Chapel at Cedarville

Who is Jesus? The answer to that question should change everything. The way we think, speak, and act should reflect what we actually believe about who He is. In Mark 1:1–13, He is introduced as the Son of God and the adversary of Satan.

The Beginning

In vv. 1–8, John the Baptist lived his life in a way that reminded the Israelites of their history and called them to repent because the Messiah was coming. Everyone was talking about him. John could have gotten prideful because of his fame, but instead, he was humble, saying he was not even worthy to untie Jesus’s shoes. He firmly believed that he was only preparing the way for Someone far greater.

Just like John, we should be a voice crying in the wilderness of our generation. Rather than trying to be popular, we should focus on making Jesus popular, realizing that our lives are not all about ourselves — they are all about Him.

The Baptism

In vv. 9–11, Jesus came to be baptized in order to identify with humanity and be an example of obedience to God. When He came out of the water, the heavens were immediately torn open, and the Spirit descended on Him. A voice came out of heaven from the Father testified that Jesus was His beloved Son. This supports Mark’s thesis that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

The Battle

In vv. 12–13, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, starting with the phrase, “If You are really the Son of God.” He appealed to Jesus’s hunger. We are guilty of satisfying our physical pleasures in many sinful ways, but Jesus resisted the temptation.

Satan also went after Jesus’s ego when he tempted Him to test God. We are guilty of fostering pride and exalting ourselves at the expense of other people, but again, Jesus resisted.

When Satan told Jesus to bow down to him and promised the whole world as a reward, he was tempting Jesus to take the easy shortcut, getting the crown without having to go through all the pain of the cross. We are guilty of taking shortcuts to get the reward without the work. We don’t want to do things the right way at the right time, but Jesus resisted this temptation too.

Who Is Jesus?

Some of us are living like Jesus doesn’t exist. We need to ask ourselves the question, “If Jesus is the Son of God and a real battle exists between good and evil, then how should that impact my thoughts, words, and actions in day-to-day life?” We should be passionate about the Gospel, meditating on Scripture, telling others about Jesus, and resisting sin.

This is real. If you have confessed, repented of your sins, and turned to Jesus, you are a beloved child of the King. There is a cosmic war taking place, and you need to be ready for that. It’s time to get in the game.

God’s Mission Through Genesis: His Glory Going Global

God’s Glory Across the Earth

Today in chapel, SGA Chaplain Ethan Foster invited us to step back into the opening chapters of Genesis to see the overview of God’s mission and design. Our mission is this: to witness and share God’s glory globally.

Habakkuk 2:14 reminds us that one day “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” God’s design is not just an abstract idea — it is woven into our very being. As Foster says, “God’s desire is built in our deepest fibers.”

The Image of God: Identity and Purpose

In Genesis 1:26, we learn that to be made in the image of God means two things: We can have a relationship with Him and have the ability to reflect Him. Genesis 1:28 carries this further, giving us both identity and purpose: We are made in the image of God to fill the world with God’s glory.

The Reality of Rest

Foster reminded us that even rest is part of God’s mission and design. On the seventh day of creation, God rested — not because He needed it but to set an example. Rest is not optional, and it is humbling reminding us that we are not infinite, not invincible, and not God.

God’s Design: A Loving Relationship

God’s design was never about distance. He did not relegate man to the garden; His design was relationship with man in the garden. That same desire for relationship continues today, fulfilled through Christ.

Living by Christ’s Power

As we live out our faith, we are called to lean on Christ’s power and embrace God’s design. In doing so, we join His mission — filling the Earth with His glory until the whole world sees and knows Him.

Exodus 1–2 continues the story of a faithful God’s deliverance of His chosen people through His appointed prophet.

The People

The first chapter of Exodus begins with a list of people who came down from Egypt. This may sound like a strange way to begin a book of the Bible, but it actually has an important purpose: to tie Exodus back to Genesis. The author points to the God who made a covenant promise to the Israelites and tells us that this book will continue the story of His faithfulness to His people. Under God’s blessing, His people have multiplied greatly.

The Problem

The problem arises when Pharoah’s evil intentions cause him to oppose the people of God. He concocts a plan that will kill all of the young Israelite boys.

From this passage, two things are evident. First, our God is a God of life. He valued the lives of these babies and rewarded the midwives for doing what they could to save the boys’ lives.

Second, this passage is an important reminder that although we are called to submit to the government even when it’s inconvenient, there are rare occasions when we are called to disobey. When the government commands us to do something God forbids or forbids us to do something God commands, the government is to be disobeyed, and we are to honor God.

The Prophet

In chapter 2, Moses’s story begins. After he is born, his mother saves his life by sending him away down the river in a basket. He grows up in the household of Pharoah. Moses knows God has appointed him as a deliverer, but he tries to seize an opportunity in his own strength and wisdom, and it does not go well. He ends up in the wilderness, where his second opportunity to be a deliverer will present itself.

