Every once in a while, Nicole will ask me, “Did you hear me?” Now, as a person about to hit 50, I could probably use an excuse about hearing loss. But the truth is, more often than not, I’m involved in something else or not paying attention.

In a similar way, Paul is going to unpacking a similar line of thinking. In our verses for Sunday, Paul is going to quote from a plethora of Old Testament passages. One of them will be Psalm 19, which speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God. But as we know, not everyone pays attention to the message of creation that points beyond itself to God.  

The same happens when missionaries, pastors, or people bring the good news of God’s salvation to others. In those moments, we must always understand that there is a twofold response to the gospel. Some people will respond with belief and acceptance, while others refuse to believe.

So the issue isn’t that people didn’t hear. As Paul says, “Did they not hear? Of course!” The real issue is paying attention and responding! As we gather together this week, every single one of us will be confronted with this question: If “God is holding out His hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people,” how will I respond? My prayer is that we will respond with genuine worship, grateful living, and the promise of a sure hope for eternal life.

I look forward to seeing you in person or online.

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron

Have you ever wondered what beautiful feet look like? For most of us, our feet spend the majority of their time in shoes, so you might not think too much about that question. Of course, as I mentioned on Sunday, with so many broken toes, I'm not sure mine qualify!

But what about shoes? If you have been in the military, shiny shoes are a part of your service dress. But even as a child who grew up going to church each week, I have lots of memories of my dad (and later myself) shining our Sunday shoes before we went off to service. And even now before I leave the house to preach, I still try most weeks to make sure my shoes have been buffed.

But that’s not what Paul is referring to when he talks about beautiful feet bringing good news. Paul quotes a line from Isaiah that has to do with bringing news to people near and far. In ancient times, messengers were sent to the king and to major cities to bring news about battles or attacks from other nations. This meant that the messengers often ran a long way, with their feet getting dirty or bloody. But when the message was good news, those tortured and bleeding feet were considered beautiful.

Isaiah used that imagery to describe a messenger who brought the good news of salvation and peace, announcing, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). In our world of bullets and bombs, we need messengers of good news that speak of peace and reconciliation with God and with one another. Because we have good news to bring, that means we have beautiful feet – whether they are physically beautiful or not! But regardless of whether people look at our feet, what they will see is the joy on our faces as we share that Jesus Christ is Lord!

I look forward to discovering more about that together as we gather this week.

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we pause to celebrate with gratitude. We do not give thanks because our country is perfect, nor because our history is without sorrow, or sin, or struggle. We give thanks because, by God’s mercy, we have received blessings that many throughout the world have longed for: freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the opportunity to live, work, gather, and serve in peace.

We also remember that these freedoms were not handed to us cheaply. They have been preserved through sacrifice, courage, hardship, and the shedding of blood. Across generations, men and women have served, suffered, and died so that others like us might live in liberty. Such sacrifices should make us humble, grateful, and prayerful. 

Yet as Christians, our hope is not ultimately in any nation, government, flag, or earthly kingdom. Our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yet precisely because we belong to Him, we are called to be faithful citizens: to seek the welfare of our neighbors, to pray for those in authority, to pursue justice and mercy, and to use our freedoms not for selfish gain, but for love of God and love of neighbor. 

So today we give thanks for the blessings we have received as a nation, while also asking God to make us wise stewards. May we never confuse patriotism with worship, or liberty with license. May we cherish what is good, repent where repentance is needed, and labor for an America where the highest ideals are upheld. 

Above all, we give thanks to God for the greater freedom we have in Jesus Christ: freedom from sin, freedom from condemnation, and freedom to live as children of God. Nations rise and fall, but the kingdom of Christ is everlasting. May our gratitude for earthly freedoms lead us to deeper worship of the One who alone can make us truly free. 

Have a wonderful and blessed 4th of July!

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron 

I am mindful of the times I have spent over a lump of clay (whether on a wheel, or shaping or molding or manipulating it into whatever you desire). There is something about being mindful and dreaming about what it could be in terms of its form and function. At the same time, there is also something beautiful in the hard work and craftsmanship that brings it about. In the end, the piece may be exactly what you envisioned; other times it may take a different shape as it is forming.  

