hope-church-main

A personal letter from God

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:15:54 GMT

Well, today, it is texts and emails or some other messenger. However, imagine the day without instant messaging when the apostle John received a revelation from God, a letter to pass on to the churches in Asia (western Turkey). The letters in The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapters 2 and 3, were written to churches that John knew and had visited. Think about what it would mean to get this letter and hear it read to your group of followers of Jesus. The letter was a mixture of helping see Jesus in a new and fantastic way, hearing from Him praise, and a cutting rebuke for your group. They were powerful and challenging words, straight from God.

The days in which we live are not easy. Followers of Christ are not famous people; many hate us and the premises for which we stand. But Jesus is calling you to change, know Him like you never have, and fulfill His purpose for the church to which you belong.

The letter was special for those churches, but it is also very much for us. It has been preserved for two thousand years and is as relevant to us as it was to them. So how do we receive this letter? In her book on Revelation, Blessed, Nancy Guthrie says: “We want to welcome whatever it is He has to say to us. What a blessing to hear the powerful, penetrating, and perfectly reliable voice of Jesus speaking into our lives.”

Blessings and Hope for Today

andy@hopeinmadison.org (Andy Wulff) — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:22:09 GMT

For a few years now, post-apocalyptic stories have been told in literature, movies, and games. They picture a world that has come apart. Those that survive are left to piece their lives together out of the wreckage of the old world. These worlds are often hopeless. And what once was good and true about the world is now irrelevant. I wonder what this says about our culture’s current state of mind about the future. Are we headed toward a hopeless future? Are the old truths and values no longer applicable in our new world?

The book of Revelations is filled with blessings and hope, but maybe not in the way you think. It’s not primarily about crazy events, cataclysmic judgments, weird creatures, and undecipherable symbols but about blessings and hopes for today.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

- Revelation 1:1-3 (ESV)

Crucial Role of a Supply Line

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:36:15 GMT

After World War 2, Eisenhower sat with the Russians to review the victory. There was something that had captured their imaginations. Something had amazed them, and they needed to know more. It wasn’t battlefield tactics or the technological advancements that they wanted to know about. What did they inquire about?

“It was,” Eisenhower wrote in Crusade in Europe, “to explain the supply arrangements that enabled us to make the great sweep out of our constricted beachhead in Normandy to cover, in one rush, all of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, up to the very borders of Germany. I had to describe to them our systems of railway repairs and construction, truckage, evacuation, and supply by air. They suggested that of all the spectacular feats of the war, including their own, the Allied success in the supply of the pursuit across France would go down in history as the most astonishing.”

A soldier without a consistent supply of needed equipment is ineffective and likely will lose the war. It's been that way throughout history as well as it is in the Christian life.

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

- Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

Ready for the Battle

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 11:44:11 GMT

Martin Luther has long been one of my spiritual heroes. His rediscovery and brave proclamation of ‘grace alone through faith alone’ was the spark that lit the protestant reformation. Throughout his life, he was harassed, threatened, and in danger because of the truth he taught. So it’s not surprising that he referenced this struggle when he penned a hymn for the church. But he doesn’t point at the popes or kings that were his earthly adversaries; he looks beyond them. ‘And though this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us...’

We might be tempted to see him as a pre-modern man whose understanding of the world was more magic than science. But I believe he saw the world more clearly than many of us. He better understood his true foe, the nature of the struggle, and the surety of his hope than we do.

In the last half of Ephesians 6, Paul paints a picture of the Christian life as a battle. He wants us to be aware, ready, and equipped to fight.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly place s.

- Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)

Serve Ethically

andy@hopeinmadison.org (Andy Wulff) — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:36:07 GMT

The pandemic accelerated the trend of remote work. This new gig economy means people are working from anywhere at any time. It means you may have co-workers in DC, Brussels, or Okinawa. But over the last few months, I’ve heard of multiple businesses pulling away from this wave of virtual office places. There seems to be something to those in-person human office water cooler interactions that encourage comradery and effectiveness. But I also wonder if the digital office means workers aren’t effectively completing tasks.

In Ephesians 6, Paul discusses the interaction between the gospel and the ancient household by looking at slaves and masters. In some ways, this is a cultural distance and even an offensive section. Paul does not condemn the person-robbing institution of slavery. How does the passage challenge you in your dealing with others at work?

