Chapel at Cedarville

As we live the Christian life, many of us feel like we have to work hard to gain God’s approval. We wonder if we’ve done enough to “pass the test” and make Him happy. In Matthew 4:1–11, we find Someone who has passed the test. Satan offers Jesus three temptations, presenting opportunities for Him to doubt God’s provision, promise, and plan.

Doubting God’s Provision

Satan begins by playing off Jesus’ physical weakness: His hunger. Although Jesus is fully God, He is also fully man, meaning He experienced what it feels like to be tired and hungry. Know your weaknesses! Satan will attack them and try to lead you into sin.

Sin leads to death. If you know that the sin your friend is committing is leading to death, how does that change the way you talk to them and help them fight sin? Life is at stake!

When Satan urged Jesus to eat, this was an opportunity to doubt God’s provision. Jesus responded in faith, trusting that God would sustain Him. We often look for life-giving sustenance through material means. We need to realize that the Bible is what we need most of all. Through it, we have access to the Bread of Life!

Doubting God’s Promise

Satan then tempts Jesus to throw Himself off of the temple, reminding Him that God has promised to protect Him. Satan is offering Jesus an opportunity to doubt God’s promises, but Jesus does not take the bait.

Notice that Satan actually backs his claim up with Scripture. Let’s be careful not to take Scripture out of context like Satan does here. We may get the meaning wrong and fall for an argument such as this.

Doubting God’s Plan

Finally, Satan showed Jesus the whole world, saying it could all be His if Jesus only worshiped Satan. This was a temptation because Jesus had come for this very purpose: to be the King of the whole world. But He was to do it by the Father’s plan, which included being beaten, tortured, and crucified while the Father’s wrath was poured out on Him. Satan’s offer was the crown without the cross. Sin appears to offer you everything without the cost. But nothing Satan can offer you will last. Jesus responded faithfully by willingly choosing the cross.

Rest Secure and Seek God

Since Jesus has passed the test that everyone else across history has failed, we must rest secure and seek Him. We don’t need to strive to prove our worth or think we need any works to be truly justified before God. All our efforts to be good are actually filthy rags. But there is hope because the perfect righteousness of the Son is ours in Christ. We are incapable, but He has passed the test for us!

We must also seek God in prayer when we are tempted. We have a high priest who understands us and offers help in every time of need!

Chapel Recap: Press On Through Opposition

In today’s chapel, Dr. Aaron Filippone from Indian Rocks Church taught from Nehemiah 4, calling us to persevere in the face of opposition.

Nehemiah and the people faced immediate resistance from their enemies, yet Scripture says, “the people had a mind to work.” Their determination was not rooted in ease or approval, but in conviction.

Filippone posed a reflective question: “What comes to mind when you think of opposition in your life?” Whether it’s fear, discouragement, criticism, or spiritual attack, opposition is inevitable when pursuing God’s calling. But, he emphasized, “The only way the enemy wins is if you stop working.”

Drawing from Nehemiah’s example of leadership, Filippone offered three biblical prescriptions for handling opposition. First, do not be afraid. Fear paralyzes progress, but courage grows when we trust the Lord. Second, remember the Lord. Nehemiah called the people to fix their eyes on God’s greatness rather than their enemies’ threats. Third, fight for your future. The builders worked with tools in one hand and weapons in the other — prepared, watchful, and committed.

“God has a calling on your life — be bold!” Filippone urged. The Christian life requires perseverance and faith-filled action. “You might feel like you’re hitting a wall,” he said, “but the only way past it is to run through it.”

Filippone closed with a compelling reminder: “There is a broken world begging for you to not come off of that wall.” The mission matters. The calling matters. And the opposition should not deter God’s people from finishing the work He has placed before them.

This is your moment! Nehemiah seized his moment to be faithful to God when Artaxerxes allowed him to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The walls were incredibly important. Without them, there would be no city. There would be no defense, and Jerusalem would be pillaged. Without walls, God’s people had nothing.

Nehemiah had a problem with this. By his time, the brokenness of Jerusalem was normal for most people. They had made lives for themselves in Babylon and forgotten about Jerusalem. But Nehemiah never forgot.

God Has You in the Right Place at the Right Time

Notice that God placed Nehemiah in a very important position: the cupbearer to the king. To be the cupbearer, a person had to be trustworthy. To be a cupbearer meant to be a confidante. The king probably shared with the cupbearer when he was wrestling through big decisions. God put a Jewish exile named Nehemiah in the right place at the right time to rebuild the wall.

God also has you in the right place at the right time for the mission He has for you. When you start wondering if you should even be where you are right now or feeling like you don’t belong, remember that you have a God in heaven who sovereignly ordained you to be where you are.

