Chapel at Cedarville

Chapel Recap: What Will You Do With Jesus?

In today’s chapel, Dr. Thomas White continued the series in Mark, preaching from Mark 15 and centering the message on how the events of the crucifixion answer a key question: What do I do with Jesus?

Dr. White first pointed to the world’s response — to scorn and reject Christ (vv. 1–20). Jesus was mocked, beaten, and dismissed by those around Him. Yet this response is not limited to the past. “Our world is still looking for all the wrong things in Jesus,” Dr. White said. Rather than receiving Him as Savior, many reshape Him to fit their expectations or reject Him altogether.

Next, Dr. White highlighted the Father’s response — sending Jesus as both Substitute and Savior (vv. 21–38). On the cross, Jesus was crucified in your place, bearing the punishment for sin. He was abandoned for your sin, experiencing the weight of separation so that you would not have to. And when He died, the curtain was torn, symbolizing that access to God was now open. “He bore the curse for us,” Dr. White reminded.

Finally, Dr. White turned to faith’s response — recognizing Jesus as the Son of God (vv. 39–47). The Roman centurion, witnessing the crucifixion, confessed who Jesus truly was. Others remained faithfully present, testifying to His death and burial. The proper response to the cross is belief and true surrender.

Dr. White closed with a challenge: “Have you pondered the cross long enough that you are able to live your life in a way that might cost you something?”

Mark 15 forces a decision. You cannot remain neutral. The world rejects Him, the Father offers Him, and faith receives Him. The question remains: What will you do with Jesus?

Today in chapel, Dr. Zach Bowden walked the Cedarville community through Exodus 40. He pointed out that in Exodus, although God performed many incredible signs, Israel persisted in unbelief. Moses believed that God made a mistake in choosing him as a leader, not understanding that Israel’s salvation didn’t depend on his own eloquence but on the One who went with him. The Israelites refused to listen and ended up fashioning a golden calf. The Israelites were all sinners, just like the rest of us, and the Ten Commandments show us the sin that we’re all capable of.

The Israelites’ world was a place filled with unjust taskmasters and adversity. But this wasn’t a world out of control. It’s God’s world. One of the most important lessons to learn from Exodus is that the Maker of heaven and earth is not indifferent to His creation. He comes to deliver them, demonstrating that their sin will not have the last word. He guides and sustains them. He reveals Himself as a God who is with His people.

The Glorious Word of God

When Moses asked to see His glory, rather than showing him what he could not see, God told Moses what he needed to hear: a declaration of His character. God’s glory is not some abstract notion. It’s beyond us and it’s above us, but it’s also for us. It’s bound up in the reality that there’s One who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, loving, and forgiving. The God of Israel is the only One who can forgive sin, and Israel needed only to listen and trust in His Word to receive that forgiveness, but they didn’t.

The Powerful Word of God

We are confronted with the very Word of God every time we open the Bible. It’s the same Word that God used to create the world, and it’s the same Word that animates the book of Exodus.

God’s word is a Word for us. It has been given to us so that we won’t be led into the same unbelief that characterized the Israelites. Unbelief is in our blood. We naturally ignore God’s Word and craft our own golden calves. We come from a long line of ancestors who have been exchanging the truth of God for a lie.

The Ultimate Word of God

But just like God provided a way out for Israel, He also provided a way out for us. He has spoken His definitive word ultimately through His Son, who is the exact representation of His nature — compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in faithful love. He showed His presence with His people by sending His Son into our world to save us.

So, like Israel, we wander this world, but not alone. We face suffering, but we don’t need the pillar of cloud or fire to sustain our faith. We have the Word, and the Word is for us.

When Jacob died in Genesis 50, Joseph’s brothers were terrified that Joseph would finally take revenge on them. Fearfully, they asked for his forgiveness. Many of us have been hurt like Joseph. He held a high position of power, so he could have treated them in any way he wanted. Yet, he chose to forgive his brothers. How could he make such a difficult choice? The answer is that God’s supreme sovereignty and glorious goodness call us to forgive.

Supremely Sovereign

God’s sovereignty led Joseph to forgive. He recognized that while his brothers had meant evil against him, God had meant it for good.

Joseph did not say, “God used it for good.” This would imply that God had a different and easier plan for Joseph, but when his brothers ruined the plan with their evil actions, God changed things up in a way that still caused everything to turn out good.

This is not how God works. He is not reactionary. His plan for Joseph began before creation and never changed. God knew everything that would happen, and He actually meant for Joseph to be betrayed and forgotten. Various verses in the Bible confirm that God is supremely and intricately sovereign over every inch of the earth. He plans everything for the good of His people and for His own glory.

God did not entice the brothers to do evil. James 1:13 tells us that He never tempts people to sin. This is where God’s sovereignty and the responsibility of people are hard to reconcile. Things become even harder when we consider that God is also gloriously good.

