The local church serves as God's strategy to reach the world. One of its primary objectives is to proclaim the message of the gospel. It's important to acknowledge that the local church is our foundation, our launching pad for reaching out to the world. Sending people out in a manner worthy of our God is a great joy and privilege for the local church. However, it is not an easy task. It requires dedication, sacrifice, and a deep understanding of the needs of those we are trying to reach. What we celebrate tells us a lot about what is truly important to us.
We do everything for the sake of the name of Jesus. We want people to hear his gospel, so we give everything in his service. Our resolve is intrinsically tied to glorifying the name of Jesus. As believers, we understand that the ultimate goal is to bring glory to God and make his name known. It's time to RESTART and RESOLVE TO REACH THE WORLD.
Restart // Resolve to Follow Jesus
October 8, 2023 • 1 Peter 2:1–12
The Christian life is not simply a one-time decision. It is daily dying to self to follow the one who has given us eternal life. As followers of Christ, we are born anew through the transformative grace of God. God's Word is the nourishment our souls require, essential for our spiritual growth and development. We must resolve to seek this nourishment daily, to feed our souls, and to grow stronger in our faith. On this journey of faith, remember we are not solitary travelers. We are living stones, each one unique yet unified, joining together as the Church. The church is the body of Christ, interconnected, interdependent, working in harmony to bring glory to God.
As a holy priesthood, we are summoned to worship God in spirit and truth, and to fully embrace our identity as God's chosen people. This means leading lives that mirror His holiness, radiate His love, and serve as His ambassadors. Keep in mind that we are sojourners and exiles in this world. Our true citizenship lies in heaven, and this world is temporary. God's grace means that we can RESTART, and as his people, we must daily RESOLVE TO FOLLOW.
Restart // Resolve // The Resolve To Stand
September 24, 2023 • Ephesians 6:10–24
In these challenging times, trials and tribulations can test our resolve, making our walk with God feel like an
uphill climb. Yet, we are not alone on this journey. The Lord is with us, and He has equipped us with the
necessary armor for this spiritual battle.
As the letter to the Ephesians comes to a close, Paul writes, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his might—so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." These words are not merely a call to resistance, but a rallying cry for us to stand firm in our faith, to hold our ground against the adversities we face.
Remember, we are not just spectators but active participants in this spiritual battle. We are called to stand
firm, to hold our ground, and to fight the good fight of faith. It’s time to RESTART OUR RESOLVE TO STAND.
Restart // Relationships // Parenting - Part 2 // To Cherish, Discipline, and Instruct
September 17, 2023 • Ephesians 6:1–5
Restart // Relationships // Parenting: Children, Parents, And The Promise Of God
September 10, 2023 • Ephesians 6:1–4
Restart - Relationships (Marriage Part 2)
September 3, 2023 • Ephesians 5:22–33
In 2004, President George W. Bush nominated J. Leon Holmes to serve on the federal district court of
Arkansas. Holmes became a controversial nominee when it was discovered that in 1997 he coauthored an
article with his wife in the Arkansas Catholic Review in which they wrote, “The wife is to subordinate herself to
the husband . . . the woman is to place herself under the authority of the man.” Holmes claimed that the words
were taken out of context. Senator Dianne Feinstein opposed Holmes’s nomination, asking, “How can I or any
other American believe that one who truly believes a woman is subordinate to her spouse [can] interpret the
Constitution fairly?” Republican senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Kay Bailey Hutchinson also
demurred, arguing that Holmes did not have a “fundamental commitment to the equality of women in our
society.” Although Holmes was eventually confirmed by the Senate 51–46, the objections raised by the Senate
in the early 2000s are, no doubt, even more wide-spread today.
The church has always been at war with the world, but there seems to be a sense of reluctance within the
Christian community to engage in discussions about sex and gender, possibly due to embarrassment over
outdated beliefs. When considering these topics, we typically consider culture, biology, and human history.
The mention of Ephesians 5 often elicits discomfort, as it brings to mind the historical oppression of women in
traditional gender roles where wives subjugate themselves to their husbands' needs and husbands assert
dominance. However, it is important to note that Paul does not prioritize the husband's needs over the wife's,
suggest that women are less capable leaders than men, or discourage women from pursuing careers outside
the home.
If Jesus' message holds true, nobody can approach the table with entitlements. The only way to gain entry is
by humbling ourselves completely. Regardless of gender, if we cling to our desire for personal control, we are
unable to embrace Jesus because he demands our full submission. While Christians are indeed required to
make sacrifices in response to Christ, our main duty is to acknowledge and accept his sacrifice on our behalf.
As our lives are transformed by Jesus Christ, our marriages are as well. Even when we fail, the grace of Jesus
gives us a place to RESTART.
Restart // Relationships // Marriage: A Profound Mystery / A Gospel Issue
August 27, 2023 • Ephesians 5:15–33
The Bible presents a narrative of love that reveals the fundamental nature of our universe as one based on
relationships. It begins by stating that God is the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), and that
He designed a joyful garden for a couple named Adam and Eve. The story concludes with the promise of a
new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1) where Jesus and his bride will find their eternal home. Marriage,
far from being a human creation, is showcased in the Bible as a divine revelation and precious gift.
The Book Of Common Prayer begins the wedding ceremony this way:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation,
to ioin together this Man, and this woman in holy Matrimony, which is an honourable estate, instituted of
God in the time of mans innocency, signifying into vs the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his
Church: which holy estate Christ adorned, and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he
wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St Paul to be honourable among all men, and therefore
is not by any to be enterprized, nor taken in hand inadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy mens
carnal lusts, and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly,
advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was
ordeined.
(The Book of Common Prayer from the Original Manuscript: Attached to the Act of Uniformity of 1662. Eyre &
Spottiswoode), 1892, p. 294.)
Today we are told that a God-centered vision of marriage is mistaken, even oppressive. Marriage used to be a
public institution for the common good, and now it is a private arrangement for the satisfaction of the
individuals. Marriage used to be about us, but now it is about me. Genesis reveals something different as the
Bible begins to explain the meaning of marriage, showing both glory and brokenness. All our personal stories with both our glory and our shame, started in the garden of Eden. Don’t hide from God because of guilt,
shame, or failure because as we embrace the brokenness of life, we begin the journey back to God and
healing. The gospel means that every marriage can RESTART.
