Jun 22

Ending a Senseless War

Romans 7:15-25

One of the easiest ways to defeat is to never realize that you are in a war.  In Romans 7 we see the instructions for us to withstand the onslaught of Satan and sin.  We must realize the danger that is at work to make our lives ineffective and defeated for Jesus Christ.
 Death is Satan’s Chant.  Satan wants us consumed with death—God wants us to be consumed with life, Jesus Christ came that we may have life, and have it “more abundantly.”

The conflict is between the Spirit and the Flesh, or the ways of God and the ways of human.  The victory is not through reform, more rule keeping, more doing.  The victory is living the life of the Crucified One, and not making any provisions for the way of the flesh.

Pastor Greg

Also, next week will be a special Sunday for the Independence Day Celebration.  I hope you all can attend.

Jun 15

What is the hardest word in the English Language?

What do you think is the most difficult word in the English language? Would it be “lachrymose” (causing tears, tearful) or “contumacious” (insubordinate, rebellious) because we use them so rarely? Would it be “hemacytometer” (instrument for counting blood) or “Boanerges” (skilled orator) because they are tricky to spell? 
    I think that, if forced to choose, I’d take a different route, suggesting that the most difficult word in the English language is also one of the shortest, easiest to spell, and most common: “no.”
    We struggle with the “no”.  As toddlers being taught the no to electrical outlets, knobs on stove, running to far ahead of parents in public, or the cleaning chemicals.  As adolescents the “no” to drugs, foolhardy escapades, or playing video games 36 hours straight.  Adults learn “no” partying late before an exam, being reckless with a car, allowing the overdraft fees pile up in our checking account.
    What is the purposes of these “no’s”?  Basic survival!  By disregarding the no’s, by disregarding the nature of the world we live in, our happiness if not survival is at risk.
          In this week’s text, Romans 6:12-23, the Apostle Paul talks to us about “no.”  The “no” that is the difference between life and death, prospering and futility, righteousness and unrighteousness.  The purpose of “no” is not to keep us from enjoying life, but it is to bring us to the “yes” to God, freedom as children of God, and a life that brings joy to ourselves and others.

Pastor Greg

Jun 09

Hoping against Hope

Romans 4:13-25

 
Often, we face some difficulty or opposition and lose all hope for anything to get better.  Abraham faced the deadness of his own body.  Death is surely the end of all hope.  How can we hope when we face all our dreams and desires are dead?
Abraham had faith, and today I want us to think about the Christian faith and our reason for hope.  Our faith has at its author and completer of our faith through his resurrection and ascension to heaven.  Because we have a living Redeemer, death is not the final “can’t” to our expectations and dreams.  Death is not the ultimate barrier to the realization of the promises of God.

Death in Romans 4 is not the death marked by the grave, but the death that says impossibility to the fulfillment.  This is the death-like reality that seems to us greater than the promises of God.  How do we deal with the death of our confidence in God and hope in God’s promises?

This is when we must quit focusing on the circumstances and look to the one that conquered death and the grave.  We have to root out the distrust that is taking a hold of us, we have to confront the fear that something is impossible for God and reaffirm our resurrection faith that God is able to do what he promised. 

Our faith is a resurrection faith.  This is not just for the last day when the graves will be opened but is for each day we face the death-environment in this existence.  The Resurrected-Redeemer has gone through the trials before us, the Resurrected-Redeemer has shown us that death is not the final “can’t”, and that a life lived with confidence in God’s promises is truly “hoping against hope.”
 

Pastor Greg

Jun 02

Trinity Sunday

Genesis 1:1-4, John 1:1-4

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday.  While Trinity is a foundational theological concept, the purpose of this day is not to rehearse the theology of the Trinity.  The passages highlighting the Trinity show us the relationship that is within the Godhead.  In creation we see God creating heaven and earth, but there was a void or chaos.  Even though it is chaos, does not mean God is not there, and the Spirit of God is moving across the water.  Then God speaks, uses the Logos (the Word) and the creation becomes organized, differentiated, and a world that is fit for human kind. 

The Gospel of John tells us that this Word, without which nothing could be made, is the One that was made flesh and dwelt among us, the one that gives light to each person that comes into this world.  The Second Person of the Trinity, the Son is the Word made flesh to dwell among us. 

The Trinity is not mechanical, with each person fulfilling a function.  The Triune God is a relationship, and the members of the Godhead active in the work of creation.  The Triune God is also in redemption.  The Father sends the Son to be the sacrifice for our sins; but since the Son is God, the Father and the Spirit are also being sacrificed. 

Yes, we should seek to be familiar with the theology of the Trinity.  But the Triune God is not just an academic pursuit.  The Triune God is the basis of our relationship as children of God redeemed through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.


Pastor Greg