God created life. But sin created death. And the inevitability of death is troubling. We have a variety of ways of coping with this reality, of protecting our minds from fearing it. We deny the inevitability of death or rationalize it to try to lessen its burden. But none of these things actually prevent it or our fear of it. Only one thing can truly alleviate our fear of death: the assurance of salvation, of life after death. The assurance of salvation is a helmet that protects our minds from fear.
Sermons by Arik Stewart (Page 3)
Kids are to obey parents, students are to obey teachers, employees are to obey employers and citizens are to obey governments. God wants us to obey all whom He puts in authority, assuming they allow us to obey Him, our greatest authority, and He wants us to do it in a Christ-like way because obeying them is ultimately obeying Him. Similarly, God wants parents, teachers, employers, and governing authorities to use their authority in a Christ-like way so that both our obedience and our authority imitate Christ and unite us in Christ.
As Jesus walked with God and with people, God instructed Him in what to say to people so that they would be illuminated to the realities of God’s nature and God’s plan for saving the world. As we walk with God, let us, like Jesus, receive and radiate God’s light so that truth is illuminated and believed, people are saved, and our triune God is glorified.
When the ancient people of God were in crisis, surrounded by their enemy that could kill and capture them and the sea that could crush and drown them, God saved them by creating a path and spurring them to walk in faith through it. When we, the people of God, are in crisis today, we can trust that the one who spurred the world into motion can spur us to act justly, mercifully, and humbly as we walk with him.
God promises incredible blessing to those who walk with him, but he doesn’t always bless us in the ways we expect him to. God continually used unexpected and even painful means to bless Abraham, yet Abraham continued to trust God. When a family member dies or another conduit of blessing is unexpectedly, painfully lost, will we, like Abraham, continue to trust God to keep his promises?
Christmas Eve 2020 brings an amazing opportunity for celebration of our Lord Jesus’ birth. Enjoy this worship service that was offered by Hope in the sanctuary, on-site Livestream, at home viewing and followed by an outside time of carols and candle lighting!
Many of us enjoy hiking to beautiful places. On the trail we often encounter those who have already experienced the beauty. They assure us that it’s coming soon and that it’s worth it. The moment we finally see it, it surprises us and amazes us, surpassing our expectations. In the same way, God’s people were assured by prophets, angels, and the Holy Spirit that the Savior of the world was soon to be revealed. When he finally was, the beauty, nature, and purpose of our triune God was boldly presented, a cause for worship and theological reflection.
“…And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
In the Sermon on the amount, Jesus taught us that treating others the way we want to be treated is equivalent to following God’s Law. Though this teaching seems to simplify the Law, it’s actually rather complicated in practice. Everyone wants to be loved in how they’re treated, but how each person gives and receives love is unique, and sometimes people want to be loved in a way that opposes God’s will. How do we follow Jesus’ teaching amidst these challenges? We must actively communicate with others and with God.
As we sing old familiar Christmas hymns, we’re often distracted or disengaged. This is especially true if the songs are difficult to understand. When we take time to learn their biblical and historical roots, we see the messages they depict more clearly. We see the Gospel; the good news that God came to be with us so we can be with him!