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
- Ephesians 6:5-9 (ESV)

Instruction for Christian Children and Parents

Fri, 19 May 2023 20:47:06 GMT

I’ve recently seen some news headlines about states debating bills or even passing laws regarding parental custody in cases where the child wants or has received “gender affirming care.” Some fear that in a state like Minnesota, a parent might lose custody for preventing their child from receiving hormones or surgeries. Others fear that in a state like Florida, a parent might lose custody for allowing their child to receive such hormones and surgeries.

Division isn’t new in this country, but this situation struck me as a poignant example of the competing visions of the family and the parent-child relationship that are promulgated in our world. This isn’t new, though. The ancient Mediterranean area that Paul and the Ephesian saints inhabited was culturally and religiously diverse, meaning that they, too, faced competing understandings of the family and how parents should raise their children.

Since God had graciously called the Ephesians saints out from among “the sons of disobedience,” it was fitting that the apostle Paul taught them a new way to live in Christ. And what Paul taught challenged the often-abusive paternal authority of the cultures in the ancient Mediterranean, even as it challenges the often-rebellious individualism of our day.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

A Typical Modern Love Story

Fri, 12 May 2023 10:08:38 GMT

A young man and woman meet. She appreciates his sharp features. He enjoys her engagement and conversion. Over a few months, they grow closer. And about a year later, they decide to get married. The lead-up to the day is both frantic and beautiful. The day is filled with words of love and commitment. The immediate days that follow include enjoyment, discovery, and deepening connection.

As the days turn into years, the relationship evolves. Jobs and houses bring new levels of responsibilities and stress. When children are added to the picture, the joy covers the strain for a time. But the stress fractures are beginning to form. The connection and fun are no longer easy to come by. And the once-happy couple is stuck in the doldrums of middle age. The conversations are silenced until they live as if the relationship is dissolved. And now, where once there were friends and partners, there are only enemies. A few years later, they take the legal step of pronouncing the death of their marriage that had happened years before.

What happened? Did they fall out of love? What happened to the spark?

In Ephesians 5 , Paul applies the gospel to our relationships. He wants us to see the intersection between Christ’s work and our lives. You might think Christ’s actions in his life, death, and resurrection are theological concepts. But he won’t let us leave them in dusty theology books.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

- Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

Homes and Relationships

Fri, 05 May 2023 15:24:00 GMT

Around the time of Christ, there was a common prayer in Judaism - ‘Blessed art thou, O God, for not making me a Gentile, woman, or a slave.’ It was backhanded worship that exalted the status of men in the first century. But many today would read this prayer and the above verses similarly. They could be seen as suppressing women and enhancing the power of men. But are they the same?

Ephesians 5:18 starts a section often called the ‘household codes.’ The book's opening chapters rehearsed God’s great gift of salvation, but the later chapters call us to live out the implications of that salvation. After giving us a variety of individual applications, Paul now invades our homes and the relationships they contain.

Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

- Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV)

Relating Scripture to Our Time

andy@hopeinmadison.org (Andy Wulff) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:16:21 GMT

There is a wide gap between our world and the biblical world. Paul could not have conceived of cars, the internet, the printing press, flush toilets, AI, or modern medicine. Some have looked at this gap and used it to confirm the irrelevance of our ancient faith. How can words written almost 2000 years ago connect or apply to the modern world? It seems improbable. In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul outlines the implications of salvation, he provides helpful instruction in relating scripture to our time. He even points us to Divine resources in doing so.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil.

- Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)

Does it fit?

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:29:51 GMT

When I was fourteen, my mom bought me a nice suit for a wedding I needed to attend. Like, really nice. I’ve kept it all these years, just in case I ever need to dress formally. There’s a problem, though. I’m several inches taller and about forty pounds heavier than I was as a freshman in high school. The sleeves are too short. The pants are too tight. The transformation from scrawny teenager to fully-grown man meant that certain clothes just won’t fit anymore.

Likewise, our spiritual transformation in Christ means that certain things just don’t fit us anymore. As Paul says in Ephesians 5, we once were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Consequently, the works of darkness aren’t fitting or proper for us as saints. We must walk as children in the light.

...for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...

- Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

A new change of clothes

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:26:47 GMT

I’m not a very fashionable guy. Don’t let my normal looks fool you! I’d prefer ‘comfortable and worn’ to ‘modern and slick’ any day. I’ve been known to wear something with a stain on it simply because it was comfortable. I have a few people in my life, though (namely my wife and children), who pull me forward. They make sure my wardrobe is no more than a decade behind . . . and that I have things that fit properly and look good.

