Sermons – Pine Lake Covenant Church: Recent Episodes
Pine Lake Covenant Church
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/9.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeFollowing Jesus is more than a one-time decision—it’s a daily surrender of our whole lives to God. This weekend, we’ll explore what it means to become a living sacrifice: seeking God in prayer, trusting His will, and using our gifts to serve others. Come discover how ordinary acts of obedience can become an offering of worship.
Romans 12:1-8A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Footnotes
[a] Or the
[b] Or to provide for others
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This Sunday, we continue our journey through the book of Romans by exploring chapters 9–11 and the sovereignty of God. These chapters wrestle with difficult questions about God’s promises, human choices, and His unfolding plan of redemption. Together, we will discover that even when we cannot fully understand what God is doing, we can trust His wisdom, faithfulness, and mercy.
Romans 9-11Paul’s Anguish Over Israel9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised![a] Amen.
God’s Sovereign Choice6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c]
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e]
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f]
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[i]
26 and,
“In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[j]
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[k]
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:
“Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l]
Israel’s Unbelief30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[m]
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[n] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[o] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[p] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[q] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[r] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[s]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[t]
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[u] 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”[v]
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[w]
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”[x]
21 But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[y]
The Remnant of Israel11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[z]? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[aa] 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”[ab]
9 And David says:
“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”[ac]
Ingrafted Branches11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[ad] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[ae] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”[af]
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[ag] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[ah] knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[ai]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[aj]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Footnotes1. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised! 2. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12 3. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14 4. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23 5. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3 6. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19 7. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16 8. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9 9. Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23 10. Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10 11. Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23 (see Septuagint) 12. Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9 13. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 14. Romans 10:5 Lev. 18:5 15. Romans 10:6 Deut. 30:12 16. Romans 10:7 Deut. 30:13 17. Romans 10:8 Deut. 30:14 18. Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint) 19. Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32 20. Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7 21. Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1 22. Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4 23. Romans 10:19 Deut. 32:21 24. Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1 25. Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2 26. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14 27. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18 28. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10 29. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23 30. Romans 11:26 Or and so 31. Romans 11:27 Or will be 32. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34 33. Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now. 34. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the 35. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13 36. Romans 11:35 Job 41:11 Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post God’s sovereignty appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week in our Romans series, we turn to one of the most hope-filled passages in all of Scripture: Romans 8. Paul reminds us that suffering is real, but it is not the end of the story. In Christ, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even in trials, God is at work, weaving all things together for the good of those who love Him. Join us as we learn to trust God’s love, cling to His promises, and find triumph in the middle of suffering.
Romans 8Life Through the Spirit8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Present Suffering and Future Glory18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes1. The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me 2. In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13. 3. Or flesh, for sin 4. Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive 5. Some manuscripts bodies through 6. The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23. 7. Aramaic for father 8. Or subjected it in hope. 21 For 9. Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who 10. Psalm 44:22 11. Or nor heavenly rulers Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Triumph in Suffering appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This Sunday, we continue in our summer series in Romans, walking through Romans 5, where Paul has thoughts upon thoughts upon thoughts. We’ll move through the theological density together with curiosity—and maybe a little extra coffee or Gatorade—but definitely find some amazing faith-treasures along the way! We’ll be reminded that God’s posture toward us has always been love. Because of Jesus, we have peace with God, we stand secure in grace, we can hold onto a hope that will not disappoint us, and we can rejoice in sufferings—and that is very good news!
Romans 5:1-11Peace and Hope
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Footnotes:
[a] Many manuscripts let us
[b] Or let us
[c] Or let us
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This weekend in our series through Romans, we will look at what it means to be “Justified by Faith.” Paul reminds us that we are not made right with God by our effort, performance, or ability to keep all the rules. Justification is a gift of grace, received through faith in Jesus. Because of His finished work, we can stop striving to prove ourselves and instead rest in the righteousness He gives. This Sunday, we will be invited to place our faith fully in Jesus and trust that He has done what we never could.
Romans 3:21-4:25Righteousness Through Faith21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Abraham Justified by Faith4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[d]
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[e] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[f] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Footnotes:
[a] Or through the faithfulness of
[b] The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Leviticus 16:15,16)
[c] Genesis 15:6; also in verse 22
[d] Psalm 32:1,2
[e] Genesis 17:5
[f] Genesis 15:5
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As we continue our Romans series, we will spend time in Romans 1:18–3:20, reflecting on the reality of sin and the faithfulness of God. Paul helps us see that sin is not just “out there,” but something every one of us must honestly face. Yet even in our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful, meeting us with truth, mercy, and grace.
Romans 1:18-3:20God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
God’s Righteous Judgment2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The Jews and the Law17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b]
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
God’s Faithfulness3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”[d]
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
No One Is Righteous9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[e]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[f]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[g]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[h]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[i]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[j]
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Footnotes:
[a] Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12
[b] Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
[c] Or who, by means of a
[d] Psalm 51:4
[e] Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
[f] Psalm 5:9
[g] Psalm 140:3
[h] Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
[i] Isaiah 59:7,8
[j] Psalm 36:1
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This summer, we’re walking through the book of Romans, one of the most powerful and hope-filled letters in Scripture. Together, we’ll explore the good news of Jesus, the depth of God’s grace, the reality of faith, and the new life we are invited to live through the Spirit.
As we move through key passages across the whole book, Romans will help us see the beauty of the gospel more clearly and discover what it means to belong to Christ, be transformed by His mercy, and live as His people in the world.
Join us this summer as we open Romans and are reminded of the life-changing power of the gospel.
Romans 1:16-1716 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[b]
Footnotes:
[a] Or is from faith to faith
[b] Habakkuk 2:4
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This Sunday in our Come and See series, we will focus on Jesus’ invitation into mission. In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus sees the crowds with compassion and calls His disciples to pray for workers in the harvest. As we seek to create a culture of invitation, we will ask what it means to see people as Jesus sees them and to join Him in the work He is already doing.
Matthew 9:35-38The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
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This Sunday, we continue our series Come & See, exploring what it means to develop a culture of invitation. In Acts 2:42-47, we get a glimpse of the early church: a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, generosity, and shared life. Their life together was not only meaningful for those inside the community; it became a witness that drew others in.
Acts 2:42-47The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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This week in our Come and See series, we will explore Jesus’ invitation to grow deeper in Him through Colossians 2:6–7. Because it is Discipleship Sunday, our time together will be more conversational than a traditional sermon. We will listen, ask questions, and make space to be sharpened by one another as we consider what it means to keep walking with Christ—rooted in Him, built up in Him, strengthened in faith, and overflowing with gratitude. Come ready to wonder together, encourage one another, and take another step deeper in discipleship.
Colossians 2:6-7Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
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This week is Confirmation Sunday! Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the life of our students who have journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in these students’ faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church. See you Sunday!
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A simple invitation can change someone’s eternity. In our new sermon series, Come & See, we’ll explore how Jesus welcomed others into His family, His way, and His mission—and how we can do the same. Together, we’ll learn to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did, discovering how God often uses personal invitations to draw people closer to Him.
John 1:35-46John’s Disciples Follow Jesus35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[a]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
Footnote:
[a] Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock.
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What does it mean to truly know who you are? This Sunday, we’ll explore the gift of being yourself and the deep confidence that comes from knowing you are fully seen, fully known, and fully loved by God. No matter what life has looked like or what voices have shaped your story, God’s love speaks a better word over your identity, your purpose, and your value.
Genesis 1:2727 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
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This Sunday in our Multiply series, we’ll focus on what it means to multiply disciples. Jesus calls His followers not only to receive the good news, but to carry it—to be His witnesses and to help others follow Him. From Acts 1:7-8 and Romans 10:14-15, we’ll see that the mission of the church is beautifully simple: disciples make disciples. We’ll also celebrate that mission in action as we follow up with those being baptized.
Acts 1:7-87 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
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What does it really look like to be a disciple—and to make one? This Discipleship Sunday, we’re creating space for a different kind of gathering. Not just listening, but engaging. Not just teaching, but discovering together. Rooted in Acts 2:42–47, we’ll explore the beauty of a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, and shared life. Together, we’ll reflect on a simple but powerful truth: each of us has been shaped by someone—and we are called to do the same for others.
From ages 3 to 103, everyone is invited into the conversation. Through questions, stories, and shared insight, we’ll wonder together what it means to be disciples who make disciples in everyday, relational ways. Come ready to participate, listen, and grow—because discipleship was never meant to be done alone.
Acts 2:42-47The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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This weekend in our “Multiply” series, we’ll focus on intentional discipleship. In a world that constantly forms us, following Jesus does not happen by accident. It takes purpose, perseverance, and a life rooted in God’s Word. Together, we’ll explore this central truth: we don’t accidentally follow Jesus, we intentionally follow Jesus. Join us as we discover how Scripture shapes, equips, and strengthens us to grow as faithful disciples.
2 Timothy 3:14-1714 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnote:
[a] Or that you, a man of God,
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Last week we launched our new sermon series, “Multiply,” examining Jesus’ call to make disciples. This missional calling is for every believer! But how do we do this? Jesus sets the model for us. Looking at the discipleship of Mary Magdalene as an example, we see that Jesus formed disciples personally, relationally, and over time. Jesus met people with grace, walked with them in shared life, and entrusted them with his mission. That’s our model too!
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“Multiply” isn’t about adding more—it’s about transformation that spreads. Jesus didn’t call us to sit, watch, or simply know more; He calls us to become more—and help others do the same.
In this series, we’ll look at how Jesus made disciples and what it means for us today: investing intentionally in people, growing through real community, and living a faith that actually multiplies.
Matthew 28:16-20The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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This Easter, join us as we celebrate the greatest news the world has ever known: God so loved. We are reminded that Easter begins with the heart of God—a love so deep that He gave His Son so that we might have life. The cross and the empty tomb both tell the same story: we are deeply loved, fully seen, and graciously invited into eternal life through Jesus. Come hear the hope of Easter and the good news of a love that would not let us go.
John 3:1616 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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This week in Towels Over Titles, we’ll explore John 12:1–8 and the call to wholehearted devotion. Jesus invites us to more than acts of service for others—He calls us to love Him deeply, humbly, and personally. As we reflect on what it means to wash and anoint His feet, we’ll see that true service always begins with sincere love for Jesus.
John 12:1–8Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
Footnotes:
[a] Or about 0.5 liter
[b] Greek three hundred denarii
[c] See Deut. 15:11
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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This week we look at John 4:4-42 and the way Jesus welcomed and served someone society overlooked. In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus shows us that the kingdom is not built on status, position, or title, but on humility, compassion, and servant-hearted love. As we focus on Jesus serving the marginalized, we’ll ask a challenging question: How do we put down our titles so we can welcome and serve the marginalized like Jesus did? Join us as we learn what it means to follow the Savior who chose a towel over a title.
John 4:4-424 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Many Samaritans Believe
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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This week in Towels over Titles, we’ll reflect on the heart of Jesus for the next generation. In John 13, Jesus kneels to wash His disciples’ feet, revealing a kingdom shaped not by power or position, but by humble love. In Mark 10:13–16, He opens His arms to children when others tried to keep them away, reminding us that His heart is always turned toward those the world may overlook. As His people, we are invited to continue His story by serving as He served—lowering ourselves in love, making room for those who might be held back, and helping the next generation come near to Jesus.
Mark 10:13–16The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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This week in Towels over Titles, we’re looking at Judas—a disciple close enough to Jesus to share the table, yet willing to trade Him away for a price. In John 13:1–17, Jesus does something shocking: He takes the lowest place, wraps a towel around His waist, and washes feet—even with betrayal in the room.
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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For Discipleship Sunday, we’re gathering as one church family—from ages 3 to 103—to practice discipleship the way it often happens best: in conversation, in wondering, and in processing together.
In John 13, Jesus doesn’t give a lecture—He gives a living picture. This week’s theme is Jesus washing the feet of His friends—the people closest to Him. He kneels down, wraps a towel around His waist, and serves them with humble, hands-on love. Then He invites them into the meaning: “I have set you an example… you should do as I have done for you.” Together we’ll wonder: What does it mean that Jesus serves His friends? How do we follow His example with the friends God has placed in our lives? And what might it look like for us to pick up the towel—serving, forgiving, showing up, and loving in practical ways?
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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In John 13, on the night Jesus could have demanded honor, He instead wrapped Himself in a towel and washed dusty feet. The King chose the posture of a servant, turning a shocking moment into a lasting model: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” This wasn’t a one-time object lesson—it was a blueprint for discipleship.
Join us as we explore what it means to follow Jesus, not by chasing titles, but by picking up towels: serving when it’s inconvenient, loving when it’s costly, and leading by lowering ourselves.
Because in the kingdom of God, the towel isn’t beneath you—it’s the way forward.
John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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This week we step into Jesus’ vision of peacemaking, not as passivity, not as avoidance, but as something alive and moving; like a river. Peace is not a stagnant pond, it flows through hard ground and reshapes landscapes. God invites us to become active participants in his peacemaking: engaging healing and reconciliation in our relationships, our church, communities and in the world that is longing for restoration.
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Most of us know what it feels like to live split—pulled between what we want, what people expect, and what we know God is asking of us. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus names a better way: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Not perfect hearts—whole hearts. We’re talking about how the good life is an undivided life, and how a pure heart doesn’t just “behave better,” it sees better—God in full, not in part. We’ll look at why Jesus is always after the heart (not just our habits), and we’ll get practical with a simple rhythm: detach from what divides you, attach to what makes you whole, and start living with real clarity in Christ.
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Discipleship Sunday is designed to be hands-on and multigenerational—full of participation, questions, curiosity, and conversation. As we continue our series, “The Beatitudes” (Matthew 5:2–10), we’ll focus on Matthew 5:7 and the gift (and challenge) of mercy. We’ll name the weight we carry when we don’t offer mercy to others, and when we’re slow to accept the mercy God offers us for our sin.
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says the blessed—the ones living the truly good life—are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. That’s not mild interest; it’s a deep ache to live aligned with God. And when righteousness becomes your appetite, you start to realize something: the good life has a cost. Following Jesus means choosing His way over the easy way, His truth over the popular way, His love over the selfish way.
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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This weekend in our Beatitudes series, we’ll lean into Jesus’ promise in Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek…” Meekness isn’t weakness—it’s strength under control, a life that chooses surrender over self-protection and God’s purposes over personal power. Jesus shows us what it looks like to carry real authority with real humility, serving others instead of demanding our own way. Come discover how meekness reshapes everyday life—how we can serve instead of striving, release the need for recognition or control, and trust God to fight the battles we were never meant to win.
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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On Discipleship Sundays, we gather as one church family—ages 1 to 103—to learn together and disciple one another, and this month we’ll learn together through Jesus’ first teaching, the sermon on the mount. Jesus is establishing his kingdom and it must have seemed so counter-cultural. Is his kingdom still counter for disciples today? What does it mean to mourn? How are we comforted? Our morning will be interactive and engaging: we’ll explore together, reflect together, and ask honest questions that help us go deeper. Come ready to listen, share, and wonder!
Matthew 5:2-102 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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The Beatitudes… Jesus’ first teachings. The first words from your rabbi are important. They set the priority for his disciples to follow. Jesus’ teaching was counter to the culture of his day, and was a call for God’s people to return to their roots of being a people set apart. His kingdom would be an upside down one from the culture, then and for our culture today. In the new year, we return to the first teachings in order to learn how to be a people set apart testifying to the good news found in Jesus.
Matthew 5:3-10“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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This Advent weekend, we step into the hill country with Mary and discover that joy doesn’t begin with getting our life together—it begins with Jesus drawing near. Luke 1:39–55 shows how joy leaks when “me” becomes the center: the more we stare at ourselves—our stress, our lack, our comparisons—the faster joy drains away. But God doesn’t lose me in the midst of we; He meets Mary and Elizabeth personally, and He ignites joy through Spirit-filled community and spoken blessing. Then Mary sings, and we learn the way forward: stop chasing happiness that drips and start living from joy that overflows. Because happiness depends on what’s happening, but joy is anchored in Who has come.
Luke 1:39-56Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
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Love is the heartbeat of Advent. This week, as we sit with John 3:16–17, we’ll trace the story of a God whose love is eternal (“chosen before the foundation of the world”), visible in Jesus—the Word made flesh, and receivable, a love so wide and long and high and deep that it can actually take root in our hearts. In a world starving for real love, Advent reminds us that God’s love is not abstract, distant, or fragile—it comes near, puts on flesh, and reaches for us. Our response is simple but life-changing: RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE… and GO AND TELL GOD’S LOVE.
John 3:16-1716 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
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On our monthly Discipleship Sundays, we gather as one church family—ages 1 to 103—and this month we gather to explore the Advent theme of peace. Through the story of the shepherds in Luke 2:8–15, we’ll see how God speaks peace right into the middle of fear and uncertainty. Our morning will be interactive and engaging: we’ll explore together, reflect together, and ask honest questions that help us go deeper. Come ready to listen, share, and wonder: How does God bring peace to fearful hearts—then and now?
Luke 2:8–158 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
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This Advent, we begin a new series called Go Tell It, a journey into the good news worth sharing. In a world that often feels heavy and uncertain, the prophet Isaiah speaks a surprising word: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” This week, we explore the theme of Hope—not as wishful thinking, but as the arrival of God’s light in the darkest places. Come discover how even in the darkest times, God gives us hope worth sharing—and how Advent invites us to “go tell” the hope we’ve already received.
Isaiah 9:2-62 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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At the last supper, Jesus ate a meal with his best friends. They shared many meals together, and this was no different than any of the others, except that it would be his last. Even then you can see Jesus gathering his friends together to share love words of encouragement and deeper trust in him. We are called to do what Jesus did. To sit down with people at a table and build community. Join us as we discover the new rhythm of building communities around our tables.
Mark 14:12-26The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”
20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Footnote:
[a] Some manuscripts the new
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In a world where injustice separates and labels, Jesus meets a marginalized woman with dignity, truth, and grace. This encounter is more than a conversation about worship; it’s a confrontation with systems of exclusion and a picture of divine justice in action.
Jesus doesn’t just talk about justice — he embodies it. He meets the one pushed to the margins and draws her to the center of God’s redeeming love. As disciples of Jesus, we are invited to do what he did: to cross divides, confront injustice with compassion, and participate in God’s work of making all things right.
John 4:19-2619 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
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God welcomes us, so we welcome others. This Sunday we’ll explore the radical, boundary-crossing hospitality of God—from Eden to Bethlehem to the great last banquet in heaven. Scripture reminds us that we were once strangers whom God welcomed home, and now we are sent to reflect His heart to those who are on the outside looking in. Come discover what it means to love strangers, open our tables, our lives, and our hearts… and to join Jesus, the Host of the whole world, in welcoming every neighbor to God’s feast.
Luke 4:16-3016 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[b] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Footnotes:
[a] Isaiah 61:1,2 (see Septuagint); Isaiah 58:6
[b] The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
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This Discipleship Sunday we’ll explore what it means to share in the compassion of Jesus—a compassion that sees, feels, and moves. In a world that often pushes the poor to the margins, Jesus brought them front and center. His compassion didn’t stop at sympathy—it led to action. Together, as a learning and discipling community, we’ll reflect on how we can see the poor among us, have compassion, and act through listening, advocacy, and presence. Join us as we share stories, learn together, and seek to become a people whose compassion looks like Jesus’.
Luke 16:19-31The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
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Jesus didn’t just talk about compassion—He embodied it. He entered the homes of the sick, touched the untouchable, and stood beside the condemned. In doing so, He showed us that love is not loud or convenient; it is often quiet, faithful, and costly.
