Mt. Lassen Community Church

In our text this Sunday we see a basic principle of spiritual life that is EASY to understand, but oh so DIFFICULT to practice: REPENTANCE!

We will be looking repentance as we consider the tragic tale of Esau on Sunday, from Genesis 25 & 27. The interpretation of Esau’s story is described best in Hebrews 12—

Hebrews 12

15       See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16       that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 

17       For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Tears don’t prove repentance. Regret doesn’t prove repentance.

Repentance is marked by one thing: a change of direction. Turning away from a wrong action, a wrong mindset, a wrong habit, and returning to God.

Repentance should see a change of mind; a change of heart; a change of character.

May God grant us hearts that know how to repent: how to be broken and contrite when we’ve done wrong, and how to find restoration in the Gospel!

Psalm 51:17 • The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Time for a Tune-Up: Remember, Rejoice and Respond

October 5, 2025

Communion Sunday

Scott Cory, MLCC Elder

“Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for

this one thing only – My Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be

absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.”

~Oswald Chambers~

We are looking at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah this week at MLCC. We are picking up the story this Sunday with Lot family—how they responded to the impending judgment and doom falling on the city. 

As the angels are urging Lot and his family to escape the city, we read—

Genesis 19:16 • But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.

Some of us were dragged kicking and screaming out of this dark world and into the light of salvation in God’s kingdom. We know that we had nothing to do with it—that our salvation was all about God having compassion on us and overcoming our resistance. That we were lost but now we are found, we were blind, but now we see.

How does God seize us by the hand? How does He drag us into new life? Scripture says this is by the GOSPEL and GOD’S WORD—the life–giving message of God’s Love demonstrated in Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection. This message is the “power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16) and it is the “imperishable seed” that makes us born again (1 Peter 1:23).

As we share God’s word and the message of Jesus with our not–yet–saved friends, family, and neighbors, we are like these Angels in Sodom, sharing a message with “hand–seizing, compassionate dragging” power behind it! Let’s never be ashamed of the Gospel!

Pastor Jeff returns to give a message from Genesis 15, Reckoned Righteous