christians are not to conform to the pattern of this age (12:2). The ability to test and approve God’s will (12:2) is a dramatic change from the first several chapters of Rome where Paul describes a desperate and hopeless humanity. Paul then addresses humble service in the Body of Christ by using the gifts distributed by the Spirit (12:3-8). God’s will is for Christians to be Holy and exhibit love in community and toward outsiders. Paul encourages Christians to use their gifts and to see themselves accurately, not in either a conceited or undervalued way. To do this, he uses the analogy of the body, where each part is critical to the life of the whole. Join us as we begin this final section of the book of Romans on Christian Living! -Pastor Nate Roschen
In Romans 11, Paul asks the same question several different ways. The question is: did God reject His people? Paul answers, “By no means” because Paul himself is a Hebrew. He himself is an example of how God has not rejected the remnant of His people (11:1). Paul gives several metaphors to explain that the remnant of Israel sanctifies the whole. The remnant of dough sanctifies the rest of the dough and the root sanctifies the branches. Paul also commands the Gentiles to be thoughtful and kind in their relationships to Jewish Christians because they have both been grafted on to the “olive tree.” Gentile salvation depends on the mercy given to the Jewish people. Paul highlights the grafting of Gentiles onto the Jewish people by using the ridiculous metaphor of grafting wild branches onto cultivated roots. Anyone would have understood how unnatural and strange this command from Paul sounded. Paul says that both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians are the branches. The Gentiles remain Gentiles, the Jews remain Jews. They are however now all a part of the same tree. Join us as we continue our study through the book of Romans!
God seems to highlight throughout the Scriptures instances where Gentiles, people who are on the outside, without knowledge of God – who when given the opportunity, respond to God more readily than God’s own people. We see this with Rahab and Ruth, with the Ninevites in the story of Jonah. We find it in the New Testament, when Jesus highlights an example of a “good Samaritan.” In the book of Romans, Paul is observing the same thing. “The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it” (Rom. 9:30). It seems the Jews, who believed in the necessity of righteousness, struggled to release their grasping attempts to attain it for themselves. While the Gentiles, who had no such barrier, were able to readily accept a Savior. Join us this Sunday as we explore our understanding of grace and receiving God’s promise for ourselves.
Alternatives Pregnancy Center cares for Denver-area women and men in pregnancy-related crisis and offers them a meaningful alternative to abortion. Following the example of Christian love, we seek to meet their emotional, physical and spiritual needs. And we enable and encourage them to choose life every day. The vision of Alternatives is to be a primary life-affirming resource in the Denver area. Through our programs and services, Alternatives educates, enables and encourages those we serve and the Denver community to honor life. We provide a safe place for women and men to make informed decisions regarding unintended pregnancy, sexual health as well as healing from abortion loss. Through our proactive approach to relationship education and life skills, we promote whole-person health education for youth and emerging adults.
Romans 9-11 may seem to be quite the diversion from the main thrust of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. The first 8 chapters of this book explain, explicitly, how people are made righteous, both Jews and Gentiles. The final 5 chapters of this book explore Christian living – how we live into the office of the righteous children of God. In Romans 9-11, Paul returns to one of the primary reasons that he wrote this letter: his concern for the conflict between Jewish & Gentile Christians. Here especially, Paul is writing to express his anguish over the fact that most of his people, Israel, have rejected Jesus, the Messiah. Paul is heartbroken over this fact. God, who established His people, freed them from slavery, provided a wonderful home for them, and maintained a relationship with them unlike any other people, has been rejected by His own. What is there for us to glean from these chapters? Well, does your heart break for those who do not yet know Christ? Are you compassionate or bitter toward those who are far from God? Join us, as Paul shares his heart for the lost with us, that we too might share in his burden for them.
Romans chapter 8 begins with hopeful encouragement, and concludes with what may be one of the most compelling sections on the assurance of Christ’s love that is found in the book of Romans. It is here that we’re comforted with the truth that the Spirit of God intercedes for us, helping us in our weakness. When we don’t know what or how to pray, the Spirit of God intercedes for us. Beyond this, Paul shares his ordo salutis, his order of salvation, in verses 28-30. These verses require some unpacking to discover their worth. Finally, Paul declares that there is nothing that can separate a follower of Christ from the love of God – proven in the person of Jesus Christ. All of this Paul shares because unity in Christ is so critical for us to embrace and understand as we head into the rest of Paul’s instruction and correction that will make up the rest of the book of Romans. We start here, with a fresh reminder that God is enough for us. Join us this Sunday as we continue our study of Romans!
There are many ways that people perceive God. Some view God as some sort of employer – and so we have quotas to meet, tasks to fulfill, favor to earn. Others view God as a grand therapist – there when we need Him for spiritual advice and helpful hints for life. Others still see God as distant, unapproachable in His holiness – and so He is to be revered from afar, and should not be bothered with our petty concerns. In this middle section of Romans 8, having shared with us that those in Christ are no longer condemned by God, Paul speaks of relationship with God. But he speaks of it here very softly, gently, as a relationship between a parent and His children. Paul says that to God, we can cry out “Abba” Father – a term of intimacy and endearment. How do you understand your relationship with God? What does He expect of you, now that you are adopted to sonship? And what can you expect of Him, now that He is your Abba Father? Join us this Sunday as we explore Paul’s words here, and our relationship with God!
As we take our first steps into the second half of the book of Romans, we move from the human struggle against sin, and our desire to please God through works, to the wonderful and refreshing text of chapter 8. Here we find a most beautiful and comforting truth, that for those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation. Paul will continue in this second half of Romans to share with us about the change that is now possible by our faith in Christ. But for now, and for this week, let’s slow down and consider the implications of a life free from condemnation, guilt, and shame. What will this result in? What freedom will we experience? How will we in turn engage a world that is not yet free? Join us this week as we launch back into the book of Romans together!
In this final week before we launch back into the second half of the book of Romans, we take another look at one of the most distinctive characteristics of Christ - His unhurried nature. Jesus did many things over the course of His life, taught many incredible concepts, spent 3 years surrounded by 12 close disciples, healed people, delivered public discourses, etc. But Christ spent His life being available. He was available when opportunities arose to make an impact. He was available to those that many others would (and did) view as distractions, as unimportant, or as a “waste of time.” To be able to say “Yes” to important things, we must learn, like Jesus, to say “No” to other, lesser things. Join us as we take a look at this important word to live by.
This past week, we talked about Christian love, defining and distinguishing it from how we typically consider “love” within our society. Having a working understanding of love is foundational to Christian belief and practice. This week, we’ll discuss love as a command. In John 13:35, Jesus told His disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love is not merely an aspirational Christian virtue; it is to be part of the definition for what a Christian is. It is part and parcel to our faith. What is incredible about Jesus is that He does not simply spur us on to take radical action, He models these actions for us. Join us as we explore love, not as a mere nicety, but as a word to live by.
As we prepare for the year to come, we take a look at one last word to live by. Love is a cardinal Christian value. Love is to be a defining characteristic. For followers of Christ, being known as a loving person is not meant to be aspirational, “something we’ll grow into someday.” It is meant to be the primary means by which another would know that we are followers of Christ (John 13:35).I’m breaking this talk up into two parts because there is simply too much to cover in a single week. Next week we will look at Christ’s command to love in John 13, but this week, we start with the foundation, what is love? What sort of love are we actually describing when we say we are to be loving? To do this, we’ll do a deep dive on the way Jesus speaks of love in the book of Matthew, and how Paul refers to it in his first letter to the Corinthians. Join us as we launch into the new year with a refined and definite vision for Christian love.
Join us this Sunday morning for the final sermon on our advent series – looking at the birth of Christ through the eyes of the prophets. This week we’ll look at the prophet Zechariah and what God communicated through him about the coming of a Savior. The book of Zechariah is filled with visions and wonderful metaphors that explained the world from God’s perspective, and looked to the future and how God would make right what had been broken. Then, on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m., please join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. In this intimate service, we will reflect on the coming of Emmanuel – God with us. His coming was good news. Not just for the powerful, but, we’re told, “for all people.” Join us as we celebrate this great and glorious gift of God.
Living at the same time as the prophet Isaiah, Micah faced many of the same pressures and concerns. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already fallen, and the people of Judah were caught between mighty powers of the earth. The book of Micah brings many of the same charges against the people as the book of Isaiah, but also a great deal of hope. In Micah 5, the prophet writes of one coming from Bethlehem who would be their peace. A remnant of Jacob who would be refreshing and powerful – the king that we need. Join us this Sunday as we discover more of the prophet Micah, what he saw and what he hoped from this One who would be our peace.
William Stafford was once asked in an interview, “When did you decide to be a poet?” He responded that the question was put wrongly: everyone is born a poet. I just kept on doing, he said, what everyone starts out doing. “The real question is why did all the other people stop?” Jeremiah kept on doing what he was created for, over the course of his life he continued to live out the meaning of his name. The exact meaning of Jeremiah is not certain: it may mean “the Lord exalts”; it may mean “the Lord hurls.” Both are true of Jeremiah, and what is most certain is that his life was spent as a messenger, and as the message, of the God after whom he was named. Join us this Sunday as we explore Jeremiah 23, but also the larger story of this man who foretold the coming of Christ.
Each week of this Advent season, we will be looking at Advent through the eyes of those who prophesied about the coming of Christ. In this first week, we are going to be looking at a couple of the key passages about Christ’s coming in the book of Isaiah, but also, we’ll be taking a larger look at the life of the prophet. The book of Isaiah was written in the last half of the eighth century BC by Isaiah, son of Amoz. The book is nearly like a miniature version of the Bible, with two halves: the first concerning judgment, and the second, hope. God is described both as the judge who decrees destruction on a rebellious people, and a compassionate redeemer who will not cast off a people in despair. Join us as we look at what this prophet has to contribute to our understanding of Advent!
We are forgetters. I know that’s probably not a word, but it’s true. We are people in constant need of reminders, lest we wander off and lose sight of what we’re living for. One of the great tools of combating our forgetfulness and tendency to drift off – is to tell stories. We love stories, real and imagined. Our homes are cluttered with books. My office certainly is. Every month we gather at the communion table to recall to our minds the most impactful story we have ever taken in. The reality of Christ’s sacrifice for us is told again, and again. We remember. Rarely do the actions of another so completely define us. We may be influenced by the faith of a grandparent, the steadfastness of a friend. But what Christ accomplished for us on that cross ought to change everything about us – our motivations, where we place our concerns, our hope. Join us this communion Sunday as we remember together why Jesus came to us.
