Saint John Community Church

Pastor Tom Grieb concludes our sermon series "Overcomers."

Our circumstance has a way of profoundly affecting our lives.  The recent COVID-19 Pandemic is testimony to that, if anything is.  As with most things, how we deal with our circumstances makes all the difference in the world.  Some let their circumstance get the best of them, while others are able to skate right on through them.

For some, dealing with challenging circumstances is a matter of meeting them head-on and moving past them.  While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if left to their own energy they are apt to wear out, if not give up.  Depending upon God and his support is the better way to go.

Jesus talked about the sort of support God offers in reference to the Holy Spirit.  In talking with his disciples before his death, Jesus promised that God would not leave them void.  God’s intention was to send the Holy Spirit.  In referencing the Spirit Jesus talked in terms of the Spirit being one who would walk alongside.  The Spirit would come as a Counselor, Comforter, and a Helper.

Regarding our circumstances, particularly during this season in which we find ourselves, the promise of the Holy Spirit still stands.  The Holy Spirit comes to lead us, sustain us, and help us along the way, regardless of our circumstances.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series "Overcomers."

The Covid-19 Pandemic has represented a lot of loss on a lot of fronts.  We have had to give up rooting for our favorite team.  We are no longer frequenting the movie theaters or the taking in plays or concerts.  Graduating seniors are doing without their commencement ceremonies.  There have been loss of way too many jobs.  And, even more seriously, there has been loss of life.

Whenever there is loss, there is grief.  In our grief we are left to process things and eventually emerge into new life.  I have learned that people grieve in their own way and in their own time.  We’d do well to be patient with one another as we grieve.  We’d also do well to be there for one another when we do.

In the mix of our grief, Jesus comes with a resounding promise that resonates for this life and the next.  He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1)  This is a promise for today in all we face.  In effect, Jesus is calling on us to “just believe” – believe that he has this, believe that he is seeing us through, and believe that in the end we will land in a better place.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our sermon series "Overcomers."

You have heard it said that “the night is always darkest right before the dawn.”  That was certainly true for the disciples as they made their way across the Sea of Galilee in the middle of a furious storm.  They feared for their lives.  They had all but given up hope when Jesus made his way out to them walking on the water.  At first, they thought he was a ghost, but his words, “Take courage!  It is I.  Do not be afraid,” turned things radically for them.

Peter immediately said, “If it is you, bid me to come to you.”  You might say that Peter “stepped up and stepped out.”  He climbed out of the boat and begin to walk on the water as well.  As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was above the storm.  When he let the storm get to him though, he began to sink.  He had become more focused on the storm than the one who was the calm in the storm.  Who of us during this season of Covid-19 hasn’t had our attention more on the storm than upon our Savior who stands ready to sustain us through it?

The good news in all of this is that the second Peter began to sink Christ extended his hand Peter’s way and pulled him up.  Christ’s hand is extended our way as well.  Jesus comes to pull us from that sinking feeling that all might be lost and puts us at the very place we needed to have been all along, holding his loving hand extended our way.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins continues our series "Overcomers."

"Let love be genuine."  Paul shared these words with the Roman Christians to help them understand they were to love others as God loves them – with a genuine love that is unconditional and non-judgmental.  Do we love with a genuine love; a love that is inclusive, humble, compassionate; a love that reflects the mercy of God that he offers everyone?  Or are we allowing differences to keep us from reflecting that love?

Normally looking past our egos to love others is challenging enough, but now we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, isolated from others.  But most of us find ourselves isolated with those closest to us – our families.  It’s clear we are supposed to reflect God’s love to others – but how often do we apply this truth to our families?  Those we love the most have proven the hardest for us to show compassion, mercy, and grace to during these difficult days.  But when we see our families (and everyone) as God sees them, we recognize we are all on the same playing field.  We all need God’s grace, love, and mercy.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series "Overcomers."

God is the great provider.  In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope you are experiencing that.  For my own life, I have found that God always provides—just enough, just in time.  Scripturally, God’s provision was evident at the testing of Abraham when God provided the ram when Abraham thought he would be sacrificing his son, Isaac.  God provided for the Children of Israel in sending manna while they were in the wilderness.  God provided for Elijah and the poor widow of Zarephath.  God also provides for you and me.

During a time when getting by is on everyone’s mind, we’d do well to keep our sights set on God’s provision.  Trusting in God for our daily provision puts us at the very place he wants us to be.  By trusting God in this way, our relationship with him will become strong and certainly more secure.  God will provide and with his help we will get through this, and not just get through it but overcome.  Scarcity will give way to provision, in fact, that is already happening.  We just need the eyes of faith to see that.

Pastor Tom Grieb begins our sermon series Overcomers.

Along the Sea of Galilee strong storms are a common occurrence.  They can flair up with very little notice.  When they strike the sea is churned and the waves are high.  Those caught in the middle of one of those storms have every reason to fear for their lives.

That’s the way it was for the disciples as they traveled with Jesus from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the other.  To make matters worse, they were traveling at night.  As the “sea billows” rose, so did their panic.  The telling contrast to all of that was Jesus sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat.  Instead of following his lead and doing as he did, the disciples let their fears get the best of them.  In their panic, the disciples awakened Jesus and sought his help.  Immediately, he chided them for their lack of faith and then said, “Peace, be still.”  We usually read that as a rebuke of the wind and the waves.  It very well may have been a rebuke of the disciples.  He very well may have been saying in so many words, “Okay guys, let’s simmer down; how about peace instead of panic?”

Of course, we know that upon Christ’s command the wind and the waves died down.  Christ’s power over the storms of life was on full display.  We’d do well to remember that in the midst of the storms we face, particularly as we face the uncertainties and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Christ is present to see us through.  He seeks to quell our panic and bring peace.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins concludes our series "According to Luke."

Here we are friends, on the other side of Easter.  We have celebrated and rejoiced the resurrection of our Savior, so now what?  What are we to do with “after Easter?”  Jesus was clear with his disciples, “Go, proclaim what you have seen!”  But before he set them forth, he offered them peace.  As a matter of fact, the first words Jesus said to his disciples while they were all together in the upper room were, “Peace be with you.”  Why?  Why was peace so important that Jesus chose it to be his first words and offering?

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our sermon series "According to Luke."

This is a season of great celebration.  The fact that Jesus is risen from the dead gives us all hope for this life and the next.  The triumph of Christ over death gives us the power to triumph over whatever comes our way, even the Covid-19 virus.  I think that when all of this started, we thought that certainly by Easter the coronavirus would have been a distant memory and we would have been able to go on.  All of us longed for the day when we would gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.  We so looked forward to singing together the songs of Easter and hearing yet again the message of the grand good news that Christ is risen indeed.  Alas, we will not be together this Sunday, save for the deep bonds of faith that hold us together.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins continues our series "According to Luke" with a Good Friday meditation.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series "According to Luke."

The day of Christ’s Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem was a great day of celebration.  Loud “hosannas” were voiced.  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” was the consistent refrain.  As Jesus entered the city on the back of a donkey, he was making a statement about who he was.  He was a king of a different sort.  He came in peace to usher in a brand new Kingdom.

I have often wondered whether some of the people who shouted their “hosannas” early in the week were among those who shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!” later in the week.  That’s the way we can be sometimes, particularly when we get caught up in a crowd.  We are susceptible to the prevailing winds of culture and are apt to go this way or that when it comes to standing strong with Christ.