You may not be fashion-forward, either. But every Christian should have a change of clothes. When Christ transformed us, things changed. We are no longer the old people we once were. We have removed those old clothes and now have a new closet.

. . . to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

- Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

A New Walk

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:22:24 GMT

A couple of years ago, I injured one of my toes in an automobile accident. It may not seem like much, but I quickly learned that big toes are really important. I couldn’t walk, let alone run or jump, without discomfort. You see, that injury didn’t just affect my toe. As my body tried to compensate for the weak link, problems developed throughout the rest of my foot and leg. My entire mobility was affected. That trauma to my toe changed how I walked.

Similarly, when someone comes to Christ, a transformation occurs in them that changes how they walk. Thankfully he usually doesn’t physically harm us (though he did temporarily blind Saul on his way to Damascus!). The transformation that happens at conversion isn’t physical but spiritual. Our old self was crucified with Christ, and we are born again. We have died to sin, and it no longer rules over us. This transformation changes how we live or “walk” as believers. As Paul says, “you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.” We must no longer live in the same sinful ways that we once did because we are no longer the same sinful people that we once were.

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

- Ephesians 4:17 (ESV)

What is your role in the church?

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:19:42 GMT

What do you do all day? It was a simple, honest question that felt a bit demeaning. It's a question I’ve been asked a few times when someone realizes I’m a pastor. It’s easy to see pastors JUST as preachers. The 40 minutes (or an hour) weekly in front is very public. And I can understand someone's confusion when the church is seen through the tiny keyhole of a Sunday gathering.

But Paul paints a much broader understanding of the church than just what the pastor does. In Ephesians 4 , he speaks not only of the pastor’s role and responsibilities but also of the rest of the body. He lays out my job…and yours. We all have a part to play.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

- Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

What is your favorite New Testament book?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:15:21 GMT

What does the book you pick say about you and your spiritual journey?

You might be inclined toward Jesus’ story-filled teaching style if you picked a gospel. If you picked Romans, you might be excited about the deep and complex shelves of theology. If you chose James, you might be the practical person that wants to know what to do.

I think we tend to separate into those that always want to go deeper and deeper into theology versus those that want to get to the application. It’s easy to put those in opposition to each other. But Paul wants us to fuse them. You can’t do theology without practice. And you can’t make an application without getting the theology right.

Ephesians shows seen God's grace-filled, beautiful, and amazing work throughout the first three chapters. It displays the depth of our sin and the height of God’s love. God, through Christ, is creating a new family that brings us together. Beginning in Chapter 4, Paul begins to take these truths and iron out the implications of this truth across our lives.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 13:10:37 GMT

We live in a country obsessed with political power. Every couple of years, elections dominate the news headlines. People want to know which party will be “in power,” but that is a power focused on control. That is an earthly power.

In Ephesians 3 , Paul prays for the saints to have power, but it’s an altogether different kind of power. The power Paul prays for isn’t political but spiritual. It isn’t external but internal. It isn’t for grasping for control over others but for being able to truly know the love of Christ. Ephesians 3 contains Paul’s prayer for the Spirit’s power and the purpose it should serve in the Christian life.

I bow my knees before the Father . . . that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.

Ephesians 3:14-16 (ESV)

What Motivates You?

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 13:06:31 GMT

What is it that drives us forward in the Christian life? What motivates and empowers us to continue, even in difficulty or failure, to follow Christ? Some would say it’s will. We make a decision. We do our duty. But what if the will isn’t there? Some would say it’s fear. We see the law of God and his hatred of sin throughout scripture. But does fear motivate us toward relationships or away from it? What drives us forward?

This week, Paul considers the message and mission that he has been given. He has been called to deliver that message in difficulty with joy. How does he continue? I encourage you to read through the passage in Ephesians 3:7-13 and see if you hear his motivation. Is it the same as yours?

Of this gospel, I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

- Ephesians 3:7-8 (ESV)

The Mystery

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:02:54 GMT

Do you like a good mystery novel or book? They are less popular than they once were. Sherlock Holmes , Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote , Scooby Doo , Hardy Boys , and Blue’s Clues all played a role in my past. But with movies like Knives Out , maybe it’s making a comeback. Sleuthing might yet have a future! There seems to be something in us that desires to unravel the unknown. We want to put the clues together to find the culprit. We long for the sense of discovery. We want to be present at the big reveal.

