Romans 3:21-31 (NIV)
Righteousness Through Faith
21 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 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, m 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.

I will be the first to admit that I have a few speeding tickets that I am not proud of. I was young, and I had a need for speed. I remember the feeling every time a police officer would pull me over. My stomach would drop, because I knew I had broken the law and that consequences were coming. I never tried to argue my way out of a ticket, though. I was taught to own my decisions and bear the consequences—that’s part of growing up. Sometimes the officer would write me a ticket, and other times, he would let me off with a warning.

It’s interesting, because that moment captures a real tension. On the one hand, we recognize that we deserve punishment. On the other hand, we are desperately hoping to be shown grace.

Paul makes it abundantly clear that Jews and Gentiles share one thing in common: we all stand condemned because we are lawbreakers. But Paul also makes it abundantly clear that, because of God’s incredible love, He made a way for us to be set free from our rightful sentence. Jesus Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, became the propitiation for sin so that all who put their trust in Him are justified and declared righteous. What an incredible truth to ponder.

Paul also reminds us that none of us should boast in this. We cannot boast as if we had some part in our salvation. If we are going to boast at all, we boast in Christ alone and the price He paid.

This weekend we will explore the theological truth of justification by faith—how faith alone (sola fide) is what leads us to salvation.

Blake Cox

“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.” - Romans 3:19

This may seem like an odd illustration, but consider this: Let’s say that you are under water and you can’t breathe. Is there any reason to boast that you are drowning in only two feet of water as opposed to ten feet? Does it matter that you are closer to the surface while there are those beneath you?

As we have seen (and will continue to see), Paul is reminding the Jewish people that for anyone who is assessing themselves by comparing their level of sinfulness to that of others, it is still deadly. We cannot assume that we aren’t so bad because there are others who are far worse sinners. We need to check our own hearts according to God’s standards.
When you’re drowning, if your main focus is whether you are closer to the surface than ­others, you might miss what you need in order to be saved. The only thing you really need is to get out of the water and breathe again. But because we are unable to save ourselves, we need someone who will pull us up out of the water.

As we gather together this week, Romans 3:1-20 will give us one more “heaping helping” of the bad news before we get to the good news. But oh, how glorious that good news will be! Yet even in the bad news, we are reminded that God is faithful, even when we are unfaithful.

As God has been moving powerfully in the life of WEPC, please keep spreading the news and inviting your friends and neighbors to join this movement of seeking to bring joy to our city and world!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

“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.” - Romans 2:29

Every great once in a while, I get a phone call from someone I don’t know who will ask, “Would you do my baby?” And by “do,” I am quickly able to discern that they are asking if I would baptize their baby. Contrary to what you might think, I’m actually glad when they ask me because it means that there is something that is leading them to reach out. I also value the opportunity to explain what baptism means, even if for them they see it as a rite of passage.
 
In Romans 2, Paul was addressing something similar to this “do the baptism thing”; but in this case it was regarding circumcision. And his point is that if all it means to you is a sprinkling with water or a cut of the skin, then it’s no more than a tradition. And even if it is religiously correct, it's not what God intends it to be spiritually.

Both the Old and New Testaments teach that the way we live says something about who we are and how we really understand our faith journey. Jesus taught that you could tell something about a tree by the fruit it bears (Matthew 7:16-20). And in Paul’s letter to the Romans, what he tries to clarify is that the fruit of doing good things is not what saves us; rather, what we must answer is whether or not the good things we do come from a heart that belongs to Jesus.  

As we gather together this week, Paul asks us to consider: “Do all the things I do reflect that my heart belongs to him?” It’s a key question that determines our vertical relationship with God, but it also determines how someone else may relate to God. How sad would it be if “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you”? (Romans 2:24) May we be challenged to not simply go through the motions, but to live our faith.
 
Grace & Peace, 
Pastor Aaron

“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?” - Romans 2:4

Having just put before us some very hard truths in Romans 1, we might think that Paul would take his foot off the gas. Instead, he drives headlong into reminding us that we all fall short of the glory of God by way of passing judgment without making any heart changes ourselves. With that in mind, Paul states that the way all of us come to repentance is through God’s kindness.

