Commitment

 

We live at a time when the most important question seems to be, “How does it make you feel?” When feelings are king, commitment tends to fade into the background for the simple reason, often commitment requires that we dismiss our feelings to do what is right and necessary. That is why some say that the institutions of our country such as marriage, family, patriotism, and morality are crumbling. Upholding these foundations requires our “feel good” addiction to be put on hold while we commit ourselves to accomplishing what is necessary. Many are unwilling to do that, and the result is more and more self-centered individualism. We have become a society of people going through life alone – and it is by choice. 

Interestingly, when we see how God works in the world which he created, the word “commitment” aptly describes his actions. God is 100% faithful to the human race. He’s not giving up on us and he’s not going to let negative feelings caused by our rebellion against him in any way dampen that commitment. Regardless of the personal cost, God comes to people with the offer of a renewed relationship with him which has no strings attached. The cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of his commitment to our eternal good. 

This weekend, we’re going to be studying the life of Abraham. We often think of this man’s strong faith in God which he demonstrated over a period of many years. But the real story is that Abraham’s faith was the product of God’s commitment to him and all of humanity. If you’ve got the strange feeling that maybe feelings are being overrated, join us for one of our weekend services. Experiencing God’s commitment has a powerful way of changing the way we look at things. 

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am

Sin Never Stays Small

 

If you’ve ever experienced the pain of food poisoning and wondered how it came on so fast, read the following description of how bacteria multiply.

 

When conditions are favorable such as the right temperature and nutrients are available, some bacteria like Escherichia coli can divide every 20 minutes. This means that in just seven hours one bacterium can generate 2,097,152 bacteria. After one more hour the number of bacteria will have risen to a colossal 16,777,216. That’s why we can quickly become ill when pathogenic microbes invade our bodies. ^{https://microbiologysociety.org/why-microbiology-matters/what-is-microbiology/bacteria.html} 

There is something much more dangerous than bacteria which also reproduces at an exponential rate when left unchecked – sin. Within three chapters of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, human life free falls from paradise to prison. The decision of Adam and Eve to be their “own gods” and live life on their terms produced a son who really did take matters into his own hands by killing his brother over hurt feelings. 

When human beings decide to be the masters of our destiny we get farther and farther away from God which in turn leads to greater corruption, violence and evil. At the end of Genesis chapter 1 God looked at all that he had made, and it was “very good”. In the opening part of Genesis chapter 6 we hear, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.^”

What follows this description is one of the most well-known stories of the Bible – the Flood. 

The Flood account is an example of God’s perfect justice combined with his perfect grace. It is a judgment and a fresh start. Above all, it is a story which gives human beings hope that God hasn’t given up on us. Join us for one of our weekend worship services. None of us can hear that message too often. 

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am

Why Is Life So Hard?

 

Why is life so hard? That question indicates there is something in us all that senses things should be different. We should be kinder, more patient, more compassionate with one another. Maybe the best way to say it is: we know that life would be a whole lot better if we would think about ourselves less and others more. But then, why would we do that? Looking out for others means cheating ourselves out of what we want. And so, we live wanting a different world but unwilling to do what is necessary to make it happen. How strange! How human! 

The biblical answer for the question, “Why is life so hard?” is brutally straightforward. Life is hard because of an event many years ago in which people decided things would be better without the God who created them. It was a decision which has brought unimaginable suffering and pain, so much so we are overwhelmed even trying to think about it. 

The account of Adam and Eve falling for Satan’s temptation at the beginning of human history is dismissed by some as a fairy tale. Upon close reading, however, it not only provides solid answers for questions about the hardships of life, even more importantly, it offers the hope that there is an alternative! If life is weighing you down with its challenges, join us for one of our weekend worship services. There is light at the end of the tunnel, more light than any of us could imagine. 

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am 

Is It Time to Take a Hard Look at Ourselves?

Confusion, bewilderment, even anger are words that describe many Christians today. So much has changed in recent years to rock our way of looking at the world. While the 1960s was the actual beginning of the changes we see taking place today, no one at that time would have ever imagined the social movements we see today gaining ever increasing popularity. What people took for granted concerning gender, sexuality, marriage, and family have been set aside for radically different visions of how life ought to be. 

We Christians, however, must ask ourselves the hard question, “Why have things changed so drastically when the Christian concepts of gender, sexuality, marriage, and family were held by the vast majority of Americans since the founding of our country?” Could it be that some or even many of us have not been convincing examples that God’s way is best? Have we deviated from his ideal, even crossing over into the thinking that we can define our own rules in these matters?

If Christians are going to be a part of God changing peoples’ hearts and minds, our hearts and minds must be totally committed to him and his principles for living. There are few issues today which are as controversial as sexuality, marriage, and family. There are few issues more important than these. As God’s representatives in this world, we need to be equipped and committed to not only presenting what he teaches on these subjects, but to living out those principles. Join us for one of our weekend services. Be a part of the change! 

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am