The Bible is a mystery novel in a sense. Not the ‘who done it?’ type, but it has mystery. It doesn’t tell the story all at once. God slowly and progressively tells the story. He shows pieces and parts. But what secret is he revealing?

This week we begin to dive into Ephesians 3 . In this chapter, Paul unveils a fantastic mystery. And this mystery is not just one that you read or watch, but it is one you participate in! Do you see the mystery in Ephesians 3 ?

…how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

- Ephesians 3:3-5 (ESV)

Remembrance

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 12:57:11 GMT

Jonathan Nolan’s short story Memento Mor i explores the nature of time, memory, and identity. It’s about a man, Earl, who suffers from short-term memory loss due to a violent attack that also left his wife dead. The last thing he can remember is the face of the man who attacked them. He’s fixed on revenge, but it is a seemingly impossible task for a man who can’t remember anything after the attack. Every time Earl goes to sleep, he forgets everything that he learned or did that day. His inability to remember his past prevents him from functioning well in the present.

In terms of sheer frequency, remembrance is one of the most significant commands in Scripture. Remembrance of God’s works helps us to trust him now. Remembrance of our ancestor’s failures warns us against disobedience. Remembrance of the desperate plight from which God saved us magnifies the redemption he accomplished in Christ. Ephesians 2:11-22 is a call to remembrance. Paul called on believers to remember who they were apart from Christ. So, remember. Call it to mind. Contemplate it, because the darkness of our past highlights the brilliance of Christ’s saving work.

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

- Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV)

God's Change in Us

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 12:53:39 GMT

Have you ever changed something about yourself? I’m not talking about something simple like your hairstyle or nail color. But something more deeply embedded in you. I’m talking about things on the more basic levels – things you do, desire, or hope for. Change at this level seems difficult, if not impossible. We seem hardwired for certain things, and most of them are bad.

But Scripture teaches that real, profound, lasting change is possible. But it doesn’t come from the inside out. It comes from the outside in. It comes not when you act but when you are acted upon.

Looking at Ephesians 2:1-10, we see a beautiful vista that gives a grand view of God’s change in us through salvation.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

- Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV)

Story of Transformation

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:47:08 GMT

We love a dramatic story of change and transformation. I remember watching the inspiring movie The Pursuit of Happiness. It tells the true story of a down-on-his-luck salesman who, without education, becomes a Wall St stock broker. He pulls himself and his son out of poverty through hard work. This kind of story gives us hope that we can change too.

In the church, we love these kinds of stories too. We marvel when we hear a testimony of how someone has been radically saved from darkness, addiction, or worse. And if our story is plain and ordinary, we might feel inadequate and even unwilling to tell our story. But we may not understand how bad we actually were. And we might not understand what God has done for us.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of
wrath, like the rest of man kind.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

Spiritual Blessings

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 12:33:06 GMT

One of my favorite movies, The Truman Show, is about a man who is discovering that his entire life has secretly been a reality tv show. Everyone in his life- his coworkers, his neighbors, even his wife- is just an actor playing a role so that the show could go on, but Truman (at least at the beginning) was oblivious to the reality of the situation. He didn’t know the truth about the world around him or even himself.

I think one of Paul’s motivations in penning Ephesians 1 is to keep us from living like Truman. Paul wants us to understand and grasp the reality of who we are in Christ Jesus. That’s why he described our spiritual blessings in the elaborate prose of Ephesians 1:3-14, but it was also the focus of many of his prayers for the saints in Ephesus. In Ephesians 1:15-23 , we hear a report of Paul’s prayers that the saints would have a spiritual understanding of their amazing blessings in Christ.

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

- Ephesians 1:16-17 (ESV)

Rehearsing the Gospel

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 12:27:51 GMT

I am the son of a church pianist. My mother often played the piano and later the organ for congregational worship. She could pick up any hymn book and artfully play any song. It was one of the last skills she lost, which speaks to how deeply it was ingrained in her.

Growing up, it was not even a question that I would learn to play. In elementary school, I started lessons learning music and plinking out basic tunes. But I never really absorbed it. One big reason was that I hated rehearsing. It seemed like mindless, tedious hours to sit behind those keys when the freedom of my bike and the adventures outside were just beyond the door. So later, when I ‘graduated’ to the trombone, I lost most of what I'd gained on the piano.