We often assume that the threat of judgment is what leads to repentance. We think, “If only we can show people how bad they are, then they will be sorry.” Or we say, “If I can show them the consequences of their actions (like some negative life outcomes or the ultimate punishment of going to hell), then they will repent.

But Paul reminds us that the path to repentance is quite different. Instead of the posture God could have had towards us, God is kind. In fact, God waits patiently for us to notice his kindness. And rather than showing us our consequences, God sometimes holds back (though eventually they will be known according to verse 8). But this holding back of consequences is called “forbearance.” God forbears with us with the desire that we will repent and return to Him.

So here’s a question: If God’s kindness is what leads to our repentance, how are we being called to forbear with other people’s unrepentant attitudes in the hopes that they will return? We can judge them as if it is up to us to bring about their consequences, or we can step into the gap and seek to help them through our seeking to be like God. As we gather together this week, my prayer is that every heart will be changed as we seek to show the kindness, ­patience, and forbearance towards others that God has shown us.

Grace & Peace,
Aaron

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” - Romans 1:22-23

Last week, we ended by hearing the wonderful news that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus is justified by faith. But instead of continuing in that theme, Paul takes a moment to remind us of the types of thinking that we have been saved from; things which lead to God’s wrath. It is what happens when people suppress the truth – not because the truth was hidden – but because the truth points us to a God who is to be obeyed.

God has revealed Himself in the beauty of creation, in the order of the universe, and in the intricacy of the human body. These invisible attributes testify to the reality of God, so everyone is without excuse. But sadly, many people cover their eyes.

And Paul says that the result is an exchange, one that leads to trading truth for a lie. Sin, at its core, is a bad trade. We give up the infinite for the finite, and we trade glory for substitutes. Because we swap the Giver for the gift, Paul says that “God gave them over...”

But in order for the good news to be truly good, we first have to see the bad news. And this bad news is going to give way to the good news of chapter 3 that another exchange is coming (and has come). At the cross, the ultimate exchange takes place, and our sin is traded for Christ’s righteousness.

With that in mind, this week, may we approach our time together in humble thanksgiving.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

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. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul’s words in Romans 1:16-17 are not merely a burst of “rah-rah” enthusiasm; they come from a deep conviction in his heart. He’s not unashamed because his message is popular, or impressive, or easy to explain. He is unashamed because of the way God has acted through the gospel (good news) of Christ.

At the heart of these verses that we will study together this week is the counter-cultural truth that righteousness is not something that is achieved, it is revealed through Jesus. The gospel doesn’t tell us how to climb up to God; it announces how God has come down to us in Christ. What we could never earn through effort, or morality, or religion, God freely gives us through faith.

That is why Paul reaches back to Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous shall live by faith.” The truth is that walking with God has always been this way – whether in the Old Testament or the New. It’s not about self-reliance or our spiritual résumé, but by trusting the promises of God.
And this truth gives us a deep assurance because it means that our righteousness is not dependent upon our performance. If it were, we’d probably never rest, as we’d always be trying to achieve more. Rather, our confidence is in Christ. As Paul says in Galatians, salvation is no longer “I who live,” but “Christ who lives in me.” As we prepare to gather for worship this week, may we find ourselves with a faith that rests in the power of the gospel of Christ.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Romans 1:1-7 (ESV)
Greeting
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you ever been so excited to share news with someone or a group of people that you could hardly wait? I remember when Shantel found out she was pregnant; we wanted to tell the entire world. We were filled with joy.

The apostle Paul received what is known as the Good News, and he too was filled with joy as he shared it with everyone he could. The Lord commissioned Paul to take the gospel of Jesus to people of many cultures, especially the Gentiles. He was entrusted with a great task.