Following Jesus means showing up where pain lives—hospital rooms, lonely places, and even the margins of society. To do what Jesus did will cost us our time, our energy, and our comfort. Yet in those costly moments, we discover the heart of Christ beating through our own acts of mercy.
Matthew 25:31-36The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
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Deliverance isn’t just something God does for us — it’s something He does through us. When Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” He wasn’t inviting passivity but participation. Jesus came proclaiming freedom for the captives and breaking the chains of sin, fear, and oppression — and He calls His followers to do the same. In a world still bound by addiction, anxiety, injustice, and spiritual darkness, the prayer for deliverance becomes our commissioning.
Matthew 6:13And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Jesus met broken bodies with healing hands and a compassionate heart. Through our call to do what Jesus did, we’ll explore how Jesus still heals today—sometimes instantly, sometimes through process, and sometimes not until eternity. God can heal; God does heal; and even when He doesn’t, He is still good. As disciples, we’re invited to carry His healing presence into a hurting world, trusting His power and His purpose in every outcome.
John 5:1-13The Healing at the Pool
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
Footnotes:
[a] Some manuscripts Bethzatha; other manuscripts Bethsaida
[b] Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. 4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.
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Jesus gathered people in homes, in the temple courts, and along the roads, turning everyday spaces into classrooms of the Kingdom. Following Him means both learning and teaching His words—and we practice His way together.
Sunday we’ll explore what it looks like to be deeper disciples by doing what Jesus did—learning in community, teaching one another, and allowing conversations about Jesus to shape our daily lives. Discipleship isn’t a solo project; it’s a shared journey where we learn, practice, and embody the way of Jesus—together.
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Jesus declares His mission: to bring good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed, sight for the blind, and release for the captive. These words were not just spoken—they were embodied in His life and ministry. The gospel is not only something we proclaim, but something we live. What does it mean to demonstrate the gospel in both word and deed, so that our lives echo the good news of Jesus? If the message of Christ is to be believed, we must be the salt and the light to the world.
Luke 4:18-1918 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
Footnote:
[a] Isaiah 61:1,2 (see Septuagint); Isaiah 58:6Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Demonstrating the Gospel appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
God has poured His love into our lives—not for us to keep, but for us to share. As disciples of Jesus, it is imperative to discover what it looks like to take the love we know and bring it to those who haven’t experienced it yet. Join us as we learn how simple acts of love and courageous words can point others to the hope we hold in Christ.
1 Peter 3:13-1513 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Footnotes:
[a] Or fear what they fear
[b] Isaiah 8:12Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Preach the Gospel appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Jesus didn’t just preach the gospel—He practiced it at the table. In Luke 19, salvation came to Zacchaeus’ house not through a sermon, but through a meal. By breaking bread, Jesus broke barriers, and by sharing tables, He shared the gospel. Join us as we explore how hospitality isn’t just a good idea—it’s a gospel practice. The challenge is simple yet powerful: make space for the gospel by saving a seat at your table.
Luke 19:1-10Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
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Each month we intentionally set the stage for learning as a community, from 1-101 years old. Together we learn what it means to be disciples who follow Jesus, and this month we are asking the question What Did Jesus Do? It seems like a simple question, but it gets complicated when Jesus says his disciples will do what he did! Join us as we learn together to live as disciples that do what Jesus did.
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“Save us! Save us!” The world cries for deliverance as evil prospers and our anxieties rise. We long for refuge—yet too often seek it in the wrong places. Where can we find true and lasting rescue? This week in the Psalms, we are reminded who is our true defense and protection: “My salvation comes from God. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62Psalm 62[a] For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.[b]
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Footnotes:
[a] In Hebrew texts 62:1-12 is numbered 62:2-13
[b] The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8
[c] Or / God Most High is my salvation and my honorWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Psalm 62 appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Psalm 84 invites us into a holy longing—a deep desire to be near God and dwell in His presence. In a world full of distractions and quick fixes, this psalm teaches us that true fulfillment isn’t found in what we achieve, but in whom we pursue. Learning the art of yearning means shaping our hearts to crave God above all else—turning our restlessness into worship, our waiting into hope, and our journey into joy.
Psalm 84Psalm 84[a] For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Footnotes:
[a] In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13
[b] Title: Probably a musical term
[c] The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8
[d] Or blessings
[e] Or sovereignWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Psalm 84 appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Psalm 1 paints a vivid contrast between two ways of life: one rooted by streams of living water, the other blown away like chaff in the wind. In a world full of noise and shallow distractions, this psalm invites us to a life that flourishes through nourishing—anchored in God’s Word, bearing fruit in every season. Join us as we discover how to starve the lies of the world, feed on what truly lasts, and leave a wake of life for those who follow behind.
Psalm 11 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
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Psalm 121 teaches us that God is in control. Even though we may be far from the destination in our health, our jobs, our families, or our desires, we can come under God’s authority and look to the hills from whence comes our help on the journey. This Psalm shows us that the Maker of Heaven and Earth sees us. He will not abandon or forsake us. He slumbers not nor sleeps. God is in control.
Psalm 121A song of ascents
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
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Psalm 91 is a powerful declaration of God’s protection, presence, and peace for those who trust in Him. It paints a vivid picture of refuge under God’s wings, safety in the face of fear, and strength amid trials. Whether facing danger, disease, or distress, this psalm reminds us that those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High can live with courage and confidence—because God is not distant; He is our Defender.
Psalm 911 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Footnotes:
[a] Hebrew Shaddai
[b] That is, probably the kingWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Psalm 91 appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This Sunday, we will take a reflective walk through Psalm 103 where we are called to remember—not just with our minds, but with our souls. Psalm 103 calls us to preach to our own hearts: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” – and then walks us through remembering: who God is, what God has done, and who we are—and whose we are. And so we have every reason to rise up and sing, as the song says:
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah!
Psalm 1031 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
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Due to a power outage, we were unable to live-stream our service on July 20, 2025,
We’ve all waited for something we’ve wanted. For some of us we waited a long time and in other instances it’s like no time has passed till we got what we wanted. In a world where we can get what we want overnight, delivered to our door while we sleep, this instant gratification has deeply deformed us. It is harder and harder to wait, but how do we learn to wait on God who does not deliver like Amazon? Psalm 40 holds the key for disciples who long for God not the gift.
Psalm 40Psalm 40[a]
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.[b]
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened[c]—
burnt offerings and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[e]
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
Footnotes:
[a] In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
[b] Or to lies
[c] Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
[d] Or purification offerings
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In Psalm 139, we discover the beauty of being fully known by God — every thought, every fear, every joy — and invited to truly know Him in return. This week we’ll explore how God’s intimate knowledge of us is not something to fear but to embrace, and how knowing Him shapes our identity and purpose. Come find rest in the God who searches, knows, and loves you completely — and calls you to know Him more deeply!
Psalm 1391 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Footnote:
[a] Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning meWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Psalm 139 appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
From day to day, we make most of the decisions about where we go and what we do. In David’s life we get a glimpse of how the Lord was the guiding force of his life. What can we learn from a familiar psalm that might transform our everyday lives? The Shepherd does not tend the flock to give them what they want, but to lead them to what they need.
Psalm 23A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Footnote:
[a] Or the valley of the shadow of deathWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Psalm 23 appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
God wants our hearts, and this world wants to deceive our hearts. Jesus says that we cannot serve two masters. Generosity is the antidote to set us free from the poison of materialism. It is the key to putting our trust in God, to placing our hope in the Kingdom and not in things of this world. For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21, 24Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
/ … /
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
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Ever feel like what you have to give isn’t enough? You’re not alone. This week, we’re looking at a powerful moment where Jesus shows us that it’s not about how much we give, but how we give it. Everyone has something to offer, even if it’s small. Real generosity isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Come discover how you can live generously, give boldly, and set the example—not just follow it.
Mark 12:41-44The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
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I’ll hold the door for you, if you will hold the door for me. Just pay it forward. These are a couple of ways our culture can operate in generosity, but the way of Jesus offers another, more meaningful way to bless others. A culture of generosity is not just for those who’ve earned it or are worthy of it, but also for those who can offer nothing in return. Join us as we learn to live A Life of Generosity.
Luke 14:12-1412 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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Abram was told to leave his land, his home, his people, and start something new, centered around a new identity and a new culture. God chose Abram, giving him a new family and purpose. They were God’s people whose purpose was to be a blessing, but they needed to learn the practice of generosity. Join us as we begin our new series on living A Life of Generosity.
Genesis 12:1-3The Call of Abram
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”[b]
Footnote:
[a] Or be seen as blessed
[b] Or earth / will use your name in blessings (see 48:20)Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post The Practice appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week is Confirmation Sunday! Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the life of our 8 students who have journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in these students’ faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church.
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Jesus shows us that loving our neighbor means giving our time. He pauses for the desperate, listens, and brings healing. When we slow down, see others, and share our time, we reflect His compassion. Love isn’t rushed—it’s present, patient, and available.
Mark 5:21-43Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Footnote:
[a] Or IgnoringWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post With Your Time appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Jesus sums up the law and the prophets in two commands: love the Lord and love your neighbor as yourself. As we love our neighbors, we must do this in relationship, and anyone who has been in relationship knows forgiveness is essential. In Matthew 18, Jesus gives us an example of how to forgive others, so that we may be forgiven. So, come and join us as we explore how to love our neighbors as we forgive.
Matthew 18:21-35The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Footnote:
[a] Or seventy times seven
[b] Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wages.
[c] Greek a hundred denarii; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see 20:2).Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Forgiveness appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
What does it mean to love God and our neighbor lavishly? We are going to explore a powerful moment from Luke’s gospel, where we witness a forgiven woman pour out her love for Jesus in an extravagant display of devotion. In this story, we too are challenged to consider the depth of our own love in how freely we welcome and love others with our whole heart.
Luke 7:36–5036 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Footnote:
[a] A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matthew 20:2).Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Lavish appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
On the first Sunday each month, we intentionally set the stage for learning as a community—from 1-101 years old—and together we learn what it means to be disciples who follow Jesus. This month we are learning how to love our neighbors through our shared hospitality. What is hospitality? What role does hospitality play in loving our neighbor? Join us in learning the art of “setting the table” for our neighbors.
Genesis 18:1-8The Three Visitors
1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Footnotes:
[a] Or eyes, Lord
[b] That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilogramsWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Hospitality appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Jesus said the whole law could be summed up by these two commands: to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. The latter of the two was such a hot-button issue that he was asked what the minimum requirement was to love one’s neighbor and still enter into eternal life with God. Jesus did not say that one is greater than the other, or that there is a minimum requirement for either. The expectation of Jesus’ followers is to love God and their neighbor with their whole being. So, the question is, could we love God by loving our neighbor and fulfill the heart of the law. Join us over the next 5 weeks as we learn how to be the neighbors God is calling us to be.
Luke 10:25-29The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Footnotes:
[a] Deuteronomy 6:5
[b] Leviticus 19:18Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post The Love Command appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
God is doing something new; can you see it? We might not be able to see it in the world or in our day-to-day, but we long for the new God is doing. We desperately need the new life Jesus is offering through his death and resurrection. How do we get Jesus’ new life? What difference does it actually make? Join us as we seek the new life Jesus longs for us to have.
John 10:9-109 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Footnote:
[a] Or kept safeWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post New appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
When we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” this is not a passive prayer while we wait for Armageddon! When we pray this—earnestly, fervently—we become participants with God in the Kingdom that has arrived NOW in Christ Jesus. This Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry. What does his entry say about what kind of kingdom we pray for, prepare for, participate in, and proclaim? Let’s explore this together!
Matthew 6:10; Zechariah 9:9Matthew 6:10
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Zechariah 9:9 | The Coming of Zion’s King
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
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There are so many feelings around the subject of confession. For some, it makes us squirm in our seats. And for others, they have found great solace in the practice. For each of us, we cannot debate the fact that acknowledging and confessing our sins is central to the work of redemption. So, what does confession look like for the current church? What role will it play in modeling the Gospel of Jesus to the world around us? Join us as we learn together how confession might be made new in our lives as disciples of Jesus.
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When we share and respond to prayer requests, there’s often an unspoken assumption that a one-time prayer will suffice. But what happens when you face a Jericho-sized issue, and a one-time prayer won’t do? We need to be people who learn how to pray without ceasing as a labor of love; how to “pray through”! Join us as we learn together how to labor in prayer together.
Joshua 2Rahab and the Spies
2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
Footnotes:
[a] Or the Sea of Reeds
[b] The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
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So often, we come to prayer with a request or an answer in mind. Jesus tells us to ask, and it will be given; seek, and we will find; knock, and the door will be opened to us. But how many times have we pounded at a door in prayer for something, only for it to remain shut? This passage gives us a framework by which we might seek the kingdom of God and not our own kingdom. So, come and join us as we explore how we ask, seek, and knock for God’s kingdom to come and will to be done.
Matthew 7:7-11Ask, Seek, Knock7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
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In a world where we are constantly moving and listening to the noise around us, we unfortunately give in to consuming the world. In prayer, we are invited to switch posture and learn the intricacies of stillness. It is not our natural posture, but when we are still, we clear the way for the Lord to speak and move in our lives.
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If you’re committed to following Jesus, it’s not a matter of if you pray, but when you pray. Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray—not because they wanted to know just in case they felt like doing it, but because they wanted to become like their rabbi. When we pray, our relationship with Jesus deepens, and we are formed to become more like him. When we pray, we are invited to participate in the kingdom work happening here on earth as it is in Heaven.
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This Sunday is our monthly Discipleship Sunday, when we take time to learn as a community and together be formed in the way of Jesus. What does the way of Jesus look like when it comes to the subject of money? Does Jesus have relevant teachings for us to follow in our current age or are his teachings outdated? We are formed by our relationship with money and what we do with it. Join us as we seek to transform our understanding of money and how disciples are called to use it to partner with Jesus in the work of the Kingdom!
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We know we need to be reformed more into the image of Christ when it comes to our healing and brokenness. But how do we do that in the midst of pain and loss? We will explore the profound journey of learning to wait on God, weeping in our brokenness, and bearing witness to His redemptive healing. God’s grace can transform our deepest wounds into testimonies of His love and mercy.
John 11:1-44The Death of Lazarus11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Footnotes:[a] Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
[b] Or about 3 kilometersWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Healing and Brokenness appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Sex sells, but the narrative we are sold these days is a broken one. Even though it’s broken, it’s the one many have accepted as the best option afforded to us. Why settle for a broken paradigm when God wants to exchange the broken for the whole? As disciples, we want to be reformed in the way of Jesus when it comes to our sexual wholeness.
Genesis 3:7-87 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
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True friendship has the power to uplift, encourage, and bring joy. In the context of the church community, these friendships are not just a blessing—they are vital, and the church functions as a place where deep, meaningful relationships can grow. Together, let’s explore how we are called to cultivate a community of believers where love, accountability, and grace lead to friendships that point us toward God’s purpose for our lives.
Proverbs 27:99 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
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Have you walked into a worship service and felt like there were expectations or boundaries around your expression of worship? Jesus reorients our worship away from only the temple, away from specific locations, into worshiping in Spirit and Truth. As disciples, we are called to be worshipers of God at all times, leading to lifestyles of worship wherever we go and in whatever we do. And this worship is for both God’s glory and our neighbors’ good. Join us this Discipleship Sunday as we learn together the practice of worshipping in Spirit and Truth.
John 4:21-2421 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
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In our deepest struggles with anxiety and mental health, God’s presence offers true comfort and peace. This weekend, we will explore how our theology of mental health can be re-formed to recognize God’s compassionate care for our emotional well-being. Rather than ignoring mental health, we are called to be a church that offers both spiritual and practical support, bringing God’s peace to those in need.
Psalm 94:1919 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
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Guilt and shame have a dramatic effect on human beings, and just because we follow Jesus does not mean we are immune to the effects. Join us as we learn how to let go of the ways we’ve been de-formed and how to be re-formed in new ways, leading to new growth around our understanding of guilt and shame.
Hebrews 9:11-1411 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
Footnotes:
[a] In some early manuscripts, are to come
[b] Or blood, having obtained
[c] Or from useless ritualsWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Guilt and Shame appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
In a world that cancels, walks away, and gives up, the way of Jesus offers forgiveness; forgiveness to us and forgiveness to others. It’s not easy, but it is the call of Jesus to become like him and do what he does. Join us as we learn how to be a community that leans in when it’s easy to walk out.
On our monthly Discipleship Sundays, we take an immersive dive into communal learning and discipleship. Our stories help us learn, grow, heal, and transform our communities. We need each other’s stories, and this weekend we will learn together how to forgive like Jesus did.
Mark 11:2525 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
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What would it be like to add beautiful icing on a cake, only to find out when you cut into the cake it was a moldy mess? Sometimes our formation as disciples can happen just like this. We need to be de-formed from the destructive patterns in order to live into healthy patterns. In this series, we will explore how we are de-formed and re-formed into the way of Jesus through various hot topics in discipleship and the culture around us.
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As we step into a new year, we may be facing uncertainties, embarking on new adventures, encountering challenges, or experiencing grief. This Sunday, we will turn to Mary’s response of faith to equip us with the tools we need for all that 2025 may bring. The Lord invites Mary to be a Christ-bearer in the world, providing her with what she needs to transform her question, “How will this be?” into a posture of surrender, saying, “May it be unto me…”
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Imagine walking in a dark forest; you might feel alone and vulnerable. The longer you walk in that darkness, the more you might feel lost, alone, and vulnerable. But then you see a light and suddenly something is fighting back at the loneliness and vulnerability. Join us as we explore the moment Jesus entered into a dark world and began to change everything.
John 1:1-41 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
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It is the greatest and most wondrous mystery of the ages that God became human—the Word made flesh in Christ Jesus—and dwelled among us. To be human is indeed a risky endeavor. Why would Jesus choose to empty Himself and enter our world in the epitome of tender vulnerability? This divine vulnerability of God sees us, reaches us, and teaches us what it truly means to love. Join us this Sunday for our third Sunday in Advent: LOVE Sunday.
Philippians 2:7, John 1:4Philippians 2:7
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[a] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Footnote:
[a] Or the form/ … /
John 1:4
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
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Baby Jesus was wrapped in cloth, was laid in a manger, and was held. Nothing unusual for a baby, but might seem unusual for the Triune God to be so dependent on another human being. Together let’s explore what Jesus’ birth teaches us about how we are formed as his followers.
Also, on this second Sunday of Advent—Peace Sunday—we’re celebrating with an entire service of music, with an orchestra and full band!
Luke 2:4-64 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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You know when you get so used to something you can sometimes miss the grandeur of what is going on around you? Each year, Advent comes and we immerse ourselves in the story of Christ’s birth. We know the story, but what if we stopped, closed our eyes, took a deep breath, and opened our eyes anew to the wonder of the arrival of Jesus? Join us as we collectively wonder about the moment prophesied about for thousands of years.
Isaiah 7:1414 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.[d]
Footnotes:
[a] he Hebrew is plural.
[b] Or young woman
[c] Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 11/17.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeAn early marker of God’s people was the identity of being blessed for the purpose of being a blessing to the world. Jesus followed up with his disciples about finding joy in giving over receiving. The practice of generosity is not of this world, but should not be foreign to the disciples of Jesus. As we learn to practice generosity in community, we learn to detach ourselves from the patterns of this world to focus on the freedom of participating in the Kingdom.