I fear that many Christians are like me. We are introduced to the gospel when we come to faith. We understand and believe. But we think that rehearsal of it is tiring and boring. We may wander into other associated pursuits of theology or apologetics. But often, we lose the pure, simple amazement at the gospel.

Paul didn’t want that to happen. To that end, he spends the opening of his letter rehearsing the blessing we have received in salvation. He does this because he knows that when we understand, treasure, and rehearse these truths, they will transform us, our relationships, and our mission.

...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
- Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV)

Are you Blessed?

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 12:22:32 GMT

Are you #blessed? I’ve seen the trend pop up that people post about the blessings of their life. Most include things like their relationships, positions, or health. But I wonder if, as Christians, we need to look a bit deeper. I wonder if we might look beyond ourselves into the God we worship.

In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul jumps right in with a flourish of praise. In fact, verses 3 to 14 are one long sentence in the original language-the second longest in all the NT. It’s almost like he is so overwhelmed by what God is done he can’t stop writing. What is he so excited about? How has God blessed him?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
- Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV)

Intro to Ephesians

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:17:01 GMT

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus C hrist.

- Ephesians 1:1-2 (ESV)

It’s easy to become confused and discouraged by what we see in the world around us. The truths and values that we hold seem to be fading. Christianity’s influence is dwindling. Many are scrambling to determine what we can do to reverse this trend. And some have already pronounced the death of Christianity, at least in the Western world. I have to wonder though, if all of our worry and activity is misplaced.

Ephesus was home to a temple that was one of the wonders of the ancient world. The pagan worship there drove much of the economy. Christianity was seen as a threat. Yet Paul’s letter doesn’t begin with a call to action in the personal or political realm. Instead, it starts much more personal.

Rebirth and Revival vs. Resolutions

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 21:22:48 GMT

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

- Psalm 93:1-3 (ESV)

I hate New Year’s resolutions. They seem like they are half-hearted decisions to change. They are commitments that are driven by the calendar and less by conviction. They are self-help on the cheap.

In the Bible, there is a sense that change doesn’t come by resolutions or plans but by rebirth and revival. It’s God working on us, in his grace, to change us for his glory. And in one way, the new comes through the old. In other words, we don’t change so that something is new. But we look back to the old reality of the cross to be transformed by grace. So, in this new year, maybe it’s time to look back instead of forward.

The 'Prince of Peace'

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:49:50 GMT

For to us a child is born to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do thi s.

- Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

We live in a world full of conflict. This year global politics has been dominated by the war in Ukraine. The death and destruction are horrific. But it is not the only conflict happening. Myanmar and Ethiopia continue to struggle through civil war. Political unrest dots nations in South America. Dictators continue to rule at the price of blood.

In addition to these global realities are the personal conflicts. Families and neighbors are set against each other. Our interpersonal relationships are punctuated with arguments and fights. And the tone of the dialogue seems to only get louder and angrier.

In the words of the Christmas hymn, ’There is no peace on earth,’ I said ‘for hate is strong and mocks the song.’

And yet Jesus is predicted to be the Prince of Peace. And his birth is heralded by angels as an announcement of Peace on Earth.

The 'Man of Sorrows'

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:31:17 GMT

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

- Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV)

Martin Luther, a major leader in the Protestant Reformation, taught that we come to know who God is through the cross. This "theology of the Cross" taught that right theology "comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross." While we humans might come up with our own ideas about God and how he acts, Luther rightly recognized that God has stunningly revealed himself through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Jesus' title, Man of Sorrows, deonstrates how Jesus' sorrows bring us joy. Perhaps this seems like a strange topic during Advent, but we must remember that without the cross, Christmas would be hollow.

The name 'Jesus'

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:28:02 GMT

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people fro m their sins.”
- Matthew 1:20-21 (ESV)

When you think of Christmas who comes to your mind? If we are honest, most of us think of the guy in the red suit. But do you know his real story. Not the Coca-Cola version, but the real Saint Nicholas? He was an ancient church leader that gave up his wealth, had a heart of generosity especially for children, and punched heretics in the nose. I’m serious. Why would he do that? Because he knew the ‘reason for the season’. He would tell us to unwrap the real gift of Christmas.

Jesus: this name links us to God’s redemptive story. It points us to what Christ came to do and calls us to live in light of that name.