We will be exploring Paul’s introduction to the church(es) in Rome. Although at first glance it may seem that there is not much to draw from the first seven verses, I believe that often there can be a greater depth when we take the time to dig a little further. This letter is especially wonderful because it is rich with truth about who God is, the purpose of faith, how salvation is granted, and how believers are to live.

This Sunday we will embark on a journey through the book of Romans. We will spend several months in this book, so pray up, and buckle up. Our hope through this series is to continue to fan into flame the good work God is doing in the life of our church and in your individual walk with Jesus. Many blessings…

In Christ,
Pastor Blake

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs _________ in his ways.” If you had to choose a word, what might fill in the blank? How about “the humble”? How about “the upright”? “The righteous” would also fill in the blank nicely. All of these would qualify as students who listen and are teachable.

But what does David say? “He instructs sinners in his ways.” That is an amazing statement considering that God is good and upright. You would figure that God would choose only righteous people to be His students. After all, if the best universities maintain the highest entrance standards, wouldn’t God expect as much?

Thankfully, God has an “open enrollment”! He loves the most difficult students and the slowest of learners. What is the only requirement for the entrance exam? To seek forgiveness! Verse 11 says, “For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.”

Sin can harden our hearts and cause us to doubt whether we can trust God to forgive us. But it can also humble us and lead us to the place where we receive God’s forgiveness and follow God’s instructions. The good news of God’s grace is that He comes looking for us even if we skip class!

As we continue in our sermon series called, “Songs for the Searching,” my prayer is that God will remind us that He can be trusted; not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Our hope is in the God who is faithful and the God who saves. That is why we can say, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust!”

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

When was the last time you slowed down to look at the world around you? Each starry constellation, every birdsong, each chirping squirrel, and every biological breakthrough displays the wonder and awesomeness of God. Psalm 19 begins with the beautiful statement, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” and then continues to preach a sermon about the Creator. By it, we can know God and taste His goodness.

However, we cannot fully know God by simply admiring His creation. David also makes clear that it is only through His laws, decrees, and statutes (His Word) that we can fully know the depth of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

As we have briefly looked at some various Psalms of David, we have answered the questions of “Who is God?” and “Who Am I?” Hopefully, we have been reminded of the greatness of God and His faithfulness to come to our rescue. But as we continue to walk through this life, we may also wonder, “How should I live?”

Thankfully, God has revealed that to us through the testimony of creation and the giving of His Word. As we hope to discover this week: “And the better we get to know the WORD of God, the better we will be able to know the WILL of God.” I hope to see you in person or online as we continue in this series. And don’t forget to keep inviting your friends, neighbors, and co-workers as God continues His amazing work in the life of WEPC!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

When you think about God, what comes to mind? Creator or sustainer? Joyful or angry/wrathful? Close or distant? A rescuer? A listener?

As we turn our attention to Psalm 18, David says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” What’s interesting to note is that David wrote this at a time when God delivered him from his enemies (including Saul), the king he would replace.

At times, David was so overwhelmed by his enemies that he felt as if “the cords of death entangled” him. He felt that his end was near. Yet in response, David called on the only one who could help. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.”

If last week’s Psalm explored who we are and how God sees us, this week’s Psalm will unpack who God is. And what we discover is that God hears us when we cry, that God is a rescuer who can be trusted, and that God is our rock and deliverer. Through experience. David had been taught and had learned that the Lord was always present for him. No enemy could separate him from the care of God.

As we will see, God has revealed himself to be faithful, dependable, and strong. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is unparalleled in His majesty, power, and endurance. There is no one like Him! This is why we can hide ourselves in the cleft of our chief, our protector, our God – our Rock – and He will provide shelter for us.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Over 20 years ago, Casting Crowns released a song that became a hit that spent 6 weeks as the #1 song on Billboard.

The song’s title is “Who Am I”, and the lyrics say:

“Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name?
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?  
Not because of who I am, 
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done 
But because of who you are...”

Psalm 8 asks the same questions. God made us in His image, which is awe-inspiring to think about. We are just a little lower than the heavenly beings. We have glory and honor. We are rulers over God’s works. Everything is under our feet.  