Whispering Pines Church invites you to join us for our Community Thanksgiving Service! The service will be a time of praise and reflection on the goodness of God. After the service we will enjoy a time of fellowship and share a wonderful Thanksgiving meal together. Please join us! This week we will be reflecting on the final exhortations of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Paul’s encouragements here are not dissimilar from his encouragements in his other letters, but Paul does place emphasis on his desire for this church to embody one thing in particular: Gratitude. Rejoicing is not meant only for songs sung once a week at church. Rejoicing is to be a way of life for those who follow Christ. Rejoice! I will say it again: Rejoice! Join us as we explore a foundation of gratitude that gives all glory to God!
Last week Paul told his readers “...we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6) This is a bold statement, and now he has some explaining to do. This week we look at Romans 7:7-25. Paul tells his readers that the law is good, but it inflames sin. What does that even mean? Paul also shares his personal struggle with sin, his frustration with himself, and how to rectify the tension we all experience between serving the law of God with our minds, yet serving the law sin in our flesh (7:25). Join us this Sunday as we get to the bottom of what Paul is saying to his readers in Rome.
This second segment of chapter 6 describes the new servanthood of believers to righteousness. Christians are freed from sin’s power for a reason, to serve righteousness. They have been brought from death to life, brought on by their new master. Followers of Christ have been given their own agency (as well as dignity) under their new master because they were given life. All Christians are now slaves, voluntarily, to God. They can reap holiness and eternal life as a benefit of this new relationship. The Pyramid of Honor is disassembled in this new metaphor. Those who previously were dishonored, the lower classes of the Roman world, are given new insight into their relationship with God that all believers can glean from. Join us as we continue through the book of Romans!
In Romans 6, Paul uses a human argument to convey the message that Christians are free from the bondage to sin. Many members of the Roman congregation, statistically, would have been slaves or former slaves. Paul does not avoid this issue but uses it to make his point about Christians’ standing with God. The chapter is broken into two main segments. In the first, which we’ll be covering this week, Paul explains that Christians are dead to sin. Paul confronts those who believe that sin no longer matters because their faith has saved them. Paul teaches that Christians are baptized into Christ’s death in order to live a new life (6:3). Those who have died with Christ are set free from sin (6:7). Sin is still wicked, and a sign of life in Christ is to offer oneself to God as an instrument of righteousness (6:13). Ultimately, for believers, sin is longer their master because they are no longer under the law, but under grace (6:14). Join us this week as we continue our study through the book of Romans!
In the second half of Romans 5, Paul discusses the reign of death brought about by the sin of Adam and all human beings from Adam until Christ. All people have sinned and face death as a result. But now, the grace of God has come to believers by the grace of Christ (5:15). The reign of life has come for those who receive the gift of righteousness because of one man, Jesus Christ (5:17). The obedience of Christ stands in direct contrast to the disobedience of Adam (5:18). The disobedience of Adam made many sinners, but the obedience of Christ enables all those who believe to be made righteous (5:19). The law was given to humanity to make their trespasses evident and unmistakable. Through Christ, the trespasses of humankind are met with incredible and unmistakable grace. Sin detracts from humanity, while Christ is the perfect human. To err is not human. To be more like Christ is to approach true humanity. Join us this Sunday as we continue in the book of Romans!
In chapter 5, Paul begins to tease out the implications of the fact that we are justified by faith in Christ. Sunday, we’ll take a look at what this beautiful reality means for us.-Daniel Martinez
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy4:1-25 One of the great mysteries of the Christian faith is this: we are at the same time in the eyes of God, sinful and righteous. We are both worthy and unworthy. Both need to be held in tension. Without remembering that Christ has made us worthy, we will sulk in our sin and live in despair. Without remembering that we are unworthy, we will become arrogant and proud. In chapter 4, Paul uses as example two men who are heroes of the Jewish faith, Abraham and David. Their faith, Paul says, was credited to them as righteousness. This bestowing of righteousness from God is a gift. It is not earned. God is not obligated to give us this standing, it is a gift. There is no one who can stand proudly before God and say “I earned good standing with you.” All of us stand humbled before God, worthy and unworthy, sinful and righteous.Join us this Sunday as we continue in the book of Romans! Pastor Nate Roschen
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy3:21-31 God is not fickle. He doesn’t change his mind. In the time leading up to Christ, He made His desires for His people clear – they should live with faithful obedience. This hasn’t changed. The requirements are still the same. The problem is, we could never meet the standards, the requirements that God desired. But Christ did. It is the work of Christ – His perfect obedience, submission, death and resurrection that saves. Faith is the vehicle by which we cling to Christ’s work. It is “received by faith” (Romans 3:25). We should see this for what it is – a blessing! We can’t earn our salvation anyway. But it also ought to cause us to slow ourselves down. To keep others in view of God’s mercy. By understanding our own salvation more deeply, we ought to be led to extend the gospel to others more freely. Join us this Sunday as we explore the role of faith in our lives! Pastor Nate Roschen
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy3:1-20It is a shame that we are not all asked more often, “Where do you place your hope?” If only to give us the opportunity to affirm that our hope is not in who we are, what our title is, the things we have done, or what other people say about us. So, let me ask you, dear friend, “Where do you place your hope?”For the Jewish Christians living in first-century Rome, their hope was found in Christ… and in their Jewishness. Their possession of the law and their circumcision were marks that they were God’s special possession, and their hope rested, at least in part, on these distinctives. Our hope today must not be in ourselves, for, there is no one who does good, not even one (Rom. 3:12). Our hope must not merely be in our possession of a Bible, or our attendance to the church. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. He alone can unite us. He alone can save us. It is His righteousness, His work, that liberates us! Join us this Sunday as we continue to grow in the foundations of our faith!-Pastor Nate Roschen
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy2:17-29Growing up it was easy to think that Scripture was mainly written for other people. As I read the stories of the lepers Jesus touched and healed, prostitutes He sat with and forgave of their sins, and the thief hanging next to Him on the cross, I thought my main takeaway was that I ought to be compassionate toward the same. While this is certainly true, and an important aspect of the narrative that we must apply to ourselves, Romans reminds us that we must apply Scripture one step further. I am the leper. I am the immoral one. I am the thief. I am the one who has needed forgiveness. Scripture must first be applied to ourselves. If we forget this, true compassion and Christ-likeness is impossible. Join us as we continue to apply and embody this letter to the Christians in Rome.-Pastor Nate Roschen
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy 1:18-32
In this second half of Romans 1, Paul sounds like the psalmist, wondering why there is such evil and sin in the world. We look for God to make right what has been so wrong. Paul is honest about sin, holding nothing back. God’s punishment for people who crave what is so self-destructive? He gives it to them. He allows them to have what will ultimately destroy them. God is fair in this way.
Like any good exposition on the gospel, the story must begin with our sin. In order to have a full view of God’s mercy, we must know what He has forgiven us of. Join us this Sunday as we continue this journey with Paul, and see even the sinfulness of humanity in view of God’s mercy.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Romans: In View of God’s Mercy1:1-17 Join us this Sunday as we begin a new series in the book of Romans. The letter to theRomans was written by Paul in AD 57. Here, Paul writes to churches that he has nevermet, never visited. Christians in Rome face many of the same challenges andopportunities that we presently face. They lived in a world that made many promisesand gloried in itself. Paul writes to instruct them on a proper theology of Christ and ofsalvation, critical issues they will need to understand as they live in a world that is nottheir home. In the introduction of Paul’s letter, Paul stresses that the good news of the gospeldoes not involve the righteousness or work of human beings for God. This is trulygood news! This is boundary-breaking, unity-forming, burden-lifting good news! Joinus this week to learn the circumstances behind the writing of this letter as we beginthis journey together! Pastor Nate Roschen
Words to Live by:Endurance We all want to endure, to be truly resilient. Paul spoke of running the race soas to win, “to get the prize” (1 Cor. 9). But our hope is to not merely find away to sneak across the finish line, to “survive” this life, but to live wholelives of meaning and purpose. To not lose sight of the mission over thecourse of our lives. To learn about enduring, we turn to Jesus. He did not merely eke out anexistence, but lived a life of intention. How did He do this? How did He keepfrom distraction? How did He endure temptations and suffering? Join us thisweek as we take a look at the sorts of enduring spiritual practices that Jesusput into place in His own life, during His ministry on earth. Let us follow inHis way! Pastor Nate Roschen
Hope - is that the light at the end of tunnel?Please join us next Sunday in welcoming Scott and Laura Brookins as they share with us and update us on their mission work in Uganda. God has blessed this ministry for many years and Whispering Pines has had the privilege of seeing God working in their Voices of Love School, the Farming Project, the Women’s Business Shop and the Bible Project. Jesus has clearly and repeatedly instructed us to spread the Good News not only in our own communities but throughout the world. “Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”” John 6:45.Most of us will never have the opportunity to disciple in foreign countries but we can none the less, through prayer and financial support impact the lives of others worldwide so that they too can know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Thank you,Sue Shelton/Missions
Words to Live by:Surrender All that matters is… How we finish that sentence will tell us much about who we are and whatwe value. What comes to mind for you? This week in our ongoing series ofwords to live by, we look at the word surrender. What role does surrenderhave in the life of a follower of Christ? What does it mean to surrenderyour life to God? In the book of Genesis, God creates for Himself a people. He hand-picks aman named Abram from which to build a people. What does God ask ofAbram? Surrender. What does that look like? Is it mental, emotional,spiritual, physical? Join us this Sunday as we look at what God desiresfrom us concerning surrender. Pastor Nate Roschen
Words to Live by:Forgiveness “Forgiving” may be one of the sweetest ways to describe Jesus Christ.As Christians, we stand forgiven because of what Christ has done forus. To be forgiven is an incredible thing, a life-giving reality. We praiseGod because He is both holy and loving, a God who forgives and relentsfrom sending calamity. He is known for His mercy. We prefer for God to be in the role of “forgiver.” Yet we are called toforgive as He has forgiven us. We don’t like this. To forgive anotherperson can feel like letting a guilty person off the hook. How do wenavigate this? How can we be convinced that we too must be known asforgiving, merciful people? Join us as we explore some of Jesus’ mostcompelling teachings this week! Pastor Nate Roschen
Words to Live by: Vulnerability
This Sunday we’re going to begin a new series of study that I'm calling, “Words to Live By,” about the difficult practices that Christ calls us to. Each week we will explore transformative words like: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Sacrifice, and Surrender. We don’t like these words because they push us, challenge us, demand more from us.
