Sunrise Church

To be renewed is to live in a renewed community with a renewed mind. This is a joy and not a burden. We too often ponder the weight of these things as if the burden lay solely on us, but if we all live in the light of the mercies of God with renewed minds it would be a great joy and not a burden.

Abraham's obedience in the face of a test of his faith is a model for us as we consider God's plan for our lives at any age or stage of life.

The call of Christ's lordship can be challenging. Jesus speaks truthfully and clearly with them, knowing already that there were those among his followers who did not believe. Jesus speaks truth, regardless of the cost, because life and the Spirit come only by the true Word of God wherein God has revealed Himself.

The crowds aims to secure their standing before God by their works, but Jesus reveals that the only thing they need to do is believe in Him, but they demand a sign. Their demand for a sign after having been miraculously fed to the full is a revelation of the condition of their hearts and, frankly, is reflective of the condition of every human heart before it is redeemed and made alive in Christ. There is a risk that we fail to recognize or see the goodness and awesome power of God in that which is right before us and continue to demand more signs or works if He is to earn or keep our interest.

In the two miracles recorded back to back in John 6, we see how the primary audience for each miracle responds to Jesus subsequent to their experience. One audience sees this and one audience seeks to leverage this to their own ends. The crowd sees Jesus as the One who conquerors their enemies for them. They seek to make Jesus king on their terms. The disciples come to see Jesus as the One who has all power over all forces of creation and worship him as God.

There is sufficient evidence to point to Jesus as the Christ. Does our religious practice obscure Jesus from view? Jesus’ whole mission was to put God’s judgment to rest for those who accept His grace delivered through His judgment poured out on His Son. We don’t come to God with our requests; we come to God for the forgiveness that only He can give.

We were honored to ordain Philip Miles and Nate Yurgaites and affirm their respective calls to ministry; Philip as Lead Pastor of Sunrise Church and Nate as a church planter.

Jesus' unity with the Father is core to his work and ability to deliver redemption and eternal life to those who believe in him. He is not merely a created being with imparted divinity, but he is God in the flesh.

While we have all desired physical healing, it is not our greatest need. Only Jesus, the Son of God, can heal our deepest brokenness and meet our truest need.