What’s amazing is the fact that we haven’t earned our position or appointment. We didn’t have any prior experience or a resume. Nobody wrote us a letter of recommendation.
But before we become too proud, we need to answer some questions. Who made us? Who made us a little lower than the heavenly beings? Who crowned us with glory and honor? Who made us ruler over God’s works? Who put everything under our feet?  

But Psalm 8 can’t be read outside of the context of the identical first and last verses:
“LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

That puts us in our place! Though we occupy an amazingly high place, we must remember that it is a God-given place. We may be crowned, but it is only by grace.  

As we approach this new year, what if we kept these thoughts in mind? How might it shape how we think about, “Who am I?” How might it change our outlook on life?  

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Revelation 21:1-5 (ESV)
The New Heaven and the New Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Have you ever given thought to what your life will be like once your time on earth is complete? I do not spend a great deal of time imagining it myself, but I do know this. John’s description of what is to come in the book of Revelation is breathtaking. So breathtaking, in fact, that he often struggles to find words adequate enough to describe the glory of eternity.

I am sure I am not alone in finding the book of Revelation challenging to interpret at times. Yet one thing is clear. Revelation is a book about the glorious and victorious Jesus Christ, who will defeat Satan once and for all and who will ultimately make all things new.
As we begin a new year, perhaps you are longing for something new in your own life. Maybe you are already reflecting on the changes that need to be made in order to recenter your heart on the Lord. Let me encourage you with this. Place your trust in the Lord, who is in the business of newness.

This Sunday, we will explore the promise of an everlasting covenant. A covenant that will endure for all eternity. A covenant in which God Himself will dwell with His people in the new creation. My prayer is that as you step into this new year, your greatest desire would be to draw nearer to the One who is making all things new.

In Christ,
Pastor Blake

At some point, King David had time to reflect on the state of things after his palace was built and God had given him “rest from all his enemies around him.” Maybe he felt a tinge of shame that the home of God’s ark of the covenant was merely a tent, and so he decided to build a more permanent house for the ark. Initially, Nathan gave him the go-ahead, until God told Nathan otherwise.

Through the prophet Nathan, God revealed that he had bigger plans for His servant. David would have a dynasty that would last forever. From an outside perspective, God fulfilled those promises – David had a son in Solomon who would take the throne and continue David’s kingdom. But eventually Judah fell and was ruled by others.

So what was God talking about by an everlasting kingdom? As we will learn this week, it was all pointing to David’s descendant Jesus – the Son of God – who would establish a kingdom for God’s people that would last forever. This kingdom would be ruled by a king who would never waver or fail, and who would bring true peace upon the earth.

As we gather together for worship this week, on the Sunday before Christmas, I pray that God will meet you wherever you are and with whatever you need. His Good News is great news for weary hearts, and it allows us to press on when things seem dark. The King is on the throne!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Why do people make promises that they have no intention of keeping? All of us have probably experienced that from time to time. “Need help babysitting? Just give me a call.” “Need help moving? My truck is yours.” Yet when we go to take them up on their offer, it’s like they forgot what they had promised. Of course, all of us fall into the same trap. How often do we make promises to others OR ourselves about the future that we don’t keep?

So, as we turn our attention to the next covenant promise of God, we see that the people have been waiting for quite some time. Between the time of Abraham and Moses, hundreds of years have elapsed. It’s no stretch to believe that by the time of the Exodus, people were starting to question God.

And yet, out of a burning bush, God calls Moses. Then, later, out of the fire of a mountain, God calls a people. Well, this week, as we turn our attention to the covenant that God made with the people of Israel through Moses, we will see that it is a challenging covenant to study. Why? Because it contains within it elements of works, even though it is a part of a broader covenant of grace. However, what we will also be reminded of is the fact that God’s people could never owe their salvation to works...it’s all grace!

And that should bring us joy!