God-Given Burdens Can’t Be Ignored

Burdens are normally considered a bad thing, but they aren’t always negative. They are something you can’t shake or ignore. They are the feelings in your gut that lead you to action. It’s what Jesus felt when He looked out at Jerusalem and saw them as sheep without a shepherd. He was burdened for them. In the same way, Nehemiah was burdened for his city and decided to do something about it. What is your burden? Pursue it with reckless abandon!

You Have No Idea All That God Wants To Do Through You

God is going to do something that’s going to blow your mind. He has an incredible mission for you. Nehemiah didn’t know all the amazing things God was going to do in the future. All he knew was that he had to be faithful with honoring God in the moment. In the same way, let’s stay focused on the now and make decisions that honor the Lord day by day.

Chapel Recap: The Call to Deny Ourselves

In today’s chapel, Dr. Thomas White preached from Mark 9, calling us to a discipleship marked by self-denial and wholehearted obedience to Christ. Jesus calls us away from self-reliance and self-promotion and toward prayerful dependence, humble service, generous unity, and uncompromising obedience.

Dr. White began with Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus confronts a demon that the disciples were unable to cast out. This moment exposes the danger of self-reliance in one’s spiritual life. Dr. White emphasized that victory over sin and spiritual opposition does not come from human strength but from reliance on God, reminding students that temptation is never neutral. “The temptations that come your way are not for your benefit or flourishing — they are to destroy you.”

Next, in verses 30–37, Dr. White highlighted Jesus’ call to humble service instead of self-promotion. True discipleship is not about platform or recognition, but about seeking to serve others faithfully.

In verses 38–41, Dr. White addressed generous unity instead of spiritual rivalry. The disciples were threatened by others doing ministry in Jesus’ name who were not part of their inner circle. Jesus corrected them, showing that God’s work is bigger than personal influence or control. Kingdom-minded faith celebrates God’s work wherever it is truly happening, even when it doesn’t always match our personal preferences.

Finally, verses 42–50 delivered one of Jesus’ most alarming warnings: Pursue uncompromising obedience instead of casual Christianity. Dr. White stressed that sin is deadly serious. “You are created in the image of the God the devil hates,” he said, “and he wants to destroy everything in that image.” Because of that, believers must take radical steps to fight sin, refusing to tolerate what leads the heart away from Christ.

Dr. White concluded with a few quick but practical applications drawn directly from the passage: cultivate prayerful dependence, pursue humble service, practice generous unity, and commit to uncompromising obedience.

Chapel Recap: A God Who Values Life, Justice, and Faithful Remembrance

In today’s chapel, Dr. Matt Bennett continued the series in Exodus, teaching through Exodus 20–23. Far from being outdated regulations, the laws given after the Ten Commandments reveal a God who deeply values life, justice, and the ongoing remembrance of His faithfulness.

Dr. Bennett explained that the Exodus laws make three truths clear. First, life is precious. Because humanity bears God’s image, life is to be protected and honored. God’s commands consistently reflect His care for human dignity, reminding His people that every life matters. “God is a God worthy of exclusive worship,” Dr. Bennett said, and honoring life flows directly from honoring the God who gives it.

Second, the laws emphasize that justice must be a priority in relationships within the Promised Land. God’s concern was not only personal morality, but how His people treated one another — especially the vulnerable. Justice was meant to shape everyday interactions, ensuring fairness, protection, and compassion among God’s people.

Third, the Exodus laws include intentional rehearsals of God’s faithfulness. God repeatedly called His people to remember what He had done — how He rescued, provided, and sustained them. These reminders were meant to guard Israel against forgetfulness and pride. “The God whose faithfulness we sing,” Dr. Bennett reminded everyone, “is the same God whose heart beats for the same things across testaments.” God’s character does not change from the Old Testament to the New.

Dr. Bennett then offered three applications for believers today. First, Christians must recognize and respect life wherever it is found, because every person reflects the image of God. Second, God remains a God of justice for all His image-bearers, calling His people to care for the weak, the marginalized, and the vulnerable. Third, God continues to be a God who loves to remind His people of His provision, inviting believers to rehearse His faithfulness through worship and obedience.

“We must be a people who recognize and respect the image of God in our neighbors, no matter who they are,” Dr. Bennett concluded. The message of Exodus 20–23 is clear: our God remains a champion of life, a defender of justice, and a gracious provider, and His people are called to reflect that same heart in the way they live life and love others.

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son. Abraham responded by modeling radical faith that we should emulate. Knowing that the Lord will provide, we must faithfully keep walking.

Abraham’s Radical Faith

In verse 4, the narrative pacing slows down so that we pay attention to the important moment when Abraham saw the mountain where he would slaughter his child. Not only was this Abraham’s beloved son, he was also the son through whom God had promised the covenant would come. And yet Abraham obeyed God, telling Isaac that He would provide.