This week, we will begin with an introduction to the series and take a look at our first word to live by, Vulnerability. In the natural world, vulnerability is almost always an accident, a flaw, a mistake. But Christ has modeled for us a purposeful vulnerability for the sake of others.
Come and join us as we walk with Christ!
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life with God 2 Samuel 23-24
This week we come to the end of the story of David and his life with God. David has been found to be complex and relatable, a man after God’s own heart, and a man who still made terrible and selfish decisions. But this story has been about so much more than a man. God is on every page. It was God who raised him up. God who gave him victory over Goliath. God who made him king. God who forgave his monumental sins. David is on every page, but this story is about God.
Join us as we come to the surprising conclusion to this journey with David!
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life with God 2 Samuel 13-18
Sin has its effect. Last week we looked at the horrible sins that David commits in 2 Samuel 11 – adultery and murder. God is a forgiving God. God keeps His commitments to David, and spares his life and his lineage. But that is not to say that his sin goes without effect.
At a critical moment in David’s life, when David’s own son commits a similar, terrible sin, David’s sin rears its ugly head and drives David to… passivity. David is silent in the face of his son’s sin. Why does this happen? What has happened to this man after God’s own heart?
Join us this Sunday as we reflect on the effects of sin, and the full and sufficient forgiveness of Christ that we are invited into.
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With God 2 Samuel 11-12
Sin is death. It is not like death. It does not merely have the potential for death. It’s not like a weather forecast for death. Sin is death.
It would be easy to think that sin only comes creeping out of the shadows, from obviously evil persons. But as we turn the page into 2 Samuel 11, we find grievous sin coming from the one we never wanted to see defiled – David, the man after God’s own heart. It ought not be. But it is.
Join us this Sunday as we take a hard look at sin, why we choose it, and the effects it inevitably has on our lives. But also, critically, the God who does not abandon David, even at his worst.
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life with God 1 Samuel 6-9
After spending approximately 20 years from his anointing to his coronation as king of a united Israel, David takes his first actions as king. We’ve already seen in the life of Saul the sort of power that authority has to corrupt a person – how will David respond to being given the reigns?
David’s first moves as king are noteworthy because they model for the Jewish community what it looks like to put God first. David directs the Ark of the covenant to be brought into the heart of the Jewish state, Jerusalem. Join us as we explore David’s early moves as the king of Israel!
Pastor Nate Roschen
At the end of 1 Samuel, King Saul and his three sons die in a battle with the Philistines. Their death is a tragic end to the reign of the first king of Israel. But the story here is what David does, how David responds to the death of the man who has been after him for years. We might expect rejoicing. David is free, David is safe! But we didn’t find rejoicing. This week, as we take a look at Saul’s death, and David’s transition to king, we will see more of why David is called “a man after God’s own heart.” Join us as we continue the story of David’s life with God!
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With God 1 Samuel 30
Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
There are many places that are sacred and special among the people of God. We remember Bethany and Galilee, Shiloh and Bethel, and of course Calvary. But the name Brook Besor may not ring the same bell. So, this week we’re going to bring the story of David down to a low gear and take our time with this story of remarkable kindness. Join us at the Brook Besor, as we witness the giving and receiving of mercy – and learn to embody it ourselves.
Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With God1 Samuel 19-24On the run from a jealous and murderous King Saul, David flees to the wilderness. Times are bleak for the nation of Israel. Their King is attempting to hunt down a man who has not once wronged him, not once raised a hand against him. Sin is messy. Good people are forced into positions of lying and disobeying in order to protect David’s life. How do we respond as followers of Christ when we’re opposed for doing good? What comes out of us when we spend time in the wilderness? Do we bend the rules and take shortcuts that benefit us or are we willing to wait and trust in the Lord? Join us this Sunday as we follow David out into the wilderness.Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With God1 Samuel 18-23From humble shepherd boy to giant-slayer, we see David grow in stature and confidence. This would only continue. This next passage of scripture on the life of David shows him rising to meet challenges and opportunities. His fame grows and the women of Israel sing in the streets: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”Nothing is ever recorded depicting David show any disloyalty to King Saul, in fact, quite the opposite is true. David fully respects Saul’s authority as the anointed king over Israel. But we see jealousy creep into Saul’s life. He becomes paranoid and eventually, homicidal. How does David respond? What does faithfulness to God look like then? And how do we respond in unfair and difficult circumstances? Join us as we continue on in our study of David: A life with God!Pastor Nate Roschen
“The theme of David’s Psalm 8 is humanity as rulers over God’s wonderful Creation. Sunday, we’ll take a look at what that means for our identity and purpose, as we look to more fully live into our Creation mandate to fill the earth and subdue it”Daniel Martinez
David: A Life With God1 Samuel 16-17, Psalm 9I'm sure that we’ve all heard the most famous underdog story ever told. The story of David and Goliath is an easy and encouraging story to tell children. We usually tell this story and explain that with God’s help, we all can “fight our own goliaths.” But this explanation misses out on so much of the richness and wonder of this story. In each step of this story, we’ll see how David acknowledges God and embodies his faith in the God who “saved him from the paw of the bear and the lion.” We’ll ask questions about what our speech and indeed- our lives embody. Join us as we continue to walk with David through his life with God. Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With GodJoin us this coming Sunday at Whispering Pines Church as we begin a new series on the stories and psalms of David! In the life of David, we have the unique opportunity to not only read what is a truly fascinating narrative, but also to get behind the curtains to see how David thought about what he was experiencing. In the biblical accounts for most of the well-known men and women in scripture, we only ever read about the narrative itself, the events of their lives, what they do or say. With David, we are given a rich narrative account of his life, supplemented by a number of psalms that were written by him as these events took place. What we find is a complex character. He is a man after God’s own heart. He is a murderer. He is passionate about his relationship with the Lord. He is an adulterer. He mourns. He sings. He writes psalms. He dances. He is human and relatable. Join us as we journey through David’s life with God and come to see that this story is much less about a faithful man, and much more about his faithful God. Pastor Nate Roschen
David: A Life With GodJoin us this coming Sunday at Whispering Pines Church as we begin a new series on the stories and psalms of David! In the life of David, we have the unique opportunity to not only read what is a truly fascinating narrative, but also to get behind the curtains to see how David thought about what he was experiencing. In the biblical accounts for most of the well-known men and women in scripture, we only ever read about the narrative itself, the events of their lives, what they do or say. With David, we are given a rich narrative account of his life, supplemented by a number of psalms that were written by him as these events took place. What we find is a complex character. He is a man after God’s own heart. He is a murderer. He is passionate about his relationship with the Lord. He is an adulterer. He mourns. He sings. He writes psalms. He dances. He is human and relatable. Join us as we journey through David’s life with God and come to see that this story is much less about a faithful man, and much more about his faithful God. Pastor Nate Roschen
Worshipping The God who IsColossians 3:1-17Join us this Sunday for a special message on the topic of worship. For many of us, when we hear the word “worship”, we think simply of the singing of songs that occurs at church services on Sunday mornings in our town and around the world. But this week we’re going to dig deeper into the purpose and audience of worship. What is worship for? What is it accomplishing? Who is it for? This week we draw from the book of Colossians, chapter three, where Paul addresses the heart of worship and informs our understanding of the true purpose of worship. Join us this Sunday! – Pastor Nate RoschenColossians 3:16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Passion WeekReconciled to GodJoin us this Passion Week as we gather to remember the incredible price Christ paid that we could be reconciled with God. This week we will acknowledge with reverence the greatness of God, displayed in His willingness to die for us, an act necessitated by our own sin and rebellion. On Good Friday, we remember the bleakness of that day, the pain of His sacrifice, and the passion that led Him there with joy. And on Easter Sunday, we remember the power of the resurrection and the love of God that reaches to the least and the lost. Join us this year as we reflect on the love of God given at the cross! Pastor Nate Roschen
Palm SundayWhat Did We Expect?This Palm Sunday as we reflect on Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, we reflect on the expectations of the people who received him there that day. We see their excitement, their jubilation as they prepare the way for the One they expect to change their lives! But what exactly were they expecting? Today, we have similar questions to address. What do we expect of Jesus in our lives? Easter season is the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, but it is so much more than an anniversary. It is an answer to humanity’s fallenness. It is God’s response to our need! Join us this Psalm Sunday as we examine our hearts and discover the fulfillment of God’s promise to deliver us at Calvary!Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 5In this final chapter of John’s first letter, John does not coast to a stop. Chapter 5 is packed with practical and important teachings on Christian living:The commands of God should not be understood as burdensome.Christianity cannot be separated from the sacrifice of Christ. Followers of Jesus can have confidence in approaching God.Sin leads to death, but Jesus Christ has overcome.In all of these things, John offers assurance and hope. His love for the audience of his letter is tangible, and we should be encouraged to keep going! Join us as we wrap up this powerful letter to a church of early believers. Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 5In this final chapter of John’s first letter, John does not coast to a stop. Chapter 5 is packed with practical and important teachings on Christian living:The commands of God should not be understood as burdensome.Christianity cannot be separated from the sacrifice of Christ. Followers of Jesus can have confidence in approaching God.Sin leads to death, but Jesus Christ has overcome.In all of these things, John offers assurance and hope. His love for the audience of his letter is tangible, and we should be encouraged to keep going! Join us as we wrap up this powerful letter to a church of early believers. Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 4:7-21Throughout this first letter of John, the author’s primary focus has been on convincing us as Christians to love. Here, in the remainder of chapter four, John is concerned that we fully understand what inspires our love for one another. What is our reason for loving others?John has famously declared that God is light (1:5) and that God is Spirit (John 4:24), and now John declares that God is love (4:8). By this, John is expressing that all of God’s activity is loving! Join us this Sunday as we explore our motives for being loving people, as well as looking at God’s loving character to learn how we can more fully embody His truth and love! Pastor Nate Roschen