As you can see, we’re going deep in theology this week, so bring a humble heart posture and a head ready to learn. I look forward to seeing you either in person or online!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)
God’s Covenant With Abram
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Have you ever had to wait for something? I mean, really, wait. I’m not talking about that Amazon package that got delayed or the coffee that should have been ready five minutes ago. I’m talking about a time when God called you into a season of waiting. Those seasons can be hard. They test us. They show how quickly we grow impatient and how easily we lose our peace.

Part of the reason is that the world around us has trained us to be this way. We live in a culture that is increasingly impatient, always on edge, and ready to lash out at the slightest inconvenience. The only way we can truly combat this growing temptation is by being nurtured in God’s Word and holding fast to His promises.

That is exactly what Abraham was called to do. God called Abraham to be set apart, to live faithfully before Him, and to wait for the promised heir. God established a covenant with Abraham—a new beginning—and promised: “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him whom dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Abraham believed God, but then he had to wait—a long time—before seeing this promise fulfilled.

This Sunday, we will explore the life of Abraham, the call to wait, and the promise of peace that only comes from the Prince of Peace.

In Christ,
Pastor Blake

As we gather together with family over the course of this week, many of our homes will be filled with laughter and joy. Of course, even in the best of homes, we realize that few ever escape some form of trouble. Sadly, many are filled with brokenness that spills out into the world around them.

From the beginning, the earth that God created was meant to be filled with goodness, and as we have seen in our last sermon series, men and women were instructed to take good care of it. However, before long, Adam and Eve brought trouble into their home and the whole human race, which spilled out into Cain murdering Abel and Lamech promoting vengeance as a way of life. By Noah’s time, the earth was filled with social disaster, corruption, envy, murder, lust, and more.

The result was that God decided to do something about it. Justice would be administered. However, Noah found favor in the eyes of God, and he and his family would be spared through an ark that God told them to build. The God who promised to crush the serpent’s head would not give up on His promises!

As we will see in our study together this week, all of the covenant promises of God point to the covenant of grace that we have in Jesus Christ. Christ was born at Christmas as God’s revelation of how we find favor with God and are saved from our sins. How? We have to board the “ark” that is Jesus Christ, through faith in his gracious love.

As we gather for Thanksgiving this week and begin the journey of Advent, may we be reminded that when the floodwaters of sin rise, we can be thankful for the only One who saves us from drowning.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

For many people, doors are the first form of protection against the harm that would enter their homes. For others, that is not enough, and so they not only lock their doors but they deadbolt them as well. And still for others, they install peepholes or security cameras so that they can see what is outside before they let someone in. The reality is that outside of God’s presence, all sorts of harm seek to enter our lives.

In Genesis 4, God warns Cain that sin is waiting just outside his door, waiting to devour him. Sin is loitering at the threshold. But as we learn, we are faulty doorkeepers; we tire easily of keeping watch, and we let down our guard. And what is the result? Cain killed Abel and sought to cover up the murder. From that moment on, sin would continue like a runaway freight train.

That’s why we need a better watchman. Christ is the faithful doorkeeper who stands at the opening where sin lurks. It is Jesus who watches over the door to his people’s hearts. And when sin enters, it is Christ’s innocent blood that cries out on our behalf.

As we finish our “Sovereign” series this week, we see that even though sin increases, grace increases all the more. Christ is the better Adam. He is the better Abel. And he is the better guardsman for our lives. Sin is lurking at our doors, but Jesus also “stands at the door and knocks.” Would you open the door to Him and allow Him to protect your heart today and for eternity?

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

As we learned last week, Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought contamination into God’s creation. It’s not something that we have to imagine; it’s something that we see and feel every day since we are a part of this story. When Adam and Eve sinned, it changed everything. It forced them (and us) onto a dead-end street and into a huge sinkhole.

And even though God makes a promise of hope that is to come, there are still judgments that befall the people. Pain, sweat, thorns, disordered desires, and ruined relationships – all of it is a result of sin, and all of it is judged by a just God. But once again, even as He banishes them from the Garden, we see God’s mercy as He provides clothes for the crown of His creation,

Yes, we try to amuse ourselves with the best the world has to offer, but we still recognize that we are living “East of Eden.” And “East of Eden” is not a pleasant place to live. It's a place filled with “thorns and thistles.” It’s a place where we work hard, but find the problems of life are still choking out our joy and satisfaction. And it’s a place that we know is not our home.