Gloriously Good

God’s goodness led Joseph to forgive. Joseph said that God’s plan kept many people alive. He worked everything out for good.

As we think about this, we also must remember that we live in a sin-cursed world, and there is a time to say that evil is evil. Sometimes, we try to counsel friends through a hard time by promising them that everything will turn out for good without ever recognizing sin for what it is. We need to acknowledge the hurt while also resting in God’s sovereignty and goodness.

When we don’t understand how all these fit together, we need to just sit and trust that what He says about Himself is true and that we don’t need to figure out how it all works. This is what Joseph was doing. He told his brothers, “It’s not about what you did; it’s about what God has done and is doing. I know my God is sovereign and good; therefore, I forgive you.”

If you’re harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart, you’re not seeing God for who He is. We have a God of forgiveness. Like Joseph, Jesus was betrayed by one of those closest to Him. Jesus knew the Father had a good plan. And Jesus ultimately forgave those who caused Him to suffer. We have the ultimate example of forgiveness. We forgive because we have been forgiven.

Chapel Recap: The Path to True Happiness

In today’s chapel, Dr. Bob Lutz preached from Psalm 1, asking a searching question: Who is truly happy? The psalm begins with “the blessed man,” and Dr. Lutz explained that this kind of happiness is not shallow or temporary. It is rooted in knowing God. “Would you be viewed as happy before God today?” he asked.

Dr. Lutz walked through the description of the blessed person. First, he talked about what the blessed person avoids (Psalm 1:1–2). The righteous person does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or follow the path of sin. True happiness is shaped not only by what you pursue but also by what you reject.

Second, Dr. Lutz covered what feeds the righteous person’s soul (Psalm 1:3). The blessed person delights in God’s Word and meditates on it regularly. Like a tree planted by streams of water, his life is steady, fruitful, and nourished. “Knowing God is how the righteous will be preserved and continually prosper,” Dr. Lutz said.

Third, Dr. Lutz discussed when and where this happiness is realized (Psalm 1:4–6). This kind of joy grows progressively in this life and is ultimately fulfilled in eternity. It is not dependent on circumstances but on a relationship with God.

Dr. Lutz emphasized why this matters. True happiness kindles a delight in God’s Word, preparing your heart to worship and enjoy God’s presence. This is what you were made for.

He concluded with practical ways to pursue this kind of happiness through God’s Word. First, find Christ in the Scriptures. Second, foster true fellowship with others who are pursuing Him. Third, develop helpful habits that keep your heart anchored in truth.

Psalm 1 presents two paths, but only one leads to lasting joy. True happiness is not found in the world’s way but in a life rooted in God’s Word and centered on knowing Him.

In Luke 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and faced temptations there. Many years earlier, the nation of Israel had also been tempted after being led by God into the wilderness. While Israel failed in the wilderness, Jesus succeeded.

The First Temptation: Trust

Jesus’s first temptation was whether He would fully trust the Father. Israel failed this test when they crossed into the Promised Land and found themselves without food. Rather than trusting God, they complained and said they would have preferred to stay in Egypt.

Jesus faced the same temptation after not eating anything for forty days. Satan wanted Him to take a shortcut from the trajectory God had set for Him. But Jesus showed us what it’s like to fully trust God in moments of weakness. He remembered that there is something that can sustain far more completely than any earthly food. Where Israel failed, Jesus passed the test.

The Second Temptation: Glory

Jesus’s second temptation was whether He would care more for the Father’s glory or His own glory. Satan promised to give Jesus glory and authority, but Jesus is ultimately the One who has all of that already. Although Satan does have authority, it is only at the will of God, and one day, that authority will come to an end.

The glory of God is highlighted in the presence of God with His people. Satan offered Jesus a shortcut to the path of glory, promising that He could receive that glory at a lesser cost. But there was only one way for Jesus to display God’s glory, and it wasn’t by receiving a shortcut from Satan; it was by Jesus humbly following the Father’s will. Right glory only comes from faithfully following the Lord.

Third Temptation: Faithfulness

Jesus’s third temptation was whether He would fully trust God’s faithfulness. In the wilderness, Israel was not just concerned about food but also water. When they complained, Moses struck a rock, and water poured out. When this happened, Israel failed the test and demonstrated that they didn’t trust God’s faithfulness. Jesus provided a contrast by fully trusting God. He demonstrated this trust by going to the cross.

The temptation of Israel raises a question: Who will you be? Will you emulate Israel, who failed, or Jesus, who succeeded? As we face many temptations, may we be grounded in the Word and led by the Spirit. May we display the glory of Christ to a watching world by walking obediently and faithfully!

Chapel Recap: The Faithful One

In today’s chapel, Dr. Thomas White continued his series in Mark, preaching from Mark 14 with a powerful contrast: faithfulness versus faithlessness. Throughout the chapter, different responses to Jesus reveal the condition of the human heart — and ultimately point to Christ as the only perfectly faithful One.