ProvidenceOur lives are not a random course of events and relationships that leads to nothing in the end, nor is it a fate set in stone that we have no control over. God is working with us, in us and all around us, all the time. God’s providence is something we experience all the time, but don’t often notice it for what it is. Join us this Sunday as we look into providence and how we can live our lives with this knowledge.Elder Jason Moat
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 3:1-101 John 3:1aSee what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!1 John 3 begins with the bold exclamation that many bible translations don’t include: Behold! Then, to further declare the bold and wonderful truth that God loves us, John uses the Greek term potapen (translated as “what” in the NIV), which means “of what country?” God’s love is so unusual, so unearthly, so unique that it leads John to exclaim, “Behold this love! Of what country is this?” This love is so great in fact, that it cannot remain merely felt or experienced, it must be expressed. Join us this week as we see how God’s love leads us to respond!Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 3:1-101 John 3:1aSee what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!1 John 3 begins with the bold exclamation that many bible translations don’t include: Behold! Then, to further declare the bold and wonderful truth that God loves us, John uses the Greek term potapen (translated as “what” in the NIV), which means “of what country?” God’s love is so unusual, so unearthly, so unique that it leads John to exclaim, “Behold this love! Of what country is this?” This love is so great in fact, that it cannot remain merely felt or experienced, it must be expressed. Join us this week as we see how God’s love leads us to respond!Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 2In this second chapter of John’s letter, John makes demands on Christians to live out a radical faith. He begins the chapter by telling his audience that he has written this in order that “you will not sin.” An authentic Christian testimony is critical in order for the gospel to spread. Christians are to be honest about our failures, but there is also an expectation that we are moving forward, that we are growing and maturing in our faith.“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (v. 3). This may be John’s thesis statement. Here, he both challenges us to not merely hear the Word and its commands, but to do them. T do this we must know God, see Him accurately, and out of our admiration and appreciation for God, obedience naturally follows. Join us this Sunday as we continue through John’s letters!Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 1:5-10To begin his letter, John builds on a metaphor that is used over 200 times in Scripture, that of light. This example may have been used so extensively because it is easy to understand and relatable for both young and old. I also believe that it is commonly misunderstood. God is light – John tells us. In Him there is no darkness whatsoever. This is followed by a command for us to also walk in that light. Join us for a conversation about the humility and integrity that we need to embody in our lives as Christians!Pastor Nate Roschen
Love, PerfectedThe Letters of John1 John 1:5-10To begin his letter, John builds on a metaphor that is used over 200 times in Scripture, that of light. This example may have been used so extensively because it is easy to understand and relatable for both young and old. I also believe that it is commonly misunderstood. God is light – John tells us. In Him there is no darkness whatsoever. This is followed by a command for us to also walk in that light. Join us for a conversation about the humility and integrity that we need to embody in our lives as Christians!Pastor Nate Roschen
The Practice of Prayer: Part IIPsalm 66, Matthew 6In this miniseries on prayer, we began by looking at the “why” of prayer. We pray because it connects us and grows our relationship with God our Father. This week, we look at the “how” of prayer. We tend to do things because they “work.” We educate our children because we believe it’s important for their development. We work because it pays the bills. We cook food that we hope will be delicious. If we’re going to spend time doing something, it needs to “work”, that it actually accomplishes something. We will not pray if we don’t think that it “works.” Join us this week as we consider successful prayer, and what Scripture has to promise us about communion with God.Pastor Nate Roschen
The Practice of PrayerThe start of a new year is a natural opportunity to turn the page into something new and fresh. I look forward to beginning our new series going through John’s letters, but before we do that, I’d like to begin the year with a topic fundamental to our faith and essential to the life of our church: prayer. What is prayer? What makes for a successful prayer?I’m sure that you’ve seen a number of models and acrostics for prayers. They can be tools to help us understand the purpose of prayer, and they offer us direction. In Luke 11, Jesus lays out a model of prayer for us. His prayer is humble. His words are sincere. I encourage you to join us on this first Sunday of the new year, as we explore the depth and breadth of Christ’s instruction on communing with God!Pastor Nate Roschen
Christmas: The Story We Step IntoIt’s an old, old story, read in churches by candlelight and by families gathered together in their homes. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…” The words travel to us from two thousand years ago, telling the story we’ve heard all our lives. Like an old nativity set handed down generations, the story itself can remain set up, bathed in warm yellow light - a story that happened, but so very long ago.Join us this Saturday, Christmas Eve at 6 p.m., and Sunday, Christmas Morning at 10:30 a.m., as we reflect on Christmas as a story that we step into, the ongoing mission of God! Pastor Nate Roschen
The Sound of Christmas: Come Thou Long Expected JesusChristmas was the advent of a Savior. The light of God entered into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. Light is needed in darkness. A Savior is needed by all those who cannot save themselves. The necessity of Jesus’ birth should not be difficult to understand from this side of the cross. But what kind of heart was ready to receive this Savior?In its first stanza, Joy to the World famously declares, “Let every heart prepare Him room!” The song we’ll be looking at this week, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, speaks of the heart often, saying that Christ’s coming is the “joy of every longing heart”, and asks God to “rule in all our hearts alone.” Wesley found the ingredients and inspiration for this song in the book of Haggai. He looked at the desires of the people at that time, and God’s own desire to bring what “is desired by all nations” (Haggai 2:7). Join us this Sunday as we examine the Scriptural roots of this Christmas carol! Pastor Nate Roschen
The Sound of Christmas: O Holy NightThis week in our advent series on the songs of Christmas, we take a look at O Holy Night. Written in Roquemaure, France in 1847, this song has a rich theology, and reflects the depth of the people and the time in which it was written. It is a song, I would argue, that is primarily about deliverance.The great deliverance of Christmas is from the sin that entangled, corrupts, and destroys. But some of the beauty of O Holy Night is that it also invites us in, as recipients of God’s deliverance, to join with God in declaring and spreading the deliverance He brings. God invites us into His work of chain-breaking, to deliver people from fear, from isolation, from ignorance and various abuses. This song was adopted by the abolitionist John Sullivan Dwight, and he utilized it in his efforts to end slavery. Join us this Sunday as we sing of God’s deliverance! Pastor Nate Roschen
The Sound of Christmas:O Come O Come EmmanuelAs someone who grew up in the Christian Church, the thought that God is Emmanuel (God with us) has always seemed so obvious, so normative, that I often forget its uniqueness. The concept of “God with us” is incredibly unique within the religious world. Other gods are not “with” their people; they are remote, preoccupied, unattainable, unreachable, and so “other” that one would hardly know what to do if they had contact with them.For as unique a word as Emmanuel is, one might expect it to be used commonly in Scripture, but it is not. It’s only used on four occasions, within two books of the Bible. Why is this? Most likely because God is, and has always been “with us.” There was no need to spell out the fact in the gospels, again and again, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was in our midst. He was right there. He was providing food, walking on water, and washing feet. He was tangible, approachable, and “with” us. Join us this Sunday as we explore the song “O Come O Come Emmanuel” to see where it finds its connection in Scripture!Pastor Nate Roschen
The Sound of Christmas: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Each week of this Season of Advent, we’ll be looking at a song of Christmas to see where it finds its roots in Scripture. This week, we’ll look at the song Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, which has its foundations in the book of Habakkuk. In a world that seemed to be darkening and the wicked seemed to be prospering, God spoke His plan of hope through the prophets. Habakkuk is refreshingly honest, as he shares a dialogue between God and himself. The prophet shares his concerns, his fears and frustrations, and finds an answer from God that he never could have anticipated. Join us this Sunday, as we explore this advent season through its music.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 131 & 132 Humility & Obedience
A weaned child with its mother – the picture painted for us by Psalm 131. For all the many things we go to the Lord for, and all the prayers we submit to Him for answers, do we often come to Him simply to be in His presence? This psalm or song of humility presents us with our deepest need, to just be with our Creator and Lord. Join us this coming Sunday as we discuss humility and a deeper trust in the Lord.
-Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 130 Hope
Psalm 130 addresses the reality of the human condition. Humanity does not speak to God as equals on even footing. It is out of the depths that humanity cries out to God. From birth we are in trouble. We are predisposed to selfishness. By nature and by choice we reject the Living God. We owe Him full allegiance yet our allegiance is divided. No one can stand before God blameless, not one.
But the pivot in this psalm comes in the waiting and the hoping. There is a desire to see God show up, more than watchmen wait for the morning. This hope is not in vain, for “He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins” (Psalm 130:8). This is the gospel and it is good news! Join us this Sunday at Whispering Pines Church as we reflect on the hope found only in the Lord!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Pastor Aaron Weber gives us a message about Following Jesus.
In Matthew 4, Jesus calls some of His first disciples by simply saying "Follow me". While this phrase makes sense on the surface, what did it actually mean to those men, and what does it mean for us to actually "follow Jesus" today? We will dive into Matthew 4:18-22 to see what it looks like to be wholly devoted to Jesus in a transformational way.
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 129 Perseverance
Psalm 129 speaks to perseverance and how a person grows in this virtue. We may think that perseverance grows naturally, either a person perseveres or they don’t survive. But for the believer, perseverance grows not merely through surviving difficult situations and suffering. Perseverance is grown through the acquisition of trust in and the gain in knowledge of our great God.
Psalm 129 tells us of the oppression that the author has experienced. He’s been kicked around, oppressed since his youth. He and his people have taken lashings. But his perseverance does not come from his callouses. His perseverance comes from the one that would one day take the lashes in his place. Join us, as we look to God’s strength and grow in perseverance!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 128 Blessing
What is "the good life"? And where is it found? An assumption can be made that for followers of God to find happiness, we must work harder to attain the good life than someone who can find it their own way. We can believe that the world offers a number of low-hanging fruits, ripe for the plucking, that we must refuse. So, we’ll need to find our own fruits.
