If someone asked you, “if you could have one more thing,” what would you say? In general we are not a contented people. We are not content with what we have. We’ve been cultured into believing that “more” is better than “less,” and taught that to truly achieve the American Dream we have to ascend to a place of financial security in which we can have virtually anything we desire.

But standing in sharp contrast to our ceaseless striving for more is Paul's words here to the Philippians, “I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” Even the most critical among us has to wonder how someone can say this, especially considering that it’s being written from a Roman prison. Join us as Pastor Leonce unpacks this letter from the Apostle Paul, and its implications for us today.

Philippians 4:10-13; 19

Spoken Word
Strive by Keosha Bell
https://soundcloud.com/renovationchurch/strive-to-die-by-koesha-bell

We all struggle with a sense that if we were more, had more, or had done less “bad things,” then our lives would be significantly better. Over the next three weeks our hope, particularly if you are new to exploring faith and/or Renovation, is that we would all see together that a change in our appearance, our status, or our history doesn’t automatically equal better, especially with regard to God. He is not waiting for a better version of you to love more.


Every single person on the planet has thought at some point, “If I could change this one thing about myself, then I would be more confident; then I would be more capable; then I could have the life/wife/husband/job/friends I want; then I would be happy." It is this thought that has motivated the ridiculous 11 billion dollar tab that 15 million Americans and people living in America spent last year on purely aesthetic and unnecessary cosmetic procedures.


So what can we do to avoid the trap of Insecurity in and dissatisfaction with who we are and how we’re made? Well, for the Christian especially, we run to the scriptures to see what they have to say. Join us today as we consider a song and prayer of the Israelite king, David, as he considers who he is in God’s eyes.


Psalm 139:13-16

Spoken Word
Identity Found by Austin Whelchel
https://soundcloud.com/renovationchurch/idenity-found-by-austin

The King has come and is coming again. Last week we celebrated the introduction of the Kingdom of God through the birth of King Jesus. This week we examine the consummation of the Gods' Kingdom in the second coming of Jesus. What will that day be like? What will Jesus do when He returns? These are the questions Pastor Ralph unpacks for us, with the goal of causing our hearts and minds to place our hope in Jesus.

Revelation 19:11-16

We are weary. King after king has come, and king after king has failed. Hearts of pride, lust, and greed have turned away from the true King and after the empty promises of this world, leaving us still in need of a King. A Holy King to rule over our hearts perfectly, triumphantly, carefully, affectionately.

But wait – a thrill of hope – could it be? In a line of men who have stood up, only to have fallen, there is a disruption: a holy breaking of the trend of broken promises, failed rulers, wayward hearts. Is this the King who will finally set broken paths straight? The King who will reign forever on His throne, subjecting all things to himself, making all of our dirtiness beautiful in His time?

Disrupt our fallen world with your perfect rule, new and coming King! We need a King who is with us – aGod who is with us. Immanuel.

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. The coming King shall be revealed to us, and in his presence we shall find fullness of joy, hearts renewed, promises kept, and everlasting life.

Thank you, Gracious King, for your coming, for your revealing, and for your reign! Reveal yourself, O King, that we may see You, savor You, and love You more deeply.

Isaiah 7:10-16 & Matthew 1:18-25

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of his glory!

There is none like our God. He is set apart, most precious, most glorious – He is utterly holy. There is none beside Him; we want none beside Him. His voice causes the foundations of the earth to tremble.

Show us mercy, O God, for we are an unclean people in need of a holy God. We are in need of you. Woe are we! – for we stand in the presence of a holy King. We need your kingship and your reign, for there is none like You, and there is none so much in need of a savior as we.

Create within us pure hearts o God, that we may be made holy as You are holy. Take our guilt away, o King; atone for us our sin.

Fall on your knees – o hear the angel voices! A night divine is coming. Holiness shall meet the leprous; the promise of the King will be fulfilled; the night divine is coming. In the presence of He who is holy, we shall be made whole.

Isaiah 6:1-7

We have said, ‘Set a king over us.’

A king who is strong. A king who can carry our people, who can carry our burdens – who can carry us. Be strong enough to lift us up when we have fallen.

We have said, ‘Set a king over us.’

A king who lavishes affection upon us, who loves us with an everlasting love. A king who rejoices over us with singing; who quiets us with his love. A king whose affection stirs and fulfills the longings of our hearts.

We have said, ‘Set a king over us.’