2 Corinthians 9:11-1211 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
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As kids, we were taught that actions speak louder than words. While that could be partly true, we believe that words and actions together bear witness to transformed lives. As disciples, when our words and actions are paired together, they testify to disciples who know and live like Jesus did. Join us this weekend as we look deeper into the practice of service and witness.
Matthew 20:23-2823 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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Jesus calls all of us to be his disciples and to learn to live the “Way of Jesus.” That means we are transformed by being with and becoming like him, and then doing what he did! As we search through scriptures, we see that Jesus did a lot of … eating! Jesus constantly gathered people to a meal together. He valued table fellowship as a missional opportunity to build and deepen relationships, welcome everyone, and reconcile with friends. This Sunday, we also will be gathering around tables as we not only talk about this discipleship practice together but also … practice it!
2 Corinthians 5:1818 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
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Do you ever feel like life is like a hamster wheel? You keep running and it keeps spinning. We wonder if and when we will ever be able to get off. What if I was to tell you the Lord gave us a practice in which we are able to step off the wheel? Join us as we explore together the practice of keeping the Sabbath.
Exodus 31:12-1712 Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
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We live in one of the noisiest times in all of human history. We may not even know what silence sounds like. One essential practice of Jesus was to seek out silence and solitude in order to connect with the Father. Join us as we explore how the practice of solitude can transform our lives as apprentices of Jesus.
Mark 1:3535 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
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Practicing the way of Jesus involves participating in the rhythms that Jesus did, becoming like Him, and being transformed. All these practices lead to abundant life, but we must start with the source of life, the Word of God. Join us as we examine Scripture as the source and learn to practice the way of Jesus together.
2 Timothy 3:14-1714 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnote:
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Jesus prayed. Jesus’ disciples asked how he prayed. Yet for many of us, we still struggle with what we should pray, or how we should pray. The fact remains, a practice of prayer is essential to the life of a disciple. Join us as we learn from one another’s practice of prayer.
Matthew 6:9-159 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Prayer appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
So, we are committed to becoming disciples of Jesus. But how are we formed into disciples? Romans tells us we need to be on guard with how we are being formed each and every day. We are being de-formed and re-formed into disciples who either look like the world or look like Jesus. Join us as we explore how to become more like Jesus.
Romans 12:22 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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In Luke 24 we find despondent, despairing, deconstructing disciples walking away from community, and the empty tomb. Jesus meets them. On the road. In the questions. In the Word. At the table. And in their hearts. Let’s travel this journey together and discover deeper what it means to meet the resurrected Lord right where we are.
Luke 24:13-3513 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Footnote:
[a] Or about 11 kilometersWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Burning Hearts appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
As the Talmidim of Jesus, the disciples would listen to the teachings of their rabbi. As they listened to His teachings, they would learn the heart of their rabbi. What does our rabbi Jesus care about? Do we care about what our rabbi cares about? Join us as we learn to care about what He cares about!
Matthew 6:3333 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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The Talmidim of Jesus are not just Christians who like what the rabbi Jesus says, but who choose to be in proximity and become fully like their rabbi. This year we are exploring what it means to be a church community that is formed by nothing other than Jesus. The process of becoming like Jesus is a lifelong journey of being like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. Join us this year as we explore and conform to the way of Jesus.
Luke 6:4040 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
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How you leave matters! What you say and do as you go can have a lasting impact many years into the future. Hebrews looks at the last moments of Jacob’s life and the impact he left for the next generation to follow. Join us as we understand the impact each moment of our lives can have on those around us.
Hebrews 11:2121 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
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Abraham is referred to as the “Father of Faith” because of the many examples of his faith throughout Scripture. Time and again, Abraham is obedient to God’s call—no matter the destination or the outcome. Join us as we explore Abraham’s life of obedience and the lessons it holds for us to become faithful followers of God.
Hebrews 11:8-198 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
Footnotes:
[a] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[b] Gen. 21:12
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Each person in the hall of faith faces a turning point; a moment when they must choose between the narrow way, or the wide path. Moses is no different. Facing the decision between being God’s chosen leader for the people of Israel or a leader in the palace, Moses made a choice. Join us as we learn from Moses’ story of choosing the narrow path walked by faith!
Hebrews 11Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnotes:
[a] Gen. 5:24
[b] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[c] Gen. 21:12
[d] Or unbelieving
[e] Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
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This week, we will explore the story of one of the greatest—yet “most unlikely”—heroines of faith, Rahab. Hers is a grand rescue story that weaves a Scarlet Rope of Redemption from Old Testament to New, exploring the far-reaching effects of a faith that acts.
Hebrews 11, Joshua 2:1-16, Matthew 1:5Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnotes:
[a] Gen. 5:24
[b] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[c] Gen. 21:12
[d] Or unbelieving
[e] Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
Joshua 2:1-16
1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
Footnotes:
[a] Or the Sea of Reeds
[b] The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
Matthew 1:5
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/4.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeDo you want the promise or the person? When we want a promise to come true, we might even do anything in our power to influence the outcome. What if it takes too long? What if it doesn’t come true? What do we do with our doubt? Sarah’s story is a beautiful story of learning to trust the promise-maker.
Hebrews 11Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnotes:
[a] Gen. 5:24
[b] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[c] Gen. 21:12
[d] Or unbelieving
[e] Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;The post Sarah appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
When everything in the world was going wrong, the Lord called upon Noah not to save the world, but to have faith. It is said in Hebrews that it was “by faith” Noah and others are esteemed for what God did through them. Even when Noah could not see what was on the horizon, he had faith in the God he knew. Join us as we learn from Noah to believe even when we don’t see.
Hebrews 11Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnotes:
[a] Gen. 5:24
[b] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[c] Gen. 21:12
[d] Or unbelieving
[e] Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;Genesis 6Genesis 6
1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
9 This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.[d] 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit[e] high all around.[f] Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Footnote:
[a] Or My spirit will not remain in
[b] Or corrupt
[c] The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
[d] That is, about 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high or about 135 meters long, 23 meters wide and 14 meters high
[e] That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
[f] The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Noah appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Pine Lake Youth students and leaders returning from a week at UNITE 2024 reflect on their experience!
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You cannot have a Hall of Faith without the heroine, Esther. Hebrews only mentions a fraction of those in the Hall, and surely what God did for His people through Esther is one for the record books. Join us this weekend as we peer inside the turning point for Esther and the people of Israel as they were unwittingly about to be massacred. Esther’s response is exactly what we need here at PLCC and in the culture around us!
Esther 41 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
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Those who have gone before us leave a legacy of faith. Even the book of Hebrews lists the who’s who of the faithful. What are the requirements for being included among those with extraordinary faith and how does that differ from halls of fame we’ve created? Join us this summer as we look at the giants of faith and how we can learn from their accomplishments and their mistakes. The Hall of Faith is where you find ordinary people with extraordinary faith!
Hebrews 1111 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnote:
[a] Gen. 5:24
[b] Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
[c] Gen. 21:12
[d] Or unbelieving
[e] Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Enoch appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
One minute you think everything in life is going as it should and then a storm hits. It can feel like it will last forever, even though you know it won’t. Join us as we discover what we are to learn from storms, and God’s presence in the midst of them.
Acts 27:13-3813 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[a] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[b] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[c] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[d] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Footnotes:
[a] Or the sails
[b] In ancient times the name referred to an area extending well south of Italy.
[c] Or about 37 meters
[d] Or about 27 metersWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Storms Are Not the End appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
What is the point of trials? What do we learn by reading Paul’s trials as he seeks to share the Gospel? There is a purpose to the trials in the book of Acts and in our lives. Join us this weekend as we understand how our trials become our testimonies!
Acts 2626 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[>a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Footnote:
[a] Or HebrewWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Testimonies appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/16.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeWe are all worshipers. Every day we worship. Paul encountered a group of worshipers who had every god under the sun represented, even an unknown one. The question is, who do we worship? Join us as we learn to worship as embodied people Jesus the Messiah.
Acts 17:22-3422 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Footnotes:
[a] From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
[b] From the Cilician Stoic philosopher AratusThe post Worshipers appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
When becoming a member of an organization, there are often rules and regulations that keep some groups out, while allowing certain groups in. Jesus’ death and resurrection changed everything, but some of the disciples didn’t get the memo. Just as Jesus changed the qualifications for being a disciple, the church also needs to change in order to reflect the new community He is creating! Join us as we discover what that means for us as disciples, and as a church!
Acts 1515 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b]—
18 things known from long ago.[c]
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Footnotes
[a] Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
[b] Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
[c] Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
[d] Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Qualified appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week is Confirmation Sunday! Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the life of our 13 students who have journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in these students’ faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church.
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From Genesis to Revelation, we read about God’s people following the Spirit’s lead. We see in the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit is poured out on the church at Pentecost, but do we live lives filled with the Holy Spirit? What are the barriers to walking with the Spirit every day? Join us this Sunday as we reflect on finding and following the Holy Spirit together.
Acts 10:34-4834 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Footnotes[a] Or other languagesWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post Following the Holy Spirit appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. When everything is turned upside down from what you know, it is hard to orient to the new way of Jesus. Peter experiences this firsthand in a powerful vision, while affirming the new paradigm through an unlikely vessel. Join us as we learn to practice the way of Jesus, who has turned everything upside down.
Acts 10:1-3610 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Footnotes[a] One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post A New Paradigm appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
“Isn’t this the person who used to [insert negative trait], but now they are a completely different person?” One of the greatest compliments a disciple can receive is the change in them witnessed by family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Join us as we look at one of the greatest transformations of the early church and what it means for us as disciples and for our church!
Acts 99 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Footnotes[a] That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and cultureWatch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post A Life of Transformation appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 5/5.The early church disperses into the surrounding region, not of its own volition, but because of widespread persecution. What they find in the midst of this dispersion are people who are ready to receive the good news Jesus has to offer. Today, the church is as scattered as ever, but are people ready to receive the good news? Join us as we learn from the first church on how to be the church today!
Acts 88 And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Footnotes1. That is, from the southern Nile region 2. Isaiah 53:7,8 (see Septuagint) 3. Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post The Scattered appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 4/28.In the places we go, the things we buy, everything has a cost. As the disciples spread the good news of Jesus they began to experience the cost of following Jesus. But what is the cost of following Jesus today? Join us as we explore the cost of our discipleship to Jesus.
Acts 77 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’[a]
4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’[b] 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.
17 “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’[c] 19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.
20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.[d] For three months he was cared for by his family. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’
27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’[e] 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.
30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’[f] Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’[g]
35 “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.
37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’[h] 38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’[i] 41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. 42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’[j] beyond Babylon.
44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45 After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[k] 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’[l]
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Footnotes1. Gen. 12:1 2. Gen. 15:13,14 3. Exodus 1:8 4. Or was fair in the sight of God 5. Exodus 2:14 6. Exodus 3:6 7. Exodus 3:5,7,8,10 8. Deut. 18:15 9. Exodus 32:1 10. Amos 5:25-27 (see Septuagint) 11. Some early manuscripts the house of Jacob 12. Isaiah 66:1,2 Watch HereWatch on Facebook / YouTubeWatch on Facebook / Watch on YouTubeThe post The Cost appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
The new community of Holy Spirit-filled disciples flipped the world upside down with their radical reorientation around the way of Jesus. They were devoted to: teaching, fellowship, prayer and breaking bread! Join us this week as we explore the core values of the transformed early church and what we can learn about how to be a community today!
Acts 2:42-4742 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit would come, and the disciples waited for its arrival. When the Spirit arrived, it arrived in power and changed the course of the church in one day! So what does that mean for us? Was that experience of the Holy Spirit just for those disciples? Join us as we seek to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our church.
Acts 2The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontusand Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e]
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’[f]
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Footnotes:[a] Or languages; also in verse 11
[b] That is, the Roman province by that name
[c] Joel 2:28-32
[d] Or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles)
[e] Psalm 16:8-11 (see Septuagint)
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The disciples had been with Jesus, they were formed to become like Him, and then it was time to do what Jesus did. But, what does that look like without Jesus? How could we do what Jesus did? How do we spread the message of Jesus to our neighbors and community? We still have the same questions the disciples had. The book of Acts is the second volume that answers the questions of how the Kingdom is launched to reach the whole world and how we participate today. Join us as we learn to be the church and spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God!
Acts 1:6-116 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
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Easter morning we celebrate the risen Jesus, who conquered sin and death! What do we do, though, for those of us who struggle with our unbelief? What does Easter offer the curious, the doubters, and the faithful? It is a call to come and see. Join us as we explore the implications of Jesus’ call to his disciples and us to take notice of his wounds!
Matthew 28:1-1028 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
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This week we consider the last words that Jesus spoke right before he took his last breath. These words are especially significant when we consider that just one week prior, Jesus entered into Jerusalem heralded as king. In the midst of Palm Sunday and in anticipation of Holy Week leading into Easter, we consider this one simple question from the cross: why did Jesus have to die?
Luke 23:44-4644 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Footnote:
[a] Psalm 31:5
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What was so important about Jesus’ thirst that it needed to be recorded for us to hear? To hear Jesus’ cry of thirst is to understand the suffering He was enduring. Join us as we explore the living water that Jesus offers for our suffering and thirsty souls.
John 19:28-3028 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
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Jesus’ final declaration from the cross to the people was, “It is finished.” In this pronouncement, Jesus is saying so many things about his life, his work on the cross, his ministry, and his calling on earth. Come and explore this joyous assertion that Jesus is victorious over sin and the implications for how we now live in light of God’s victory.
John 19:28-3028 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
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Matthew 27:46 may be the most honest and weighty OMG in history—“…and Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” With the help of God’s Holy Spirit, we will sit with this difficult ‘last word’ of Jesus from the cross.
Matthew 27:4646 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a]lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]
Footnotes:
[a] Some manuscripts Eloi, Eloi
[b] Psalm 22:1Watch HereWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeThe post My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week, we continue our Lenten journey from the cross to the tomb as we explore Jesus’ last words, “Woman, behold your son,” and to his disciple, “behold your mother.” These are words Jesus spoke to his mother, Mary, and his disciple, John. These words are a message of compassion, provision, and a new relationship forged in faith. This Sunday we are going to take some creative license and, through scripture’s stories, we will enter Mary’s first-person narrative in a powerful way as we explore the journey of a manger that became a cross, and then a throne; a sword that pierces the soul; and the woman who pondered it all in her heart.
John 19:25-2725 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[a] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Footnote:
[a] The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.Watch HereWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeThe post Woman, Behold Your Son appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
As we enter this Lenten season, we journey with Jesus from the cross to the tomb. In the final hours of His earthly time, as Jesus was dying, He spoke seven times from the cross. Last words can be very revealing. Jesus’ last words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God. This Sunday we begin with Jesus’ words: “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do,” and “Today you will be with me in paradise.” We will discover the magnitude, breadth and depth of forgiveness and salvation.
Luke 23:33-4333 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Footnotes:
[a] Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
[b] Some manuscripts come with your kingly powerWatch HereWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeThe post Father, Forgive appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week we conclude our series, “The Power to Change,” as we reflect upon how change can actually last for a lifetime. The roadmap to change prescribed by our culture is one of “trying harder” or “giving that little extra…” While that might work in some capacities, Jesus prescribes a different roadmap for lasting change: one rooted in changing our rhythms.
Psalm 11 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
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Our worship might not seem like it needs to change, but God wants more than just our worship; He wants our lives. In this prophetic word from Amos, God makes it clear that He is not pleased with the Israelites worship and wants their righteousness and justice along with their worship. Come and reflect on what God wants our worship and our lives to resemble, as we find and follow Jesus together.
Amos 5:21-2421 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
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It’s great to have a routine or rhythm for our days, but when it gets too comfortable or too routine, our world around us often gets smaller. However, when we shift our focus off ourselves and our comfort zone, instead looking to God and his fullness, he reorients us to his purposes. Join us as we explore where Jesus may be desiring to shift your focus in this season.
Ruth 1:1-7; 15-181 In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.
/ … /
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Footnote:
[a] Traditionally judgedWatch HereWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeThe post Our Focus appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
This week we continue in our series, “The Power to Change,” as we consider the ways in which change actually occurs. From the very beginning, God was focused on relationship with creation, even in the midst of brokenness and uncertainty. This week, we will explore the ways in which relationship will always be the vehicle for reconciliation in our lives and in our world, bringing change in a powerful way.
Colossians 1:15-2015 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
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The power to change begins with surrender and repentance, both corporately and personally, but deepens with trust when the wheels fall off.
Deuteronomy 8:1-101 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
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As we look to God and the world around us, where do we even begin to make a positive change? We can try harder and make more plans, but will they amount to anything? Instead, Jesus reorients us—changing our relationships, priorities, and even our worship. He is the Power to Change.
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As we set our intentions and resolutions for the New Year, or choose a word to guide us to new possibilities, are we actually setting ourselves up for disappointment or failure? What if, instead of declaring these ideas to God, we sit before him, listen, and maybe ask a different question? Join us as we are challenged into moving out of our heads, into our hearts, and into alignment with Jesus and his plans for our lives.
Philippians 4:4-74 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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Joy bursts onto every scene of the nativity story in scripture. It is the shared experience of all who are encountering the good news of Christ’s birth. The shepherds hear the declaration of this great joy from angels, and this changes their lives. They encounter God’s glory around them; explore the meaning; experience God with them; express their newfound joy by giving glory back to God; and then share it with others. We are invited to a similar journey—to unwrap the gift of this good news of great joy. It is for all people. It is for you. It is for me. It is for Pine Lake Covenant Church. It is for the world.
Luke 2:8-208 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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Peace is a word we throw around during the Christmas season. We sing carols that talk about a peaceful time where a baby was born in Bethlehem, but the peace that Jesus brought was not a platitude. It was a new order: God’s shalom and God’s kingdom. Come as we celebrate Peace Sunday this Advent and learn more about God’s shalom that leads us to His kingdom and abundant life together.
Isaiah 9:2-62 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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Before the birth of Christ, there were almost 500 years of waiting for a sign or word from God. Yet the faithful clung to the promise of and hope for the Messiah. Today, do we rush into the holiday season and the finish line called Christmas morning or do we intentionally slow down and look for the ongoing promises of God? Join us Sunday as we explore the waiting and struggle in our own journeys which point us to the gift of hope.
Luke 1:11-2011 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
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In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose sight of the simple truth of Christmas—the extraordinary gift of God’s love. As we enter the season of Advent, we embark on a journey of anticipation. Come with us as we unwrap the layers of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings to our lives through the ultimate gift bestowed upon humanity.
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Worry is something we all deal with on some level, and in response, humans have come up with tools like breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help us cope. Yet as Christians we receive this simple command from Jesus: “Do not worry.” How can we live in step with the way of Jesus if our lives are filled with worry? Come this week as we discover the power over worry that we can only find in Jesus.
Matthew 6:25-34Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Footnote:
[a] Or single cubit to your height
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This week, we welcome Rev. Peter Sung as our guest speaker! Pastor Peter serves the PacNW Conference and the ECC/SSC as an executive coach and organizational psychologist.
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This week, we welcome Rev. Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent of the PacNW Conference, as our guest speaker!
Ephesians 1:3-14Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[c] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[d] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Footnotes:
[a] Or sight in love. 5 He
[b] The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
[c] Or us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he
[d] Or were made heirs
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As Jesus continues to reorient people to the Kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Mount, He calls out the people’s heart condition. Jesus is not only fulfilling the law, He’s calling out the truth of our own heart conditions. Join us as we explore the way Jesus reshapes us, even in our anger, to be more like Him.