God’s Heart for His People

In Exodus 2:23–25, we get an amazing glimpse of God’s care and love for His people. The Israelites need rescue from slavery, and they cry out to God because of their oppression. The passage says that God hears their groaning and remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had not forgotten them in the first place — He always knew the salvation He intended to do, and now He was going to respond.

God has not forgotten us either. In our pain and crying out to God, He hears, and He cares!

The Greater Prophet

God saved Israel through His prophet, Moses, but Moses was only pointing to the greater One who was coming. Hebrews 2:14–15 says that Christ destroyed the one who had the power of death. Moses did this when he defeated Pharoah, and Jesus did it in a much greater way when He defeated Satan through His death and resurrection! Let our worship be motivated by seeing the glories of Christ’s salvation!

In Christ Alone: Finding the Fullness of Life

How do we find a life of hope, purpose, and meaning?

That was the question Dr. Matt Morton posed to the Cedarville student body in chapel today. His answer pointed us back to something simple yet profoundly life-changing found in Colossians 1: that fullness of life is found only in Jesus Christ. When He is at the center of our hearts, everything else begins to align.

Words to the Colossians and Us

Dr. Morton walked us through Paul’s letter to the Colossians, written around A.D. 55–60. The church in Colossae was diverse, surrounded by competing philosophies and religious ideas that threatened to pull them away from the Gospel. Paul reminded them and us that Jesus is not one option among many. He is the only source of true life.

This sets up the central question of Dr. Morton’s message: Why is the fullness of life only found in Jesus?

Eternal Hope in Christ (vv. 3–8)

Only Jesus offers a hope that stretches beyond the temporary and into eternity.

As Morton said, “Those who know Jesus Christ will have a life of hope and joy that goes into eternity.” The world offers substitutes that we often put our trust in — organizations, people, or even ourselves — but none of them last. Hope in Christ alone secures joy both now and forever.

Spiritual Wisdom in Christ (v. 9)

Paul prays that believers would be filled with wisdom from God. Dr. Morton noted, “We have a world that is saturated with information and deeply starving for wisdom.”

Wisdom doesn’t come from endless data or clever arguments but from knowing God and learning to live life walking with Him. True wisdom is the Spirit’s gift to those who seek Christ above all else.

Transformation in Christ (v. 10)

Finally, Dr. Morton pointed us to the transforming power of Christ. To live a life worthy of the Lord is to grow in holiness and understanding. As Dr. Morton said, “Understanding will fuel holiness, and holiness will deepen understanding.”

Transformation means connecting our eternal hope with our present suffering, and it means finishing strong. As Dr. Morton challenged us: “Run through the finish line well.”

Closing Reflection

The Colossians needed the reminder that life in Christ was more than enough — and so do we. We find eternal hope, spiritual wisdom, and real transformation in Him.

Everyone loves stories about evil dragons, beautiful maidens, and brave heroes! But these are more than just made-up stories with no deeper value. Throughout the Bible, you can trace this very same pattern of an epic rescue mission.

The Pattern in Exodus

The pattern begins in the book of Exodus. God defeats the evil dragon, Pharaoh, and delivers Israel, His bride, from Egypt. He makes a covenant with His bride, marrying her. Finally, the Creator of the universe comes to dwell with His bride in a tabernacle.

The Pattern in Jesus

The pattern continues through the life of Jesus, our Rescuer. He defeats Satan by refusing to succumb to temptation and ultimately dying to defeat sin and death. He wins His bride by sacrificing Himself for sinners. He has now come to dwell with His bride, living among His people through the Holy Spirit.

The Pattern Completed

The pattern is completed in the book of Revelation. Jesus will return to defeat the dragon once and for all. He will marry His bride, the Church, and live with her in complete joy forever.

This Is Not the End

That may seem like the end of the story, but it is only the beginning! C.S. Lewis wrote these words to close his book, The Last Battle: “All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story … which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Through Christ, this is the incredible future awaiting those of us who are in Christ Jesus!

Jesus Wins: A Recap of Dr. Jimmy Scroggins’ Message on Romans 8

Today in chapel, Dr. Jimmy Scroggins closed out his Jesus Wins Fall Bible Conference series by leading us through Romans 8. Over the past few days, he taught the chapel Romans 6, 7, and 8 — all chapters that highlight the Christian’s experience of justification and sanctification.

• Romans 6 reminds us we are free from sin.
• Romans 7 reveals that even in freedom, we still struggle with sin.
• Romans 8 proclaims that we are loved and accepted no matter what.

Dr. Scroggins anchored his final message in Romans 8 verses 1 and 31. From those verses and the rest of the text, Dr. Scroggins highlighted the following points:

Point 1: Jesus is for us.