But the Christian life is not one of bushwhacking a path through the undergrowth, searching out a life that is meaningful and fruitful. It is one of walking along the path our Lord has already paved. Christ is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He holds real fruit in His hands. Join us as we explore the blessing of a life with Christ.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 127 Work
Psalm 127 is a picture of work. It asks us some very hard questions about human effort. What role do we play in God’s grand narrative? To what extent is your effort required? We ought to approach this psalm humbly, asking how we may have overstepped our bounds and committed what Hilary of Poitiers called “irreligiosa solicitudo pro Deo” – a blasphemous anxiety to do God’s work for Him. In this psalm, we find ourselves asking again, “what does God require of me?” Join us as we explore meaningful God-honoring work, and examine our hearts together.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 126 Joy
The desire and pursuit of a fulfilling and joyful life must be one of the few ideals that our world can agree on nearly 100%. The path to joy, however, may be one of the most disagreed upon issues in our world. The paths to joy are numerous and vary greatly. Pleasure as a path to joy suffers from escalating costs and diminishing returns. Yet chasing after bright and fleeting moments of happiness remains an important pastime for many.
Like many other blessings described to us in scripture, we’re taught to seek first the kingdom of heaven, and then all of these other things will follow. Scripture, from the first few pages to the very last, shows us the way of discipleship, and joy is one its primary consequences. Written at the end of their Babylonian exile, on their return to Israel, Psalm 126 is a song about the sort of joy that comes as a consequence of holding onto God and God alone. (For an interesting comparison, see Psalm 137, which commemorates the beginning of their exile in Babylon). Join us this week as we explore joy - this fruit of the spirit, a calling-sign for the Christian, a Christ-like attribute!
-Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 125 Security
Who wouldn’t want more security in their life? My mother has always worked in insurance, trying to sell me on any and every plan, so that I could be as secure as possible. She is a very cautious and calculated individual, and I appreciate that about her. I also like to tell her that if I take out a larger life insurance policy, I would need to start living “riskier”, you know, skydiving, bungee-jumping, the whole deal. I like to get my money's worth.
A life with God offers the sort of security and comfort we long for, not because of some great deal that God is selling us, but because of who He is. Psalm 125 is a deep expression of that trust in God. If I were to be injured in a bungee-jumping accident, I would be seen as less by my wife or by my family. In the same way, through doubts and struggles, God does not cast us off either. The security offered by God doesn’t waver depending on me, praise be to God! Join us as we continue to study the Psalms of Ascent!
– Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 124 Help
“If God hadn’t been for us...” This phrase could well summarize our experience with God! Psalm 123 begins with this thought, that if not for God’s direct intervention, for His choosing to be with us, we would be swallowed alive. The notion that God’s great love expressed through His mercy, prevents us from being consumed, is a common one in the Old Testament.
This is what the author of Lamentations found as he witnessed the fall of Jerusalem – the people of God were not consumed! This is what Isaiah wrote of in Isaiah 43. There is no guarantee that we will not experience trials, even painful ones. In fact, they seem to be a certainty in this life. But God promises something better. He will be with us. Through the waters. Through the fire. He is the God who provides an ark in the flood. A Savior to the sinner. If God hadn’t been for us, we’d have been swallowed alive.
Join us this Sunday as we continue to apply the Psalms to our lives!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 123 Service
One of the most interesting observations we find in the Psalms of Ascent are unique perspectives of our relationship with God. In the 123rd psalm, we’re painted a picture of a servant looking to their master. This perspective may be a reason that many unbelievers hold against having faith in God, as they see it as restrictive, a limiting of options, a submitting of one's self to God’s rule and reign. But for the Christian, this relationship is the fullest of freedoms. Join us this Sunday as we explore this relationship.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 122 Worship
What is worship? How does one approach God on a given Sunday morning? In Psalm 122, the Psalmist writes with excitement about entering the house of the Lord. He tells us that his heart “leapt for joy!” What is worship, that it is worthy of proclaiming about our God who guards us from “every evil” (Ps. 121:7)?
Worship is not merely an aspect of a good church service. It isn’t just a few songs with a good message. It is meant to frame our perspective, to change our minds, to remind us of who we are and where we’re going. In worship we humble ourselves before the Lord, we communicate to Him what is true and good. We go to Him, not out of obligation or a sense of duty, but because He sent His Son to die in our stead. He is worthy of our praise, on our good days and our bad days. He is worthy of our praise when we feel like it and when we don’t.
Come, and join us as we take a biblical look at worship through the lens of Psalm 122.
– Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 121/Providence
Having grown fed up with the ways of the world, the psalmist now turns to seek help. Where does help come from? When you’re worried, or stressed, disappointed or discoursed, where do you turn? In Psalm 121, the psalmist first lifts his eyes to the mountains, is that where help can come from? Can help truly come from any created thing?
It is the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Maker of those very mountains, He alone can guard and protect us... How can we trust Him more? How can we learn to go to Him instinctually, like going to a light switch in a darkened room? Join us this week as we learn just what is promised to us in Psalm 121, so that we can know what we ought to seek from the Lord!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 120 Repentance
What are the psalms of ascent? They are the fifteen psalms that the Hebrew people would read or sing as they ascended on their thrice-a-year pilgrimages to Jerusalem for their great worship festivals. The ascent to Jerusalem was both literal and metaphorical. Topographically, Jerusalem was the highest city in Palestine, and so all who visited spent much of their time ascending. But the trip also acted out a life lived upward toward God, developing in maturity – what Paul described as, “…The goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
In his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Tim Keller writes, “The Hebrews were a people whose salvation had been accomplished in the exodus, whose identity had been defined at Sinai, and whose preservation had been assured in the forty years of wilderness wandering.” Again and again, they ascended up the mountain to remember and to renew their relationship with the God who had chosen them. Jesus Himself traveled this same path from a very early age (Luke 2:41-42). These psalms of ascent provide for us a way to remember just who we are, and where we’re going. They are guideposts on the journey, reminders that many of the best things in life, and much good Christian character, cannot be achieved immediately, but require a long obedience in the same direction.
Join us for this journey! – Pastor Nate Roschen
What does the kingdom of heaven look like? This could be said to be the central message of Jesus’s teaching while he was here on earth. Jesus considered this topic to be so vast that he told parable after parable about it, grasping for images, stories, and metaphor to describe it. So if we are to be truly students of the savior, let us continue to engage with these parables in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price. Pastor Daniel Martinez
Students of the Savior: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Matthew 13:24-43
The next three parables of Jesus in Matthew thirteen describe for us what the kingdom of heaven is like. The phrase "kingdom of heaven" is a phrase used by Matthew over 30 times! The introduction of both John the Baptist's and Jesus' ministries begin with the proclamation "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 3:2, 4:17).
The Jewish people were expecting a physical kingdom to be established by their Messiah, but Jesus made it clear that His kingdom was not of this world. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36).
This kingdom is not entered by anyone based on their own accomplishments, but because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Join us this Sunday as we learn from Jesus about what the kingdom of heaven is like!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-23
This week, as we return to our study of Jesus' early ministry in the book of Matthew, we turn to chapter thirteen. Here we find a series of parables explaining what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. In this first parable, Jesus tells the story of a farmer who went out to plant seeds. He plants the same seed among all kinds of soils, and only the seeds that are planted in the good soil take root and grow. Join us this Sunday as we explore with compassion the perspective on mission that this parable presents.
Pastor Nate Roschen
What does the word 'servant' mean?
Pastor Nate shares with us how we can more clearly communicate to the world about Jesus, the Servant of God.
Students of the Savior: Lord of the Sabbath: Part 2 Matthew 12:1-14
As we continue to explore the purpose and place of rest, we now turn to the New Testament. Jesus’ own practices often confused and confounded those who followed Him. In the midst of great success, He would pull away from the crowds for quiet time with the Father. And we know that Jesus kept the Sabbath, but according to God’s standards, and not human extrapolations and man-made rules.
As we look to Jesus’ words in Matthew 12, we’ll find that rest has a lot to do with mercy, and that Sabbath has much to do with trust, and that Jesus’ way of exhibiting these looked like an unhurried way of life.
Join us as we look to Jesus to help us understand rest and its place in our lives.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Lord of the Sabbath Matthew 12:1-14
At long last, we have the opportunity to explore the God-given command to rest. Here in the first section of chapter twelve, Jesus is confronted for supposedly breaking sabbath laws. Jesus seems to address the command to rest in a unique way, saying that it is “lawful to do good on the sabbath.”
In a Christian culture that often promotes busy-ness as a virtue, particularly within the church, how do we balance rest and work? How do we ensure that we’re not falling prey to the tyranny of the urgent, and setting aside time for the more inefficient aspects of our life with God? Jesus’ words in Mark two are helpful for us in this, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Join us as we look to Jesus to help us understand rest and its place in our lives.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Hidden Things Revealed Matthew 11
Matthew chapter eleven helps us to answer the question, “To whom is Christ revealed?” When John the Baptist was preaching a message of repentance in the wilderness, people did not come to him because he wore fine clothes, but because he was a prophet that spoke a truth they couldn’t deny. Jesus’ message did not come through the wise and the wealthy, but through ordinary people transformed by the gospel! Jesus actually tells us that the hidden things came to the “little children” (vs. 25). He invites all of us to come to Him, especially the weak and weary. He promises rest, guaranteed by His gentle and lowly heart.
Join us as Jesus continues to reveal His heart to us!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Sent Out Matthew 10
Having witnessed many miracles and having seen the tender compassion of the Lord firsthand, Jesus now sends the disciples out. They are told to take nothing extra with them, for God would provide for them. Jesus’ command for them is for all who follow Him to be “like” Him.
In this chapter we will find a number of very challenging teachings, as Christ demands allegiance to Him above all else. But that allegiance goes beyond a mere political or strategic alliance. The allegiance Christ demands is one of the heart. In all we do, we are to love God.
Join us as we witness Jesus’ sending out of the disciples
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Mercy, not Sacrifice Matthew 9:9-38
In Matthew nine, we find Jesus showing kindness after kindness. He raises a girl from the dead, heals a woman who had suffered for twelve years, and restores the blind and the mute. As Jesus sees the brokenness of humanity He is moved to compassion.
With people far from God who declare their need, Jesus consistently shows mercy. We all ought to consider our approach to people today in similar circumstances. Our Lord is a friend of sinners, welcoming a tax collector, a young man named Matthew, to follow Him.
Come, let us walk in the way of the Lord,
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Committed Matthew 8:18-34
As we continue to follow Christ’s early ministry and teachings, we come to a challenging section in the second half of Matthew 8. We find Jesus essentially turning away two potential disciples who come to Him, we see Him in the midst of a storm, and watch Him as He restores two violent, demon-possessed men. Following Jesus leads us places we may not want to go, certainly to places and to people we would not choose on our own. We find Jesus' disciples following Him, not because they are so courageous, but because Jesus is without fear, not because they are so faithful, but because Jesus proves Himself faithful.