Matthew 5:21-2621 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Footnote:
[a] Exodus 20:13
[b] The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
[c] Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
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We talk about darkness in the world, but darkness is just the absence of light. As disciples, what role do we play as the light of the world in our present lives? Join us as we understand our identity and purpose as light to the world.
Matthew 5:14-1614 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
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After Jesus had finished his initial address to the gathered crowd, he looked at the disciples and charged them with what? To be salty! Now that has loaded meaning in our culture today, but for Jesus it was pretty clear. Join us as we explore the first responsibilities of Jesus’ disciples who are to go forth from this teaching as the salt of the earth.
Matthew 5:13Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
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Jesus calls all of us to be his disciples. That means we are transformed by being with and becoming like him, and then doing what he did. But what does that look like? We need look no further than Jesus’ first teaching to understand the nature and character of Jesus and, thus, us as his disciples. Join us as we learn to live “The Way of Jesus” every moment, in every season, and every part of our lives.
Matthew 6:25-34Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Footnote:
[a] Or single cubit to your height
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When Jesus called his disciples, he invited them to come and see! That is only half the story! What happened next in the lives of the disciples was preparing them for what was to come. What was to come? Join us as we live into our call as disciples to “come and see, and I will make you fishers of people.”
Matthew 4:18-25Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Footnote:
[a] That is, the Ten CitiesWatch through YouTubeWatch through FacebookWatch on FacebookThe post Do What Jesus Did appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Who are you becoming? We might not often stop and reflect on who we are now, and who we are aiming to become. As the talmidim of Jesus, we are called to become like Jesus through intentional practices that transform us from the inside out. Join us as we learn the life call to become like Jesus.
Luke 6:39-4039 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
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In the Gospels, Jesus calls people to follow Him. It’s not just a mental belief in Him, but a transformative call to apprentice our lives after Him. But what does that really look like? What does apprenticing after Jesus mean 2000 years after He first called His disciples? Join us as we learn that the call to be the Talmidim (the Hebrew word for a group of disciples) of Jesus is still relevant in our lives today as we seek to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
John 1:35-50John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[a]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe[b] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
Footnote:
[a] Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock.
[b] Or Do you believe … ?Watch on YouTubeWatch on FacebookWatch on FacebookThe post Be With Jesus appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 9/10. Vision Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate what we’ve seen God doing in the past year and to anticipate how He might be working through and around us in the coming year! Come this weekend as we cast a vision for what defines us as a community who desires to find and follow Jesus, together!
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How many of us have been hurt by people talking about us behind our backs? As disciples of Jesus, we have been called to bring life not death. Join us as we learn how to talk to—not about—one another.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 9/3.How many of us have been hurt by people talking about us behind our backs? As disciples of Jesus, we have been called to bring life not death. Join us as we learn how to talk to—not about—one another.
Proverbs 18:88 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
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Fibs. Kidding. Half-truths. Funny business. To pull the wool over someone’s eyes. Each of these are the nice ways to say someone is lying. Join us as we explore what our lies say about us and about God.
Ephesians 4:21-2521 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
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Our words have power; power to bring life and to bring destruction. Criticism isn’t always bad, but partnering with the enemy’s critical spirit leads to sin and death. Once we know who we are and whose we are, we can love our neighbor as ourselves, walk in the path God has set for us, and build one another up with our words.
Ephesians 4:2929 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service on Sunday, 8/20. Our words have power; power to bring life and to bring destruction. Criticism isn’t always bad, but partnering with the enemy’s critical spirit leads to sin and death. Once we know who we are and whose we are, we can love our neighbor as ourselves, walk in the path God has set for us, and build one another up with our words.
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Whether it’s by complaining, criticizing, gossiping, or lying, our mouths can cause a lot of problems. Words can beat us down and lift us up. They wound and they heal. And the right words at the right time can be exactly what we need to hear—or what we need to say. Let’s find the right words together in a new series, My Big Fat Mouth.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/6. Top Secret documents are for a few eyes only. If you are on the outside, you might feel at the mercy of those with the top secret information. This weekend, Paul is going to open up the Top Secret file for how to have a JoyFULL life, and it is going to be a not-so-top secret anymore. Come as we learn the secret to living a JoyFULL life.
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If you were to brainstorm the top 5 stressors in your life right now, what would make the list? Finances? Work/employment? Relationships? Family/parenting? We live in a culture that is wrapped in stress and anxiety, yet Paul’s charge at the end of Philippians is to ‘not be anxious about anything.’ These words seem improbable, even impossible when we consider our circumstances, yet Paul offers a simple framework to be continually filled with joy even in the presence of anxiety.
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In a job interview, you might get the question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” So, no matter whether you have been following Jesus for 5 minutes or 5 decades, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years as a disciple of Jesus?” Join us as we gain clarity from Paul’s words of encouragement to the people in Philippi.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service on Sunday, 7/16. Confidence can be a tricky thing. It takes time to build and is tested constantly by the world around us. But does your confidence sometimes feel like a house of cards built on a shaky foundation? Join us as we learn the joyFULL confidence found not in what we do or accomplish, but by the singular pursuit of knowing and being known by God.
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A joyful attitude is centered in participating in God’s kingdom mission, together. When we accept this open invitation to participation, we discover the absolute joy and fulfillment of being coworkers in our Father’s vineyard, and we then rejoice in what He rejoices in… we rejoice together! But, what can steal our joyful attitude? Envy. Envy is a vacuum pump on joy. How can we guard against this? Let’s find out!
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 7/2 Humility is not about being lowly and self-deprecating. It’s about who we are and whose we are. As we see ourselves as God sees us and act out of that humble place, we will experience the joy of loving others as God loves them and the joy of God using us to build His Kingdom.
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Do you ever think about what comes next as followers of Jesus? How does the joy we find in the life to come impact our lives today? Join us in understanding how our future joy is lived in our present lives.
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Rejoicing is an outward expression of a JoyFULL heart. It is a natural outflow that cannot be contained. We are called to be people who rejoice, but what are we rejoicing about? Join us this week as we seek to be people who rejoice because we are JoyFULL people.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/11. Did you know that each year a report is generated on the happiest places in the world? Some rate companies and some rate countries. But no company or country stays on top of the happiness rankings. As Christians, we’re not seeking after happiness, but after joy. Joy isn’t something that we find, it is something we receive as a gift. Join us as we learn how to be […]
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This week is Confirmation Sunday! Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the life of a student who has journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in this student’s faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church. See you Sunday!
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God has wired us to be a community of friends, but what does that look like? How does our spiritual friendship look any different than the friendship culture describes? Join us as we explore what it looks like to be friends who follow Jesus.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service on Sunday, 5/28.God has wired us to be a community of friends, but what does that look like? How does our spiritual friendship look any different than the friendship culture describes? Join us as we explore what it looks like to be friends who follow Jesus.
Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
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The truth is friendship across all ages is at an all-time low. We have fewer friends, and spend less time with the friends we have. So what does friendship have to do with Jesus? Join us as we learn God’s intention for our connected relationships with each other.
Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
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When we hear the word “conflict,” some of us head for the hills, and others face it head on. Conflict has the power to disconnect us when we allow it to drive a wedge between us, but it doesn’t have to be this way for us as followers of Jesus. Join us as we learn to navigate conflict Jesus’ way so that we can be reconnected again!
Matthew 18:15-17Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verses 21 and 35.
[b] Some manuscripts sins against you
[c] Deuteronomy 19:15
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 5/7.How do you know who to trust? How do you learn to trust? What happens when trust is broken? This weekend we will see what Jesus has to say about the trust He puts in us and the trust we give to others.
Matthew 25:14-30The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Footnote:
[a] Greek five talents … two talents … one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 4/30.How do you react when people want so much from you? Jesus always had a crowd seeking after him, wanting something from him. His reaction to them tells us why people not only sought him out, but knew there was something different about him than other religious leaders. So what made him different? It was the posture of his heart towards people. Join us as we learn to reconnect with others, by leading with empathy and compassion.
Matthew 14:13-21Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 4/23.It doesn’t take much to realize that our world is hurting, and often times this pain stems from broken relationships that leave us disconnected from one another. And yet, Jesus spoke extensively about relationships and embodied a simple model for healthy living. This week we begin a new series called ‘Disconnected’ by exploring the relational framework Jesus offered of “The 3, 12, & 72.”
Luke 9:1-9; 9:28-36; 10:1-2Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
9 1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.
/ … /
The Transfiguration
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
/ … /
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
10 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[b] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Footnotes:
[a] Greek exodos
[b] Some manuscripts seventy; also in verse 17
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 4/16.Discipleship is often a response to who God is and his character. So what does it look like to reflect God’s faithfulness to us? Join us as we explore how a shift in our heart changes everything when it comes to our faithfulness to God and one another.
Hosea 2:16-2016 “In that day,” declares the Lord,
“you will call me ‘my husband’;
you will no longer call me ‘my master.[a]’
17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their names be invoked.
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them
with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the creatures that move along the ground.
Bow and sword and battle
I will abolish from the land,
so that all may lie down in safety.
19 I will betroth you to me forever;
I will betroth you in[b] righteousness and justice,
in[c] love and compassion.
20 I will betroth you in[d] faithfulness,
and you will acknowledge the Lord.
Footnotes:
[a] Hebrew baal
[b] Or with
[c] Or with
[d] Or withWatch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeThe post Faithfulness appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us for our online Easter Sunday service at 9AM!Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeWe are so excited to gather with you for Easter Sunday services at 9AM & 11AM on April 9! Whether you’re connecting with us in person or right here online, we can’t wait to celebrate the hope of Jesus’ resurrection together! (The 9AM service will be livestreamed online and then remain available for subsequent viewing.)
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 4/2.Prayer is our lifeline, but when we say “Amen” at the close of prayer, it doesn’t mean we’re finished or the conversation is over. It also doesn’t mean we’re going to be given everything we’ve just prayed about. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday and look closer at the disciples’ expectations on that day compared to our own expectations in prayer.
Matthew 6:9-14; Mark 11:1-10Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
——-
Mark 11:1-10
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![c]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[d]
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
——-
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
[c] A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10
[d] Psalm 118:25,26
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 3/26.Does it seem odd that Jesus ends his teaching on prayer with temptation and the evil one? Jesus, though, is onto something that we often miss. If we pattern our prayers after Jesus, he knows the way of finding and following Him is a narrow road with many temptations and distractions. Join us as we learn to pray and live like Jesus.
Matthew 6:9-139 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 3/19.This Sunday we continue our series, Lifeline, walking through the Lord’s Prayer, with the opportunity to hear from Pastor Christopher Sure, Executive Director of Pine Lake Academy in Kodera, Kenya. Pastor Mark will be preaching alongside Pastor Christopher as they share stories of the power of forgiveness as an integral part of following Jesus.
Matthew 6:9-139 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 3/12.“Give us this day our daily bread.” Just seven simple words, yet embedded deep within the veins of these words we discover a sacred, divine visitation to our hearts. This life-altering prayer is a lifeline; it rescues us. From what? For what? Into what? With whom? Let’s find out as we learn together this Sunday!
Matthew 6:9-139 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 3/5.Prayer is an invitation. So what are we inviting God into when we pray for His will to be done? What are we inviting ourselves into when we ask for His will to be done? Join us as we understand how God’s will is done here in Sammamish as it is in Heaven.
Matthew 6:9-139 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeThe post Thy Kingdom Come appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 2/26.Prayer is the most powerful practice in the life of a disciple of Jesus, but it is also one of the most difficult for many of us. We don’t know what we should pray, how we should pray, how much to talk, how much to listen, or how frequently we ought to pray; which then causes us not to pray. Prayer is our lifeline in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Join us as we build on the foundational prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and watch as your lifeline of prayer becomes a life-giving well where your relationship thrives!
Matthew 6:9-139 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
[b] Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeThe post Our Father appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 2/19.Followers of Jesus desire to be led by the Holy Spirit, but what are we being led to do? Well, the Holy Spirit has given us gifts that we are supposed to use to serve the body of Christ. Join us as we seek to understand the gifts the Spirit has given us and his intention for the gifts he gives.
Romans 12:3-8Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Footnotes:
[a] Or the
[b] Or to provide for othersWatch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeThe post Gifts of the Spirit appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 2/12.Have you ever picked a piece of fruit off a tree, then bit into it only to find it’s rotten? This week we’ll talk about not just hearing and discerning the Holy Spirit, but learning to bear fruit! Come and learn with us how the Spirit bears fruit in our lives.
Galatians 5:22-2622 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 2/5.Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeTo discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, we must recognize his voice. We know God is speaking, but often the deceptive voices of lies and shame mask the Spirit. Join us as we learn together to discern the voice of truth.
John 10:7-107 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Footnote:
[a] Or kept safeThe post Discerning the Spirit appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 1/29.Have you ever heard God’s voice? For many of us this is not a common occurrence, and yet God is speaking constantly. Join us for more stories of how the Holy Spirit continues to move among us as we center ourselves on one simple question: how is God communicating to us today?
John 10:1-6The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 1/22.At the exact moment the disciples didn’t know what the next step was, Jesus entered the room and breathed on them the Holy Spirit. From there the movement of the Kingdom exploded because of how they lived through the power of the Spirit. Come as we learn to live through the same power.
John 20:19-23Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, January 15.As we learn to engage in a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we must be born of the Holy Spirit. Don’t know what that means? Join us as Jesus helps us understand the first step in a new relationship with the Holy Spirit.
John 3:1-8Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
[b] Or but spirit
[c] The Greek is plural.
[d] The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeThe post Born of the Spirit appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 1/8.The arrival of the Spirit marked the launch of the church, the expansion of the kingdom, and the empowerment of the disciples to share the good news with the world. As a church, we proclaim our dependence on the Holy Spirit, but what does that mean for us as individual followers of Jesus and as a church? Join us as we learn to be people who open ourselves up to the work of the Spirit in and through us.
John 16:7-157 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 12/18.Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us, not to just be with us in the valleys, wilderness, and storms. He came to remind us that our God has always been with us. Jesus’ last words to his disciples comforted them that he would be with them always. Join us as we find and follow a God who is with us always.
John 1:1-5; 14The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
/ … /
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Footnote:
[a] Or understoodWatch on FacebookWatch on YouTubeThe post Always appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 12/11.When life’s experiences come thick and fast, we can easily feel overwhelmed and lose our bearings. These storms of life will come, yet Jesus promises to be with us while also bringing peace in the middle of the storm. Join us on Sunday as we continue to explore a life of Jesus with us.
Acts 27:21-2521 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 12/4.Watch through FacebookWatch through YouTubeWe may not have much contact with the wild these days, but we all have circumstances that isolate us, make us doubt, and cause us to fear. Join us as we explore Jesus’ experience in the wilderness and learn together how God is truly Immanuel, God with us, in the wilderness.
Luke 4:1-13Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Footnotes:
[a] The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
[b] Deuteronomy 8:3
[c] Deut. 6:13
[d] Psalm 91:11,12
[e] Deut. 6:16The post Stewards of the Wilderness appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 12/4. We may not have much contact with the wild these days, but we all have circumstances that isolate us, make us doubt, and cause us to fear. Join us as we explore Jesus’ experience in the wilderness and learn together how God is truly Immanuel, God with us, in the wilderness.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 11/27. “And He will be called Immanuel, God with us.” At the core of our beliefs lies the truth that our God is not a distant and disassociated God, but one who desires to draw near to us. Join us as we experience our God as one who is with us in the valleys, wilderness, and in the storms of life. Do not be afraid, for He is Immanuel.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 11/20. Jesus has numbered our days, hours, and minutes. Every moment is a gift, so what does God want with our time? Come as we learn together how to live generously with our time for the Glory of the Father.
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Everyone is gifted with talents. As disciples of Jesus, what does it mean to live lives of generosity in how we invest our talents? Do we use them in the church only? Do we use them out of the church? What if we don’t know what our talents are? Join us as we learn together how to live generous lives.
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Our generosity is not an opportunity to prove our love for Jesus, but an opportunity for God to show us his love and faithful care for us. Join us as we explore how God invites us into a life of generosity with our treasure.
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This week, we begin a 4-week journey considering the ways God calls us to a life of generosity. Discipleship to Jesus is oftentimes difficult to quantify. However, the Parable of the Talents offers a story to help us answer a foundational question: how does Jesus reshape the way we view our Return on Investment as part of the Kingdom of God?
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 10/23. We talk a lot about what it means to be a disciple, but sometimes we forget who we are disciples of. Join us as we talk about the implications of taking our eyes off Jesus, or putting someone else at the center of our discipleship.
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Our mission from God is to make him known in the world. We join together in church to be known, encouraged, strengthened, and to praise God. Yet we must also turn our eyes and hearts to the world, moving together into mission. Let’s explore God’s heart for mission as we consider what it means to be sent together as a church.
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If you were looking for Jesus when he was alive, you would probably find him around people sharing a meal. As apprentices of Jesus, join us this weekend as we look to imitate Jesus in this life-giving practice.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 10/2. Can you recall a time when a friend really showed up for you? What about a time when you felt hurt or even betrayed by a friend? Regardless of our age or stage of life, friends play a vital role in who we are and who we’re becoming. This week we continue our series, Together, as we consider a story of four faithful friends who took a chance […]
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In every relationship our desire as humans is to know and be known by others. Our togetherness leads us toward God and toward one another.
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We are all called together to be part of this beautiful thing called the body of Christ. We have been invited and reminded of our inherent value. So what does that teach us about living together? Come as we align ourselves with God’s conviction of being that body that belongs together.
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Over the last 2,000 years, what has made the church a unique movement the world has never seen before? What makes us at Pine Lake Covenant Church unique? Come this weekend as we cast a vision for what will define us as a community who follows hard after Jesus. Come and hear how Jesus calls us to Together well.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 9/4. So what is the point of bumper stickers? Have we decided they are worthless and have bad theology? Come as we consider how God calls us all to be a bumper sticker, as His witness to the world!
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/28. Could you imagine a day when people just disappear? What a scary thought for those “left behind.” So what do we do with this knowledge? Come and hear how we are so much more than a bumper sticker.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/21. Does your life feel like at any moment chaos could ensue? What does peace look like in the midst of chaos, or to move us out of chaos? This weekend we will seek to understand the bumper sticker, “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace”!
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/14. This week we continue with our summer sermon series, “Bumper Sticker Faith,” celebrating Christmas in August. The birth of Jesus will forever be the reason for the season, yet how might this phrase actually be a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas? Come this Sunday as we’ll also be celebrating baptisms… it might very well be better than Christmas morning!
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 8/7. We have had so much fun so far in our journey through some classic Christian bumper stickers. This week, instead of correcting a misconception about Jesus in a bumper sticker, we are going to live fully into bumper sticker theology as we explore together the meaning of “Save gas, walk with Jesus.” Join us as we learn to pattern our walk and life with the pace of Jesus.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 7/31. Do you feel like you are being watched by people? By God? Like people are keeping score of your actions? This weekend we will clear up the idea that God is just a big score keeper.
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Do you ever look at a bumper sticker and instantly feel like you know something more about the driver? Are bumper stickers about our faith a good representation of Jesus and the Kingdom? Can’t wait to dive into our new series, “Bumper Sticker Faith,” to explore how our faith is so much bigger than catchy slogans. So, what do you think: is Jesus your co-pilot?
