God does not condemn! God loves!

“A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on ‘The Love of God.’ As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.”  (Source Unknown)

This week at ElmCreek Community Church we will be looking at what the Apostle John has to say about the love of God for the world.  Who is the world?  Why did God send Jesus to die upon a cross?  What happens to those who believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world?

Join us as we struggle together to understand this great love of God.  May we all be prayerfully prepared to hear the truth of the gospel message, the reality of our sinful world, and the love God has for that same world.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

Rebirth

“In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.

“Virgil's first experiences with sight were confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, ‘One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible.’

“To truly see Jesus and his truth means more than observing what he did or said, it means a change of identity.”  (Terry Seufferlein Norman, Oklahoma)

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church at we look at what Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God and the rebirth of a disciple of Jesus Christ.  His words to the Pharisee Nicodemus are powerful in helping us to understand what it means to be in and of the kingdom of God.  May we all be prayerfully prepared to encounter our Creator as we study His Word and Truth for our lives.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

Jesus Knows What is in Man

Amy once had a friend name Susan. They seemed very close and often where one was the other would not be too far away.  Over time Amy began to notice that when Susan would be having issues in life a two-hour phone call would not be far away.  Yet Susan didn’t have much time for Amy’s struggles or issues.  Any call from Amy would eventually have the conversation turned to Susan’s life and issues. 

After Susan got married her relationship with Amy became nearly nonexistent.  Amy was no longer needed in Susan’s life and so Amy was forgotten and abandoned by her once “close” friend.  Susan had a friendship with Amy, not because she loved and cared for Amy, but because Amy was willing to be used to fulfill Susan’s needs and expectations.  Once someone else could meet those needs and expectations, Amy was out of the picture.

In John 2:23-25 Jesus finds himself in the midst of people who “believe in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing” (John 2:23).  Some began to follow Jesus based off on signs and miracles He was performing, not out a true devotion to Him as the Messiah.  And Jesus knew it.  Once His signs became old news these “followers” would quickly turn on Him.

This type of devotion was not a surprise to Jesus.  He understood the heart of man and so He “did not entrust himself to them” (John 2:24).  And yet, what Jesus does to the hearts of those who are fully devoted to Him in faith can only be described as amazing and life changing.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at Christ’s reaction to those who follow Him because of signs and what He does to the hearts of those who follow Him out of faith alone.  May we be prayerfully prepared to encounter Him as we gather with His people and read His Word.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

The Sign of Christ's Authority

When in college I made the mistake of asking God to show me a sign of His power.  Perhaps He could open my eyes to see one of His angels in all its splendor.  Needless to say, he denied my request.  But He also taught me a valuable lesson in trusting Him.

What would urge me to make such a request?  Were there doubts in my mind of whether God was powerful enough to fulfill my request?  Did I just desire to see something unbelievable?  Or was I questioning if God was real?

After Jesus drove the money-changers and animal-sellers from the temple the authorities asked Jesus to provide a sign of His authority to do such an act.  Jesus’ answer throws them for a loop and they miss His point entirely.  Jesus tells them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  But He wasn’t talking about  a building.

What would a sign do for the faith of the authorities?  How would a sign reveal Jesus’ true nature as the Messiah?  Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we wrestle with these and other questions, seeking to understand the character of the Messiah.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

The Myth of Righteous Anger

“A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. ‘There's nothing wrong with losing my temper,’ she said. ‘I blow up, and then it's all over.’

“‘So does a shotgun,’ Sunday replied, ‘and look at the damage it leaves behind!’”

In John 2:13-17 we read about Jesus’ cleansing of the temple.  He makes a whip of cords, overturns tables, and drives people and animals off of the temple grounds.  This passage is rightly often used as an example of righteous anger, but anger is not the point of Christ’s actions nor is it the lesson meant for the disciple of Christ.  In fact, if this passage teaches anything about anger it points to the fact that rarely is our anger righteous.  More often our anger leaves damage behind similar to the firing of a shotgun.

What makes anger righteous for the disciple of Jesus Christ?  Is it even possible for us to have righteous anger?  What is the reason for Christ’s reaction in the temple?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we strive to answer these questions and more in our study of the Gospel of John.  May we be prayerfully prepared to encounter His Word for His glory.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark