Last Sunday, Ron Surgeon challenged our church to endure together in Jesus, not to drop out or eject when the going gets tough. This is crucial as our church faces new opportunities and challenges in the months and years ahead. We hope all of you who consider Renewal your home you will join us this Sunday for an important address about the future aspirations of our church, for the glory of Jesus.

Relationships hurt us and heal us. We are all at various stages of development. We all have narratives through which we interpret the world and we each are gloriously human (we all have alarming imperfections AND astounding beauty). Father has placed us in the body of Christ, locally, and has given us a grand invitation to overcome given all of its complexities (darkness and all).

We’ve all been exposed to toxic religion. Romans 2 doesn’t for one second go easy on the self-righteous judges inside the church. In fact, what we see is that God prefers a stumbling disciple who’s learning how to live in God’s kingdom to a stodgy bible pro who thinks he’s got it figured out. When it’s all said and done, it’s those who have the Spirit within and are putting one foot in front of the other in whom God delights.

We tend to blame when we are hurting. And in a world filled with prolific meanness, many blame God. Is God unjust? Is he evil? The truth that the letter to the Romans rolls out is that God is kind and he is patient. He’s not yet pouring out his judgment on the world that has rejected his ways, but waits. And why does he wait? Because he loves us. He wants to be with us. He treasures us.

Scripture is clear that all of human suffering and pain finds its root in disordered affections. Rather than moving toward the Creator, honoring him and showing him gratitude, we move away from him. We do this by taking the good gifts he’s given to us and making them ultimate. We elevate the creation above the Creator, merging our heart, mind, soul, and strength with these things.

This is also known as idolatry. And God wants to deliver us.

Scripture is clear that all of human suffering and pain finds its root in disordered affections. Rather than moving toward the Creator, honoring him and showing him gratitude, we move away from him. We do this by taking the good gifts he’s given to us and making them ultimate. We elevate the creation above the Creator, merging our heart, mind, soul, and strength with these things.

This is also known as idolatry. And God wants to deliver us.

God is a rescuer. He is unlimited in his power to rescue. He wants to rescue you. Do you want to be rescued?