Join us as we explore our commitment to Jesus
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Not Just Words Matthew 8:1-17
Join us this Sunday at Whispering Pines Church as we celebrate Mother’s Day, and continue on in our study of Christ’s teachings in Matthew 8.
After preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus applies His teaching by showing compassion on members of the most marginalized groups of His culture; lepers, gentiles, and women. Compassion for marginalized groups is to live on as a Christian distinctive. Christ challenges us to open our eyes to the needs of our world and apply our beliefs to our everyday lives.
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: The Narrow Road Matthew 7:13-29
When hiking in the woods you may come to a fork in your path. As you consider which trail to take, you may consider a number of factors. Does one trail seem to be more difficult? Where will each trail lead? It may take a great deal of time to decide, but to move forward, a choice must be made. Jesus concludes His sermon on the mount by contrasting a narrow and a wide gate, true and false disciples, and wise and foolish builders.
Join us this week as Jesus teaches us about this most important choice.
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: The Cost of Compassion Matthew 7:1-12
I’m sure that all of us have had a splinter at one time or another. I hated splinters as a child. They were painful, and even though I knew a splinter would have to be removed or it would become infected, I often resisted. At the same time, if my younger sister got a splinter I would be the first to encourage its removal. We can be the same way with our sin. Our sin is painful to remove, we can make excuses, or hide it in dark corners, all the while “helping” others with their sin.
Come and join us at Whispering Pines Church this Sunday as we study our Savior's way together!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Palm Sunday Matthew 21
The people were ecstatic! They shouted: “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the King of Israel!” They laid down palm branches and their cloaks on the ground before Him. Their King had finally come!
Only days later, this King was hung on a cross. Their longed-for Messiah was not what they expected. Their hopes of gaining political power and freedom from their Roman oppressors were dashed.
But… The King did ride into Jerusalem on that day, and He did come to deliver. He came to save. What is our response to this King who came to save us from more than just momentary light affliction, but sin and death itself? Do we still cry out, Hosanna, (which means “please save”)?
Join us, as we seek this Messiah who comes to us, and longs to be King of our hearts!
Pastor Nate
Students of the Savior Matthew 6:19-34 Trust
For the remainder of Matthew 6, Jesus turns to address our personal interior lives. Jesus raises the issue of greed and hoarding wealth among the people of God. These are not new issues, but in our modern world, they are often viewed as virtuous. Christ is bold and clear on this point, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24).
By utilizing imagery that was present there on the mountainside, Jesus assures us that we have no need to worry. Many of us don’t realize the driving force that worry is in our lives. Jesus calls out our worry for what it is, and calls us to instead trust in God. Join us this Sunday as we look to Jesus’ way, a life free from worry and full of trust in the faithfulness of God!
-Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior Matthew 6:1-18 Giving, Fasting, and Prayer
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus questions our motivation for three common expressions of our faith: giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. These response to God can become stale, mundane and ordinary. Christ directs us to love God with these essential practices in a way that is rewarding and personal.
Come and join us at Whispering Pines Church this Sunday as we study the words of Christ together!
Blessings - Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: Matthew 5:38-48 Loving Enemies
In the final eleven verses of Matthew chapter five, Jesus presents His most countercultural commands. Here He speaks of not resisting an evil person (v. 39), and of loving our enemies (v. 44). Jesus' heart, even for enemies and those far from the truth is revealed in these passages. This missional, uncompromising, love-until-the-end attitude is so desperately needed in our world today.
While examining our heart for anger or lust may be at least somewhat agreeable to us, Jesus calls us to loving enemies with seemingly no limits. We have seen this sort of Christ-like love play out in the lives of martyrs throughout Christian history. Men and women dared to cling to Christ, even if it led to their death. Where will Christ's love lead Whispering Pines Church?
- Pastor Nate Roschen
As we continue to make our way through Christ's Sermon on the Mount, we come next to a challenging passage where Christ affirms that He has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Through the rest of Matthew 5, we do not find Jesus lowering the moral bar for humanity, but raising it. There will be no prize for abstaining from murder, now Jesus will question the hate in our hearts. Keeping from adultery is expected, but what about the lust in your eyes?
Jesus alone has perfectly kept the law. It is Jesus we are to emulate, Jesus who declares us righteous, Jesus who cleanses us so that we can follow Him in spirit and in truth. As Paul would write later in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Join us as we continue to look at the greatest sermon ever preached!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Matthew 5:13-16
It would be hard to imagine a lightless and tasteless world. Thankfully God gave us all we needed to enjoy good food and the beauty of His creation. We call those elements salt and light.
For difficult times when the world seems broken, dark and flavorless, God gives the world what it needs. We call those elements, Christians.
Come join us at Whispering Pines Church this Sunday as we explore Jesus' declaration that we are salt and light in this world.
Pastor Nate Roschen
Students of the Savior: The Beatitudes
Jesus’ first public address was not to kings or dignitaries, but to ordinary people like you and I. He delivered good news to all the people, that there was hope for the left out and left behind. The poor, the mourning, the broken, were being beckoned by God. The message Jesus brought in this first talk was countercultural, introduced radical elements of the faith that continue to inspire, and declared that Christ alone fulfilled the requirements to bring peace with God.
This week begin our new series, beginning in the Sermon on the Mount, and then beyond to the teachings and works of Christ in the book of Matthew. Join us as we begin in Matthew 5 with the beatitudes!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Ekklesia: The Lord - Part 2 Matthew 13, John 16
In our last week of our study of expectations, we’ll look at what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, expects of us. Obviously, this is once again a topic that could be nearly endless is scope. Indeed, Christ has great hopes and plans for us. We’ll focus this week on what Jesus has to say in Matthew 13 and John 16, concerning allegiance to Him and living lives apart from fear.
What does it mean to you to put your trust in Jesus? As Christians, we believe that our eternal future is certain because of Christ’s death and resurrection. But what does Jesus expect of you concerning trust in the here and now? Join us as we look to Jesus as the way, truth, and life!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Join us this week as we continue to explore our expectations by looking at the very heart of Christ. Throughout the four gospels, there is only one place where Christ explicitly speaks of His own heart, Matthew 11. How we understand Christ will determine what we believe it looks like to follow Him. Is Christ a warrior or a rabbi? Quiet or loud? Join us as we examine our expectations, and see where Scripture leads us. - Pastor Nate Roschen
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Ekklesia: The Church: Part 2
This week in our continued look at the church and our expectations, we’ll explore what the church expects of us. We won’t find a demand to be busy, or perfect. What we will discover is a call to honesty and vulnerability, and a church that expects us to live as God has created us to be. As we look forward to gathering again this coming Sunday, I encourage you to reflect on Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae. Paul’s encouragement is to live as they are, to speak about the God that they know, and to allow the peace God promises to be expressed in their lives.
-Pastor Nate Roschen
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ekklesia: The Church
In our continued study of our own expectations, this week we turn to address the church itself. What are your beliefs about the church? What is the church supposed to accomplish? What role are you to play?
We know, from the Greek word Ekklesia, that the church is not a building, but a people, a people who have been “called out.” Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 2 that we are no longer foreigners and strangers, but members of God’s household. We are “being built together to become the dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Join us as we explore our expectations of the church, and the implications of this body which Christ Himself established!
Pastor Nate Roschen
Ekklesia: The Pastor - Part 2
This week, in our continued discussion of the role of pastors as shepherds after God’s own heart, we’ll look to our Good Shepherd in John 10. The analogy of a shepherd caring for sheep is a powerful one, and draws all of us to encounter the heart of Christ.
We’ll also explore what a pastor ought to expect of us. How can we bless our shepherds? More than that, what role do we all play in our own spiritual growth, our sanctification, and as ministers of God ourselves?
-Pastor Nate Roschen
Ekklesia - Part 1 - The Pastor We are launching into our new sermon series together! In this series we’re going to be talking about expectations within the church. What is a pastor? What is a church? What ought we to expect of Christ as we journey together, and what does He expect of us? In this 6-part series, we’ll explore our calling as the people of God to live as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We’ll explore the roles we play, the ways we ought to encourage one another, and the goals we should share. I hope that you’ll join us as we re-frame and realign ourselves with a Scriptural understanding of the church. -Pastor Nate Roschen
Christmas Eve 2021 We celebrate Christ’s birth! It was a love that came down to us all at Christmas, a Lord and Savior to rescue us from evil and ignorance. The way God provided through Jesus is incredible, because instead of coming to earth in power, Christ came as a vulnerable infant. God chose this, intentionally, willfully, with His creation in mind. Join us as we celebrate our great God, and the grace given to us in Jesus Christ! -Pastor Nate Roschen
Love Came Down at Christmas:
The Only Salvation
Greetings! I hope that your celebration of Christmas this year allows you room to consider how great of a gift Christ’s coming truly was! Christ’s birth changed the lives of all those who were there to see it. Shepherds watching their flock by night became “rejoicers”, who also happened to tend sheep. Mary and Joseph became the caretakers of the infant Son of God, who also happened to be a teenage couple, betrothed to be married. So too, Christmas ought to change us. We all, on this side of Christmas, are defined by our relationship to Jesus Christ. Allow this relationship to define your identity this Christmas!
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Love Came Down at Christmas: Mary & the Shepherds - Seeking to Believe
Up until this point in this season of advent, we’ve looked at what God has done at Christmas. We see the angels declaring the good news, the greatest news, that God has come to earth, born as a child, Immanuel! God’s holiness and goodness demanded that something be done to make a way for His creation to be restored to Himself. This week, we’ll see the angels declare this news to Mary and a group of shepherds. Their responses inform our actions today.
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Love Came Down at Christmas: Jesus Christ, Immanuel
Immanuel - What an amazingly descriptive word to communicate the uniqueness of Jesus Christ! That word, Immanuel, communicates three distinctive qualities to us: Jesus is God, He is human, and He is with us. The all-powerful Lord and Creator of all became flesh, able to be known, and to be loved by those who followed Him! But this Immanuel could also be hurt, betrayed, and killed. Jesus experienced the fullness of all that we know, and feel, and do. He did this missionally, for a purpose. How will we encounter Jesus Christ, Immanuel, this Christmas? And how does the incarnation move us to love God and love others?