The name 'Christ'

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 12:08:00 GMT

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were c oming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
- Luke 4:20-22 (ESV)

My recent international travel experience reminded me of the difficulties that were introduced at the Tower of Babel. Between the culture and language gap many things can get lost. One place these holes become obvious is in Christmas traditions. Around the world there are several I just can’t explain. Like in Caracas, many people get to Christmas mass in roller skates. Or in Austria where the pleasant figure of Saint Nick is replaced with the creature Krampus who steals away bad kids. Or in Ukraine where you might decorate for Christmas with cobwebs.

One truth that can get lost in translation for us is who we celebrate at Christmas. The term ‘Christ’ is familiar and prevalent in church. It’s built right into the title of the holiday. But do you know what it means? Do you know where it comes from? Do you know why it’s important?

Exercise Thanksgiving

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 12:04:45 GMT

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

- Psalm 9:1

Have you ever experienced muscle atrophy? I was reminded of this phenomenon recently after wearing a walking boot for several weeks. With my lower leg stabilized and my foot stuck in a fixed position, the muscles in my foot didn’t move for a while. They didn’t take the normal everyday weight or stress. And when I was finally cleared to walk again, they had become used to their vacation. They didn’t move as freely as before. They got tired more quickly. And they didn’t feel as stable. Maybe you have experienced something similar.

Have you ever experienced gratitude atrophy? I think many of us put our gratitude in a cast. It rarely sees sunlight and the muscles of thankfulness don’t move for long periods of time. Maybe that’s why it feels so hard and forced when we come to season like Thanksgiving. When we are driven to start moving them again our range of motion just isn’t there.

This week we want to give you some Thanksgiving exercises. Not the kind that will help you prepare you stuff yourself next Thursday, but the kind that will call us to regularly and repetitively look to our Creator and Savior, thanking Him for all He has given and done.

Faith is the Victory

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:59:29 GMT

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Jude 3-4 (ESV)

What do we want when we think about the church and gathering together?

I know what I would like: My eternal family together joyfully celebrating what we have in Christ: the joys of what he has done for us, who we really are with him, thinking also about what we are going to have with him very soon. But we are in very hard times. There are enemies that are trying to creep into the church, and we have a call to contend for the true faith. It is not easy. But this little letter encourages us to face the present reality, helps us clearly see these threats, and equips us with everything we need to move into it with victory.

Faithfulness to the Truth

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:11:39 GMT

Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for t he truth.
- 3 John 8 (ESV)

In case you haven’t already seen the reminders all over social media and the news, the midterm elections are next week. Of course, whenever there’s an election, there are political ads. One thing that frustrates me with these ads is that they often lack nuance and fairness. The full truth takes a backseat to the talking points used to get a candidate elected. It’s not just in politics, though. We all tend to subordinate the truth to our own interests.

In 3 John, we read about two men and how they related to the truth of Jesus Christ. One faithfully supported its proclamation and spread, but the other put himself first and undermined the church’s mission. 3 John exhorts us to support the truth and condemns the spirit of self-centeredness. I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we hear in his final epistle, the apostle John’s call for faithfulness to the Truth.

Love and Truth

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 23:31:04 GMT

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

- 1 John 3:23 (ESV)

A few weeks ago, when I was on a walk with my family, we passed a woman with a shirt that said, “Love is love.” You’ve probably heard that phrase before. It’s a popular slogan in the LGBT movement.

A common complaint about the statement is that it doesn’t actually define love. Saying “love is love” is as meaningless as saying “blue is blue.” It got me thinking, though, about how complicated the word “love” is. It’s all over the place. It’s the subject of books and movies and songs. It was on my neighbor's t-shirt. We even dedicate a whole day to it every February. “Love” is everywhere, and we use “love” to describe all sorts of things, from our passionate delight in ice cream to a mother’s tender care for a child to a soldier’s patriotic sacrifice for his country. We obviously care about “love,” but, to quote the hit 90s song, “what is love?”

For the apostle John, our responsibility to love one another is closely connected to the truth of Christ Jesus. They are related in a way that is often overlooked in contemporary thinking about love. This Sunday, as we hear the message of 2 John, we’ll learn about this connection between love and the truth of Christ, and hopefully we’ll be better equipped to navigate a world full of confusion. And consider inviting a neighbor to join you!

Mini Mini-series: Philemon

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 17:48:36 GMT

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. - Philemon 8-12 (ESV)

What’s their name?

