Ashes being prepared from last year's palms for our service today.
Today, March 1, 2017, is the first today of the liturgical season of Lent. If you search your Bible for Lent I assure you that you will not find it as it was created by men as a lead up to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday (this year on April 16). The Church recognized that the call of the Gospel is to faith in Christ, but that faith leads us to repentance--a turning from sin to God in a continual, faithful way that yields the fruit worthy of repentance as a result. While every day in the life of the Christian should be an exercise in repentance, it is useful to have a time in the life of the Christian to have a season when repentance takes a place of prominence.
As Jesus went about his earthly ministry he indicated that the proclamation of the Gospel in the form of miracles, should have resulted in repentance, symbolized in the Old Testament by the wearing of sackcloth and ashes.
"Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.' " -Matthew 11:20-24 ESV
For the Christian today, we have the miracle of faith that leads us to a salvation in Christ. As a result, it is right for us to repent and even to set aside seasons in our lives when repentance is of prime importance. If you are in a place when repentance is needed (which is everyone always), then come and take the symbol of ashes and sackcloth today and seek God in prayer, in fasting and in devotion to turn from sin and to turn to His will. Let this season be an open time of confession, but also of moving away from sinful patterns and into godly ones. It is not enough to merely stop sinning, we must take up faith in its place for it to be true repentance. This is not an instantaneous act, but one that takes place over time. As we enter this season, I invite you to a time of repentance. Come to Jesus and lay down the burden of sin and take up his yoke of faith. Let repentance be the work of the Spirit in your life to remove sin and bind you to the Savior as you find your rest in his love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.
News for You:
Our Ash Wednesday services will be today, March 1, at noon and 7 p.m. The short services are an open invitation to a season of repentance.
In our passage from last week, the Apostle Paul warned the Philippians of those who would seek to steal their joy by encouraging them to put their confidence in someone or something other than Christ. While the Apostle certainly has salvation in mind, we may expand that idea to include the conception of the self (i.e. who I am) and how and who defines the self. The temptation today is to demand the autonomous creation of identity. In other words, the culture teaches, that the individual gets to define self in numerous categories and that self-determination is tyrannically imposed on others. The value presented here is the value of definition, specifically self-definition. The place of the Christian in this is to question if that is something really to be valued at all.
Too often as we confront a culture gone mad we attempt to combat the symptoms, but do not touch the disease--those being the worldview values underlying the increasingly strange list of things that can, should and must be self-determined about the self and must, in turn, be accepted if not celebrated by others. When Christians go to war on these issues we typically think we will dissuade the other from a list of behaviors and they will come around to our way doing things. We too often leave untouched the sick and deadly worldview values and thus accomplish nothing in the long term, if we accomplish anything at all.
A better approach is to deal at the level of values, which I use here almost in an economic sense. A value is something we desire/want and will give of our resources (whatever those may be) to obtain it. Understanding this concept of a value, a good question to seek to answer would be, "What is it that a particular person values and how are those values determined?" When we get at values, we can understand confidence. Hence:
"though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." -Philippians 3:4-7 ESV
The Apostle demonstrates here the works-based worldview he had prior to his faith in Christ Jesus. He believed and acted upon values that stated that what you are by birth and what you do as a result of that is your reason to be confident that you have right standing with God. To be sure, the Apostle abandoned these values when he came to know Christ, realizing that these were false values leading to a false confidence.
The same is true today and we, as followers of Jesus, need to apply that truth. My self-worth is not determined by self-definition and your acceptance (if not celebration) of my self-definition. Instead, my self-worth is determined purely by the death of the Son of God on my behalf. Christ Jesus, out of pure love, gave himself in my place upon the cross. In humility Christ emptied himself that I may be filled with the presence of God. In that worldview, what is valued is not self, but Christ. My values are further determined by the values of Christ Jesus and never by the prevailing whims of culture.
When we meet people who are confused in a deeply confusing age, the kind and loving thing is to discuss what is valued and to honestly share our values as followers of Jesus. And remember, what we value above all else is Christ and even the self is not too high price to pay to gain him.
News for You:
We are hosting an evening of community prayer and worship of February 28 at 7 p.m. Please plan to come and pray with us.
Ash Wednesday is March 1. We will have services at both noon and 7
p.m. for those wishing to enter into a season of repentance in
preparation for Resurrection Sunday.