Dr. White first highlighted the contrast between costly love and calculated betrayal (vv. 1–11). While one woman poured out a costly offering in devotion to Jesus, Judas plotted betrayal for personal gain. This contrast raises a searching question: Do you give everything to Jesus, or do you seek to gain something from Him?

Next, in verses 12–25, Dr. White highlighted the contrast between covenant faithfulness and hidden betrayal. As Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples, He revealed both His coming sacrifice and the betrayal within their midst. Even in the face of unfaithfulness, Jesus remained committed to fulfilling God’s covenant plan.

In verses 26–52, the focus shifted to the contrast between submissive obedience and sleeping weakness. While Jesus prayed in deep anguish and submitted fully to the Father’s will, His disciples slept. Their weakness highlights the struggle of human faith, especially in moments of testing.

Finally, verses 53–72 present the contrast between courageous confession and fearful denial. Jesus stood firm before His accusers, boldly declaring the truth, while Peter denied Him out of fear. Yet even Peter’s failure is not the end of the story.

Dr. White reminded us that “the Gospel is the exclusive good news of Jesus Christ.” Jesus stands alone as the faithful One. “Jesus died so that you can be saved,” he said. “He is the faithful One.”

The applications for this message are direct. Do you respond to conviction like Judas, turning away, or like Peter, who ultimately repented? Do you trust in your own strength or in Christ’s faithfulness?

The message closed with hope: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13). Because Jesus went to the cross alone, you never have to face anything alone again. If you have trusted in Him, His presence is constant and His faithfulness unchanging.

Mark 14 reminds you that while human faith may falter, Jesus never does — and that is the good news.

Chapel Recap: Remembering at the Table

In today’s chapel, Dr. Ched Spellman walked through Luke 22, focusing on Jesus’ final Passover meal and the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

Dr. Spellman explained that who you are is shaped by what you remember. That is why the Passover was so significant. It was not just a historical event but a repeated meal that allowed each generation of Israel to relive God’s saving act. “The Passover collapses time,” he said, “so that every generation lives in the light of God’s redemption.”

But in Luke 22, Jesus transforms the meaning of the meal. The Passover pointed back to deliverance from Egypt, but the Lord’s Supper points to something greater. It reminds you that Christ has redeemed you from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. The table is not just about looking back; it is about understanding the fullness of what Jesus has accomplished.

Dr. Spellman also pointed to Luke 24, where the risen Christ reveals Himself in the breaking of bread. Even after the resurrection, Jesus continues to meet His people at the table. “In a world full of suffering, death, and confusion,” Dr. Spellman said, “the resurrected Christ still beckons you to join Him at His table.”

The Lord’s Supper shapes identity. “We must remember who we are by remembering who He is,” Dr. Spellman emphasized. As you reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, you are reminded of your identity as someone redeemed and restored.

Finally, the table not only points backward but also forward. It reminds you of what Christ has done and anticipates what He will do. One day, the meal will be fulfilled in His Kingdom.

As we live for the mission of God, we must reject self-glory and reflect God’s glory. In Genesis 40–41, we find Joseph forgotten in prison. In chapter 41, he was finally remembered when Pharoah needed someone to interpret a dream. Verse 16 is incredibly important. Standing in front of this ruler, Joseph declared, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

This verse is radical because of what Joseph did not say. Most of us, having been in prison for two years, would take Pharoah’s compliment and agree to interpret the dream only if Pharoah agreed to release us. Joseph did not do this. He trusted that God would be the one to vindicate and free him.

Even more radical is what Joseph did say. Joseph told Pharoah that it was God’s power, not his own. He essentially rejected the compliment and pointed it towards God. His main concern was not his freedom but God’s fame.

In Acts 12:21–23, we see one of the greatest lessons of humility. God is obsessed with keeping His glory to Himself. He is worthy of it all. So, how do we reject self-glory? When someone gives you high praise, you are not meant to sit there constantly dwelling on how amazing you are. Instead, you should thank the person but let the compliment slide off and reflect the glory to the Lord, showing that He is actually the One worthy of all the praise there is. You can explain that you have talents, opportunities, and blessings only because God has given them to you. 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul explains that God chooses the lowly, weak things in the world to accomplish His purposes. He does this so that no one may boast before God. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, we read, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” Part of what makes Joseph’s story amazing is that he was a jar of clay. He was a simple man of lowly birth, and yet after all the mistreatment he endured, he didn’t respond the way our flesh naturally would respond when he was called into the presence of Pharoah. This shows that there was a power at work in his life.

You, too, are a jar of clay. You, like Joseph, are not here by accident. It is by design that God has placed you where you are, and He has a purpose for you. He can use you in wonderful ways because it’s not about the jar but about the treasure inside. And when people see that treasure, it changes their lives, families, communities, countries, and the world.