- Pastor Nate Roschen
Love Came Down at Christmas: A Light Has Dawned From the moments after Adam and Eve first took a sinful bite from the forbidden fruit, humanity has sought a way to hide its shame, alleviate its pain, and redeem itself. Isaiah 9 tells us that people were living in darkness. Isaiah 8 tells us why… They were “looking toward the earth.” It is to that world that the light of Christmas comes, a people looking to solve their own problems, to fix, medicate, or escape from their sins. God had always promised to send this light, promising, in Genesis 3:15 that He would “crush the head” of Satan and defeat evil. - Pastor Nate Roschen
The Most Excellent Way As Christians we ought to desire what our God desires. We defend what God has made sacred. We hope for good things, and stand against evil. We are to be people who care a great deal about issues. Jesus spoke regularly and consistently about such things. One danger, however, is to concern ourselves so intently on the goal, that we lose sight of the means by which we achieve our goals. 1 Corinthians 13, often called “The Love Chapter” is all about the means. Without love, all that we do, work for, and accomplish is nothing. So, let us dedicate ourselves not only to the mission Christ has given to the church (Matt. 28:16-20), but also to the manner in which we live, operate, and follow Christ in this mission. This Sunday we look at the heart of Christ through the lens of 1 Corinthians 12 & 13. -Pastor Nate Roschen
Commissioning Service for Pastor Nate Roschen and affirmation of his calling to pastor the Whispering Pines Church Family
The Ultimate Goal
We come to our last sermon in the Galatians series. And I wanted to express appreciation from Gretchen and myself for the nearly 9 months we have been with you. Your love and support to us has been wonderful.
Although we haven’t been able to deal with each verse in Galatians, we have covered much of the epistle that Paul wrote to the church at Galatia. Today, what we will study will be from 6:14. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. In it we will understand the ultimate goal of all of us as Christians – to venerate and praise the LORD for the cross, for His incredible, unbelievable sacrificial death.
Pastor Rick
We are rapidly coming to end of our Galatians study, and building on last two weeks of “Freedom to Love and Serve One Another,” and the emphasis last week of “WALKING in the Spirit”. This week we study Galatians 5:16-25 on the topic of Deeds of the Flesh versus the Fruit of the Spirit. It gives us a more specific idea of the specific behaviors and characteristics we may find in our lives depending on if we allow the flesh or the Spirit to have control.
Pastor Rick
Ga 5:16-18 We have seen how important what we believe is in our desire to be people of God. The error of the Judaizers is evident as they tried to convince the Galatians to live following the Law of Moses, and especially to become circumcised. We saw last week that the conduct of our lives, that of through love, serve one another.” This week we learn the principle of setting a pattern in our lives, that of walking in a certain path, WALKING the way the LORD wants us to walk.
Elder Dwayne Gaeddert taught on our vision The Bible Centered Teaching. Pauls instructions to Timothy 2 Timothy 3:10-19 4:1-4
As we draw to the end of the Galatians epistle, we will move from the doctrinal to the practical. We find ourselves shifting from convincing the Galatians that they can’t be submitting to the theology of the Judaizers, or submitting to the Law or accepting circumcision to very practical practices. It seems that the error of the Galatians was more than theological. In one case they are giving up their freedom to the Judaizers, and submitting to the law and also now we see that they are giving up their freedom turning it into opportunities to be selfish. Paul will tell them that they need to be free, not do whatever selfishly they want to do, but to love and serve each other—WHAT A GREAT MESSAGE FOR US TODAY!
Abraham teaches us living by Faith and Grace
There is no other individual that is more important to the three monotheistic religions than Abraham. We saw some of this when we studied Abraham in our treatment of Genesis. As we look today, we will again see the argument of the Apostle Paul, that the life of Abraham how it was not circumcision or obedience to the law but Abraham’s belief, his faith, that brought him favor with God.
That is not a very polite question to ask of another. But it is the emphasis of the v1 of Ch 3 in which Paul states “1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you ?” We will learn how the second tense of Salvation – that is Sanctification—is key in our relationship to the Lord.
We now come to the heart of the message that Paul had regarding the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus the Christ. We see that the key concept is found here, in verse 20 , 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
We have seen Paul introducing his argument that it is not only unnecessary but WRONG to force people, that is, Gentiles to become Jewish if they are to become good Christians. We saw last week that Paul actually received his gospel of grace from God Himself, special revelation from the LORD. This week we see that another event in Paul’s growth as an Apostle also gave credence to his theology. It has to do with his further relationship to the church in Jerusalem. From it, you and I will learn about the development of the early church, and of the way change plays in our lives.
We have been studying Galatians, the 1st letter or epistle that Paul, the great Apostle wrote. In week one we looked at the person of Paul and the greeting verses that open the letter. In week two we saw the nature of the Genuine Gospel (The Good News) that God shares freely with mankind. This week we will see Paul defend the false accusation that he is peddling a “gospel” that he really “invented.” We will see that Paul strongly believes that God sovereignly controls all that occurs in our lives. Do you believe that? Please read Galatians 1: 11-24 in preparation.
We are in our 2nd week of studying Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. He will get right to the point of his writing his letter. He is astounded that the Galatians are turning their back on the gospel that he Paul had earlier brought to them. He says “he is amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him for a different gospel.” Like a soldier who deserts from his unit, this is incredible.
This week we begin our next series. We have been in Genesis, and starting this Sunday, we will be in the New Testament studying the Epistle to the Galatians. It is a very significant letter, written by the Apostle Paul and is believed to be his 1st letter. One of the key teachings of the letter is salvation by grace through faith, an essential of NT theology. In fact It played such a key role in the reformation that it was called “the corner stone of the Protestant reformation.” Because of its key teachings it is called the “magna Carta of Christian liberty,” proclaiming to modern generations that salvation from the penalty and power of sin comes not by works but by grace through faith in God’s provision.
Aside from Moses, no Old Testament character is mentioned more in the New Testament than Abraham. James refers to Abraham as “God’s friend” (James 2:23), a title used of no one else in Scripture. Believers in all generations are called the “children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). Abraham’s importance and impact in redemptive history are clearly seen in Scripture. (GOTQUSTIONS.ORG) This week we begin our discussion of Abraham. No one person commands more allegiance than Abraham, with those of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths looking to him as their progenitor. Have you wondered why the very first book of the NT begins Mt 1:1 “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:” Ever wonder why? It all began with Abraham.
We have in our survey of the first chapters of Genesis, seen much of the plan of God for His people. One of the most important is the building block of society, the family. What Adam and Eve established in their marriage, and family, several locations in the rest of Scripture fill in details. The LORD has given us more information and guidance as to the “operation” of the family. Pastor Rick takes us through several passages of Scripture, to give our Genesis series some “meat” regards the biblical family--rearing our families, God’s way.
If you were to say that things couldn't get much worse after the flood, we now find mankind quickly in rebellion to God, relishing in their flesh, in contrast to trusting in God. We look at the basic difference in the sins that brought about the flood and the rebellion of Gen 11, and the reasons why this second challenge to God's rule was so important. It will demonstrate to us one of the most difficult and challenging sins of man versus God--that man tries to elevate himself to replace God--to be egotistically self centered. It is after this rebellion that God will shift His emphasis from dealing with the entire mankind to a single family instead. This change is key to the truths that we know from the New Testament.
The New Beginning
Gen 7 23 Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. 24 The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days. What challenging way to end chapter 7. Death, death and more death. But God doesn’t leave us with that as our heritage. Chapter 8 starts, unusually with “But”… With this adversative, we see a new beginning. It is a beginning for us all; we all have a choice to make. Shown here in Gen 7 and 8, a choice of life or death.
The culmination of the ark “project” is upon us. Noah has finished the construction of the ark, has populated it with the animals God specified with God’s help. We will learn from the experience of Noah and his family, in the ark alone for a year. What can you and I learn from his experience both about himself and about God.
Jesus is The Truth One of the most foundational beliefs we hold is that God is both true and good. In John 14:6, Jesus makes exclusive claim that He is “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.” What do these individual claims mean?
Jesus is our connection to God the Father. He is both holy and good. God always does what is right. Do we believe that to be true of God? Or do we question Him when life does not go as we hoped?
Psalm 85:10 tells us that in God “Kindness and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have embraced.” We cannot find this pairing anywhere else. God is the definitive standard for perfection, being perfectly kind and truthful at once. When questioned, we will find that God has reasons for even our biggest questions. His goodness runs deeper than we expect.
Elder Jason Moat shares with us ~~ Where do we look for strength? Turning from frustration and wanting vengeance to praising the Lord. Psalm 28:7
Genesis 6 In Gen 6 we see how mankind develops, in a way you could say progresses, but it is really a digression, a deterioration. In this chapter we will learn about the Nephilim, and more. With the help of Jude and Peter from the NT, we will understand about what happened in Gen 6. We will learn about the ark and covenants that God made with man.
Mankind’s Start – Not a Good One
As we continue in the account in Genesis of the beginnings of mankind on the earth, we will learn from Genesis 5, and the first genealogy in the Scripture. Genealogies in the Bible are often “skipped over” portions of our readings. But I think we’ll find some very interesting and important lessons to learn. The application for us as believers will be seen in the phrase “walk”. How is your walk? Why is that an important question for us all.
Pastor Rick
We have seen the effect that sin had on Adam and Eve. We recognize that, especially the self-centeredness, is something we see as a characteristic of our society. Because our society often applauds the values of Satan, it elevates self centeredness as a prized goal to emulate. In fact, there are two ways at least for us to “picture” the world, that of man-centeredness, which we call anthropocentric (regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God…) as versus theocentric, where God is the central motivating being. It is clear that man being central is lifted up as the greater value by many in the world.
This Sunday, we continued to trace the degradation of the impact of sin, and see that it naturally will lead to death. And not just death in the general sense, but specifically death in that the first murder takes place. We will learn much about God, about the principle of grace, God’s teaching Cain about sacrifice.J
As we continue to study the history of mankind’s creation and fall, we now will see this week what the consequences or effects of the fall upon the human race will be. The Lord God said that the consequences of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would be death. “ from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Gen 2:17. You might ask yourself, what are the consequences or results of the dying of Adam and Eve will be—this sermon will deal with it.