Note: Sorry to take an unexpected hiatus. Illness and other pastoral duties kept me from my weekly posts the last few weeks. Hopefully this will be a very isolated break.
After the Apostle Paul charges the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord he warns them of those who, if possible, would take away their joy. There are simply those in the world who want to be so serious about all things that joy is simply squeezed out. Christ Jesus in Matthew 11:19 stated, "The son of Man eating and drinking and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." It is not that Jesus came to eat, drink and be merry, but rather that in the joy of God's redeeming love, Christ Jesus celebrated when sinners came near to him because in drawing near to the Redeemer they drew near to their salvation. This is the heart of God--not that you should be condemned, but that you should be saved (John 3:16-21, Mark 10:45). The angel of God announced the coming of the Redeemer as good news of great joy (Luke 2:10). With all this joy in salvation we could begin to think that everyone will rejoice, yet in practice we know this is not the truth as the Apostle makes clear.
"Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" -Philippians 3:2-3
The Keepers-of-the-Way-Things-Are (KOWTA) do not find joy in the coming of Christ Jesus in any shape or form. When Christ came in the flesh his earthly ministry was met with derision, denunciation and eventually, death. When Christ comes to a sinner in faith too often the KOWTAs seek to steal that joy of salvation. The Apostle here warns the Philippians of this possibility when he specifically warns them to beware of those who would seek to impose the Jewish ceremonial law onto those who have their salvation in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jewish ceremonial law and those who follow him are not longer under its constraints. Yet, the KOWTAs then and now want to be sure everyone does just as it has always been done. This is confidence in past method and not in King Jesus the Redeemer.
While the circumcision party does pop up here and there with calls to return Christians to the Jewish ceremonial law, far more common today in the new KOWTAs is a reliance upon a particular way/method/mode of being/doing Church. Worship music fights are often a clash with the KOWTAs of two different camps. Church budgets are often the product of KOWTAs. Even something so simple as amending the bylaws can lead to a KOWTA battle. The remedy for these and countless other examples is Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus is our confidence--never a way of doing things. Our salvation belongs completely to him and to no one else, not even ourselves. The entry into the covenant people of God (what circumcision symbolized and is now symbolized in baptism) is accomplished in his saving work upon the cross and confirmed in his resurrection. Our salvation is completely the work of God and we add nothing to it by our own works. We are God's covenant people because God has chosen us for Himself. Thus, we have the authentic Spirit of God who leads us into worship in various forms and we put our confidence in Christ Jesus in whom we glory.
So watch out for the KOWTAs who would steal the joy of salvation and place upon the burden of slavishness to a set of practises as if they were necessary for you to be saved. The only thing necessary to be saved is Christ Jesus. Through the Spirit's gift of faith in Jesus you have every confidence in the world of your salvation. Yet if we seek to add our confidence based upon our own actions, we have no confidence at all.
Rejoice with the one who rejoices to give you redemption and let any who would lessen your joy fall silent.
Opportunities to Serve:
Our music leader, Elder Don Pearce, will be gone for the next 3 Sundays. We are looking for any in the congregation would like to help lead worship on February 26 and March 5. If you are interested, contact Pastor Bill.
Jeff Jeremiah, the Stated Clerk of our General Assembly, has asked for your help in raising awareness and calling on our government to take action regarding the wrongful imprisonment of Pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. You can read more about the situation here. You can also sign a White House petition here. The goal of the petition is to garner 100,000 signatures by March 8 so that it will require an official White House response.
News for You:
The church office will be closed on February 20 in observance of President's Day.
We are hosting an evening of community prayer and worship of February 28 at 7 p.m. Please plan to come and pray with us.
Ash Wednesday is March 1. We will have services at both noon and 7 p.m. for those wishing to enter into a season of repentance in preparation for Resurrection Sunday.
Shout Out:
Thanks to everyone who made our Mad Hatter Tea Party such an enjoyable time of fellowship. A special thank you goes to Jim and Sandee Freese for many hours of preparation and clean up.
The Apostle Paul thanked God that he was delivered from the potential sorrow of Epaphroditus' death. As he concludes the matter of sending Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippians he takes a moment to remind the Church to rejoice. Joy, part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is part of the maturing Christian's life and is to be the basic attitude of the Christian toward the God who redeems in Christ Jesus.