Why? Because we long to get back to the Garden! We long to go home to God. And as we will see this week, the only way we have access to the true tree of life and a restored Eden is through Jesus Christ. My hope is that you will see (and know) God’s love and grace this week, even in the midst of judgment.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Genesis 3:1-15

The Fall (ESV)
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Have you ever read Genesis 3 and thought to yourself, “If I were there, I would have done it differently”? Many of us like to believe that we would have made a better choice than Adam and Eve. We imagine that we’d have the strength to say no to the serpent—or that we wouldn’t have entertained a conversation with him in the first place. But the truth is, we wouldn’t have done any better. Scripture makes it clear that we all share in the responsibility for the decision Adam and Eve made when they rebelled against God.

Scripture tells us that the serpent was “crafty.” The Hebrew word used here, ʿārûm, appears only eleven times in the Old Testament. It often carries a negative connotation, associated with trickery or deceit. The serpent’s craftiness, then, is not wisdom used for good but cunning used for manipulation—distorting God’s Word to lead humanity astray.

Here’s the reality: the serpent was just as crafty in the beginning as he is today. Praise be to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who, by His death and resurrection, has defeated Satan and his trickery. Yet Satan is still called the “prince of the air.” As Christians, we need to study God’s Word — not only to draw closer to Him, but also to understand the schemes of the enemy.

This Sunday, we will be looking at the Fall: who our adversary is, what sin did to our relationship with God, and God’s ultimate plan to restore that relationship.

Many Blessings,
Pastor Blake

“The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” - Genesis 2:18

In Genesis 2, we find a close-up on the human experience – we were not meant to be alone! Before Adam even realized it, God saw Adam’s need and provided for him. This beautiful expression of God’s love and care is seen in the fact that Adam didn’t have to go hunting for a spouse – God brought her to him! And we get to see an example of the pattern for weddings to come.

This is the Bible’s way of telling us that marriage is from God, established as a creation ordinance. Marriage was not invented by a human being; it was instituted by God when he created us “male and female” and brought Adam and Eve together. That means that marriage is sacred.

But it also reveals our need for relationship – human beings were not meant to be alone. As image-bearers of our Creator who lived in perfect communion of Father, Son, and Spirit, so we are in need of communion with one another. As a church, we can play a special role in nurturing marriage relationships, but we also know that for those who are in a season of singleness (by choice or circumstance), we can provide a place of belonging.

But for all those in a season of healthy marriages, for those in a season of a lonely marriage, and for all those in a season of singleness, what we are reminded of is that all earthly relationships point us to the One in whom we find our deepest longings fulfilled – Jesus Christ! May we find our hope in him as we gather together this week!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

“Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” - Genesis 2:7

We know that life is a gift, but it is easy to forget. We feel the pressures from the world around us, prompting us to believe we are self-made; after all, we know where babies come from. Or we think that we are who we are because we’ve worked hard to get there.
But Genesis 2 tells us a different story. It reminds us that we are of dust and that God’s breath brought that dust into life. Why are we who we are? Because of the life-breath of God! Our very breath depends on him.

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that, from moment to moment, we rely on the gracious gift of breath that makes human life possible? That makes God the constant source of our being, not us. At the same time, we also serve a God who sees our vulnerabilities and knows the challenges of being human.

And that points us to Jesus, who not only sees them, but who has experienced them in the flesh. What gives us hope is that Jesus, who was clothed with our own flesh, died, rose to new life, and is now ruling with God in heaven. To think...The dust from which we were made has entered the heavenly throne room on our behalf! Knowing that, we can sing together with the Psalmist who remembers that we are dust in Psalm 103:1, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” - Genesis 2:3

We all live in a world that pushes us to run faster and work harder. How many of you feel the pressures? Just one look at your calendar and you see the busyness of life color coded in all its glory! Except it’s not glory...It’s draining!

