Scott’s Thoughts - March 27,2024

Easter week is here!

Truly, one of the best weeks of the year is Easter week. There are so many opportunities for worship this week, and I hope to see you at all of them! Briefly, here is what we do, when it is, and why we do it:

1. Tonight - NO MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES other than worship team practice.

2. Thursday night, 6 PM - Maundy Thursday service. We gather on Thursday night to observe the Lord’s supper and consider the commandment given in John 13. The service itself is simple: a brief message followed by observing communion together. Expect to be finished by 6:30.

3. Friday night, 7:30 PM - Good Friday service. One of the highlights of the year, we will be reading a harmonized account of the crucifixion of our Lord. After welcome and a song, every word spoken will be Scripture. A powerful time together, and a great time to invite unbelieving neighbors, friends and family to hear the Scriptures. Service will be approximately 45 minutes.

4. No activities Saturday - consider practicing a day of intentional Sabbath, to commemorate the day that our Lord rested in accordance with the commandment (Luke 23:56)

5. Sunday (He is risen!) - 7 AM sunrise service! We will meet at the crosses in the parking lot.

breakfast will be provided right after that, and will follow in the fellowship hall. During this time, we will be taking pictures for our forthcoming membership directory!

6. 10:30 - Sunday morning worship.

What an awesome week!

Last week’s text: Exodus 9:1-10:20

There is nothing so hard as humility, and yet nothing so critical to our growth as believers. He daily admission that we are not actually in control, that whatever He does is right, and that we really aren’t that big of a deal is ground zero for much of the spiritual conflict that is in our souls. The words of James 4:6 serve for us as a ominous warning: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It’s a stated fact: it requires humility to receive grace. Every aspect of our salvation must be given by God, and received by faith. May we be a people who seek Jesus through humility.

This week’s text: Exodus 10:21-11:10

the ninth plague will serve to remind us of the glorious resurrection of the Lord. how? We will see on Sunday! In the meantime, here is what I’m thinking through in this passage this week:

1. What were some other times when God used darkness? What does darkness symbolize?

2. Why would God give a warning to Moses about the next plague?

3. why would the Israelites be taking he Egyptian gold and silver?

songs this week:

Christ The Lord is Risen Today

He Arose

Man of Sorrows

Living Hope

See you Thursday night at 7!

Scott's Thoughts - March 20, 2024

We are almost to Easter week!

I love that we will be spending so much time together over the Easter week. Just a reminder of the schedule for the week:

- Wednesday, March 27th (next week, not this): no midweek activities

Thursday, March 28th, 6 PM - Maundy Thursday/communion service

Friday, March 29th, 7:30 PM - Good Friday service

Sunday, March 31st (HE IS RISEN!) - Sunrise service at 7 AM, then breakfast to follow.

Sunday, March 31st, 10:30 AM - Easter Sunday service!

Easter is a time when people are generally more sensitive, and more open to conversations about the things of God. Would you pray about who you may need to invite with you to hear and learn more of the work of Christ? Good Friday is a particularly good time for the unbeliever to come and hear of the work of Christ. Who will you talk to this week?

Last Week's Text: Exodus 8

It takes a work of the Spirit to make us courageous in prayer. Often, we prefer to give lip service to the power of prayer, but we are afraid to pray as though we believe prayer to be powerful. And yet, prayer is somehow a key part of God's providential governance of the world! Through prayer, God demonstrated His power in God's Word. Through prayer, God demonstrates His power in our lives even now. It was a sobering moment to pray with you all Sunday morning, as we asked God together to do incredible things. It was a joy to pray for each of us, asking for God to act on behalf of His glory and for the good of His people. May we be a people who can both humbly and boldly ask God. May we have spiritual eyes to see when He is working to answer those prayers too! Whatever you asked God for on Sunday, don't stop asking. Keep talking to the Father. He hears you. No prayer is unheard. He will act, and He will always act in a way that brings glory to His name and brings about good for His people. Our work is to humbly trust Him, and to both watch and obey as He works.

This week's text: Exodus 9:1-10:20

This is a long, rich passage. God's power is on display in this passage as we examine the next four plagues together. Here is what I'm thinking about as I write this week:

1. Read Romans 9:15-24. In this passage, Paul quotes from Exodus 9:16. How does what Paul says help us understand more about the meaning of the plagues, of the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and of how salvation works?

2. Look at Exodus 10:1-2. What are we as believers supposed to see when we see these passages?

3. How does a right view of God's power cultivate humility in His people?

Songs this week:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

My Worth is Not In What I Own

Sovereign Over Us.

See you tonight!

Scott's Thoughts - March 13, 2024

What do we have to celebrate?

Our monthly church leadership team meetings begin with this simple question, as we look to see what God is doing in our congregation, and ways that we should be giving thanks for His kindness. Each month is different, but the answers always point to the same reality: God is at work among His people! There are so many stories of God's faithfulness to celebrate right now, and I am thankful that I get a front row seat to God's handiwork in the life of the church!

24 hours of prayer is coming! If you haven't signed up for a slot yet, then feel free to jump in! We have every place filled, but you are welcome to come at your convenience and pray with us! In addition, I would encourage all of us to be more intentional to pray for one another; the evil one seems to ramp up his work right at our 24 hours of prayer weekend.

Last week's text: Exodus 7

"God is in control." Well-meaning, well-intentioned believers have been dispensing those four words to suffering saints for centuries now. We have so many Scriptures that confirm this truth, from our current studies in Exodus, to Romans 8:28, and everything in between. I have found myself saying the equivalent of this, only maybe a little more wordy and "pastoral." 

But this year, I have found myself coming back to a truth that must complement the reality of the sovereignty of God if the sovereignty of God is to be a comfort to the Christian. You see, God is not only sovereign. He is also good. Everything He does is right, but more than being right, it is both best and good. A god that is sovereign but not good is fearful, but not close, not caring or benevolent; not unlike the god of Islam. A god that is good, but not sovereign, is empathetic, but not capable - he cares, but there isn't much he can really do; christian liberalism's understanding of god is similar to this.

Exodus presents our Lord as the One who not only cares about our situation, but who can do something about it. God is totally in control, and the pages of Scripture scream to us His sovereignty. And for those of us who have tasted His goodness, as our hearts are transformed by God's power, and our sins are forgiven through the work of the Son, this sovereignty is a comfort to us. Though our circumstances may be bad, God is good, and our circumstances must always be interpreted through His Word. Though we may not understand why our life is going in a certain direction, God not only knows the direction, He has set it in the way that brings the most glory to His name, and is best for His people.

Truly, God is in control. But He is good too. And His plans for us, just like Israel, are for His glory, and our good. May we trust His goodness more today.

This week's sermon: Exodus 8 - this week, we explore three different plagues: frogs, gnats, and flies. As we do, I want to examine a truth about God that is closely related to His sovereignty - His providence. Here are the questions I'm thinking through as I prepare for this week:

1. In verse 10, Pharaoh picks "tomorrow" as the time to schedule the flow of frogs to be cut off. What is the significance of Moses being able to pray, and for the frogs to stop at the time he has asked?

2. The magicians claim that the plague of gnats is "the finger of God." What does this little expression mean? Why is this confession important?

3. in verse 23, God, through Moses, says that He has put a division between His people of Egypt. Why does this plague not affect the land of Goshen? Why is that important?

Songs this week:

Glory to God Forever

Fairest Lord Jesus

O Lord Our Lord

All Creatures of Our God and King

See you tonight!