As we continue in our sermon series on Romans, chapter 9:19-29 brings us face-to-face with one of the most humbling questions in all of Scripture: Is God forming us, or are we forming ourselves and God is going along with it? Paul answer that with this truth: God is sovereign, and we are not. But if that is the case, Paul anticipates the question many of us might ask: “If God hardens whom He wills, then why does He still hold people accountable?” Do human beings have any real agency? Can we be blamed for rejecting Christ if no one can resist His will? 

Paul’s answer is not to solve every mystery to our satisfaction, but to remind us of our place before God. And to make his point, he asks, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” While that may sound sharp, Paul is not shutting down honest wrestling; he is reminding us of everything that he has said prior about election, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. We are the clay, not the Potter. The clay does not tell the potter what he must make or how he must use what he has made. 

As we have been saying, salvation begins with God’s mercy, not human achievement. If God were only just, no one would be saved. But the wonder of Romans 9 is not that God judges sin, but that He shows mercy at all; and that He calls people from both Jews and Gentiles to belong to Him. 

And what is the result? Worship! Because the Potter is not cruel or careless, but holy, wise, patient, and merciful, He alone is worthy of our worship. And for all who trust in Christ, we can find our worshipful rest in this: the hands that shape us are the same hands that were pierced for us. 

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron

As we began last week, Romans 9:6–18 continues in this difficult section of Scripture unpacking the relationship of Israel to Christ. This is not an easy passage, but one that contains deep comfort. Paul is wrestling with a painful question: if many Israelites have rejected Christ, has God’s Word failed? Yet his answer is clear:

“It is not as though God’s word had failed”(Romans 9:6).

God has always been faithful to His promises, and His saving purpose has never depended on human effort, or achievement, or background, or status.

Paul reminds us that God’s grace is rooted in God’s mercy. As we know, God’s promises came through Isaac, not Ishmael and Jacob, not Esau. It has never been about merit, but about mercy. And so this passage humbles us all because it reminds us that salvation is never something God owes us; it is always His free and gracious gift. As we will see:

“It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Romans 9:16).

While this may be hard to hear, it is also extremely comforting because it reminds us that if our salvation depended on our strength, wisdom, consistency, or spiritual performance, then we would have every reason to fear. But because salvation rests on God’s mercy and purpose, we can rest in Him.

So rather than try to understand things perfectly that may be hidden from us, it actually invites us to worship. Why? Because God is sovereign and faithful and merciful and good. And that means that His Word has not failed! His promises still stand, and His mercy is greater than we know.

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron

Do you know your purpose in life? Do you really believe you are also sent? Has God called you to his mission? Throughout Scripture, we certainly see the way in which Jesus understood his purpose and calling. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus and had dinner with him, his purpose was laser-focused:

“For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Paul knew it as well. After scaling the heights of God’s love for us in Jesus and reminding us that nothing will separate us from the love of God (Romans 8), his next words almost give us whiplash:

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race...” - Romans 9:2-3

Why could things turn so quickly? Because Paul had the heart of a missionary. Most of us get distracted or sidetracked every day from our purposes. But not Jesus...and not Paul. Just as Jesus saw Zaccheus through the crowds in a tree, Jesus sees you and me. And just as Paul saw his people were far from Jesus and desired that they would know Him, Paul encourages us to have the same heart.

Do we understand the privileges we have been given? Do we grieve over those who are lost? Do we love those who are far from Christ? Do we long to see the people we know come to Jesus? As we explore these questions together this week, I pray that we will begin to see the people and community around us with the same heart and through the same lens. Let’s keep leaning into our invitational nature!

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”-Romans 8:31

Have you ever paid attention to “bumper sticker theology”? They are the short quips that people put on their car indicating their beliefs. They’re the kinds of phrases that get stitched onto pillows or make it into graduation cards. It’s not necessarily bad or wrong; but lacking context, it can be taken to mean something that might not have been originally intended.

Romans 8:31 is one such phrase. When your back is against the wall? Romans 8:31. When someone seems out to get you? Romans 8:31! When the opposing team seems bigger and stronger than you? Romans 8:31!!!

