“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” - Luke 2:20

The birth of Jesus was amazing news. But who were the first to hear this great news? Lowly, stinky shepherds.

Because shepherds were out with their flocks for months at a time, they often did not take part in religious ceremonies or worship. They were regarded as lowlifes and liars. Legally, they couldn’t bear witness in court and were disqualified to serve as witnesses in a court of law.

But who does God chose to announce the birth of his Son to first? Who does God use to proclaim to others the birth of the Savior first? Shepherds! As we mentioned last week, God often uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This is how God works. God uses the foolish, weak, and lowly to complete big tasks on His behalf (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).

Perhaps you feel unnoticed. Perhaps you feel small and powerless. Perhaps you feel like a lost sheep who has lost their way. If so, then you’re just the kind of person God wants! The good shepherd is calling your name. You are found and gathered in Christ and then called to scatter what you have heard and seen to the world.

Some things in life can take us completely by surprise. Some­times things happen that seem to turn our world upside down. That happened to a man named Joseph, a builder living in the town of Nazareth in Galilee about 2,000 years ago.

Engaged to be married to a young woman named Mary, he was looking forward to when they would become husband and wife, have children, and make a home together, surrounded by their extended family.

But then Joseph learned that Mary, his future wife, was expecting a child. To Joseph, that meant that Mary had been unfaithful. To keep her from being publicly disgraced, he intended to “divorce her quietly” and then send her away.

But that same night, an angel came to Joseph in a dream, telling him that the child to be born was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel told Joseph to believe in the unbelievable and to take Mary as his wife. God himself stepped into his life and disrupted many of Joseph’s plans. His life would never be the same. But when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel commanded him.

As we will discover this week, perhaps God has disrupted your life. Perhaps he turned your life upside down. Perhaps you are struggling to find hope in the midst of fear. The prayer for us is that we will be ready to accept God’s will for your life. That we will be ready to surrender to him and serve him. And that God will give us the courage to overcome our doubts and our fears. May trusting in God give us hope to face the future, even in the midst of our fears.

“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.”-Luke 1:38

For Mary, the news came too soon. Unlike her relative Elizabeth, who was married, far along in years, and said to be barren, Mary was a young, unmarried woman. She had a future. Her whole life was ahead of her. Still, like her uncle Zechariah, she was greatly troubled when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. When she heard the announcement that she was to give birth to a son who would be great and whose kingdom would never end, she asked, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”

Sometimes the call comes too soon. In those moments, everything changes and things become uncertain. Sometimes bad things happen, and we question whether or not God is good. Other times we hear God’s call, but we doubt that we’re the right age, or that we have the right education, or that we have the right training or the right experience.

But Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. Yes, she asked how this could be; and the angel responded that the power of the Lord would overshadow her. But Gabriel reminded her (and Elizabeth) that “No word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37)

Mary took God at His word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands. As a result, she was able to see God work even in the midst of uncertain times. You may find yourselves going through a similar season of uncertainty, but my prayer is that you will be able to experience God’s peace and provision because we trust in a God who is certain. May that good news bring you hope as you gather with your family for Thanksgiving and as we work our way into the Advent season.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.”1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

“What does God want from me, and what does he want for me?” These two big questions nag us throughout life. We try to decide on a career, a school, a spouse - or even smaller things, like what book to read, film to see, or game to play. And we may wonder, “What does God want?” 

Well, one thing is clear: God wants us to always rejoice, pray, and give thanks! 

The adverb “always” trips us up. How is it possible to rejoice always? How can we give thanks when we are sick or in a recession, or when we get a poor grade or lose a friend? It must be possible, or God would not “will” it for us. 

Moreover, Paul makes it plain enough, even adding that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Did you know that, in the Greek, the word “rejoice” and “give thanks” are related? Both words have “grace” as their root. I wonder if it’s because verse 18 says that it’s, “In Christ Jesus.”? 

As Elder Robby Kissling shares with us this week, and as we center ourselves around Thanksgiving themes this Sunday and next week, how might we give thanks to God every day? How might we “rejoice” on more days than Thanksgiving? And what does it mean to give thanks IN all circumstances as opposed to giving thanks FOR all circumstances? 

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2

I’ve read this passage numerous times before, but have you ever slowed down to think about it - the disciples “heard” the Holy Spirit speaking! We think of God speaking directly, or speaking through angels, or speaking through prophets or apostles; but what would it have been like to hear the Holy Spirit speak? Certainly I’ve “sensed” the Spirit speaking, but something about this seems different.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus told his disciples they would be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” But it had yet to venture far beyond Judea and Samaria. In Acts 13, the church is gathered in worshiping, fasting, and praying. They were waiting for direction from God and listening for the Holy Spirit to say what was next. Their posture was one of anticipation, and the result was that heard from God. Notice, too, that following hearing from God, they fasted and prayed again before laying hands on them and sending them out.

This should be instructive for us. There is something powerful that happens when the community of faith gathers together, practices spiritual disciplines, and waits to hear from the Lord. God spoke, and the people obeyed! When we worship Jesus, do we expect the Spirit to speak? And if we “hear” him, will we answer his call? You and I must have a heart of submission to the Spirit. We need to be open to the plans that the Spirit of God has for us so that God can work in and through our lives.

We are the church gathered in order to be scattered.

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

As we have seen in previous weeks, God has always used his people in society. Daniel showed amazing courage in front of Nebuchadnezzar—the most powerful ruler in the world at that time. Nebuchadnezzar was merciless toward the leaders of nations who resisted his military campaigns, and he could be a terror to his own advisors. He was a king with a paranoid ego that could rival the worst dictators.