Hebrews 11:17–19 explains that Abraham believed God could do something radical by raising the dead. We’re used to stories of people coming back to life, but Abraham had never heard the idea before. Although it made no sense to him, he believed. This is very great faith, and it meant Abraham passed the test. The Lord did indeed provide by supplying a ram to be offered in place of Isaac, pointing us to the substitutionary atonement that Jesus would later fulfill.

Respond by Recognizing God’s Provision

We need to become obsessed with recognizing the Father’s provision in our lives. How many times has God provided for you that you didn’t notice?

God’s provision for us should lead to our proclamation of Him. How often do we receive a gift from God but become obsessed with the gift rather than the Giver? As we go through our daily lives, let’s tell others how God has provided for us. He will be worshiped and glorified through this, and His glory will be shown.

Respond by Faithfully Walking

Remember verse 4, when Abraham looked and saw the mountain. Perhaps you’ve walked up to a situation that feels like an impossible mountain in front of you. Perhaps you wonder how God could ever provide for you. When Abraham saw this mountain, he believed the impossible and took another step.

When we walk up to the mountain and God says to go up, we must take another step like Abraham, believing that God will do what He promised. This is what it looks like to be full of faith. Faith leads to action — a daily choice to keep walking every day.

The Greatest Provision of All

Some of us live our lives consumed by anxiety, dreading every moment as we constantly wonder if God is going to provide.

Like Abraham, our Heavenly Father also saw His Son bound and ready to be slain. The difference is that God actually sacrificed His Son for you. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”

So, let’s trust God for every single daily provision, knowing He has already provided in the greatest way by sending His Son. Let’s believe and walk on, full of Abraham-like faith!

Habakkuk 1–2 shows a conversation between Habakkuk and God. This prophet is wrestling with a disconnect between what he knows about God and what he’s actually experiencing of Him.

Habakkuk lives in a time of turmoil in Judah. The people do not honor God. Habakkuk models amazing honesty as he pours out his heart before God, confused about why God is not doing anything amid all this wickedness. Habakkuk isn’t praying the words he thinks God or others wants to hear. He is communicating from the depths of his heart: lamenting.

God responds, saying He is raising up the Babylonians to judge Judah. This is a violent, wicked group of people. Habakkuk wanted God to help, but not in this way, so he begins his second complaint.

Habakkuk shows that when we lament to God, we should appeal to His character. He points to God’s everlasting nature and sovereign power over all of history. The Babylonians are doing nothing outside the controlling hand of God. He calls God a Rock, the Protector of His people, and appeals to His pure holiness. He says it just doesn’t make sense that such a God would use this evil nation to judge Judah. He ends by saying he will stand and wait for the coming judgment, but that he needs a minute to process everything and figure out how he will answer.

God responds a second time, telling Habakkuk to wait. One of the best things you can do is develop a robust theology of waiting, desiring God’s timing and plans rather than your own. Often, we try to rush things and take care of them ourselves, but God is always right on time. He’s never early or late. God is constantly working. He is doing about ten thousand things in your life right now, and you know about only one.

When you don’t understand what God is doing or have the full picture, trust in Him. Believe confidently in His promises and be faithful! Many of us wonder what God’s will is for our lives. The answer is not a specific job or specific place but faithfulness. Where are you being faithful in your life right now?

God also assures Habakkuk that He will judge the Babylonians, announcing woes upon them because of their atrocities. And amid these atrocities, He promises that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of His glory. God is using your moments of waiting and difficulty to bring glory to Himself and knowledge of Him to others.

Finally, He reminds Habakkuk — and us — to look and be astounded because He is still in His holy temple. The awe of God working all things for good in our lives should cause us to be silent and wonder in His faithfulness.

Perhaps you’re walking through a moment of disconnect, and your understanding of God is not aligning with your experience with God. Amid that disconnect, will you choose to trust in His promises today?

Chapel Recap: Defeating Discouragement

In today’s chapel, Dr. Mark Leeds turned to Psalms 42 and 43 to address a struggle familiar to everyone: discouragement. Dr. Leeds outlined three biblical responses to discouragement drawn from the psalms.

First, remember the past. The psalmist looks back on the joy once found in worship and in fellowship with God’s people. “What better way to put our discouragement in perspective,” Dr. Leeds pointed out, “than to remember the character of our God?”

Second, Dr. Leeds encouraged us to ask questions in the present. The psalms are filled with honest self-examination and sincere questions directed toward God. The repeated refrain, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:5), models how believers can speak truth to themselves while still crying out to the Lord in discouragement.