We continued to study the Book of Genesis this coming Sunday. We have already seen God’s love and grace in His creation of the universe and this world. A very special part of the earth is created for His special creation, Adam and Eve. We saw that in the creation of Eden. And the incredible provision of God for Adam is that the LORD recognized a deep need in Adam for a special partner. We studied that the last message in Genesis. God proclaimed “It was not good that the man was alone.” We saw how the LORD provided for Adam by making Eve from his side. Adam was “floored”; She was not only incredibly beautiful, but the perfect partner for Him. We saw the beginning of marriage and family. This week we will find out what were the components of sin entering the world. And the impact it had on Adam and Eve. We see that the elements of sin, its allure and its impact in our lives still affect us today.
This Sunday we discover from Genesis 2 the secret of the foundational building block of society, THE FAMILY. It comes about not from TV or radio talk hosts and their thoughts for what a family should be about. It actually comes from God Himself, as He recognizes that Adam would require a special partner in his life. Up to this point, everything has been good that God had made. But God notes "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." The formula for a successful marriage is the same for the first couple as for you and me. We learn that secret this Sunday. Read Genesis 2:19-25 in preparation. And Pastor Rick is accepting questions on his Genesis series; if you have some thoughts or queries about this section, feel free to email him at Rhum76@gmail.com and put GENESIS ? for WPines.
We have been through a very difficult year, a "storm in life." Certainly Covid has changed our "normal." Perhaps you have had other challenges this past year such as financial struggle, family issues, health concerns. How has your faith been challenged, strengthened or weakened? We will be looking at "When Faith Is Not Enough" this Sunday.
We are now in the third sermon in the Genesis series. In the first two weeks we learned of the two significant truths; about God and beginnings. We learned of the beginning of everything in the space-time universe and the ONE who brought it all into being. “In the beginning God created…” is a watershed statement regarding creation and the self-existent God.
This week we are in Chapter 2, vv 1-17. We will see a more specific emphasis on day 6 of creation. We learn of God’s provision and love for man as He creates the Garden of Eden specifically for man. We also learn of God’s desire for protection along with His provision.
This last Sunday, Pastor Rick began his series in Genesis. He spoke on Gen 1:1 “In the Beginning,… He started by showing us that the Bible had always spoken of the beginning all things, as God acted. But science had originally believed the known universe was eternal, neither having a beginning or and end. But the big bang changed all of that and now scientists have to agree with the Bible that there was a beginning.
This next week Pastor will explain more about the rest of Ch 1 in highlighting the Intelligent Design of the creator, God, and specific observations of the chapter. The following concepts will be explained; kinds, tohu we vohu, uniqueness of man, ex nihilo, to name a few. We’ll see that truths in Genesis can have great meaning for us. Please read Gen 1: 1-25 in preparation for the message.
This Sunday is our 1st in the series, Genesis chapters 1-12. This series will help us comprehend what the foundational truths of the Bible are, that help explain the origins of the Judeo Christian world view. This week we learn of the beginning of the Time-Space universe. We will understand how it all began, and how mankind is related to the rest of creation. And we will recognize and celebrate our God as Creator, to Him belongs all the praise and glory, especially from us His creation
We begin the day with our normal worship service which will focus on the glorious truth of the empty tomb and especially the historicity of the resurrection. The resurrection really occurred, and is the best explanation of the empty tomb. Join us Easter for a wonder celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection! Feel free to invite friends and family to be with us!
The culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry is upon us. Jesus’ last miracle, the greatest to date, is the raising of a man who was dead – Lazurus. This did at least two things, it led the religious leadership, the chief priests and Sanhedrin, to decide they needed to eliminate Jesus for the “good of the nation.” For the people, this incredible miracle brought them together in their support of Jesus as the Messiah, their hoped-for king. In fact, the people rallied around Jesus as He entered Jerusalem, yelling in support of Him. But Jesus understood far better what was really happening amongst the crowds. For many of us, we have always understood the adulation of the crowds as their recognizing their king—but this message may change your mind. Join us this Sunday, in our 5th message of the Easter Season – Palm Sunday – Triumph or Tears? Pastor Rick
The Last Supper & Easter: Connections to Egypt
As Pastor Rick has been emphasizing during his Easter series, what was associated with the 1st Easter did not happen by chance, or by reaction to the rejection of Jesus by the 1st century Jewish leadership. No, this KEY EVENT was designed by God as the major component of His plan to redeem mankind. In fact God gave illustrations in the OT of the substitutionary death that Jesus would voluntarily give. This Sunday we will see the connection to a major event in Jewish history, that of the Passover celebration. Pastor will show us the connection to the last meal that Jesus would celebrate with his disciples, that of the Seder meal.
We are now in our 3d message of Easter. We have seen that what happened during Easter was not a reaction to man’s rejection of Jesus. Not a response, but a plan of God laid before the history of mankind. Last week we saw that the last great miracle (other than the Resurrection itself) was Jesus’ resuscitation of Lazarus. For many, specifically His believers, the raising of Lazarus caused great faith; but for his enemy’s, the same event became the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and led to the Jewish leadership to specifically, concretely plan for Jesus’ death. This Sunday we will learn that as Jesus prepared the disciples for his death, He will lead them from Uncertainty to Hope and Peace. God’s provision for the disciples will not be a knee-jerk reaction, but a carefully planned out program to provide for them AND FOR US!
Last week we studied how God wasn’t surprised by the actions of man or nature, but He is aware of everything. The event which is the foundation of today’s sermon is no exception. We’ll see that one of Jesus’ friends Lazarus becomes sick and dies and Jesus will use this sad, tragic event to help Lazarus’ family grow in faith. It will also pose an important question each of us as Christians need to answer regarding our willingness to be used of God.
Today we begin a new preaching series, Easter 2021. Pastor Rick will be leading us until Easter Sunday in our understanding of how Jesus’ death at Easter impacts us. This Sunday he will lead us in “Not by Chance”, how the sovereign plan of God the Father for the death of the Son was planned for, and not by chance; it wasn’t God’s reaction to man’s actions to reject the Christ. This will help us be confident in God’s control of our lives.
Pastor Eric shared that we are stewards of the Word, and fulfill our ministry by preaching the Word and by enduring. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Pastor Eric continues his study of the book of 2nd Timothy by sharing what we can do to be prepared and be grounded in God's Word. 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Pastor Eric shared how we can be strong in our faith through 4 Commands and 1 Promise. 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Guest Speakers from Alternatives Pregnancy Center shared what they do to help in the situation of an unplanned pregnancy, why they do it, and what we can do to help.
We can stand firm for the gospel by... * Embracing the message of the gospel * Not being ashamed of the gospel * Enduring the work of the gospel * Guarding the gospel 2 Timothy 1:8-14
Christmas should not be celebrated on December 25th...we should live like it is Christmas 365 days a year. Matthew 2:1-12
Christ is our source and template of love. To follow Christ is to love like Christ and live an others-centered life. Philippians 2:5-111
The joy of the Lord is our strength. We rejoice because of Christ's coming ~ the First Advent. We rejoice in His coming again ~ the Second Advent. Zeph 3:14-20
The Advent Season brings peace in the midst of our turmoil and chaos. Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79 Luke 3:1-2 Philippians 1:6
Pastor Eric shared than in order to have hope in the midst of a culture of fear, we need to fix our eyes on Christ who came and will come again. Jeremiah 33:14-16 Luke 21:25-36 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Pastor Eric shared Exodus 15:22-17:7. Discontentment and Restlessness prevailed even though God met all their needs. Does this attitude continue today?
Elder Jason Moat shared with us about Transforming Fellowship ~~ one of our church values.
Pastor Eric shares with us what it looks like to follow Christ in the midst of suffering, and how we can have joy even then.
Eric talks about what it means to walk with Christ in the midst of so much diversity.
Galatians 3:26-29
Eric shares what we should be doing in our marriages to honor Christ. Ephesians 5:21-33
Pastor Eric shares how we should follow Jesus in politically challenging times. Matthew 22:15-22
Pastor Eric digs deeper into God's Holiness looking at Isaiah 6:1-7; Hebrews 4:14-15, 10:10-22; and 1 Peter 1:13-16
Corporations, non-profits, and governments all have mission statements that express their values and guide their actions. Whether it's realized it or not, individuals have their own "mission statement" that they use to determine the path their life takes. What does this look like for a Christian?
Pastor Eric shares from Colossians 4 at our first in-person gathering since the 'stay-at-home' orders! The service was held outdoors at Whispering Pines Church in Golden, CO.
This week was full of emotions:
Triumphal entry, adoration of the crowds, excitement and rejoicing
Tears at the sense of impending doom
Today we learned about the Plan that God laid for the death of His Son ~~ it was a part of the plan since day one!
"For this reason" ~~ which is the privilege of the presentation of the Gospel - of being chosen to interpret and proclaim the secret of the gospel.
Paul's sacrificial ministry leads to prison Proclamation, Minsitry, and Tribulation Eph 3:1-13
The church body in the New Testament refers to the 'organism' consisting of earthly-human members of Christ Jesus' Body here on earth.
As we continue our study in the Epistle, Letter to the church at Ephesus, we today will grow in our appreciation of the miracle of Salvation that God has given us.
Yvonne Williams shares about the Alternatives Pregnancy Center that serves the CO Front Range.
www.youhaveALTERNATIVES.org
We continue learning the history behind Thanksgiving ~~ did you know it was established as a 3 hour Worship Service?
Pharaoh angrily allows the nation of Israel to leave after God’s ultimate show of supremacy—the death of the 1st born. The nation of Israel leaves from Egypt on the first leg of their journey to the promised land. But there is some unfinished business with Pharaoh. The Jews have suffered under the inhumane, cruel treatment of Pharaoh for years. This culminated with the infanticide of killing babies by throwing them into the Nile river. The message that God is communicating to not only Egypt but the ungodly countries in the promised land will not be complete without the final judgment on Pharaoh. Let’s see the coup de grace applied in the judgment of water. And no, it isn’t that Israel knew where the Red Sea was shallow.
Exodus Chapters 6-10: a closer look at Pharaoh's responses to the plagues that the Lord sent to Egypt.
Moses begins his journey back to Egypt God is going to use him , But first off The Lord gives some needed information and Moses is shocked into realizing that the priority in his life is not just ministry for God but obedience to God