Wilderness: Growing off Grid
Wilderness: Growing through Pain
September 24, 2023 • Dan Chavez, NC Youth Pastor • Genesis 37:12–27, Genesis 50:15–20
Joseph is treated harshly by his brothers and thrown into a cistern in the desert. He is eventually sold into slavery in Egypt. His life takes many twists and turns until he finally is elevated to power in Egypt. After his family has to come to Egypt to be saved, Joseph faces how to respond to the pain they caused him. Rather than seek revenge, Joseph sees God’s work in what was supposed to be the end of his life. God won’t waste your pain in the wilderness, he will use it to bring him glory and to bless others.
Wilderness: Growing through Listening
September 17, 2023 • Dan Chavez, NC Youth Pastor • 1 Kings 19:9–13
After Elijah’s greatest moment as a prophet of God, he flees in terror from the evil Queen Jezebel. He finds himself in a cave at Mt. Horeb. God asks him a very important question. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah is there because he is vulnerable and afraid. God promises to speak to him, but he did not speak in the wind, he did not speak in the earthquake and he did not speak in the fire. It was in the still small voice that Elijah heard from God. Sometimes, in our most vulnerable times of our lives, we must get very quiet to hear God speak to us.
Wilderness: Growing through Patience
September 10, 2023 • Bob North, Lead Pastor • 1 Samuel 24:1–7
Though David had already been anointed the new King of Israel, Saul was still on the throne. David hides for his life in a cave deep in the Desert of En Gedi as Saul hunts him down. Even though David had a chance to kill Saul, he is patient and recognizes that God would be the one to bring him the throne in due time. Sometimes in the wilderness it is hard to wait but never forget that God’s timing is always better than ours.
Wilderness: Growing through Testing
September 3, 2023 • Bob North, Lead Pastor • Matthew 4:1–11
Jesus is fresh off a forty-day fast when the Evil One tests him by tempting him to satisfy his cravings himself, to show off his power and to be recognized as ruler. Each Time Satan tempts Jesus to give into these worldly desires, Jesus silences him by quoting scriptures and deciding to allow God to satisfy him, to not test God foolishly and to worship God alone. When we are tempted by the Evil One to listen to his false promises, we too can rebuke him using the Word of God.