A king who is wise; whose judgment is most wisely discerned. By wisdom a house is built; build us a house in which to dwell, o King. Wisdom is better than any weapon of war. Guide us, in wisdom, o King, that we too may be made wise.

We have said, ‘Set a king over us.

Thank you, oh Lord, for the promise of a King – thank you that in advent we have the promise of His coming – that we have the promise of a King who comes in strength, lavishing affection, ruling over us in wisdom. Come, King Jesus, come. We want a king.

Advent is a time of waiting, of holy expectation for what is to come. It is a time of preparing our hearts and our homes for Christmas joy. Just four weeks from now, we celebrate the birth of our King. We want a King. Our fickle hearts writhe and turn, yearning for an object upon which we can throw our affections, our loyalty, our allegiance. Our very beings cry out: Lead me, because I am in need of a leader. Nowhere in civilization do we find a society without a king. Kings may vary in title, in power, and in description – they may even vary in number. But they are always found. They are found as tribal leaders in tangled jungles, as the most elite of castes in hierarchical societies, as dictators of corruption, as presidents of nations. Lead me, we cry. I am in need of a King.

We are, indeed, desperate for a King. We long to see justice served and to see purity win out over corruption. We plead for the restoration of the broken, and we turn to our kings for protection, provision, and guidance. After all – we know ourselves better than anyone. We know we are weak, fragile, hard-hearted creatures who are easily distracted and quickly lost. Leading ourselves leads us into a grave. No. There must be more. Lead us, we cry. We cannot make it on our own! We are desperate for a King.

But the kings of this earth fail us. They fall short of fulfilling our longing for leadership. They fall short of meeting our expectation; of holding our hope. But all is not lost, for Advent means arrival. It is the season of hopeful expectation of the arrival of the True King. The King of kings. The one who fulfills our longing, and quenches our desperation. Advent is the season that ignites and fans the flame of our desire for a King. This is good news! And we cry out with those who have cried out for centuries: Come, King Jesus, come. We need a King.

Advent is a time of waiting, of holy expectation for what is to come. It is a time of preparing our hearts and our homes for Christmas joy. Just four weeks from now, we celebrate the birth of our King. We want a King. Our fickle hearts writhe and turn, yearning for an object upon which we can throw our affections, our loyalty, our allegiance. Our very beings cry out: Lead me, because I am in need of a leader. Nowhere in civilization do we find a society without a king. Kings may vary in title, in power, and in description – they may even vary in number. But they are always found. They are found as tribal leaders in tangled jungles, as the most elite of castes in hierarchical societies, as dictators of corruption, as presidents of nations. Lead me, we cry. I am in need of a King.

We are, indeed, desperate for a King. We long to see justice served and to see purity win out over corruption. We plead for the restoration of the broken, and we turn to our kings for protection, provision, and guidance. After all – we know ourselves better than anyone. We know we are weak, fragile, hard-hearted creatures who are easily distracted and quickly lost. Leading ourselves leads us into a grave. No. There must be more. Lead us, we cry. We cannot make it on our own! We are desperate for a King.

But the kings of this earth fail us. They fall short of fulfilling our longing for leadership. They fall short of meeting our expectation; of holding our hope. But all is not lost, for Advent means arrival. It is the season of hopeful expectation of the arrival of the True King. The King of kings. The one who fulfills our longing, and quenches our desperation. Advent is the season that ignites and fans the flame of our desire for a King. This is good news! And we cry out with those who have cried out for centuries: Come, King Jesus, come. We need a King.

1 Samuel 8:1-18

We live in a time where the amount of information being thrown at us is staggering. Our minds are constantly being bombarded with different "truths" that are vying for our trust. Even the simple question of, "Who am I?" has more answers than we can fathom. This has produced a people that are unsure about everything.

This week as we end our series in John 8, Pastor Leonce exposes these "truths" through the lens of Jesus. What does Jesus have to say about who we are? What do the scriptures have to say about this world? And just as important as what they have to say, they show us why they can be trusted above all else.

John 8:39-59

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
Is belief accepting a set of rules? Or ascribing to an understood collection of knowledge and facts? And further, how do we know if we’ve truly believed?
The scriptures seem to answer that question with this one; are you free from serving yourself, and free to follow Jesus?
This is the underlying question that Pastor Leonce asks us to wrestle with as he teaches through John 8:30-38, and it seems to be the encompassing indicator of true belief.