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 7/17. Everyone experiences freedom in different ways. For some it shapes their everyday more than others, but what does freedom have to do with our faith in Jesus Christ? Come and join us as we end our series looking at how we as a church proclaim and understand the freedom we have in Christ, and what we are called to do with our freedom.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 7/10. When Jesus said to the first disciples, “Follow me,” it wasn’t an invitation to an ordinary or subpar story. It was an invitation into a story of life like they had not experienced before. Join us this weekend as we explore how new life is a necessity for those who follow Jesus.
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We have been created for relationship and community with one another. We become more and more of who God created us to be when we help one another grow and eventually flourish. Together, let’s learn more about what it means to be the body of Christ which lifts one another up and encourages life lived together, and how the body of believers—the church—becomes an important part of God’s work in his world.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/26. The human need to be “seen,” it turns out, is the foundation of human development from the onset and self-regulation throughout. It is no wonder that the first revelation of God to humans is that he is the one who sees us. El Roi. How does being seen and seeing others play out, not just in our personal lives but in society today? How should the ministry of seeing others […]
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/19. What does it mean to be “consciously dependent” on the Holy Spirit? In fact, who IS the Holy Spirit? What do we actually know about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and why are we dependent on the Spirit? Perhaps we have some baggage and misconceptions around the Holy Spirit, so let’s dive in together and take a 30,000-foot view of scripture, and see the remarkable, […]
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/12. How would we respond if someone asked us, “What is Pine Lake Covenant Church about?” or “What is the Evangelical Covenant Church?” Who have we been and who are we becoming? Join us the next six weeks as we proclaim, “This is Us.”
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 6/5. What do the Great Commandment and the Great Commission have to do with loving our neighbor? This week, Pastors Austin, Nancy & Mark share stories of how these two Greats intersect in their lives as followers of Jesus.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 5/29. We all love when there is peace in our homes and neighborhoods, and an integral part of loving our neighbors is living peacefully with one another. But what happens when conflict arises and relationships become strained? As followers of Jesus we’re called to be much more than just peacekeepers as we seek to love our neighbors in seasons of unrest.
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As we step out of our comfort zone and get to know our neighbors, perhaps you’re considering ways to help or serve those around you. But real relationship requires give and take. Are you vulnerable enough to ask for help? Join us as we explore a time God provided for Elijah, and how Jesus is our true example of humility in relationships.
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It’s not only time that gets in the way of good neighboring, but fear; fear of getting bad neighbors, of being bad neighbors, or having to live in proximity with people. Come hear what Jesus offers that will break through our fears.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, May 8. This week is Confirmation Sunday! Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the lives of students who have journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in each student’s faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church.
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God has called us to be a people and a church that is a good neighbor. That means we are called to love those who live in proximity to us. But, when we look at our calendar to find time to love our neighbors, there is no time for it. What does Jesus have to teach us about creating space for those in the midst of all we have going on in life? Come find out how we create space […]
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What would it look like if we, as God’s disciples, fully devoted ourselves to God’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself”—our actual neighbors?! Jesus sends us out to fulfill His greatest commandment, but, thankfully, not without His power and the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. God equips us to join Him in His missional work in our own neighborhoods. Join us over the next 6 weeks as we wonder what our neighborhoods will look like as we follow Jesus into “The Art of Neighboring.”
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The fullness of loving one another was shown to us in Jesus laying His life down for us! There is no greater love than Jesus laying his life down for all of us “one anothers.” Because of his death and resurrection, everything has changed. We are forgiven, we receive mercy, we are raised to new life, called to one another like Jesus. If everything is changed, why do we stay the same? Before we celebrate Jesus conquering death, we must first recognize […]
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“Hosanna! Hosanna!” This declaration is translated ‘please, save us!’ and was the cry of the people as Jesus rode into Jerusalem seated on a donkey. For some, this was the anticipated arrival of a king; for others a political threat to the power systems in place. And for the early church, it established the pathway toward radical freedom. How might this Triumphal Entry shape the way in which we serve one another humbly in love?
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Every day we submit ourselves to policies and guidelines, but submitting to one another is not a natural part of our relationship with one another. Join us as we look at what it looks like to regularly submit to one another.
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Life has been really hard these last two years. The feelings of exhaustion, being overwhelmed, and burnt out are real. Some days we don’t know if we could make it through the day. How would that all change if we knew a community that would encourage and build you up? Jesus calls us to be that community! Join us this Sunday to hear the community we are called to be.
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The hardest part of being a One Another community are the relationships. We are called to love and to forgive, but what happens in the in-between? Well we are called to bear with one another in tensions of relationships. Join us as we look at the life of Jesus and his call for us to bear with One Another.
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The thing about loving one another is that we are going to love imperfectly. We are going to mess up. The power of love is amplified when it includes forgiveness. Join us as we explore what it means for us to forgive One Another.
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Jesus said the WORLD would know we are his disciples by how we love one another. If that’s one of the litmus tests for the world to know Jesus is really who he says he is, then we need to learn how to be One Another people!
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This week we conclude our series with an invitation to experience collective growth in this next season. The prophet Hosea attests that fruitfulness comes as a result of flourishing, but what indicates that the fruit we produce is actually healthy and nourishing?
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You can’t pour out of an empty cup! So when your faith and soul are dry, what/where/who are you going to? Join us as we grow in seeking out nourishment for our faith.
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So we are ready to grow, but where are we planted? Are we in a small planter, or large pot? Why does it matter where we are growing? Come this weekend to find out how where we grow matters!
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Spring is coming and any good Pacific Northwest gardener knows this is the time to start preparing the soil, especially those places that are full of roots from last season. As a church, as the people of God, how is he asking us to cultivate and prepare for a new season of growth? Join us Sunday as we begin a new series—Cultivate.
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We have been apart for so long. What worth is there to gather together? What does God say to us about the power of our Togetherness!
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When Jesus said follow me, He was inviting us into his family and expanding the kingdom. Join us as we look at becoming people who make the King famous and His kingdom a reality in our daily lives.
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Our personal devotion time in the Word is imperative, but what if God is asking us to boldly find new life in His Word! Can’t wait to explore what it looks like for the Word to dwell and be made manifest in our lives together!
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The arrival and incarnation of Jesus changes everything! If the Word became flesh, how does that help us understand what to do with our faith? Join us Sunday to hear how disciples of Jesus have faith made flesh!
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The birth of Jesus has arrived, Christmas has come and gone, and yet as Christians we are not done waiting. How might the birth of Christ be a foretaste of the arrival of a New Heaven & New Earth upon the second coming of Jesus?
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The Magi set off on a journey that brought access to a new type of king over a new kind of kingdom. Christmas proclaims a reordering of the world’s systems. What might it look like for the kingdom of God to come near us?
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When a baby arrives to a young couple in Bethlehem, we are moved by the faith of his young mother. We often forget that Mary viewed her child, Jesus, with both wonder and bewilderment. It was devotion toward God and love for her son that stirred her to sacrifice without certainty.
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Current media outlets report news almost 24/7, but how much is actually good news? In Advent, we set our ears and hearts to receive again the good news of the One who has come to be with us. This is joyful news, worth sharing with everyone!
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Jesus’ arrival in an insignificant town through an ordinary peasant couple is part of Christmas’ astonishing reversal. God often shows up in unexpected places through unexpected means. Are we prepared to welcome Him in small and often overlooked places as well?
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Advent looks ahead to the arrival of the most significant figure in human history. From ancient prophecies through our times, we can be assured that God’s actions are purposeful not purposeless.
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Because Christ is the ultimate source of all energy and all that is good, we can get ready for the future! We can be people who add energy, goodness, truth and love to the world around us rather than those who drain energy away.
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What character qualities are needed as we get ready for a new season? Jesus’ sermon on the mount outlined practices that would define his followers. It’s never been about outward show, but a genuine, prayer-shaped walk with God. Encountering Jesus through prayer influences the trajectory of a church more than anything else we might do.
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We’ve called a new pastor and have high hopes for what this leader will bring to our community and our mission in the world. Now the question is: How can we prepare as a church for this next season? How might God be renewing us as a welcoming people?
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When Moses set up the tabernacle as commanded, God’s presence settled in the middle of the Israelite community. Heaven met earth and God’s glory was visible in the neighborhood. God continues to “tabernacle” in our time, in our place. Where does heaven meet earth today?
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In Genesis chapter 3, Adam’s & Eve’s sin creates a rift between them and God, and God makes the first move to close that gap. Austin Bailey shares how that’s a perfect model for us today as we approach the relationships in our lives. *On Sunday, October 24, we welcomed Austin Bailey, the candidate for our Lead Pastor position! Despite having no power due to a windstorm, we managed to capture video (missing a few minutes at 31:56) and audio […]
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Our intention to live God’s way inevitably bumps up against the desire to live our way. Like Israel, we are prone to fashion gods that fit our sensibilities and meet our needs. Maybe not a golden calf, but rebellion against God is expressed in many ways. Is there hope for Israel? For us?
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The 10 commandments are often viewed as strict rules we must adhere to in order for God to save us. But these guidelines express commitments for those God has already delivered into freedom. This is the wonder of God’s covenant law.
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Water and bread have pivotal significance throughout the story of Scripture as expressions of God’s presence. As we approach the Communion table together this Sunday we’ll consider how God’s provision becomes a daily test of obedience during seasons in the wilderness.
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Cloud and fire: The people of the Exodus were given these 24/7 visible reminders that God was for them and with them. We too want to know that God is present and connected to our daily lives. Could Presence be so close and constant that we’ve failed to notice?
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We’ve probably seen cinematic depictions of Israel before the Red Sea—Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt or Charlton Heston in The 10 Commandments. Whatever vision comes to your mind, the terrifying experience brought the people to a crossroads. Would they turn back to the oppressive yet predictable existence of Egypt, or trust God to bring a new deliverance? The same questions confront us in the terrifying experiences of our lives. Will we wait on God’s deliverance?
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Where do you place your hopes for the future? In Jeremiah’s day, as in our own, the choice is clear. We can put our trust in human endeavors or set our confidence in the Lord. As we launch into a new ministry year, we root ourselves anew in our only true source of hope.
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This week we conclude our series as we turn to the book of Acts to see how the early church took seriously this simple yet profound call to serve, and as a result it turned the Roman Empire upside down. How might the trajectory of the early church continue to shape our purpose as a church 2,000 years later?
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We go through our days without giving much thought to how the parts of our bodies are working. Yet each body part is necessary and valuable to keep us living. When we view each person in the church in the same way, we are a healthy working community.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, August 22. In a culture that celebrates ambition and personal power, Jesus calls for a different kind of greatness. Instead of exerting power over others, Jesus’ power comes from serving under them. What might this greatness look like in Sammamish in 2021?
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The marks of a true Christian include loving and serving one another. However, we often reduce serving to a checklist item, or chore we need to get through. What happens when we reframe serving by asking the question, “What Needs to be Done?” Let’s explore stories of those who recently did this as we also consider how we might serve one another.
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The “good life” that often captures our imagination is centered on upward mobility and getting ahead. But the mindset to which Jesus calls us is just the opposite. What does downward mobility mean for His followers?
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There are common things in our world which help us stick with a group—family, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, occupation, even political persuasions. But the church is defined by wholly different commonalities. John ends his letter with a call to build community through loving, obeying and overcoming. Here are the responses from the congregation on what makes a genuine Christian community.
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The issue of sin is not one we readily dive into; yet we know the reality of its influence in our lives. John reminds us that genuine community is birthed through honest recognition of our sin and confident reliance on the One who ultimately destroys its power over us.
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We have to confess that, as humans, we are easily deceived. In our current cultural environment of competing “truths,” John provides a timeless test to overcome deception and stand fast in God’s truth.
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We readily claim our identity as children of God, but don’t always live up to our calling. John reminds us that the clearest marker of our adoption into God’s family is the way we love our siblings. How are we doing in developing a genuinely loving community?
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Throughout the letter of 1 John, the goal remains the same: to charge the people of God to embody undying love for God & one another. If Jesus Christ is our model of love, who is the antichrist, and what threat do they pose?
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We invest our time and attention toward what we love. A good test of Christian faith is whether that investment of love is focused on the welfare of others or on our status in the world.
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The essence of our faith boils down to these two commands: Love God, and love people. The way God has given us to love others is through community. This week, we have the privilege of hearing from Chitra Hanstad, Executive Director at World Relief Seattle.
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Light and Life—These lofty concepts in John’s letter seem so heavenly and grand. But John reminds us that these gifts from Jesus shape our community in everyday ways.
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Come celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in the lives of nine students that journeyed through the confirmation experience this year. This is not only a huge step in each student’s faith journey, but an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a church.
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“Blessed to be a blessing”—God’s covenant to Abraham from ages past continues to shape our mission today. Yet the Christian church is not always received as a blessing in the world these days. God’s renovating work calls us to new ways of extending blessing to those in our community.
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This week we continue in our ‘Renovate’ series and turn to a passage in 1 Peter 2 that builds upon two specific Old Testament themes: stones and priests. How might these two OT illustrations reshape the way we view our church community now, and the work that God desires to do through us moving forward?
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There is no amount of rehabilitation, re-education, or improvement plan that can create a new person. But that is just what Jesus does in us: whole new beings, forever made right with God! As new creations, we are God’s envoys to a world seeking to make things right by their own efforts.
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Society often tells us we can create a better life now or follow three easy steps to renew the desires of our hearts. Yet God is the one who says, “I will give you a new heart.” Let’s explore God’s ongoing work of renovating and reshaping our hearts to become more like his.
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Jesus’ ministry often challenged the expectations of those around him. The fresh wine of His kingdom can’t be contained in old forms. Are we ready to receive the new work of Spirit in our time?
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We look at changes over this year of pandemic and see much loss and continued uncertainty. But the Lord has a way of making new things spring up in wastelands. The prophet Isaiah invites us to perceive what new thing God may be doing even today.
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Pastor Lyndsey Watson is the new Ministry Specialist with Covenant Kids Congo (CKC), an initiative of Covenant World Relief and Development and our denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church. Pine Lake Covenant Church has engaged with CKC in multiple ways throughout the years, including the Global 6K, which is coming up on May 22. Pastor Lyndsey will discuss the importance of the local church engaging in the local and global mission of God and extending the invitation to our friends, family […]
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Prayer can be the most human and natural form of speech. Yet, as with other languages, it takes time to nurture and grow in fluency with God in prayer. The writer of Hebrews highlights key postures that build our confidence in being with God in prayer.
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The Easter story is proof that what Jesus said about himself is true: “I am the resurrection and the life.” But we can’t experience the great joy of Easter without first feeling the pain. As we stand with His friend Martha at the grave of a loved one, Jesus’ words are power and promise.
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Jesus tells us very clearly he is the way, truth, and life. Yet on this side of heaven we get caught up trying to find or make our own way in life. Together, let’s explore the fullness of this statement from the great I AM. Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s Way, Truth & Life prayer.
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Just as a branch receives life from the vine, so our life source is derived from Jesus. Only in connection to him can we expect a plentiful harvest. What might that harvest look like in your life? Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s Good Vine prayer.
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In a contrast between good and bad leaders, Jesus identifies himself as Good Shepherd. This is much more than a moral statement to affirm. It is an invitation to relationship, to know and be fully known by Him. Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s Good Shepherd prayer.
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Unless you are a rancher or farmer, you may not fully appreciate the value of a livestock gate. A gate protects, defines and provides entrance. What might Jesus be saying to us about his position as divine gatekeeper? Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s Gate of the Sheep prayer.
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As the hours of daylight increase, we find ourselves inspired and energized by increased light. Jesus points to himself as the light of the world, inviting us to move out of darkness into life-giving hope. We receive the light and then we share the light. That’s the way of Jesus. Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s Light of the […]
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When you hear the name “Jesus,” what images come to mind? As we enter the season of Lent, we will go back to the source to remember how Jesus described himself. This week, He uses an everyday item to extend an extraordinary invitation to all who choose to receive Him. Throughout this Lent series, we invite you to pay attention to God in new ways. The Breathe prayer resource, provided by the Covenant Church, is a good place to start. Here is this week’s I […]
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Valentine’s Day sparks joy and love for some, and for others it’s a painful reminder of past hurt & brokenness. Yet relationships are so much more than flowers and chocolate for a lover, or a homemade card for a friend. As Christians we hold fast to a hope that God has great intentions for each relationship in our lives, so this week we turn to the book of Proverbs as we explore the question, “What makes a relationship last?”
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This week, we have the honor of welcoming Greg Yee, Superintendent of the PacNW Conference. Greg shares insights about PLCC’s journey forward as we continue the search for our next lead pastor.
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The astounding assertion of the gospel is that God invites us to join His family! This kind of love is lavish, undeserved—and available to all. This is news we can’t keep to ourselves.
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Welcome! Join us here for our service at 10AM on Sunday, 1/24. The incredible message of the Christian faith is that love and suffering come together to bring life. God is not only for us in hard times, but is with us as a suffering God. This kind of love allows us to say “all is well.”
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In these abnormal days it’s become easy to point fingers, cast blame, or focus on differences. Yet God shows us his merciful love, fresh mercy that meets us in our sin and painful situations. How might his mercy show us how to love others?
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Have you ever found yourself disillusioned with God? We all warm to the thought of being loved by God, but are tempted to reduce this love to simply meeting our personal needs. Jeremiah reminds us that power and love are both in the hands of our sovereign God.
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As we wait for an end to pandemic suffering in this new year, we hold fast to the reality of God’s love. Jeremiah’s prophecy reminds us that we can expect love from the God who never wavers in his commitments.
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We conclude our Advent series, In Their Own Words, with a look at the Christmas story through the lens of Simeon—a story of God’s love and faithfulness that brings hope for the new year.
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The Christmas story isn’t all peace and light. When Jesus was born, the forces of darkness railed against him. While King Herod schemed for his destruction, the Magi sought to find him. Their responses reveal much about our own choices: What we will do with Jesus?
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We continue our Advent series, In Their Own Words, and look at the Christmas story through the lens of Joseph—a man who is often forgotten but played an incredible role in the birth of Jesus. Let’s learn from his story together!
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We continue this Advent series ‘In Their Own Words’ by exploring the life of Elizabeth as recorded in the gospel of Luke, and together ask the question ‘what’s my role in the Kingdom Of God?’
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Have you ever faced the disappointment of an unrealized dream? In the story of Zechariah, we see a faithful but childless man, surprised when God shows up to usher in a new way. God continues to show up in our stories as well, teaching us even through difficult times.
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We wrap up our sermon series by looking at one of the most surprising and shocking images of Jesus we see in Scripture. Let’s dive deep and look at the one who makes us say, “No other King.”
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Jesus’ message of the kingdom assumes there is a king. Yet he confounded most notions of kingship in his time. What does it mean for us today to honor Him as king?
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In the story of ancient Israel’s demand for a king, we will see their rejection of God’s rule. Our own demands for security or prosperity shape our loyalties as well. Are we seeking another kind of king ourselves?
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No matter what leader is in office or which party is in control, Jesus remains King. So the call for Christians is not to withdraw, but to engage culture with a kingdom mindset. This week we look at the amazing way in which Jesus responds to a political dispute.
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Two visions, two men, two people groups. When the Spirit speaks, past prejudices are erased and a whole new view of community is birthed. Today the Spirit continues to break down false barriers and invite us into the blessed community God always intended.
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As the early church began to scatter through Judea and Samaria, God was already at work setting up his divine appointments. We’ll hear about one of these instances that occurred on a desert road as we consider how the Holy Spirit is disrupting our routines and urging us to say yes to divine appointments.
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The Early Church was growing and finding momentum until tragedy hit their community in a shocking and profound way. It altered their everyday reality and the movement of their community. What can we learn from this as we continue to navigate the realities we find ourselves in?