And yet when we look at scripture, we discover the God-ordained rhythm of life. It’s God-ordained because God is the very first Sabbath keeper. As we discovered last week, the first six days of creation were filled with a flurry of activity. God released His creative energy, and planets were born, the stars were set in place, and the earth began teeming with life. But on the seventh day, the Creator rested.

It was God who first started the rhythm of six days of work followed by one day of rest. He is the one who established the pattern in the very beginning, and He gave it to His people as a gift in Exodus 20. And because we have been made in His image, this pattern is built into the very fabric of who we are.

We would be wise to reflect the life of the Creator where we follow the rhythm of work and rest. As we prepare for worship this week, may we “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I look forward to seeing you in person or online (though, remember, if bodily able – in person is the preferred option).

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” - Genesis 1:1; 31

Have you ever stopped to ponder the wonders of creation, and by that, I mean more than just a beautiful sunset, or the fall colors of leaves, or the splendor of mountains? Bumble bees covered in so much pollen that they can barely fly. Colorful banana spiders and their intricate webs. Even snakes or fat toads that end up in your garage and scare you.

There is something beautiful and good about God’s creation that points to the fact that God is the ultimate creator. Yes, human beings can make things, but we make things out of created matter. Only God can create things out of nothing, and each one of those things points to the creativity of God. Imagine God’s smile as he stretched the giraffe’s neck! Imagine His joy at the gazelle leaping!

But the sovereign God who created everything is also sustains God who sustains everything. He is attentive to His creation. He cares for it.

That means that when you and I feel formless and void, when we feel as though things are out of control, when we weep at the challenges we face, we are reminded that there is a God who created us and who sustains us. As we start a new sermon series together that walks through the opening pages of Genesis, we will see that God is sovereign and in control. We can trust Him.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron

John 13:1-17 (ESV)
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.”11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

As we conclude our Take Heart series, consider this: Can you imagine your life if Jesus had never shown up? How often do you stop and reflect on the countless moments He has been faithful, serving you, sustaining you, and ultimately giving His all for you?

In light of His faithfulness, we are called to live in the way He modeled for us. In John 13:1–17, we see the very heart of Christ’s ministry. Just before going to the cross, He reveals what kind of Master and Teacher He is as He humbles Himself to serve His disciples, even those who would deny and betray Him.

Christ calls us to the same posture: to humble ourselves in service, not only to friends but even to enemies. He calls us to holiness, and when humility leads to holiness, true happiness follows.

My prayer for you this Sunday is that you will grow deeper in your understanding of Christ’s love, the love that moved Him to lay everything down so that you might truly live.

May the Lord bless you,
Pastor Blake

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:22

What is it about the good news of the Gospel that threatens some people to the point where they break out in violence? And why is this a common response in the book of Acts and in our world? As we will see in our time together this week, while some people believe in Jesus, others decide to pick up stones to try to kill Stephen, Paul, Barnabas, and their companions.

Yet what we believe is that violence does not have the last word – life does! Not only is Paul raised back up again, but he goes right back into the city! And the message of the Gospel is that the violence of the cross doesn’t get the last word either! Jesus’ resurrection and ascension assure those of us who are in Christ that we have victory over sin and death.
But still...Why such strong reactions?

I believe the good news Jesus presents is a threat to lives, to systems, and to governments. It calls us to repentance, to peace, to grace, to love, and to live according to the truth of Scripture. But for many, that is a threat to our usual way of living – one that is self-centered. And when people feel threatened, they often turn to hatred and violence. What is the result? Those who follow after the things of God often get knocked down and beat up (physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally).

But as we will discover together this week, Christ calls us to something different. We are to be a people of peace and proclaim peace with God through Jesus. And even when we are attacked and feel like we are “down for the count,” God picks us back up again and sends us back in His grace and strength. We may experience hardships, but they are not the end of the story. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron