To see Friday properly, you have to see Sunday properly. Yes, that Sunday, but also the one before it. Too often we still don't understand the way, the call, and the cost of following Jesus. Jesus wins by dying. He wins by being last, serving all. But being first and experiencing our version of life to full often brings us to the way of Barabbas instead of Jesus without realizing it.
To see Friday properly, you have to see Sunday properly. Yes, that Sunday, but also the one before it. Too often we still don't understand the way, the call, and the cost of following Jesus. Jesus wins by dying. He wins by being last, serving all. But being first and experiencing our version of life to full often brings us to the way of Barabbas instead of Jesus without realizing it.
FAITH Worship (8/4/24): "Mount of Temptation" (Series: Mountains)
August 4, 2024 • Pastor Tim Byer
The devil is a prowling lion that we too often take too casually. He is our true fight, and too often he wins because we don't have the correct game plan. Jesus was led into temptation and toward evil to show us the game plan: learn what is written. Let it transform and renew our minds.
FAITH Worship (7/28/24): "Mount of the Transfiguration" (Series: Mountains)
July 28, 2024 • Pastor Tim Byer
For one moment in the life of Jesus, God pressed "pause" on His 33-year miracle of divinity wrapped in flesh, and the majesty and glory of Jesus radiated in a way that mere mortals could barely describe. In that moment, the humanity and humility of Jesus were fully stripped away and He shone like the noonday sun. He is our Suffering Servant and Savior, but never forget, He is the Alpha and Omega, too.
FAITH Worship (7/21/24): "Mount of the Sermon" (Series: Mountains)
July 21, 2024 • Pastor Tim Byer
The Mount of the Sermon connects back and fulfills the words from Mount Sinai. God is building in both covenants a kingdom of priests to be the light of the world. This time He is starting with an internal heart change. His people are affected internally which results in external effects. Or, put another way, Christians get infected by the Gospel of Jesus and it produces within us a desire for a new ethic of life ... to be like Jesus.
Mount Carmel is the showdown between everything real and fake—The God versus all the gods. Our daily life is not much different. We have a Carmel decision each time we get out of bed. How long will we waver in knowing that the gods have no power except for the power we give them?
On Mount Sinai, Moses receives the law. God gives instructions for a nation of slaves to become a nation of priests. More than anything, it gave guidance on a life lived with and for the God of the universe. He had rescued them, and now He leads them. The Law given on that mountain shows the people how to live, but also how they won't be able to live. It tills the ground for the cross of Jesus for those of us who see ourselves in the mirror for who we truly are: lawbreakers.
Mount Moriah started it all. It started the nation that is Israel. It started the foreshadowing of Jesus. On that mountain, a father nearly sacrificed his son. But, it wasn't meant to be. Not for another 1500 years that is ... when a new Father and a new Son take their place. The parallels are striking.