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When ethnic tensions arise in the early church, the community must work out a way to honor and care for all. Even in conflict, the Spirit reshapes God’s people and extends their witness to a broken world.
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After Pentecost, the early followers of Jesus find their perspectives shifting in profound ways. At a routine encounter outside the temple gates, a powerful healing takes place, and more than one life is forever changed. How is the Spirit shifting our own routines so that healing might come?
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There is a world of difference between shining your light and letting your light shine. Jesus says to let your light shine “in such a way.” What does this crucial difference look like in today’s time and space?
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The Holy Spirit filled the room while the apostles were gathered together in order to bring about something new. Yet this arrival was not the first time God showed up, in order to disrupt. What might we learn about past disruptions as we look to the way God is at work through new disruptions?
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Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would empower us for mission in the world. And yet, the Spirit often moves to shift our focus and disrupt our perceptions. What holy work might the Spirit be stirring in our own time? Through the book of Acts, we’ll learn how holy disruptions can reshape and revive the church’s mission.
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We all know what it feels like to run on empty. Is it possible that God’s fullness could meet every perceived gap – in our church and in our personal lives? The church building may be empty, but God offers fullness to His people. This prayer from Ephesians shows us the way.
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It’s been so long since we have met for worship at 1715 228th Ave SE…so much has changed…or has it? This week we continue our study in Ephesians as we explore one simple question: “What is the Church?” We will see that our true identity is much more profound than we normally think or imagine.
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The back story of human lostness is not a pretty one. But God has done what we couldn’t do for ourselves, so our new story is a masterpiece in the making. Every chapter of “We the Church” is rooted in grace.
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It’s easy to buy into a scarcity mindset. We can fixate on what is lacking—in our own lives and in our church—rather than on what is always available to us in Christ. This prayer over the Ephesian church gives us language to change our view toward the abundance we have in Christ.
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In a time when God’s people can’t gather in person, it’s vital to remember that church is so much more than a building, pastor, or program. We are God’s design from beginning to end; our heritage and our future is glorious!
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Paul knows a secret and he wants to share it. The power and wisdom of God are to be found in the most unexpected of places, the last place we would think to look. This is the main thing, and it is fresh truth for today.
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We have a fundamental choice in life. We can put our energies into looking good, what Paul calls “communicating ourselves.” Or, we can put our energy into centering ourselves in Christ, and we become secondary – yet more our true selves.
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Jesus carefully chose the 12 disciples — Luke tells us “he spent the night praying to God.” What a group of misfits — Jesus’ prayer life must have been questioned! But he had, it seems, very specific reasons for choosing who he did. Let’s look at two of the less well-known of these characters and see what they can teach us about the place of politics in God’s kingdom.
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This week, Pastor Mark will be interviewed by Pastor Sharon, who will ask him about the importance of focusing on the “main thing.” She will also ask questions about his time here and hopes for the future — a future that is in the hands of Jesus Christ.
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Those who have been closest to God have said, perhaps more than those who are far from him, how infinite and hard to grasp he is. We get a clear picture of him in Jesus Christ, but the temptation is to make him smaller than he is. If he is truly the “Main Thing” in Scripture, we would expect big things to be said about him. Let’s explore, and see what it means for us.
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This is a story of two very different brothers. Which one do you identify with most? However, the story is really about the father. Jesus is trying to paint a clear picture of God for the Pharisees to see. He wants them to see who God is so that they can experience God’s mercy. He loves the older brother too – but repenting of our righteousness can be more difficult than repenting of our sins.
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Jesus says that being a disciple will cost you everything. Whatever or whoever you love before you meet Jesus will be put into a position of second place, at best. This included love for family, friends, and country. If this is so, why would anyone want to follow him?
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For Israel, the years 605BC to 440BC are concerned with the themes of exile and return from exile. We may have wondered in the past what this time period has to do with us. Not anymore. We have been exiled from so many things: workplaces, sports, ways of doing things, and people. Now the talk is of returning – but to what? What new thing does God want to do in our lives and in the days ahead?
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Our confirmation students share their testimonies as we celebrate this important milepost in their faith journey.
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Jesus says that his Father is always working. We see in Scripture how many times he is bringing about something new. Even though he gives birth to new things, he is always calling people back to “the same old things”: loving God, loving people and blessing the world. This is what life is all about and so it will always be.
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This virus is something we have never seen before, and yet, we humans have endured a lot of things “like” this before. To live as a human is to be vulnerable and, from time to time, feel out of control. And nothing in this world, no matter how big, can take the place of what God wants for us, no matter how small. He is the God of new things, and they often seem small and insignificant.
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When we see how small we are, how much loss is part of our lives, how futile life can be, how short our years are when measured against eternity, we can easily get down in the dumps. But — and that is a huge word in this psalm — we can still pray for wisdom, for joy, and for meaning in our lives. Hope can be born each new day.
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It’s hard to hear the daily statistics of infection rates and deaths. We are apt to forget that statistics describe real people, real families, facing the shadows of pain and death. The Bible never glosses over hard things. In the well-loved Psalm 23, we hear again that God is always with us, whatever our circumstances.
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To be human is to suffer loss. To live life is to live with limits. That is the stark truth. We know it’s true when we think about it, but we live in denial of it much of the time. Hey, it’s OK to not be OK. We are all experiencing some kind of loss right now, and we all have limits on what we can do. The good thing is that when we recognize our loss, and accept our […]
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All of us have lost something in these days. It could be something small. I can no longer go to the gym to work out. Or it could be something much bigger. It could be a job, or a milestone, or something inside of you, perhaps your sense of hope and joy. Psalm 77, by taking our emotions seriously, gives us an idea of how we might bring hope back into our lives.
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John 20:1-18 The raw story of the first Easter is absolutely loaded with drama. It speaks to every human heart that has been greatly disappointed and yet still longs for something more from life. It is a reminder that all things are truly possible with God; a message perfectly designed for the days we are in.
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“Be still and know that I am God.” This is a verse that many of us know, but few of us really understand how to actually do it. Yet stillness seems like such a beautiful thing in the midst of the chaos we see unfolding in our world. Let’s learn about the secret to stillness as we look at Psalm 46 together.
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Psalm 91 is classified as a psalm of “new orientation.” It is designed to get us to see beyond what we see with your eyes. It is written to Israel at a time of serious trial, perhaps caused by a plague or disease. The language is breathtakingly beautiful. It is the kind of psalm that can be so life-giving for people like us.
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We can’t be certain of the exact circumstances that prompted David to write Psalm 4, but there is a sense of community crisis. In our own season of pandemic upheaval, Psalm 4 models an evening prayer that invites us to end each day in hope. We can build our confidence in God through a rhythm of reviewing our days in the light of His gaze.
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Psalm 16 As the world swirls, a change of course in our Lent series. Leading up to Easter, we will be focusing each week on one spiritual – yet practical – thing we can do in the midst of an ever-shaking world. “Hope for Shaken People” is the title that will hold this series together. This week we will learn from this psalm about how to awaken the power of something we all have.
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Due to copyright restrictions, the video is muted during the music portion at the beginning of the service. Psalm 11 As the world swirls, our Lent series changes course. Leading up to Easter, we will be focusing each week on one spiritual — yet practical — thing we can do in the midst of an ever-shaking world. “Hope for Shaken People” is the title that will hold this series together.
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Ephesians 5:1-7 As we walk through the desert toward God’s promises, we are vulnerable to idols that call out to us. Every culture has them and they come in all shapes and sizes – as Tim Keller says, “Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, from which you seek to get something that only God can give.” Money and sex, both good things, when coveted become idols. But there are so many more good things that can […]
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Psalm 115:1-9 Okay, the word “addiction” is not found in the Bible, but there is a huge overlap with the word “sin.” There is, perhaps, another biblical word for addiction that is even more on target: “idolatry.” It was the #1 sin of Israel in the Old Testament and it is alive and well today. We live in a world of idols and we are all at risk. Resources Recommended and Used by Pastor Mark: Addiction and Grace: Love and […]
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Numbers 11:4-6, 10-20 Last week we saw how humans were banished by God from the garden of Eden and required to walk “across the desert,” by faith, in order to grow into healthy mature people. The addict (stay open to the possibility that we are all addicted to something) is someone who resists this, wanting instead to go back into the garden by “using.” Again, the Israelites demonstrate this in the desert by wanting to go back to Egypt, the […]
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Genesis 3:21-24 “Life is difficult.” This is the famous opening sentence of Scott Peck’s best-seller, “The Road Less Traveled.” He calls it one of the “great truths.” Addictions are one way we try to get around this great truth. The Bible says that life is difficult because of our rebellion against God, but even with all that is difficult in life, there is a new way to live. Resources Recommended and Used by Pastor Mark: Addiction and Grace: Love and […]
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Genesis 3:1-9 Addictions, you might say, are like “sin on steroids.” They are rooted in that which is common to all human sin, a basic distrust in God to provide what we desire most. And to do the most damage, sin and addiction need to look their best. Resources Recommended and Used by Pastor Mark: Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in Healing Addictions, Gerald May … He sees all humans as struggling with addiction and all in need of […]
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Romans 7:14-25 “To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.” What do you think? This statement is from Gerald May, M.D. in his book Addiction & Grace. This Sunday we will explore this statement from a biblical perspective, looking at the relationship between addiction and grace. Resources Recommended and Used by Pastor Mark: Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in Healing Addictions, Gerald May … He sees all […]
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Mark 6:30-44 Hear a deeply personal testimony from a mom whose world was turned upside down through her child’s illness. Although she was tired, scared, and broken, God continued to call her into what seemed to be the impossible. When she said YES, lives were transformed.
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Luke 2:1-7 Time is something that often seems to be either full or empty. The Bible says that God sent his Son in the “fullness of time.” What does that mean? And what does it mean for us to experience God in the fullness of time? How about in time that seems so empty?
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Luke 2:25-35 “Remnant” — we think of the word as something left over from a project maybe. Or a small part of something that used to be much bigger. In the Bible, remnant means a small group of people within the nation of Israel who are truly faithful to God’s revelation and promises. These are the characters we are meeting in the Christmas story, including a man named Simeon. These people show us how to wait for long periods in […]
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Luke 1:26-38 We all face unique circumstances in our lives at various moments, but what do you when God asks for something that seems totally impossible and unimaginable to bear? What is your response when the Almighty asks for your willingness to take part in something extraordinary that will ultimately have a cost to yourself? Let’s lean into Scripture and learn from Mary, one person who was faced with that kind of request and actually had the audacity and courage […]
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Luke 1:5-25 We spend perhaps most of our lives waiting for something: for a new opportunity, for the right person, to become a parent, for the right job, for healing, for the right home, for a child to come back, for God to do something. Waiting plays a huge part in the Bible also, and no place more than in the Christmas story. Join us as we connect our waiting to the Christmas story this Advent season!
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John 7:1-13 OK, we have been dancing around the worn-out phrase “peer pressure.” Let’s take it on, with the full force of Jesus, to see what it is and how much it affects our lives, regardless of age. But let’s be extra-aware of how it affects teens. Mark M. and Mark N. will team up on this one, looking at how the real secret of Jesus is a clear sense of identity – and how this secret is available to […]
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John 6:60-69 This last Sunday, we saw how some of Jesus’ disciples could not digest his words or his claims about himself — yet the twelve disciples did. This week we hear a wonderful story from Amber, who has recently moved from choking on Jesus to feeding on him.
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John 6:60-71 The New Testament never says it is easy to follow Jesus. In fact, just the opposite. Then and now people come to Jesus with their expectations of him and he says basically, “It doesn’t work that way.” He is impervious to this pressure people put on him, even to the point of death. How does he do it? How can we get that kind of core strength built into our lives?
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John 2:12-25 All of us have faced situations where people expect us to behave in certain ways because of the image they have of us. Often times, that image is merely a limited part, not the whole of who we are. There is something inside of us that doesn’t want others to only see us in a limited way. Their expectations of us are that we conform to their image of us, and we feel that pressure. Jesus knows what […]
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John 2:1-11 Having high expectations for our children can be a good thing; after all we want the best for them! But what is too much pressure? One study revealed that 92% of parents felt it was important for their children to excel at school, while 39% of the students felt there was too much pressure on them. Jesus knew what it felt like to have a parent want him to perform well. We will look at how he both […]
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Romans 8:31(b)-37 Adi Dreana, our long-time mission partner in Romania, will be sharing how God has broken down walls and is bringing his powerful love to the people of Romania, as he is doing all over the world. We are blessed to have Adi and his wife Lavi with us this week!
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Mark 1:27-28, 33-39 One of the “big deals” about God becoming human is that he knows what it feels like to be us. He knows what it feels like when someone pressures you with their expectations, letting you know what they think you should do. If we allow ourselves to be shaped by other people’s expectations of us, we can literally lose ourselves. Let’s learn from Jesus.
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Luke 15:1-7 Every “age” has a big issue that is pushing in on the church, causing the church to look long and hard at its beliefs and practices. We are in such a season in regard to the LGBTQ+ community. Our study of the Greek word philoxenia (hospitality) can give us a way forward, as we see again how God is hospitable to all.
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1 Peter 4:7-11 At the end of the day, hospitality is all about other people being more important than ourselves. It is a way of saying, “I am here for you,” whoever that “you” is. Genuine hospitality has a risk to it, a cost to it. It is part of being truly human.
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Romans 12:9-16 Hospitality is part of the large love vocabulary of the New Testament. It is a commandment given numerous times to all Christians as a way to show the love of Christ. A fraudulent substitute is found in our word “entertainment,” which in many ways is the exact opposite of Biblical hospitality. Let’s be sure to get it right.
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Hebrews 13:1-3 One of the most overlooked commandments in the Bible is “be hospitable.” Jesus lived out hospitality and the New Testament writers continually bring it up. There is something about it that connects with the heart of God, something that every human being longs for – and for us who live in a Seattle Freeze culture – it is life-giving!
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Psalm 27:1-14 Have you thought deeply about the beauty of God? Just how beautiful (glorious) is He? If we gaze upon Him, is it possible that we will become more beautiful? As someone has said, “you become what you look at.” Is it possible that if we focus on His beauty that our problems, insecurities, and anxieties can fade away into the background? It’s all about God, the psalmist cries – His beauty surpasses everything else.
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Psalm 146 The Psalmist says to “Praise the Lord, my soul.” How can we do that when it often seems that our world is falling apart? It’s so easy to read or watch the news and be overwhelmed by the enormity of problems in the world, let alone our own lives. What wisdom does the Psalmist have that helps to unlock our praise and hope for justice in the midst of a broken world? Come and hear as we explore […]
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Psalm 95 No one did the God-centered life better than Jesus. As sensitive as he was to people, he was even more sensitive to God. He worshiped his heavenly Father, meaning he ascribed ultimate value or worth to him. Psalm 95, which Jesus would have been very familiar with, tells us why worship is so central to being truly human and shows us how to do it.
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Psalm 42 Come as we hear from Chaplain Ann Snowberger on prayer as an expression of our being, a path for our healing, and a hope for our living.
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Deuteronomy 5:12-15 This summer we have been exploring different spiritual practices that offer a rhythm of life full of depth and meaning, and as theologian AJ Swoboda puts it, “Jesus lived out the rhythms of heaven.” This week we will together encounter a practice that is as old as creation itself: Sabbath. How might the practice of Sabbath be the avenue to the work/life balance that we deeply long for, and in turn be the practice from which our purpose […]
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Jonah 1 Our guest speaker this Sunday will be Keith Hamilton. Keith currently serves as the President of Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, Alaska.
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1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Many places in the Bible speak of giving thanks to God and to others, practicing gratitude. But what does living a life of gratitude really look like? Is it being grateful for our things and experiences? Or expressing gratitude for others in our life? Together, let’s explore the spiritual practice of gratitude that takes us much deeper, producing an inner joy and reframing our posture of giving thanks.
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Mark 1:35-39; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 5:15-16 In our noisy world, it can be difficult to hear ourselves think, much less to hear anything from God. The practices of silence and solitude are counter-cultural in this technology-saturated world. What might it look like to set aside time alone, in quietness, to commune with the God who loves us? Let’s learn from the example of Jesus and discover a new rhythm for life with God in the world.
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Matthew 6:5-13 Join us this Sunday as we explore the gracious way Jesus taught us to pray. Ever feel like you want to pray but don’t quite know where to start? Come and see how the prayer of Jesus is the easiest place to start. He meant it to lighten your load, not make it heavier.
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Matthew 11:28-30 This Sunday we begin a new sermon series called “Rhythms,” where we will explore the ways God invites us into rest and renewal. This week, we take a look at the practice of Confession!
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Psalm 8 We have seen how God has graciously given all of us the capacity to create. There is also an expectation that we will use this gifting in ways that honor him, are helpful to others, and take care of his creation. Along with the gift of creativity comes a measure of responsibility. Without this, we simply are individuals expressing ourselves.
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Exodus 31:1-11 God didn’t have to make the world, he did it out of imagination, desire and great joy. We who are in his image have within us this potential for joyful creating. He is the original artist or craftsman from whom we derive our joy in creating. There is just one caveat, and it has to do with the great American word, “freedom.”
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Genesis 1:1-3, 26, 27, 31 Creativity is a hot topic these days and has now often become something companies look for in their potential employees. We often think that some people are more creative than others or that you either have it or you don’t. Is this really true? What does the Bible have to teach us about the ability to create? Come and engage as we start a new sermon series called, “You Are Creative.” ** The video clip […]
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Our confirmation students share their testimonies as we celebrate this important milepost in their faith journey.
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John 5:1-18 Be careful when Jesus asks you a question. Jesus asks the man who has been disabled for 38 years, “Do you want to get well?” It turns out that he needed as much or more healing on the inside, in his soul, than in his body. What happens when people experience God in some way but are not willing to take a step toward him and the life he offers? What does this story teach us about bringing […]
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John 4:43-54 Have you ever been so desperate that you risked everything, even your dignity and pride, for the sake of finding help for someone you love? So desperate that you would ask for help, to admit that you are a person in need? It is hard to imagine a human being not experiencing desperation at some point in life. God is always working to let people, desperate people, know his love. This is Jesus.
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John 4:4-18 We all crave something. We tend to live toward what we ultimately long for – our deepest desires shape us. But there is a lot of evidence that people don’t really know what they want. This lack of clarity, however, doesn’t keep them from trying to act on their desires. J.K. Smith says that “the heart is like a compass, an erotic homing device.” Jesus invites people to make him their central desire. This is Jesus.
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John 3:1-16 Jesus has a way of getting into people’s hearts and minds. John captures a variety of these encounters in chapters 3-5 of his gospel. From a highly respected religious leader to an outcast Samaritan woman, from a royal official to an invalid without real hope, Jesus encounters people who are so different but all of whom he wants to see come alive. He is doing the same thing today, inviting people into life and then inviting them to […]
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Luke 24:36-45 There is nothing like Easter to rev up faith! The evidence that God is real is mixed and not easily discerned. Death sure seems final. But on this Sunday, more than any other, we can get clarity and focus on a greater reality. Come and open yourself up to all the good news of Easter, and maybe you will be surprised! And please, if you know anyone in need of hope, invite them to come this Sunday.
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Deuteronomy 5:32-6:9 The book of Deuteronomy is like the changing of the guard. Before a new generation of Israelites enter the promised land that, they need to review God’s covenant requirements. As Moses prepares to hand off responsibility to a new leader, he gives a farewell speech that will shape the next generation. How are we called to pass on God’s way to the next generation?
