In Romans 5:12-21, Paul explains how sin entered the world through our representative Adam, leading to death for all humanity. He contrasts Adam’s disobedience with Christ’s obedience. While sin and death spread through one man’s failure, God’s grace and the gift of righteousness come through Jesus. Paul emphasizes that just as death reigned through Adam, grace reigns through Christ, offering eternal life to those who believe. Paul points out that all in Christ are saved, and all in Adam are condemned. This is not a universal salvation but a consolation that Christ’s work overcomes Adam’s fall for all who are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus rejoices in the revelation of truth to the humble and contrasts it with the wise. By God's grace, anyone is considered among the humble. Christ then engages with a lawyer who asks, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The man summarizes God’s law. The lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asks, “Who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man is attacked and left for dead. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan considered an outsider, stops to aid the man, showing compassion. Jesus concludes by asking which of the three acted as a neighbor, teaching that the kingdom boundaries are beyond Israel and transcend social boundaries. We are not to ask who is my neighbor, but to ask, “How can I be a better neighbor?”

We welcome Mr. Mackenzie Boudreaux to our pulpit. He exhorts us from Hebrews 2:14-18.

We welcome Mackenzie Boudreaux to our pulpit. He exhorts us from Mark 7:24-37.

Genesis 8:20–9:17 Noah the soother gives off a soothing aroma after the ark rests (noahs) on the top of Mount Ararat. builds an altar and offers sacrifices, which pleases God. God delivers Noah, and his family, through the flood onto a new creation. It is the precedent and picture of God shepherding his church from this world to the glorified creation.

God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. He allows them to eat animals but forbids blood, symbolizing life. God also declares that human life is sacred, stating that anyone who sheds human blood will be held accountable. God will restrain sin so the gospel can go forth.

The sign of the rainbow is a reminder that the Lord has put down his war bow. He will preserve this creation through seedtime and harvest and the various seasons. However, he will pick up that war bow on the final Har Maggeden (mountain of judgment) day and put down the rebellion. This narrative teaches that one wants to be part of the ark community. One wants to be part of the community that has moved through death and now possesses everlasting life in Christ Jesus. Yes, man has a season to continue to rebel, but man’s rebellion will not spiral out of control. However, the Lord will squash man's rebellion once and for all. The Lord is teaching that he will shepherd his people into the new heavens and earth.

Jesus sends out 72 disciples in pairs to bear two-fold witness to announce his coming. He gives them specific instructions, telling them to rely on the hospitality of those they meet, heal the sick, and proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. Their reception in the village determines the village’s reception of the messengers. They are lambs/sheep among wolves. This kingdom is not here in its full glory as we see Israel experiencing rebellion. The New Testament letters record wolves in various congregations. The kingdom is here with Christ, spiritually realized, but not in full glory. When the disciples return, they are filled with joy, reporting that even demons submitted to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds by affirming their authority over the power of the enemy, but he reminds them that their true joy should come from knowing that their names are written in heaven as sons of peace identified in a new Messianic family.

In Luke 9:51-62, Jesus resolutely sets out for Jerusalem, knowing His mission involves suffering and sacrifice. On the way, a Samaritan village rejects Him, but He rebukes His disciples for wanting to call down judgment on them. As they continue, different people express a desire to follow Jesus, but He warns them that following Him demands radical commitment. He tells one that the Son of Man has no place to rest, indicating the hardship of discipleship. To others, He stresses that nothing, not even family obligations or looking back at past life, should take precedence over following Him.

This passage teaches that Christ’s exodus is laser focus on the heavenly Jerusalem.  The values and priorities of this age all submit to the the goal of the heavenly Vision of Peace (Jerusalem).

Paul writes this letter to Titus in Crete. Paul encourages Titus to teach believers to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Believers are encouraged to see themselves stationed between two epiphanies, that is two events where God has manifested himself. On the one hand God redeems an international people by confirming his promises in Christ which is the first epiphany. We are called to look forward to the blessed hope of Jesus Christ’s return, second epiphany, who gave Himself to redeem and purify a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. We live between these two Christ events knowing that our Lord continues to purify and work in his people.

In this passage, Peter highlights the profound work of Christ in His suffering and victory, showing how the gospel reshapes everything—even our understanding of baptism. Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, suffered and died for the unrighteous to bring us to God, demonstrating that salvation is entirely a work of grace. He didn't just die; He was resurrected, triumphing over all spiritual forces.

Peter then connects this victory to the story of Noah, using the flood as a powerful analogy for baptism. Just as Noah and his family were saved through the waters of the flood—not by their own efforts but by trusting in God’s provision—the waters of baptism now symbolize how we are saved, not by physical cleansing, but by the resurrection of Christ after descending to death. Baptism is not a mere ritual; it’s an outward sign of an inward grace, a pledge of a cleansed conscience made possible only through Jesus’ resurrection.

Mr. Sen Zorilla exhorts us this evening from Luke 17:5-10.

The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. In response, Jesus tells them that even a small amount of faith, as small as a mustard seed, can achieve great things, such as uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea.

This passage emphasizes that faith takes hold of Christ’s victorious power. As we are united to Christ we seek to live in humble service to God and grow in comprehending that obedience to God is not about earning merit but fulfilling one’s duty in Christ’s power.