If you read the Old Testament, you get the impression that water is scary. From the very beginning (Genesis 1:1), water is portrayed as murky, mysterious, and chaotic. In Genesis 6, God uses the waters to judge the world.

Yet, in the story of the Exodus (chpt. 14), when the Red Sea appears to be the final obstacle for the Israelites on the way to their freedom from slavery, YHWH shows that He is Lord of the waters.

The children of Israel were not a particularly seafaring people in the Old Testament. They were desert people. So, by the time of Jesus, the "seas" had come to represent the source of evil itself--part of God's good creation, but a part of which they had no control.

In Daniel 7, the prophet Daniel has a vision of four beasts who emerge from the sea. They are all kinds of scary--lions, leopards, and bears (oh my!), but with wings! In fact, the scariest one had ten horns. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Yet, Daniel's vision ends with one "like a son of man" defeating the beast. He is able to so because "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

This is what makes Jesus' miracles regarding the seas so important. Jesus is not a parlor magician, trying to do cool stuff just to get people to believe Him. All of Jesus' miracles are rooted in God's Story. In the case of our story this Sunday, Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33), Jesus shows that just as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters of creation, Jesus is the one who hovers over the waters of new creation. And the same God who parted the Red Sea to deliver his people, is present with the disciples.

What are the things that are dark and scary to you? You watching the news? Is it freaking you out? Remember: you serve the God who parts the seas, defeats the monsters, and walks on top of the chaos.

Throughout scripture, we see these moments of obvious intersection between heaven and earth: between God's space and our space. We recognize these moments as Sacramental, and we look forward to the day when heaven and earth will meet fully and completely. Sacramental moments are signposts, pointing the way to God's desire for the whole world.

One such moment is found in Luke 9, at the Transfiguration of Jesus. Moses and Elijah miraculously appear next to Jesus, Jesus shines like lightning, and God speaks.

Yet, these moments of obvious intersection are part of a greater whole. The Transfiguration does not happen in a vacuum. It is a part Jesus' mission, which ultimately leads to Jesus' great suffering.

Join us as we seek to be a people who celebrate the Sacramental moments, the glimpses into heaven and also learn that the path to glory is through suffering.

In Romans 8, Paul tells us that we are adopted children of God. We are no longer slaves. Our identity is as God's children. This is now the prism through which we see ourselves and world.

And, as children of God, we are on our way to an inheritance. That inheritance is not money, property, fame, or success. That inheritance is not even individual salvation (though it includes that). That inheritance is God's world restored. We are headed somewhere. In Jesus, new creation has sprung up. Though we still live in a world experiencing the results of slavery, we know that we have been set free and we are called to reflect God's image to a broken world.

All of creation still groans and each of us groans because we know that God has created us for so much more than the counterfeits we so often seek. And yet, we groan with hopeful anticipation. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we are confident that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This is the first of a two-part series on "New Creation" looking specifically at Romans 8:12-39.

Because of sin, the world is cracked, flawed, thrown into chaos. Yet, because of Jesus, the world is a different place. New creation has begun. New life is springing up in the midst of that brokenness. God is at work. He is at work in those of us who have given our lives and He is active in the world--freeing, restoring, and making all things new.

Within this idea of new creation, Paul employs a few other metaphors in Romans 8. The first is Slavery vs. Adoption. In Christ, we have been liberated from the bondage of sin. Not only are we free. We do not simply trade slavery for freedom. In Christ, we are invited to trade slavery for adoption as His children!

Guest speaker Rashad Cummings

Guest speakers for this week are missionaries to Madagascar. Adam and Lora Willard tell their story and about waiting faithfully for God to come through on His promises.

Preston explores Genesis 22 and radically trusting God.

Preston goes over the multiple times the command "Do Not Be Afraid" comes up in Matthew 10.

Trinity Sunday sermon by Pastor Preston Sharpe.

Preston talks about God's unifying work on Pentecost.