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Numbers 13:1-3, 25-33, 14:1-4 Reading the Book of Numbers is a frustrating experience. I find myself feeling really bad for Moses as a leader. I also find myself saying of Israel, “How could they be so blind?” Faith is often said to involve a “blind leap of faith.” That is only true if you are blind to what God wants for you. It is way better for us to think in terms of an “eyes-wide-open next step of faith.”
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Leviticus 1:1-2, Numbers 1:1a Leviticus is easily one of the toughest books to read and understand. Why does it exist? What was God trying to achieve with these particular words and instructions for His people? Come and join us as we explore this question and discover a beautiful invitation from God.
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Exodus 33:1-6, 12-23 If you want a shallow life, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is probably not for you. Psalm 42:7 uses the phrase, “deep calls to deep,” meaning something like the deep things of God calling out to the deeper things in us. Let’s eavesdrop on the conversation between Moses and YHWH in order that we, too, may experience God in a deeper way.
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Exodus 3:1-15 One thing that defined Moses’ adult life more than anything else was failure. His low self-esteem was not to be confused with humility. The last thing he wanted was to fail again (more about hurt pride). How can God get through to him, convincing him that he was truly chosen for a new and outrageously risky task? He does it by revealing His character to Moses, the very thing He wants to do for us.
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Genesis 22:1-18 In the New Testament, Paul says that Abraham was “fully persuaded that God could do what he had promised.” This is called faith. Abraham’s faith was put to the ultimate test in what is called the “Akedah” or binding of Isaac. Abraham proves himself, though he often falters, as one who truly trusts God to provide. O what we can learn from him!
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John 8:1-11 In this series we have looked at God’s purposes for sexuality as well as taking an honest look at how we are all sexually broken, to one degree or another. We need God to do something. We end the series by looking at how God can heal our brokenness.
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Romans 2:1-4 Same-sex attraction and LGBTQIA conversations are never far from us. For many, they are very close and personal. How do we sort through and understand what the Bible is saying without getting distracted by the background noise of politics and a myriad of voices? In this week’s message, Pastors Mark Meredith and Mark Neely do their best to bring more light, more humility, and more Jesus into a tough conversation that is ongoing. Here are some resources and […]
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Mark 2:1-12 Bernd and Deana Strom will be sharing their story of how pornography tore apart their marriage and how God’s grace brought healing. Being human means being broken in many ways. Sometimes our brokenness can be very messy, as happens with sexual sin. Our sin may be private but the consequences are not. But God also makes our healing possible through other people, even the people we hurt.
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1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Our news is full of stories of people, both women and men, whose lives have been damaged because of another person’s sexual manipulation of them. The Bible has its stories, too; nothing new here. Roughly 80% of women and 40% of men have said they have experienced some kind of sexual harassment or abuse. Why so high? Why is it so much higher for women? Need help or support? Check out these resources: National Sexual Assault Hotline1-800-656-HOPE […]
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Romans 12:1-2 We believe that sexuality is a gift given to us from God. Yet many of us don’t experience it that way, especially when we see the examples of how it is used and abused in our culture. So how do we live with sexual integrity and navigate this 21st century cultural landscape? Come and dive in as we learn from God’s Word together!
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Genesis 1:26-28, 2:22-25, Revelation 19:6-7 When you think of God and sex, do you tend to think more of a big “yes” or a big “no”? Do you think of sexuality and spirituality as being closely linked or two separate realities? Is sex a “big deal” or “no big deal”? Who has shaped your thoughts and opinions about sex? What is “sexual discipleship”? These are some of the questions we will open up as we begin this series called God, […]
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Romans 12:9-18 A 2018 survey found that nearly half of all Americans feel lonely. Over half the respondents felt no one really knew them well. As Christians we follow a God of extreme hospitality. What can we learn about extending His radical welcome to those right in our neighborhoods?
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Ruth 4:1-17 Ever feel like you are “running on empty”? Naomi knows the feeling, especially as this story begins. From a natural point of view, she has no hope. But all along she has a huge asset, Ruth, who is a person of “hesed” (lovingkindness that clings). She begins by feeling empty, but she ends up feeling full. This story brings hope and encouragement to our “empty” stories.
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Ruth 3:1-18 Have you ever played Risk? It’s a game that brings out the worst in people who try to take over the world. Ruth is playing Risk, only for the sake of Naomi. Her bold actions have so far have paid off for her and for Naomi but now she is about to take the risk of her lifetime. Will she succeed or fail? What exactly is this story she has fallen into?
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Ruth 2:1-23 Kindness is becoming a quaint, old-fashioned word. So when we see it, we are often shocked by the power of it. There is still something in the human soul that says of kindness, “This is the way people ought to treat each other.” Ruth is showing kindness to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Will someone show kindness to Ruth? Why?
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Ruth 1:1-22 Matthew begins his story of Jesus by telling us the family tree of Jesus. In that tree is a young immigrant woman, named Ruth, from a despised racial group. God chose to include her in the human ancestry of his son. God loves to work outside the boundaries of cultural norms and because of this, when we find ourselves in places of great darkness and despair, we can, like Ruth, be people with hope.
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Luke 11:1-13 Is prayer more a responsibility or a gift? Whichever it is, Jesus is big on it. There is something about the way Jesus prayed that caused his friends to want to learn from him. He shows them and us how to pray, but in the end, prayer is more something we don’t do than something we get wrong. Click the “Save” button above to download a PDF of this week’s sermon discussion guide, or to listen to the […]
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Luke 10:1-9, 16 Jesus’s expectation for all of his followers is that they will be messengers of the good news, of the historical and cosmic break-through in the relationship between God and people. Being a messenger in a hostile environment is not an easy thing, but, it is so life giving. Click the “Save” button above to download a PDF of this week’s sermon discussion guide, or to listen to the sermon audio.
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Luke 10:25-37 How do I get right with God? Someone once asked this of Jesus and he told the man to neighbor well. What does the way I treat my neighbor have to do with eternal life? Let’s let Jesus explain. Click the “Save” button above to download a PDF of this week’s sermon discussion guide, or to listen to the sermon audio.
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Matthew 5:14-16 This Sunday we have our first Celebration Sunday where we remember and celebrate all that God is doing in our church community. We will take time to worship, pray, hear stories and be inspired to share our light with the world around us. We will gather at the table for Communion and break bread in a potluck feast afterwards. Come and see all that God is doing among us. Click the “Save” button above to download a PDF of […]
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Luke 6:27-36 If we are honest, all of us can admit to having enemies. They can be the person in another country or the person you share a house with. They can be someone who has a different political view or someone who disses you. They can be permanent or temporary. Jesus doesn’t qualify his words, he simply says to love them, to pray for them, to bless them. Click the “Save” button above to download a PDF of this […]
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Luke 6:37-42 An unseen, but favorite, pastime for many of us is sizing up other people. We are quick to draw conclusions, make assumptions, and declare judgements. We easily cast a critical, even condemning, eye on others. But we are not as quick to turn that same gaze on ourselves. Jesus uses images of sawdust and planks to turn the tables on the way we view others and ourselves. Being in sync with Jesus calls for a new way of […]
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Matthew 18:15-17, 21-22, 6:14-15 Jesus is pretty clear on forgiveness. Clarity is not the problem, nor is the concept offensive to us – we kind of like it in a general sort of way. What is the problem then? As C.S. Lewis says, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive … And then, to mention the subject at all is to be greeted with howls of anger.” There is something inside of us that […]
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John 14:15-24 “If you love me, you will do what I say.” Those are potentially dangerous words. They could be said in a way that is very manipulative. But they are words of Jesus, and therefore, words that bring life. They are also words that are always under threat from our own manipulative hearts, that want to love Jesus without obeying him.
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Matthew 28:16-20 Isn’t bless a good word, maybe just the right word for our day? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? As we finish this three-part series that reminds us of the essentials of following Jesus found in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we look at the last words of Jesus on earth. What gets said last gets remembered most – true enough. But it can become so familiar that we miss the enormity of what he said, […]
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Mark 12:28-31 What does it look like to love in the way Jesus commands? Loving our neighbors is done in real time, with real people. This second part of the Great Commandment flows out of knowing we ourselves are loved – in all our imperfections.
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Mark 12:28-31 During the next three weeks we are going to follow Jesus into the most simple and deep truth he spoke: The Great Commission and the Great Commandment. These are words for all who desire to follow him to come back to time and again. We begin with loving God. What does it mean to love God with our whole being, as Jesus says, “with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?” Jesus says it is the most important […]
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Romans 12:1-8 There are many good reasons to serve God and people. Some people are just brought up that way and see the value it brings to their lives and others. Some people do it out of a vague sense of “karma,” what goes ‘round comes ‘round. Some do it out of religious obligation. The Bible gives us a different view, anchoring service in our perception of Jesus Christ.
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Psalm 63 Have you experienced times when your faith seemed dry and barren? We often seek relief in things that seem to refresh us, but are left unsatisfied. When found in a desert place, David longs for the comfort of God’s presence. His prayer holds out the hope that God alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.
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Psalm 143 Our troubles, ironically, fuel our thirst for God. Nothing has changed in the 3,000 years since this Psalm was written. But David’s thirst for being relieved of his troubles gets him into his real thirst, for God and his unfailing love, our real thirst.
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Psalm 42 Do you ever feel “stuck” in your relationship with God? When we read the Psalms, we find out we are not alone. For some reason, which isn’t clear, the psalmist feels distant from God, and yet thirsts for God. It is in the thirst, in the dry desert conditions, that seeds of future blessing are planted.
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Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42 In college I watched a Samuel Beckett play called “Waiting for Godot,” about two characters who are waiting for a guy named Godot who never appears. The meaning of their lives seems to be wrapped around this character, so that when he doesn’t appear, their lives are meaningless – a very frustrating story. Waiting for God can feel frustrating as well, and Jesus anticipates our frustration by telling us a parable that sharpens our radar to discern […]
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Matthew 13:51-52 Software updates, upgrades to the latest model, staying current with the newest methods. Life and culture are constantly updating. How do we value the “old” while leaning into the “new,” especially in the light of God’s Kingdom? Join us as we explore this week’s parable of valuing both the old and new.
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Matthew 13:44-46 As we examine the parables of The Treasure and The Pearl, we’ll explore not only what Jesus taught in describing the Kingdom, but also how to yield to God’s reign with joy and celebration. Be inspired as we wrestle with how a treasure worth sacrificing everything relates to our lives and agendas.
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Matthew 13:33 The Jews of Jesus’ day looked forward to a future time when God would establish his Kingdom. For them, the focus was on doing all the right things. Jesus taught that the Kingdom was already among them–it was a present reality! And the focus, he said, was not on doing the right things, but on allowing God to make them the right people. Today, many church folks are still more focused on doing than being. Join us as […]
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Matthew 13:31-32 Many people live by the old adage that “bigger is better.” However, in the Kingdom, Jesus flips this idea upside down and reveals that size is not an indicator of potential or worth. Come as we explore the parable of the little seed that could.
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Matthew 13:18-23 Jesus often told stories that used everyday language and imagery to illustrate the realities of the Kingdom of God. The story of the farmer planting seeds depicts four soils with four different outcomes. Jesus emphasized the good ‘crop’ that comes from the fourth soil, but how do we live as this good soil? The condition of the soil is grounded in the posture of the heart!
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Matthew 13:1-9, 18-21 When Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, his favorite way to speak of it was through story. In this story of a farmer planting seeds, we are invited to ponder why some seeds fail to produce any lasting yield. What do these different soil conditions say about receiving what God has sown in our lives? It’s all about hearing in the right way!
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Proverbs 9:1-18
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Proverbs 15:22, 16:1-4, 9, 19:21, 21:5, 27:1 On a scale of 1-10, are you more of a planner or a free-spirit? How about your children? God has something to say to all of us, wherever we are about planning. Too much planning can be bad for your soul. Too little planning can make your life and those around you very difficult. How do we get it just right?
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Proverbs 14:17, 29; 15:1, 18; 19:11, 19; 24:29 What makes you angry? Is “makes” the right word – as if you had no choice? Maybe there is another way to look at it. Wisdom says that if we pause (maybe count to 10) to look at what is underneath our anger, we will find something we love. Anger tells us what we love. To be healed of toxic anger is to make sure we love the right things.
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Proverbs 5:1-20 Wisdom gives us the skill to walk through a broken world. Our sexuality is broken and in constant need of refocus and healing. What God intended for good, we turn to evil (#metoo). Parents know the power of sexual urges but they need help knowing how to guide these urges in their children. In Proverbs 5, God gives us a powerful picture of how to do this.
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Proverbs 4:18-27 Parenting is hard. We are called, as parents, to help our children speak, see, hear, think, and act in the “right way,” and the right way is not natural to humans. At the center of the child, “above all else,” is the heart, which Jesus says, “all else flows” (Mark 7:19). So, how do we teach our children to “guard their hearts?”
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Proverbs 1:8-19, 27:6 Our hearts are sticky, they tend to bond to whatever feels good. Because of our need for identity, we tend to bond to people and things that bring bondage. The biggest job parents have is to give their kids a sense of identity. This is the greatest gift you can give. “When you know who you are, you know what to do.” With a solid identity we become less vulnerable to negative peer pressure.
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Proverbs 1:1-9 Since Google became Google, informational knowledge is literally at our fingertips. I can find out, for example, what the only manmade object is that is observable from the moon (The Great Wall of China!) But Google is not going to make us or our children wise. That takes parents, grandparents, and mentors who have become skilled in dealing with the realities of life. The Book of Proverbs is a gold mine for those who want to become wise […]
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Luke 24:13-35 Doubt is a natural part of the journey of faith. Jesus met two disciples in their greatest moment of doubt and revealed to them all they truly desired to know. This same grace is available for us on our own journeys. Come as we explore questions on the journey.
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John 20:19-20. 24-31 I doubt things every day. I thank God for the capacity to doubt and have faith – it is part of being human. We can’t live long without doubting the wrong things and believing in the right things. Thomas is the patron saint of doubters, but in the end, as he allows Jesus to work with his doubts, he has the strongest faith statement in the Bible.
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Revelation 21:1-9, 22:1-5 Even science says this world cannot last forever. The light of the sun will one day end. The Bible tells us more about how this world will end and what will come after. It is a new beginning.
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John 4:21-26
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Matthew 5:17-20, 11:25-30 Sometimes following Jesus seems like such a breeze, the wind is at our backs, God is so good and he is good all the time! And other times…it is so hard, we feel so inadequate to the tasks and we know that obedience is part of the deal and that guilt comes with being a slacker, and all that kind of jive. Worth exploring, don’t you think? Matthew is the guy that can help us do that.
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2 Peter 1:16-21, 3:14-16 The apostles of this new way, soon called Christians, were excited both about the generous nature of God’s love and deeply concerned about those who would “tweak” it to fit other agendas. These other agendas either made the faith more restrictive or they “took out the hard parts.” Peter wants us to know how we can be “more sure” if something we hear is from God or not.
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Ephesians 2:13-18 We don’t have to look far to recognize barriers that divide people. Current cultural trends have amplified our differences, pitting one group against another. Paul wrote his prison letters to churches who experienced relational barriers as well. The gospel’s radical message broke through these divides through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Bringing Christian unity in disordered situations was one of Paul’s main concerns, and his advice challenges us to hold fast to the gospel in our own […]
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Romans 6:1-7 Grace is always tenuous, always at risk of being misunderstood. Some try to make grace cheap by thinking it is a license to do whatever they want. Others try to make it so expensive, as in something to be earned only through great effort. But grace is neither cheap nor expensive…it is rather both free and priceless at the same time. This is a huge thread that runs through Paul’s letters. It is a thread God wants to […]
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Acts, 1 & 2 Thessalonians As we immerse ourselves in the Jesus story, we notice that after he dies and is resurrected the movement really gets off the ground. The reason is very simple: the Holy Spirit is like a wind blowing the gospel into new and unexpected places. He has not stopped blowing.
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Luke As we immerse ourselves in Luke’s message about Jesus, we notice certain themes. In chapter 15, we see concern for the marginalized, the poor, and the underdog. But he also shows God as a prodigal, someone who spends his wealth in a recklessly extravagant way, not just for the underdog, but for the older son as well.
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Galatians 5:16-26 How has God changed you, say, in the last two years? God changes people, but so does life. It’s normal. What we often fail to see is that he has a clear plan for growing us and he is committed to our growth. Another way to say it is that when people encounter the living God, they are never the same.
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1 Corinthians 9:24-27 God is the only one who can form our souls and bring about true change. But that doesn’t mean there’s no part we play in the process of spiritual growth. What’s our role in this divine dance that results in transformation? Come and engage as we explore what we can do to deepen our spirituality and experience that change is possible.
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Ephesians 4:17-24 Change that is driven simply by willpower typically doesn’t last, nor does it have a sweet aftertaste. Real change is birthed in our hungers, loves, and longings, not in our willpower. Willpower based change is merely behavioral change. If we can affect our hearts with the right loves, the heart will actually want to do the right thing. But how does this happen?
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Luke 15:11-32 Can I change? Can someone I care about really change their ways? One of the greatest inhibitors to change is the mindset that people don’t really change. If you have been around someone who keeps going through self-destructive cycles of behavior, that conclusion is understandable. And yet, the whole Christian faith is built on the idea that people can change. Good news as we enter a new year.
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2 Peter 1:3-4 On the cusp of a new year, we’re given the opportunity to look back and to look forward. What has God provided in the past? What are His promises for the future? Jesus’ close friend Peter reminds us that God has given us everything we need to live a life in Him. That is a promise we can rely on for the New Year!
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John 1:17-18 The question of a child might be, “what is God like?” What do you say? Truly, it is too big for words. But John takes a shot. In fact, if all we had in Scripture is John 1:1-18, we would know a lot about God, and we would be invited to know him deeply.
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John 1:14-16 Can we really know what God is like? It’s a profound question with a bold answer in the events of Christmas. When we look at the face of a baby we are looking at the face of God! The whole of history pivots on the Incarnation, that God the Word becomes God the human.
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John 1:6-13 Which is worse, knowing you are lost or being lost and not knowing it? Knowing you are lost is an awful feeling. Being lost and not knowing it is far worse, however. You will not be giving any energy to what is most needed. John introduces to us what some have called the “saddest verse in the Bible.” The good news is that it is followed by one of the strongest messages of hope in the Bible.
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John 1:1-5 John begins writing about Jesus Christ with the same words the Bible begins with, “In the beginning.” He goes on in the first 18 verses to describe Jesus Christ in the most expansive language of the Bible. This is John’s overture to his gospel, rich in meaning, providing spiritual nourishment for the hungry. This will be our Advent series, keeping the main thing the main thing at Christmas. Get ready to go deep in order to live well.
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1 Peter 5:5-11 Worry is a mild form of atheism. I don’t remember who said it, but it makes sense. There are plenty of reasons in this life to be anxious and there always will be. The hope is that over time, as we are being transformed, a follower of Christ learns how not to “entertain” fear, to be more captivated by the love and power of God today than by what might happen tomorrow.
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Psalm 23 is a beautiful passage of scripture that arose from an incredibly tumultuous and anxious life. Come and listen as we explore how David found peace in the midst of his anxiety by looking to the great Shepherd who leads and cares for us all.
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Philippians 4:4-9 Have you ever noticed that when you are around people with a lot of anxiety, one of two things happens: either they import some of your peace or they export to you some of their anxiety. Anxiety is socially transmitted. Paul shows us how we can influence others in the direction of peace and joy.
