Living in Babylon

The Righteous By Faith Will Live

July 16, 2023 • Pastor Ben Pitney • Habakkuk 2:1–4

Into our fears and confusion in these times, Habakkuk has an amazingly relevant message to us: “The righteous by faith will live” This little book of only three chapters contains this important statement quoted at key points in three books in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). If we can understand this verse in its context in Habakkuk, we will have a clear view into the heart of being a Christ Follower. And being a Christ Follower is clarified with refined purpose, in difficult times.

The Valley of Decision

July 9, 2023 • Pastor Ben Pitney • Joel 1:13–15

Citzens and Servants

July 2, 2023 • Pastor Kevin Canterbury • John 11:50

You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish. The words of Caiaphas are the words of God. In his own mind, Caiaphas was no doubt giving voice to a common-sense statement of political expediency. Yet he was unconsciously echoing a saying of Jesus himself (cf. Mark 10:45). Caiaphas was right; the death of Jesus would save the nation from destruction. Yet Caiaphas could not suspect that Jesus would die, not in place of the political nation Israel, but on behalf of the true people of God; and he would save them, not from physical destruction, but from eternal destruction (cf. 3:16-17). The understanding of Caiaphas’ words in a sense that Caiaphas could not possibly have imagined at the time he uttered them serves as a clear example of the way in which John understood that words and actions could be invested retrospectively with a meaning not consciously intended or understood by those present at the time.

Satan’s Battle Against Women

June 25, 2023 • Sherri Van Fleet • Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20

When Satan entered the Garden of Eden, he did not try to directly corrupt the man. He went straight to the one that the entire divine plan for mankind depended on – the woman. But God immediately instigated His plan of redemption and put women right in the center of it! As you read through Scripture you will see this pattern – Satan attacks key women, God redeems these women and uses the attack against them as an opportunity to further His plan of redemption despite Satan’s attack against them! When Satan attacked Eve with his insidious deception, God redeemed this attack by announcing that He would send the Redeemer as the “seed of the woman” Gen. 3:15; Rom. 16:20

Father's Day

June 18, 2023 • Pastor Ben Pitney • Genesis 8:20—9:17

Love should be the empowering force that gives you the strength to stand firm in the faith for the Christ that you love. True masculinity is not negligent in watchfulness; wishy-washy in doctrine; not timid against adversaries and certainly not deficient of love. Masculinity is more than how a man should act; it’s an expression of a man’s love. This call to love certainly is not unique to men. Jesus calls both men and women to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. The question of masculinity (and femininity) gets at how that looks distinctive. For masculinity, the distinguishing feature is self-sacrificing leadership. So then, we can say that Masculinity is gladly assuming sacrificial responsibility.

Developing a Generation with Purpose & Direction

June 11, 2023 • Pastor Mat Miller • 2 Timothy 4:1–2, Proverbs 22:6, 1 Kings 22:29–34, Psalm 127:4, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Scripture tasks parents with a clear mission to teach and train their children, yet the church community also plays an indispensable role. How do we lean fully into our roles in the midst of an increasingly chaotic world? How can lead our faith rather than fear?

Following Christ in the Age of Technology

June 4, 2023 • Pastor Kevin Canterbury

Technology has made our lives easier in so many ways, but it has also redefined how we communicate and even what it means to be human. As Christ followers, we must choose how we will react to new technology and how the Church will respond to a culture that offers endless information and cheap communication.