The Gospel is proof that Jesus stands on our side. He bore our sins and fulfilled the requirements of God’s righteousness on our behalf. Even more, Paul tells us that Jesus now intercedes for us.

Point 2: Jesus is with us.

Sin once created distance in our relationship with God, but the work of Christ has eliminated that separation. Dr. Scroggins focused this idea on the opening of Romans 8, highlighting that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Nothing can drive a wedge between us and the presence of God. Neither our failures nor our doubts or struggles can break that relationship.

Point 3: Jesus loves us.

God’s love is unshakable. Paul emphasizes that nothing in all creation can separate us from Christ’s love. It doesn’t depend on our performance or our perfection but is a constant, unbreakable, and eternal love.

Point 4.: Jesus wins — so we win!

Dr. Scroggins reminded us that the Christian life is often a fight. Sometimes, it’s a joyful fight. Other times, it feels like an intense battle. Either way, the outcome has already been decided. Jesus wins. And because He wins, we win. Every struggle is within the greater reality of His victory.

In conclusion, Dr. Scroggins urged us to cling to the assurances found in Romans 8. God is for us. Jesus is with us. His love never fails us, and His victory is already ours. That means we can walk in confidence, not fear — because at the end of it all, Jesus wins. 

Romans 8:1 declares glorious news for all believers. If we are Christ’s, there is absolutely no condemnation for us!

That message is amazing because condemnation is exactly what we each deserve. Punishment would be completely just. Our condemnation goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve failed to obey God in Genesis 3:1–15.

It all started when a serpent approached Eve and questioned what God had really commanded His people to do. Satan always tries to get us to question God’s clarity. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, doing exactly what they knew God had told them not to do and committing the first sin. Immediately, they desperately scrambled to cover themselves and hide in shame.

In a single moment, through just a bite of fruit, everything changed. Now Adam and Eve bore the weight of guilt. They stood before God, justly condemned.

When God confronted them about this, their response was blame. While they were truly responsible for their actions, they hurried to point fingers at others, trying to make it anyone else’s responsibility. Adam blamed God and Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.

In His mercy and grace, however, God did not give them what they deserved in that moment. Instead, He promised that their condemnation — and ours — would be met with grace through the cross of Christ. God sacrificed animals to make clothing to cover Adam and Eve’s shame, and He promised a far better sacrifice to come. Jesus would come to crush the serpent’s head!

This is why Romans 8:1 can proclaim that, as God’s children, we have no condemnation. Christ’s blood has covered our sin, shame, guilt, and blame. The serpent is no match for our Messiah!

Each of us is searching for a home for our heart. That home is found only in Jesus. Free from condemnation, we can safely rest in the loving arms of a God who cared enough to send us a Savior.

Jesus Wins: A Recap of Dr. Scroggins’ Message on Romans 6

Today in chapel, Dr. Jimmy Scroggins from Family Church in South Florida preached from the second half of Romans 6, continuing to emphasize the truth that Jesus wins in the process of justification and sanctification. In this passage, Paul gives believers a framework for understanding sanctification — the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ after justification.

Dr. Scroggins reminded us that justification is a status. We are made righteous not by our own works but by Christ’s finished work on the cross: through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. Sanctification, however, is the daily process of living out that reality, even as we struggle against temptation and failure.

Point 1: Sin is your old master.

Paul is clear that sin once held full authority over us. Even now, sin still tries to act like our master. Dr. Scroggins illustrated this by describing how we sometimes “have conversations” with sin by offering parts of our body to sin, such as our mouth in what we say. Romans 6:12 warns us not to let sin reign in our bodies because it is no longer our rightful ruler.

Point 2: Jesus is your new Master.

In direct contrast to Romans 6:12, Paul declares that believers have been set free from sin and have instead become slaves to righteousness in verse 22. Because of this idea, Dr. Scroggins emphasized that we now serve a better master, Jesus. Therefore, instead of offering our parts of ourselves to sin, we must present our bodies, words, works, and time as instruments of righteousness to God.

Point 3: We still have to fight the old master.

Though Christ has freed us, sin does not simply disappear. Dr. Scroggins warned us that all sin is addictive, progressive, and destructive, and our temptations gain power when desire, opportunity, and repetition align. In the fight against sin, giving yourself zero access is the key to success. Cutting off all opportunities for parts of ourselves to be offered to our old master, sin, helps guard our minds and hearts in the process of sanctification.

Point 4: Our new master is better than our old master.

Finally, Paul makes a clear contrast: Sin leads to death. But life under Christ is different. Jesus offers freedom, restoration, and eternal life. Our new master is infinitely better than the old one.

Dr. Scroggins concluded by reminding us that though we will stumble, sanctification is God’s work in us. The old master will not win in the end — because Jesus already has.