"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you." -Philippians 3:1 ESV
In an age of sarcasm, cynicism and pessimism, the Christian should above all stand out for our innate joy in salvation. Through the gift of faith, the Christian has assurance of pardon for sin, an inheritance of eternal life and a confidence that God will put all things to rights through Christ Jesus. As the Apostle suffered imprisonment for Christ, it was joy in the Lord that overwhelmed him and joy in the Lord that became his command to the Philippians.
The implications of this command are straight forward. To encourage each other to find and place our joy in the Lord who loves us, saves us and transforms us is never burdensome and is always safe. While despair, snark and contempt are fashionable in cultural attitude toward others and toward God, the Christian is not allowed that route for good reason. To give in to the spirit of the age and despair is to deny the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus in us through faith. To deny that power is troublesome and unsafe.
So find joy in the Lord. Take time to rejoice in prayer to God for the great salvation He has wrought in you through Christ Jesus. Then share that same joy in thought, word and deed and in simply how you approach life and find that evangelism, sharing the great joy of the Good News of Christ Jesus, comes spilling out.
News for You
Sign up for a small group this Sunday as we study the Gospel Project's Saved.
The six week study begins the week of 1/29 and will help us in God's Word to rest secure in our
salvation and spur us to better proclaim God's salvation in Christ
Jesus.
The 109th annual meeting of the congregation of Community
Presbyterian Church will take place 1/29/17 following the fellowship
hour. If you are a member or just curious, come reflect on the year
behind and pray for the year ahead.
Last week we saw how the Apostle Paul had deep concern for the well-being of Epaphroditus who had taken ill in his missionary journey to bring financial and moral support to the Apostle in prison. The Apostle rejoiced that the Lord had granted him mercy and comfort by restoring Epaphroditus. It is now the Apostle's aim to send back Epaphroditus to Philippi so that his own church may also come to know his relief from grief and experience it as joy.
"I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me." -Philippians 2:28-30 ESV
Our passage this week leads us to think about Christian missionaries and others who share our faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior who risk life and limb to serve him. As many of you know, we have been praying for Andrew Brunson, a pastor ordained in the EPC, who has been imprisoned in Turkey where he has served and ministered for many years. Pastor Andrew is one of many sisters and brothers in harm's way for the Gospel, but he hits close to home for us in the EPC and becomes emblematic for the persecuted church as a whole for me. While I have not and likely will not meet this brother face-to-face this side of glory, I would rejoice greatly to know he has been freed and all is well. I hope you will join me in praying to that end.
Even in the midst of this all, we come to realize just how impossible it is for us to get around thinking about life and death. Death, while for the saints a passing moment that puts an end to sin, pain and sorrow in our lives, is none-the-less an end of relationships in the here and now. The restoration of Epaphroditus serves to remind us that death is tragic and an enemy of God defeated in the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Those who risk death for the Gospel are to be honored by the Church as we rejoice in their service to Christ Jesus. What's more, such death-risking activity should spur us all to proclaim Christ all the more each and every day.
News for you
Sign up for a small group this Sunday (1/22/17) as we study the Gospel Project's Saved. The six week study will help us in God's Word to rest secure in our salvation and spur us to better proclaim God's salvation in Christ Jesus.
This Saturday 10 am-noon Bob Walsh from the EPC Foundation will be on hand to teach us about Transformational Giving. If you RSVP in a hurry (like now) lunch will be provided.
The 109th annual meeting of the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church will take place 1/29/17 following the fellowship hour. If you are a member or just curious, come reflect on the year behind and pray for the year ahead.
Linda Swanson is looking for somebody healthy and strong to help her in the coming weeks for three days and two nights each week with the ranch and with caring for Bill. Room and board as well as fair pay are available.
The Apostle Paul, moldering physically in prison, had been sustained by his ministry associates and by a gift carried by Epaphroditus. This gift had been a blessing to Paul in many ways beyond the physical sustenance it provided. He was encouraged by the remembrance of him by the Philippians. He was comforted that he did not bear his suffering alone. More than any other comfort, however, was the comfort that his labor in, for and with the Lord had not been in vain. Indeed, the Gospel of King Jesus the Redeemer had taken root in the hearts and minds of the Philippians and it was bearing fruit. In his suffering, he found comfort that the service he had rendered to his God was of value. So it was disheartening to the Apostle when Epaphroditus, this messenger of comfort, fell ill. Here is how the Apostle puts it:
"I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my
brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister
to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because
you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy
on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon
sorrow." -Philippians 2:25-27 ESV
The Apostle Paul made plans to send Epaphroditus back to the Philippians so that they too may be comforted by their brother. He speaks well of a man well-known already to the Philippians and some questions why he would need to do this. Yet haven't we all had something or someone in our lives that had been disregarded and overlooked for a long time until value and worth come to the fore. I can think of a time in algebra class when I wondered when I would ever use such information in my life. As an adult, I can say that the value and worth of being able to solve an equation has shown itself many times (planning a garden, doing taxes and calculating costs to name just a few). I have also been given gifts that I thought were of little to no use until the time came that I needed that tool and all of the sudden I had a new appreciation for the gift. Sometimes it takes someone else to reveal the use and purpose for us to come to appreciation. Even more, it can take someone else pointing out the qualities and gifts of another person that we already know before we realize just how valuable they are. That is exactly what Paul is doing for Epaphroditus.