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Luke 8:22-25 Recent hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters remind us how threatening our world can be. Something happens to us in storms that doesn’t happen anywhere else. When Jesus’ disciples faced a menacing storm on the lake, their fears were real too. But Jesus met their anxiety with His presence and power. How will He help us face our own storms?
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Genesis 32:22-32 Anxiety is a bit of a paradox. No one wants it, yet it can lead us to deepen our understanding and experience of God. Without any anxiety, we would not be fully human. The problem is not that we experience anxiety, but that we allow it to rule our lives. Jacob lived with a lot of anxiety, but the climactic moment of his life, which redefines him, is also the most anxious moment of his life. Go figure!
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Psalm 1 We live in a nervous world. This week we begin a six-week series, No Worries: Finding Peace in an Anxious World. Anxiety experts use various measures to read levels of general anxiety in our country and they are all going up, especially for young people. The Bible is such a treasure. It gives us images, thoughts, and practices that are stress-reducers. This week we look at what it means to live as a well-watered and fruitful tree, even […]
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John 3:1-17 We have probably all heard, “preach the gospel and when necessary, use words.” It was originally said by St. Francis to encourage people to have their walk match their talk. Today, it tends to get used as an excuse for not talking about Jesus at all, for fear of looking like a religious nut. The good news is that Jesus continues to speak to people today. However, he strongly prefers to work in partnership with his followers. We […]
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John 13:1-5 “Should” is a word that feels heavy to us who are steeped in post-Freudian culture that says life is about us. It is also a heavy word for Christians who don’t have the “infrastructure” of the inner self built up to sustain its weight. “You should be good,” “you should love,” and “you should serve,” get superimposed on us in ways we can’t bear. It is a word we must be careful with, and it must be set […]
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Ecclesiastes 2:24 To eat or not to eat? – that is the question. This week we continue the BLESS series by exploring the letter “E” which stands for “Eat Together”. Come and listen about how the tables we sit and eat at can be used by God as sacred spaces of blessing and connection.
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Acts 8:26-40 We live in a world where hardly anyone really listens. Ironically, the quote is accurate for most of us: “The opposite of listening is not speaking, it’s waiting to speak.” Jesus often engaged people by asking questions and loving them through listening. What if we could bless those who are far from God by simply being present and listening well?
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Colossians 4:2-6
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Genesis 12:1-3 When you hear the word “evangelism,” what comes to mind? Does your stomach get tight, hands get sweaty, and your mouth get dry? How about the word “bless” instead? How about finding ways to bless and be a blessing to others? This is what God called Abraham and his children (which a follower of Jesus is) to do. We begin a 6 week series that will give very practical ways for Christ-followers to bless. Let’s get ready to […]
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1 Corinthians 13 This week we wrap up our series “Hurt by Church” by exploring one of the most iconic passages in all of the Bible. The question we face is aptly made clear through the words of the iconic Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do, got to do with it?” Paul’s answer to this is simply, “everything.” Come and join us as we dive into “Hurt by No Love.”
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1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Communion is the main way Jesus gave his followers to express love for God and for each other. Broken people don’t always love well, as we know. Of all places, communion should not be a means of discriminating against each other and hurting others. Way too much irony! For us, living a communion-shaped life is what following Christ is all about.
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1 Corinthians 11:2-16 The Bible is clear when the gender war first began – at the moment of the rebellion of the first man and woman against God. This drama has been played out in many different cultures in many different ways; witness the last 60 years in America. Here are some questions: What was going on in Corinth? What hurt has the church caused in the gender wars? What should the church do now?
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1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Last week, Pastor Mark shared about how freedom can hurt people within the church when used inconsiderately. This week we continue our study in 1 Corinthians by looking at the use of freedom from a different angle and asking the question, “can freedom be used in a positive way?” Paul shows us the answer. Come on Sunday to discover his response as we dive into Freedom – Part II.
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1 Corinthians 8:1-13 If you are an American, freedom is a wonderful word. We also cherish American “know how.” Both freedom and knowledge are part of our cherished national vocabulary. The problem with using your freedom or knowledge in the wrong way is that you can destroy other people. Freedom or knowledge without love are hurtful. We have all been hurt by the exercise of freedom and knowledge – and we have all hurt others. Paul wants to show us […]
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1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Sexuality affects us all. No one has a perfect grasp on a pure sexuality, we are all in need of healing and wholeness. The church in Corinth was experiencing hurt within the church through broken sexuality. Paul challenges the believers that our bodies are not separate from our souls and what we do within the body effects our souls. Paul encourages that because of Christ, our sexuality is made whole by him and we are to live […]
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1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Reading this passage is hard for us. Paul has condemned the Corinthians for their judgmentalism, but now he seems to bring harsh judgment himself – what gives? Where is the grace of Christ crucified in this passage? How can we apply this to our lives today?
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1 Corinthians 3:1-17 Some say that the world can be divided into two groups: “leaders” and “followers”. Whether or not that is true, the fact remains that we are all undeniably affected by leadership on some level. The 1st century church in Corinth also experienced this reality. This week we will be continuing our study in 1 Corinthians and looking at the ways “Unhealthy Leadership” can exist in and throughout the church. We will discover that Paul’s view of Christ […]
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1 Corinthians 4:1-7 As the saying goes, we are all different. Differences can be great, but they can also lead us into places of looking down on those we are different from. Paul, especially in his letters to the Corinthians, talks a lot about boasting about differences. To make his point he asks a penetrating question that he dares you to answer, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Try to answer it.
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1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Humans are always in the process of becoming more mature – at least that is what we hope. Christians, to be more specific, are being made more like Christ as they grow – that too is what we hope. But we have all seen how spirituality, when mixed with immaturity, can do great harm. Instead of faith bringing health and healing to people, it brings hurtful words and actions, all done under the cover of a spiritual […]
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1 Corinthians 1:18-31 There are certain things in this world that don’t mix well. Spirituality and pride are one of them. This is the over-arching sin of the Corinthian church of 55 AD. One of the things we will see over and over again in this 12-week series is how much hurt is caused when spiritual people get arrogant.
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Ephesians 3:14-21 Life is hard on vision. Vision leaks. It can get fuzzy in the middle of life’s challenges. To stay focused on the main things, God’s greatest purposes for us in Christ, renews our faith. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he allows us to see clearly God’s main purposes for his church, not only to know, but to experience. He asks us to life our eyes to heights we don’t normally see in order to get clarity for […]
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Acts 2:1-15 This Sunday we celebrate and remember the work God has done in and through our Confirmation students. They have been on a yearlong discipleship journey through the scriptures and through the history of the Church. It also happens to be Pentecost Sunday, the beginning of the church and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. As we look to what God did in Acts 2 we will look at what God is still doing in the lives of our […]
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Hebrews 11:1-2 and Hebrews 12:1-3 Our physical eyesight provides conviction of visible things. But faith is the organ that enables us to see things in the spiritual realm and things that are yet to be. We look back at heroes of the faith to know how to live in this way of faith. That backward look strengthens our forward vision, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. That’s the way to accelerate the vision.
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2 Corinthians 9:6-13 Karma is the eastern belief that if you do good, you will be rewarded with good. The Bible concurs, to a point. We reap what we sew. However, the Bible also turns this belief upside down. The best news ever is that we don’t get what we deserve. It is out of this truth that generous sewing flows, causing Paul to declare, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
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2 Corinthians 8:1-15 We can’t talk about generosity without first talking about God as the primary giver. It is in his nature to give and to do so joyfully. He sets in motion a flow of generosity in people. It is like a chain reaction that produces thanksgiving, praise, and joy in people. Another way to say it is that there simply is no giving without God giving first.
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Matthew 6:19-24 Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (everything you do flows from it).” We must guard our hearts. Jesus says what we treasure there is what we become in our hearts. It becomes our life and legacy, the thing our children will say about us. The great Winnie the Pooh agrees, “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
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Matthew 6:1-4, Acts 4:32-5:2 One thing about Jesus, he sure talked about money a lot. It was his 2nd most popular topic, exceeded only by the Kingdom of God. As we gather each week to learn from him, we are confronted time and again by his words regarding money – if we don’t, then we are avoiding something. Over the next few weeks, we prepare our hearts for our Commitment Sunday by listening to him.
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Mark 15:33-47 The idea of a good catastrophe is known to all. Something bad happens that turns out to be something very good. Trauma can open new horizons of grace. Every story has this ironic twist. Think about your own story and you will see it. Jesus’ death is the ultimate good catastrophe. We think we have reached the climax, but that is saved for Easter!
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Mark 15:16-32 How do you handle it when someone makes fun of you for your faith? You may have experienced times of ridicule or dismissal because of your Christian stance. It’s never pleasant, and yet it is a mark of identity with the God who suffers for us and with us. As Jesus moves closer and closer to the cross, the outright mocking and insults increase. We witness again the power of His love and faithfulness. He remained steadfast, enduring […]
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Mark 15:1-15 Is Jesus political? He stands now before Rome, the strongest and longest political power in history, ruling for 1,000 years over most of the known world. Rome, in the person of its governor, seems puzzled, troubled, and amazed by him. He is not political in the way Rome is but ultimately he is super-political. Let’s let Jesus speak to our broken politics with hope.
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Mark 14:53-65 Each of us, in everyday life, finds ourselves in the role of defendant or prosecuting attorney. Each day we are either on trial for something or blaming someone else for something. Think of your work or home life. Jesus, the ultimate judge, finds himself on trial, he is the accused – what irony! But who is really on trial?
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Mark 14:32-42 Have you ever had a sleepless night, tossing and turning over the fears of what the next day might bring? Jesus experiences something more intense than we ever will. The one who has been so in control is overwhelmed with anxiety. What a picture the Bible gives us of the Savior who himself feels the urge to be saved.
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2 Corinthians 8-9 As we discerned our 2020 Vision two years ago we began by grounding ourselves in God’s Word. As we enter into the resourcing of that vision, we do the same, by getting into his Word. As we do this, we are confronted by the truth that what he really cares about is our hearts. This week, we will have a special guest, Marc Reike, Senior Consultant for The Enrichment Group, who will help us see what God’s […]
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Mark 14:22-31 We all know that anything we do regularly can become routine. There may be a lot of meaning in doing something but it gets missed. Staying alert to deeper meaning is part of reading and understanding the Bible. The truth is, the Last Supper is so rich with meaning we will never be able to grasp the whole of it. But we can still taste it and be renewed.
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Mark 14:1-11 Now this is a strange event. We all know people who are super-intuitive. Some have speculated that intuition and smell are linked…maybe. A woman comes to Jesus, pouring very expensive perfume on his head “to prepare him for burial.” No one else is expecting his death, though there are those who are plotting to kill him. Is this just an extravagant waste? What does it mean? What does it mean for us?
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Mark 12:35-44 After four attempts by Jesus’ enemies (whom he loves) to trap him, Jesus now initiates a question to them to which they have no answer. Dallas Willard says that “Jesus was the smartest man who ever lived.” “Duh,” we say, but we don’t always pay attention. He uses his intellect to teach what is true, and what is true is not easily discerned by us. In fact, it is sometimes exactly the reverse of what we think.
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Mark 12:28-34 Social commentators from all sides agree that we are at a new place in human history where the individual person is being asked to define what is right and wrong without reference to a larger truth framework. We need help and Jesus gives it. He cuts through the clutter and fog to tell us what morality is all about, and even more, what life is all about.
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Mark 12:18-27 What happens after we die is a blur to us. As Jesus is challenged to give his views, we not only learn about the afterlife but we learn how to address issues of ultimate concern. We come away with a view of the afterlife that is beyond what we could ever imagine.
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Mark 12:13-17 Politics is increasingly difficult to discuss without risk of getting into some kind of blow-up argument. Many just avoid the topic. Jesus transcends the simplistic human categories of conservative and liberal. His kingdom is on a whole other level, and because of this, he is often misunderstood. Follow Jesus and chances are you will be misunderstood also.
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Mark 11:27-12:2 In a world like ours, it is appropriate to question the authority of other people. “Show me your credentials” may be needed at times, but there are dark under-currents of our hearts that are beneath questioning someone’s authority. “Do you have the right to tell me what to do?” and “who do you think you are, anyway?” are just a few of these. Again we see that Jesus is a threat to all other sources of authority, including […]
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Mark 11:1-18 Paradox and irony play a huge role in the Bible. Jesus is called both “lion” and “lamb.” Riding on a donkey as a king is puzzling to us. But there is plenty of paradox and irony in our own hearts, if we just look closely. For us, it often appears as hypocrisy – “how can you call yourself a Christian when you _____?” For Jesus, it is an expression of his love.
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Mark 10:46-52 What is God inviting you to focus on in the New Year? Do you long to really “see” what Jesus’ purpose is for your life? When blind Bartimaeus encounters Jesus along the road to Jerusalem, he is desperate for new sight. Once his eyes are opened, he follows Jesus in a new direction. When we invite Jesus to open your eyes fully, He just may change the direction of your life. Are you ready for the adventure?
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Mark 10:32-45 What do you want for Christmas? Think big – what do you really want? Now double it. Think deep – what would happen to your soul if you got it? What would be the long term effect? If Jesus were to ask you, “What do you want me to do for you,” (Mark 10:36) what would you say to him? The disciples are faced with that question. Once again they don’t get it. What makes us think we […]
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Mark 10:17-31 One of the things we notice about Jesus is how baffled those around him are by what he says. People expect him to say something affirming and he challenges them. As they are digesting that surprise, he says something else that blows them away. Part of following Jesus then and now is to let him speak words that can have a life-altering effect.
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Mark 9:38-50 In Mark chapters 9-10, Jesus is in teaching mode with his disciples – think “us.” Jesus’ words cut into us like a sharp knife, not to hurt us, but to show us where we are in need of healing. It’s pretty simple: when we live for ourselves, we hurt ourselves, and others. When we get re-salted in Jesus and his gospel, our hearts are renewed and we have life.
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Mark 9:30-37 How do you define greatness? The first disciples had some misconceptions about rank and status in God’s kingdom. Our own cultural mindset elevates certain roles and accomplishments as signs of greatness. We celebrate those who win first place; we long for the highest position or rank. Jesus helps his disciples, and us, reimagine greatness by pointing to some unlikely people. The way of Jesus turns our ambition for greatness upside down.
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Mark 9:14-32 Faith is actively putting your trust in God. Faith is, the Bible says, “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:3). Can God work apart from our faith? According to Jesus, all things are possible with God. His desire is for us to live by faith, even if it is the honest prayer, “Lord, help my unbelief.”
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Mark 9:2-13 How can something good come out of something so bad? It’s a faith question. Mountain top experiences are usually “good” and “glorious.” This one is too, but with a hint of irony that says to the disciples, and to us, that things aren’t as they seem. Deeper knowing is needed for the journey.
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The first task of a leader is to define reality. 1 Peter 5:5-11 now introduces a subject that gives depth perception to the reality Christians are facing in this world: the devil. We might respond with anxiety or disbelief, but that only makes things worse. It comes as a strong warning, but also with an even greater promise.
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1 Peter 4:12-19
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Daniel 6:1-18
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Daniel 1:1-21 It seems like, in any sphere of life, (think job, politics, relationships) we all tend toward two extremes: we attack or withdraw, we lash out or wimp out, fight or flight. Psychologists and marriage counselors can confirm this. Jesus demonstrated a third way, which Peter is trying to get at in his letter and which is marvelously demonstrated for us in the life of Daniel in the Old Testament. This is such good truth for us and a huge […]
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1 Peter 2:13-25 When does a Christ-follower stand up and say, “the emperor has no clothes on?” You can’t do it all the time, but you must do it some time. Maybe more importantly, how do you say it – with love or with something else? Telling someone they are naked when they think they are clothed is not easy. It is an over-desire to be relevant that leads us to never take a stand that might cost us something […]
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1 Peter 2:4-10 We easily succumb to our culture’s obsession on personal identity. We are tempted to focus on personal fulfillment as an end in itself. Why could be wrong with celebrating our uniqueness and “finding” our best selves? As Christians, we go against the flow of self-fulfillment as the goal of life. Peter reminds us who we are (identity,) in part, to show us what we are to do (purpose). You are chosen for a reason! Do you know […]
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1 Peter 2:4-12 It may be a little bit of a stretch, but basically the Bible never says, “be good,” without first telling you who you are. Identity precedes “you ought.” Good parenting advice also. When you know who you are, you know what to do. Self-identifying as strangers and aliens, you would think, wouldn’t be the basis for a strong and positive identity. Get ready to be surprised by God’s Word.
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1 Peter 1:3-12 Life can come at you from all sides. It was as true in the first century as it is today. The key thing is what is in the center of you that allows you to process all the stuff coming at you, including suffering. Your center will determine your response to your environment. This is also the key to standing with firm and gracious character against the flow.
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1 Peter 1:1-9 What is your address? Is it really? How long will you live there? I love feeling at home but there are dangers of feeling at home, in this world. The Bible has a long and deep strain of truth that says that in this life, we are on our way to a permanent destination. If so, how do we engage our surrounding culture as we think about work, school, money, politics, and sexuality? How can we have […]
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Worship comes from a place of remembering and a place of hope. We remember all that God has done for us in our lives and we hope for His ultimate return. But there is always room in our lives for more worship. What if Sunday morning was not all there is to worship? What would that look like? What new song is God calling you to sing in Psalm 98?
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There is something shy or evasive in our hearts towards God. Intuitively we know that “he knows” – everything! Our actions, for sure. But even our thoughts and the hidden motivations of the heart. No wonder we feel uncomfortable in his presence. Do we flee or draw near? David experiences all of this and ends up praying the most dangerous prayer ever in Psalm 139. It’s a prayer for us.
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C.S. Lewis, who loved the Psalms, said that Psalm 19 is the greatest of them all. Communication is at the intersection of speaking and hearing. This Psalm gives great insight into how that happens. When heard properly, it makes us want to bow down before God, our creator and redeemer.
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About 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems; among them, nearly 60 percent have a chronic disorder. Each year, sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and sleepiness add an estimated $15.9 billion to the national health care bill. Research shows that there is a rise in sleep disorders in the general population world-wide, but particularly for children and teens. Psalm 4 is a bedtime prayer that acknowledges real stress but gives us words to sleep by.
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The Psalms transcend time and world cultures. They are prayers of people who often have problems with life. Sound familiar? This Sunday, Pastor Mike Thomas, from Radiant Church in Renton preaches on Psalm 13.
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The Psalms transcend time and world cultures. They are prayers of people who often have problems with life. Sound familiar? This Sunday, Pastor Christopher Sure, from Kodera, Kenya, will show how Psalm 3 is helpful for shaping prayers in the time and place where he lives. We have much we can learn from him.
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There are “tree” prayers that are about our walk or journey with God, focusing on God’s Word to those who desire to live a godly life. Psalm 2 gives us the “forest” view, which will encourage us to pray big prayers over not just our own lives, but all that God has made, including the realms of politics and culture. Hmm. God wants us to pray about everything from the deepest place in our hearts to the great powers that […]
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Revelation 3:14-22
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Revelation 3:7-13
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Revelation 3:1-6
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Revelation 2:18-29
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Revelation 2:12-17
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Revelation 2:8-11
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Revelation 1:9-11, Revelation 2:1-7
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Luke 7:36-50
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Genesis 50:12-21
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Romans 12:17-21
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Matthew 18:21-35
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Matthew 18:15-22
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Luke 15:11-24
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Mark 8:22-30
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