The Fellowship Podcast

The Christmas story begins with a promise. From the promises given to the people and prophets of old foretelling about Jesus to the 1st-century promises supernaturally told to the circle of people who would see his birth—hope begins with a promise.

The same is true in our lives. God gives us promises by his Word and through his Word. These promises ground us in hope as we wait in faith for them to come into being.

Many of us are desperately waiting for breakthrough. In difficult times, we need to hang on to the promises God has given us, because in them is hope.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let’s count our spiritual blessings in Christ. And let’s start with the fact that, together, we are all Gospel Partners sharing in God’s saving grace. With thanks and joy, we remember this grace by sharing in baptism and the Lord’s table.

God does his best work in the 11th hour. The crossing of the Red Sea stokes our imagination that we are never beyond rescue from the agents of Egypt. We serve a God who has limitless power and might. Questioning whether He WILL does not diminish that He CAN.

In Egypt, we are often quick to feel vulnerable, as though suffering means God has abandoned us. But under the blood shed on the cross, we are protected and safe.

God wants to partner with us in our Egypt by using what we already have. He appoints us even in the midst of our insecurity.

God reveals his identity to Moses as the God of his fathers. He is the I AM, and though this name is mysterious, it is also all we need to know and trust Him. In the midst of our Egypt, God is getting our attention and speaking to us. Are we listening like Moses?

God takes the initiative to move toward us, which is good news to those of us who are weary and heart-broken. But will we humble ourselves and recognize these encounters for what they are?

Exodus chapter one makes clear that God notices when things change. After Joseph’s generation died, people forgot about God’s people and slavery resulted.

But God didn’t forget. Our God hears the cry of those who feel overlooked, oppressed; stuck in painful ordeals. Rescue begins with hearing.

Flourishing only comes to us when we submit to Jesus.

In Christ, we discover our most core identity is not based on our sexuality, but in an intimate spiritual relationship with Him and brothers and sister in the Church. Non-sexual intimacy is possible, satisfying, and sustainable when the church views singleness and celibacy as viable and valuable.

For those in Christ who choose it, celibacy is as godly as marriage.