Even still, the Apostle reports to the Philippians that sending him back almost did not happen. Epaphroditus had fallen ill. Whatever this illness was, it was serious enough that he could have died. All of the wonderful things and purposes that the Apostle saw in Epaphroditus could have come to an end in this world, yet the Apostle reports that God had mercy to remove from Paul his possibility of deep sorrow. The Lord, in his great mercy, restored Epaphroditus to health and thus prevented the already languishing Apostle from a deeper sorrow.
As we think through the passage, it seems to lead us to seek the Lord's mercy and the comfort God provides himself in Christ Jesus through the ministry of fellow believers. We will have sorrows in this world. Pain and suffering are part of the human condition (no matter how hard we try to avoid such things). In that pain and in that suffering, we need to seek God's mercy. We need to find ourselves in the arms of the one who created all things and in Christ Jesus makes all things new. Is someone in your life in need of God's mercy? Provide comfort with a kind word at the very least. Be creative in how God could use you to help others. Are you need of mercy and comfort? Turn to the Lord in prayer and receive the missionary work of fellow believers even if it means risking sorrow.
News for You:
Small Groups are starting a six-week study the week of January 22. We will be studying 'Saved,' published as part of the Gospel Project. Plan to sign up for a group this Sunday! We have books on order for 60, but if you prefer a digital copy, just click the link and follow the directions.
The bathrooms upstairs at CPC are undergoing a refreshing. That means we are putting down new flooring (the old flooring was original and has served its useful life) and painting the walls. We have other needs like this in our facility and will be doing them from time to time to maintain the facility for the use of giving glory to God. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Our small group ministry just concluded a study entitled 'Experiencing God.' Throughout the study we were challenged to look for God is doing in the world and then join him in that work. On the surface this seems pretty straight forward, but the challenge comes when the Lord's will and my desire come into conflict. Blackaby, the author of the study, labeled these moments a crisis of belief that would lead the person to either adjust life to the call and will of God or to walk away disheartened and bitter (think the rich young man). Adjustment means having my life, my desire and my will conformed to the Lord's will. To undergo this process of conforming to the Lord's will is to be a disciple of Christ Jesus, the one who perfectly did the will of his Father.
The will of God comes to the forefront in our brief passage from Philippians:
"I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it
will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also." -Philippians 2:23-24 ESV
It was clearly the Apostle's desire to go and be with the Philippians who had so graciously provided for his physical needs while he was in prison. Sending Timothy, couched int he language of hope, as his proxy was acceptable, but that was not his heart's desire. In essence, the Apostle knew that his upcoming trial could have two outcomes: 1) He could go free and then resume his travel plans, including visiting the church in Philippi again or 2) He would be convicted of riotous behavior and disturbing the peace and sentenced to any number of gruesome fates. While the Apostle sincerely hoped and desired the first, it seems through out the letter that the Apostle came to countenance the thought that God may be glorified in his imprisonment and suffering.
Here in our passage we can actually see the Apostle crisis of belief on display (which will be resolved famously in Philippians 4:13). The Apostle makes a plan to send Timothy (if the Lord should will it, hence the 'hope') if things turn toward option 2, but he holds out the possibility that the Lord could lead him to option 1 (and that is his desire). And this is where the beauty of the Christian faith comes through--we can sincerely desire and express our desire for things to go a certain way, but when they do not we trust in the Lord and His will to be better for His glory. This is beautiful in theory, difficult in practice, but ultimately glorifying to our God.
News for You:
A new, six-week session of Small Groups begins the week of January 22nd.
The new year is a perfect time for growing closer to Christ and to each
other. Make a resolution to sign up for a small group!