You know, that person you would be fine if you never saw them again. That person that, if you happened to see them across the store you would move over an aisle to make sure to avoid them. That person who might damage you emotionally … or maybe that person that cost you financially.

Now, imagine for a minute you came to church Sunday morning, you’re sitting at your seat enjoying the coffee and conversation. Then you look up, and they come through the door. What do you feel? What do you do? That frustration, hurt, confusion, and anger that you are probably feeling gives you a hint at what might have been going on when Philemon saw Onesimus come into his house carrying a letter.

This week we begin our 4-week mini-series. We will be looking at those shorter, little books in the New Testament. And we begin by checking out the postcard epistle of Philemon. It tells the personal story of betrayal, redemption, and reconciliation. Now, consider how this story might help us work out those hard places of relationship in our own story.

Take a few minutes and read through the book. It’s only 25 verses long. Then plan on joining us at 10 am on Sunday morning at Hope. And why not invite someone else to join you?

What is Imortant in our Worship?

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:39:33 GMT

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Exodus 40:34-38 (ESV)

Worshiping with believers from other cultures is an eye-opening privilege. I remember being in services in Nicaragua. There, they often sing acapella. And the most important thing is not to be on key but to be loud. In Japan, the services were crisp and clear. That was driven less by liturgy and more by an overriding sense of honor to the creator. These little windows into other cultures give us an opening to see into our own Christian culture; they allow us to see what really lies behind our worship.

As we close out the book of Exodus, I want to take you on a cross-cultural adventure. It won’t be into another land but into another time. What was promised was coming into reality as the new nation came together to construct the tabernacle and prepare to worship their God. I’m praying as we examine these final chapters, we will see what is ultimately important and timeless in our worship as well.

Rescheduled Wedding Day

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:16:53 GMT

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV)

It’s the BIG day. It has been months in preparation. The invitations have been sent. The church is decorated. The food is prepared. The attendants have been dressed. The wedding is finally here! But imagine on that day that the groom catches the bride, in her wedding dress, cheating on him. How humiliating and devastating that would be. How would you feel? How would you react?

Now imagine the groom is willing to forgive that breach. Imagine that he is willing to take that bride back. What would you think about that groom? What words of advice would you have for him as he nears the rescheduled wedding day?

That scenario is not too far off what you see in Exodus 34. God had brought the nation to Sinai to ‘marry' them. They were going to be His people. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the vows, as it were, he descends to find the nation cheating on God. Last week we saw God’s response. And we saw Moses intercede for the people. This week we see the rescheduled wedding day. God comes with words of concern and an overwhelming display of His grace.

Freedom from Shame

admin@creativo.ai — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:24:39 GMT

Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed. - Psalm 34:5 (ESV)

The Lord has given many great and precious promises to us as believers in Jesus Christ - one of which is our freedom from shame.

Shame is a prominent part of our experience as human beings in a fallen world. We sense it every day, even when the word is not spoken. It is a multi-faceted experience that appears many times in Scripture yet remains misunderstood today. Our freedom from shame is so central to our hope, the hope of our standing before God in shameless perfection at his coming, because of what Christ has done for us and in the hope of the resurrection. Shame is also part of our daily experience in the struggle against sin and in our walk with Christ. Often times we are aware of our own experience and what God says is true, but our experience feels out of sync with what we know from Scripture. As we grow closer to the Lord, what we know becomes increasingly what we experience.

I want to look with you at what God says about shame, particularly the cross of Christ and the shame Christ bore for us. My prayer is that we will grow in knowing our freedom from shame. We are free. God has blessed us in the heavens with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I hope you’ll plan to join us on Sunday at 10 am, in person or online, to unpack the blessing of freedom from shame and the glory of the cross.

Cinematic flair packed into two minutes

admin@creativo.ai — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:24:37 GMT

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” - Exodus 1:8-10 (ESV)

I like to get to the movies early. I know you can see previews online. But there is something about a trailer on the big screen. You get a glimpse at what is coming. You get to take in all the cinematic flair that can be packed into about two minutes. It’s a lot of fun.

The opening chapters of Exodus are like a movie trailer. They preview the big ideas that are coming. You get to know the characters. And you see you how they will shaped by narrative. This week we continue in our series in Exodus. I want to encourage you to read through chapters 1-2. They provide a bridge from the close of Genesis and setup the grand story of God’s deliverance through a unique deliverer. It's gonna be fun to watch.

Give and don’t receive - How do you Deal with That?

admin@creativo.ai — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:24:36 GMT

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:9-10 (ESV)

Christmas is a time of year when we feel the love of those around us. We receive and give gifts to demonstrate it. We spend time with those we love. We share special memories and experiences. But what if that love is not returned? It can hurt us deeply when we give and don’t receive in return. How would you deal with that?

In our series, Christmas in a Minor Key we have been considering the Minor Prophets and how they point us toward Christ. On Christmas Eve we will consider Hosea. It’s a book about love. Sadly though, it is a book not about the warm fuzzy Christmas-movie type love. Instead, it is about love that is spurned and abused. God’s people had abandoned and betrayed his love for them. How would he respond?

We will look at his surprising and overwhelming response on Christmas Eve at 6pm. Our service will include carols, the advent wreath, the Christmas story by the Treehouse Players, and candlelight. Plan to be with us!

And then we will be together again on Sunday - Dec 26th. We will have a shortened service. We are going back to the Minor Prophets. This time we will look at Habakkuk; a book that teaches us to struggle with God especially when his plans and purposes seem too hard to comprehend.

Hebrews - ideas didn’t materialize out of thin air

admin@creativo.ai — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:24:35 GMT

Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.' - Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)

Gaining a better understanding of where something comes from gives you not only a greater appreciation for it but also a deeper knowledge and enjoyment of it. I remember years ago reading a book about the history of Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company. Even though I’m more of Chevy guy, it helped me to appreciate the engineering innovation and the business acumen that Ford developed in order to mass produce cars. Amazingly, over 100 years later the company and even some of those original cars are still going strong.

When it comes to redemptive history, sometimes we relish in our position as New Covenant recipients. We look at the New Testament and the letters of the apostles as the main source for truth and living. But as we have seen in our study of Hebrews, these ideas didn’t materialize out of thin air. God has been writing this story from the very beginning. Therefore, the more that we understand the storyline and its developments along the way, the more we come to not only appreciate – but love and desire to follow the God who is writing it.

This Sunday we begin a study in Exodus. In many ways, I’d say the language we use throughout Scripture about salvation has its start here. In this book we will gain an enlarged vision of the person and character and power of the one true God. Moreover, we will see the person and work of Christ developed through both person and picture. I hope that you are excited to take this journey together!

I’d encourage you to begin by becoming familiar with the first chapters. Why not take some time and read through them before Sunday? And would you consider inviting someone to experience this along with you? Join us to worship together in person and online at 10 am.

The Songs of the Season

admin@creativo.ai — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:24:33 GMT

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. - Micah 5:2 (ESV)

Traditions at Christmas mark out the season. Some traditions are within families. Some have much wider and older origins. Christmas trees and gift giving date back centuries. Included in these Christmas traditions are songs. When hear them it brings us into the season.

One of the oldest Christmas songs is - O Come, O Come Emmanuel. It has origins that take it back to monasteries in the 8th and 9th centuries where songs called ‘O Antiphons’ would be sung a week before Christmas. These songs were translated from Latin into English in the 1700’s. The song that we now know as O Come, O Come Emmanuel was put to the modern song by John Neale around 1850. This song points us to the arrival of God’s king in a rescue mission for His people.

This week in our series of Christmas we will see more about this coming King as we look at Micah. It will remind us that this King came to establish his rule and will return to extend it forever. I encourage you to read Micah 4-5 to prepare your heart and mind to worship together. We will celebrate communion together.

Where have you felt the presence of God?

admin@creativo.ai — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:01:00 GMT

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. - Exodus 3:4-6 (ESV)

Have you ever been somewhere when you felt the presence of God? Maybe it was in a specific church whose architecture seemed to point your thoughts toward heaven. Maybe it was somewhere out in nature looking at the vastness and beauty of creation. Maybe it was in the quiet stillness of a moment where you knew God was with you. All of these in some ways could be considered sacred spaces. They are places where you felt met. They are places where God was tangible to you in the moment. Finding spaces like that can be both encouraging and faith producing.

Sacred spaces are rare. In scripture there are only a few. In Exodus 3 we encounter one of the first ones that are called out. As God calls Moses he does so in a way and in a place that would remind others of his presence for generations to come. Take a few minutes and read through Exodus 3 to prepare your heart and mind for continuing our journey through Exodus.