Building on the Cornerstone

Part six of the Exodus series turns to the ten commandments. These laws can be summarized by the teachings of the philosophers Bill and Ted – Be Excellent to One Another. These ten rules of how to live are still timely and relevant today. Listen as they are unpacked for us today. Listen to how God calls us to love Him above all things and to love each other as well. This captures those ten commandments given so long ago. We also see how our love of God and our love of each other are tied together and we cannot have one without the other. Be excellent to each other – and party on dudes!

This week continues the story of the final rebellion, and we continue to see the cost of rebellion. There is always a price for rebellion, and payment always comes from places never expected. Often times it is relationships. Through all of this, we are not to forget who God is, and what he is doing in our lives. We see how God redeems and liberates his people. But not to be free of all masters, but God becomes the new master and we are free to serve Him. God is present among his people and we should work to be aware of his presence among us. Our God is greater, our God is awesome in power. Our God.

Part four of the Exodus series – God’s People, God’s Plan brings the final plague that faces pharaoh and Egypt. It is the story of the first passover. It is the story of the price of rebellion. Plague after plague swept the land, and pharaoh continued to harden his heart and turn from God. While we are always free to rebel, we must remember that rebellion always comes at a cost. Explore the cost of pharaoh’s rebellion; explore the protection and freedom God shows his people. God is telling us today – do not forget who I am. Remember what I have done, and be mindful of what I am doing in your life.

Part 3 of the series in Exodus explores the many plagues sent by God to soften pharaoh’s heart. We can look back at this series of plagues and see that God is saying ‘I got this. I am the one true God.’ God will claim the ultimate final victory and we can take hope in this when it seems that all we do is met in discouragement. God’s got this. God wins, no matter what the gods of the world throw at us. Trust in Him.

Ever wonder why church? Maybe you think about why you go every Sunday or maybe you think about why would anyone go to a church. Often we look to the church and expect to find the perfection of Christ. The trouble with this is the church is full of broken people which can push many away. But it turns out, being full of broken people is the point. This is a place full of people who need Christ. Jesus wanted to build an ekklesia (Matt 16:18) which is regularly mistranslated as church. What Jesus told Simon Peter was to build a community on the rock that Jesus is the son of God. When we focus on the community of Christ we can build what Jesus wanted of his disciples. And this community will stand out from any other on basic feature – Love (John 13:34).

The message this week was shared by Tim Henkel.