Again, it’s not necessarily bad, but it lacks context, because what is Paul really talking about here? In the first eight chapters of the book of Romans, Paul has moved from the honest reality of sin, to our need for salvation, to the incredible reality of being God’s child through Jesus. And now Paul wants to draw a conclusion: “If you understand these things about God – that He wants you, that He has done everything needed to save you, and that He gives you His Spirit so that you can be part of His family in Christ – then ask yourself, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’”

God is saying, “For those of you who worry about if you belong, or about the status of your sin, or about earning My favor, or about how to understand life; do you really think that I’m just going to give up on you? Nothing will be able to separate you from My love!”

And, ultimately, that is the kind of confidence we need!

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron 

Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Isn’t it interesting that although the Christian life is full of trials, suffering, and tribulation, God still works all things for the good of those who love Him? It is a remarkable dichotomy. God is ultimately the One doing the work to shape us, refine us, and conform us to the image of His Son—and He does this for all who have been called by Him.

But there is an even greater purpose in all of this: God desires to glorify the Christian. Yes, Christian’s ought to glorify God in all they do, but we often forget that God is also in the process of glorifying His people. What do I mean by that? Those who have been called according to His purpose will one day be perfectly conformed to the image of His Son in eternity.

These verses that Paul introduces are often called “The Golden Chain.” Just as a gold chain is made up of interconnected links, so too God interlinks these realities in the Christian life: foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. This passage has often become a point of contention within Christianity because it raises the discussion of free will versus God’s effectual calling. We will certainly talk about this on Sunday with both grace and humility.

Paul also introduces the “already, but not yet” reality that many scholars speak about. Although we have been justified and reconciled to God, we have not yet fully experienced what it means to be glorified. The glorification of the believer will ultimately take place at the resurrection.

I long to be with you all this Sunday. Even now, pray that the Spirit would continue His work of glorification in our churches, homes, and individual lives.

In Christ,

Pastor Blake

Romans 8:18-27

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Have you ever waited so long for something that it caused you to literally groan? I can think of several moments in my life when the Lord had me wait, and it led me to groan. Sometimes my groaning was for His glory, and other times it came from a place of selfishness.

Paul’s point in Romans 8:18–27 is that even though we groan, we groan with purpose. We recognize that suffering and pain are part of life, but for the Christian, suffering is never meaningless. Our suffering draws us closer to Jesus as we share in His sufferings, which we talked about last week, but it also reveals glimpses of the glory being formed within us. I know that might sound surprising, but the Bible is abundantly clear that when we suffer, God uses it for our good and for His glory.

This Sunday, we will dive deeper into Romans. As we continue to explore this letter together, my hope and prayer is that the Lord would reveal to you that the pain, struggle, and suffering you experience all have purpose. Ultimately, that purpose is to share with Christ in the glory that is to come.

And the greater reality is this: once you step into eternity with Christ, the suffering you endured will not even be worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in you. It will be as though your suffering has faded in light of the overwhelming joy of being with Him. In that moment, your new and glorified body will far surpass any pain, sorrow, or struggle you experienced in this life.

In Christ,

Pastor Blake

Over the years, what have your children called you? Mommy? Daddy? Mother? Father? Mom-mom? Pop-pop? Grandma? Grandpa? Mimi? Pappy? Your first name? According to Paul, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”

There is something so special about the fact that we get to call God “Abba.” "Abba" is the Aramaic word for “father;” and since Jesus spoke Aramaic, it is possible that “Abba” was one of the first words he learned as a child. But more than simply meaning “father,” it indicates a closeness that is more akin to “Daddy,” or “Papa.” 

Jesus referred to his Father this way in prayer (Mark 14:36). But what is truly incredible is that we are also able to speak to God in this way! As Romans 8 puts it, by the Spirit of God we cry, “Abba.” As a result of our union with Christ, we are children, heirs, and co-heirs. We can have confidence as we approach the throne of God!

As we gather together for worship this week, may we be reminded that because of the Lord’s obedience (and by the power of the Holy Spirit), the one whom Jesus called "Abba" is our "Abba" as well. May we choose to live in the Holy Spirit with the assurance that no matter how often our doubts try to talk us out of faith, or no matter how much we are bothered by our unworthiness; we can say to ourselves over and over again: “I belong to God!”

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Aaron