“How could a good and all-powerful God let something like that happen to me?

Does God even care?” It seems suffering is inevitable - Job 5:7 states that “man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble…” John 16:33. Theologians often state “we live in the now and not yet” meaning the in between times of Christ first coming and his second coming. Another writer uses the term the age of ambivalence or the age of tension. We have a portion of His kingdom but not the completion/fulfillment of God’s promises of a new heaven, new earth, and new body. In this meantime, people still suffer in evil and cruel ways. We all experience losses and unfair treatment. Things just don’t work like they should. Why can’t we get back to Eden? What does Jesus Christ have to offer us during this age of suffering and waiting and hoping?

While suffering is something we must all endure, those of us who know Christ can hold to the promises of his presence, his purpose, and his plan for us.

This Sunday join us in worship of the Man of Sorrows, the Suffering Servant: Jeus Christ our LORD and King!

This Sunday we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the Church in Colossae. In the first two chapters Paul focused on Christ’s authority over all of creation and our redemption. Now in chapter three Paul is delving into the implications for Christ’s authority over the lives of His people. Specifically, Paul addresses the sins that try to define us as well as the natural identities that can become idols in our lives. Paul ultimately points the church to its eternal identity in Christ which overcomes all sins, breaks down worldly barriers, and calls us to set our mind on the glory of God. 

Imagine you’re in the Roman Church, surrounded by the depraved culture the Apostle Paul described in Romans 1:29, “filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice.” The sexual debauchery and shameful acts being carried out in the brothels and homes confronts you every day. But you know the truth, you were raised to obey God, you believe and have devoted your life to your faith and traditions. How would you feel if people from that culture walked into your church proclaiming that they believe in the risen Christ? Would you feel morally superior? Would you be quick to welcome them? How would you respond to their struggle to break the habits of their upbringing and experience?

As we begin chapter two in Romans, Paul confronts the assumptions of the life-long religious person! Does their upbringing and practice make them “better than”? Should their “moral goodness” give them a leg-up in the church? Does God favor them over their Gentile brothers and sisters? Join us Sunday as we explore what Jesus describes as older brother syndrome in the story of the Prodigal, Luke 15:11-32. Maybe watch this video from the Bible Project on the Prodigal Son’s older brother.

Sunday, we’ll continue in Romans 1, as the Apostle Paul unpacks the revelation of God’s wrath. The great “religious monstrosity” (John Murray) of worshipping created things rather than the Creator, results in God giving mankind over, as he says, “in the lusts of their hearts to impurity.” Notice something important here, God turns mankind over to the desires of his heart. Moral corruption flows out of inordinate desires leading to impurity, specifically impure actions. That’s important because the Apostle isn’t just condemning sinful actions, but corrupt desires. (See James 1:14)

He explains this “giving over” in two arenas: “dishonorable passions…debased mind.” The passions that are dishonorable center on going against the sexual order that God created, specifically engagement in homosexual behavior. The mind that is reprobate or has completely turned against God is filled with all kinds of vice, or as Paul says, “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.” What’s increasingly troubling is that they promote these vices even though they know God’s judgment.

This is the backdrop of the gospel, the good news revealed amid this evil. These are the very people God reveals the gospel to and who join the family of God by faith! Join us Sunday as we worship God and rejoice in the gospel of Jesus.

In our study, the Apostle Paul is unpacking the gospel: the good news of Jesus’ Lordship and God’s salvation through him; a salvation received by grace through faith. He does this to root them in Jesus and heal the divide between Jewish and Gentile believers. He has taught them that the gospel reveals God’s justness, now he will show that it reveals God’s justice dolled out on those who refuse him.

From 1:18-3:20, the Apostle sets out to destroy any claims of sufficient obedience to warrant or earn God’s favor. His summary statement is simple, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” 3:23. Our text will be 1:18-23, where Paul explains why mankind is without excuse before God. In summary, it’s not that we are ignorant of God, rather, we suppress the truth. Join us Sunday as we worship and serve, “the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen.” (1:25)

The next section of Paul’s letter is interesting because the Apostle wants to “preach the gospel to you,” the Roman believers. Why would he want to preach the gospel to believers? Notice in the text, Romans 1:8-17, that Paul affirms their faith, prays for the opportunity to give and receive encouragement with them, and expects that when he does visit there will be spiritual fruitfulness in his visit. Why do believers need to hear the gospel? With all that the church is experiencing from the external culture of Rome and the internal strife of the church, why does Paul see the gospel as the essential teaching for the believers?

Verses sixteen and seventeen present the answer: the gospel is the power of God advancing for the salvation of all ethnicities; and it humbles believers as recipients of grace by faith, not as laborers receiving a wage. This presentation strikes the heart of the church’s divisions and our distortions of self, others, and God. Join us Sunday as we worship together.

As we considered Sunday, we know Paul’s overarching purpose in the Roman church is “to establish” them in the gospel, 1:11 and 16:25. The word “gospel” is a compound word of “good” and “message.” We often call it “the good news.” When the news channel posts a breaking story, we call it “breaking news,” though it’s often a tragedy, because that’s what sells. Well God’s news has been breaking forth since the creation narrative, and it is good news about his promised Son.

Our text this week explains the good news in those terms: breaking, good news about God’s Son and chosen Lord. For the Roman believers, living in the decadence and oppression of Rome, the news is of a King, David’s descendent, who will transform the world, by bringing about the “obedience of faith.” Why is that important news? Because God’s grace, initially extended to the Jews, has been extended to the Gentiles, “including you.” Join us Sunday as we worship God’s appointed Lord and rejoice in our participation in the good news!

Sunday, we begin our study of the book of Romans. Below are two links to a great explanation of Paul’s letter for you to watch and prepare for our study. The Roman church was divided along ethnic lines (Jew and Gentile). The Jewish believers had significant misunderstandings about themselves, justification by faith, the law of God, the Spirit, and the church of Jesus Christ. Those misunderstandings generated a distorted view of themselves, God, and Gentile believers. Distortions create division.

Our study will focus on the Apostle’s prescription: the gospel of Jesus. He writes to “establish” them in the gospel because he knows it will heal their divisions by removing their self-distortion. Join us as we engage the Lord through his Word.

Romans, Part 1 Romans, Part 2 

So far, we’ve considered the person of the Holy Spirit and his essential ministry of applying what Jesus has provided. The Spirit regenerates us, so that we can respond to Jesus’ offer of salvation with faith and repentance. He justifies us, applying the obedience and sacrifice of Christ. He seals us in the graces of our Savior, preserving us and sanctifying us, so that we share in the holiness of Jesus. Finally, he glorifies us, applying the full life of Jesus’ resurrection. This is the essential ministry of the Spirit.

But he does more than this. Jesus refers to him as our “helper,” who mediates the presence of Christ to us. What does it mean to “mediate the presence of Christ”? A very simple illustration is your phone when you facetime someone. The phone mediates their presence, connecting you to the person you’re talking to. Well, the Spirit is better than a phone! As the Third Person of the Trinity, he is the presence of God, connecting you to the ministry of your Savior and all the goodness of God. He prays for you according to God’s will; he reveals God to you, especially through the Scriptures; he comforts you in hardships; he empowers you to say no to temptations; et. al.

Sunday we’ll consider some of the varied activities of the Spirit in your life. Praise and worship God the Spirit.

This year we’ve discussed many of the ways that our heavenly Father works to communicate his goodness to us: giving us access to his presence in the throne room of grace; providing us the Incarnate Son to intercede and minister to us; giving us his law as a presentation of his character; providing his people sacraments within the covenant of grace. God uses each of these to bless us in Christ and communicate our adoption into his family. God wants us to know that we belong to him.

But there is one person in this that is central to our experience of all God’s goodness. Jesus says that this person is intentionally sent, so that we will know that we aren’t orphans. This person will guide into truth, comfort, counsel, and apply all of Christ’s benefits. This person fills us with the presence of Christ. This person takes all that the Father has given and ministers it to us: this is Holy Spirit.

Join us as we take the next few weeks to consider Him.