Finally, Dr. Leeds pointed to the importance of hoping and praying for the future. The psalmist does not remain stuck in sorrow but repeatedly calls his soul to hope in God — trusting that praise will come again. This forward-looking hope reminds believers that present pain does not have the final word.

Dr. Leeds closed with a personal reminder: “But if you really, really knew me, you’d know that…” Discouragement often thrives in isolation, but these psalms invite believers into honest self-awareness and deeper dependence on God.

The message from Psalms 42–43 was clear: discouragement is real, but it is not undefeatable. By remembering God’s faithfulness, questioning honestly, and hoping prayerfully, believers can anchor their souls in the steadfast love of the Lord.

This morning in chapel, Ken Winter shared his testimony while preaching through Jonah 1, demonstrating that we can’t outrun God’s grace. God pursues us in our rebellion and rescues us in our brokenness.

As a high schooler, Winter was running away from God and lost in rebellion. Then, his parents decided to move to a new area — exactly what Winter didn’t want to do. Many of us have received instructions and said, “Anything but that!” Jonah said to God, “Anything but Nineveh!” God’s instructions often challenge our comfort. When He instructs us, we have two choices: to obey or to run. Jonah ran, and so did Winter.

Winter hadn’t planned to go to a Christian college, but he got a soccer scholarship he couldn’t turn down. While in school, he was still running from God, and a big storm was about to happen.

This is similar to what happened in Jonah’s story. His rebellion created a storm that endangered many others besides himself. Our disobedience creates chaos for us and for others.

Winter started dating a girl, and their relationship quickly turned physical. They hid their sin just like Jonah, who was asleep in the dark at the bottom of the boat. When we rebel, we do the same — hiding and ignoring the mess we created, pretending it isn’t real.

We also try to fix things on our own, like the men throwing the cargo off the ship and praying to their own gods. We can never fix our sin problem on our own, but Winter was unwilling to do things God’s way.

Then, one day, Winter was awakened by the biggest storm of his life: His girlfriend was pregnant. They were asked to leave campus. As they got married and lived in his parents’ basement, he still tried to fix his problems on his own. This was when the storm hit again. When his wife was only five months pregnant, she went into labor. Their daughter was born far too early.

As Winter looked at his baby girl, he asked God to let him take her place. This is like Jonah saying, “Throw me over the boat.” Jonah realized that this disaster was happening because of him. He had to stop disobeying and repent. God’s grace had tracked him down in the storm on the boat.

As Winter asked God to let him take his daughter’s place, all the truth he’d heard his whole life hit him like a flood. He remembered that Christ had hurled himself into the storm of the wrath of God so that Winter might be saved. He stopped running, and God forgave him. God meets us in our desperation.

Winter’s little girl healed and has none of the problems the doctors said she would have. God not only rescued him but also blessed him greatly. God’s plan for Winter was far better than the plans Winter had in his mind. If you’re in rebellion, stop running. Receive the grace of God today!

Chapel Recap: When Conflict Reveals the Heart 

In today’s chapel, Dr. Tim Cochrell, Senior Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio, opened James 4 to address a reality every believer faces: conflict. Rather than treating conflict as merely a relational problem, Dr. Cochrell reframed it as a spiritual warning sign. “Conflict is the check engine light on the dashboard of our heart,” he said. It alerts us that something deeper is going on beneath the surface that needs attention. 

James begins by asking a direct question: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?” Dr. Cochrell explained that “your passions are at war within you.” Conflict, then, is not just about circumstances or other people; it is an opportunity to examine and repent of the desires that rule our hearts. 

Dr. Cochrell walked through four stages that often characterize sinful conflict. First, “I desire.” Conflict serves as a desire detector, revealing what we value and worship most. “If you deal with conflict,” he said, “you need to start with your heart.” Second, “I demand.” A desire becomes sinful when we are willing to sin to get it — or respond sinfully when we don’t. Third, “I blame.” When our desires are blocked, we judge others harshly, criticizing and condemning them as if we were God and they had rejected our will. Finally, “I punish.” We may go to destructive extremes to fulfill our desires, because, as Dr. Cochrell noted, we always offer sacrifices to what we worship. 

To help us reflect honestly, Dr. Cochrell offered several diagnostic questions: What desires are ruling my heart? How have my sinful responses contributed to this conflict? Am I judging quickly or speaking harshly? Have I excused patterns of punishing others? These questions help move the focus from external blame to internal examination. 

Dr. Cochrell concluded with a Gospel-centered response from James 4:2. “You do not have because you do not ask,” James writes — reminding believers that unmet desires should first drive us to God, not to conflict. The path forward involves repentance, humbly confessing selfish desires; surrender, yielding those desires to God’s will; and delight, finding true satisfaction in our relationship with Him.