Even more amazing is that Daniel gave his daring interpretation of the king’s dream (and stood up in other ways), even while he served this unjust and oppressive emperor. As we read, Daniel’s actions and influence were used because he was a person of great ability, competence, energy, integrity, and wisdom. Throughout his years of service under several rulers, these tyrants found they couldn’t do without Daniel because he had exceptional qualities. But Daniel always knew that his ultimate service was of the greater kingdom of the God of heaven.

As we will talk about together this week, we Christians are sent into the world around us to serve God in the same way as Daniel. With our God-given ability, competence, energy, integrity, and wisdom, we give our best to earthly institutions like banks, corporations, universities, militaries, governments. But we never forget that we are working for the One who is bringing the only kingdom that will last.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

“If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Long ago in Israel things were bad, really bad. Why? Because, God’s people tried to live without the true God. It’s ironic that a nation called out by God and formed by God could forget God; but that’s exactly what they did! And what was the result? Disaster! 

But what do you think brought that about? First, God said that it was because they had forgotten the one true God. It’s not that God had abandoned them, it’s that they had lost sight of God. They wanted a God they could control rather than a God who called them to follow.

Second, it was because the Israelites were without teaching priests. Again, the problem wasn't a lack of priests, but a lack of priests engaged in teaching rightly. The priests of Israel had stopped speaking of grace and truth, and they traded genuine worship for a social club. The result was that the temple was no longer the epicenter of life and conscience in the culture, calling people to take God seriously. 

And, third, the Israelites were without law. Specifically, they’d lost an accurate view of, and a proper respect for, God's law as expressed in His Word. They’d turned their eyes away from the true God, closed their ears to the truth, and turned their backs on God's law.

Does that sound familiar? Well this week as we continue in our sermon series called, “For Thine Is the Kingdom,” we'll be exploring how we are called to re-engage our faith and our culture, and doing it through the speaking of truth filled with grace. As always, I look forward to being together with you this weekend.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

Have you ever had someone question your rightful authority? Have you ever given a truthful answer only to be called a liar, ridiculed, lectured, and mocked? Have you ever experienced ill consequences as a result of someone else’s false decision of who you are, your intentions, or your actions? If you have, you know how terrible you may feel as a result.

And yet, this is exactly what Jesus faced! It’s hard to fathom! Yet, even as Jesus faced a trial and the questions of Pilate, and even as the crowds rallied against him; He still responded with love and grace. It serves as a reminder that the world is broken. Kings and kingdoms often plot against God’s purposes.

But what did Jesus say? “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36) He knew that He would be put to death; yet out of love, he chose to face the Cross for us.

It’s a beautiful picture of willing self-sacrifice and unfathomable love. But it is also a picture of the clash between two kingdoms. While the earthly kingdom shows itself to be in utter mutiny, Christ’s kingdom shows itself to be loving and giving and serving. It is God’s gracious and grand plan for our salvation.

We live in a world of unrighteousness and evil, yet we follow the One who is perfect in righteousness. How, then, should Christians live? As we will see together this week, the New Testament reminds us that we should live as though Jesus is King, and be his kingdom ambassadors. I look forward to seeing you either in person or online (even though I can’t really see you online, can I?)

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ - Joshua 5:14

As we survey the Old Testament this week, one of the passages we will encounter gives instructions to circumcise all the Israelite soldiers before they go to battle. On the one hand, this makes no military sense. Blood loss from surgery would weaken the army, and it would take extra time for the men to regain strength. But the surgery God required would show God’s strength through Israel’s weakness.

Before wielding his sword against the peoples of Canaan, God used it (in a sense) on His own people. God is king, and God invites us to submit to His kingly rule and reign. He even says that He’s on nobody’s side. In another sense, God is only on the side of those who choose to humble themselves before Him.  By asking for the sign of circumcision, God called Israel to affirm their commitment and to show they belonged to him, body and soul.

In this new series called For Thine is the Kingdom, we are going to see that God is asking the same of us. How are we living in such a way that we are showing our commitment to the kingdom of God? Do we live for God’s kingdom? Or do we live for earthly kingdoms? Political kingdoms? Our own kingdoms?

As we survey the Bible for God’s view of the Kingdom, we pray for a better understanding of how God is in control, and how we should submit ourselves to His reign and rule in our lives. I look forward to seeing you in person or online. As always, keep up the great work of inviting friends and neighbors as that has been the way we’ve seen our church growing!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

As I begin this week’s newsletter, I need to print a “retraction” of sorts. During the first service on Sunday, I mistakenly said that when a father holds up the “afikomen” during a Jewish Passover Seder, he says, “This is my body broken for you; take and eat.” The result is that it made it sound like Jesus’ words of institution at the Last Supper. I knew it wasn’t right at the time, but I got lost in my notes and kept moving along. The correct phrase is, “This is the bread of affliction that our forefathers ate in the desert. Let all who are hungry come and eat.” While this was corrected for the second service, I did not want to create any confusion for those at the first service or watching at home.

When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. - Exodus 16:15

The Israelites had just been released from slavery in Egypt. It was a cause for great joy! But the last echo of their joy had barely faded before they began grumbling. When my children act in that way, I might be quick to call them out on it and remind them of how ungrateful they are. If I were Moses or God, I might say the same kinds of things.

However, that’s not how God responded! God told them, “In the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him.” What could have been a threat from God and a promise of judgment was instead a display of God’s glory - a cloud, moonlight meat, and morning manna!

God could have sent plagues. God could have hurled hard dinner rolls like hail on their heads. But no. God sustained His people, even in the midst of their grumbling. How often have we seen God’s blessings come to us softly, gently (like manna) - even in the midst of our grumbling? Beloved people, that is a picture of God’s sustaining grace.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron