Pastor Mike was at a family reunion.

Pastor Eric was on a family vacation.

You kept doing what you do best.

Last Sunday both our pastors were out of town and this happens like never. And no surprise, you proved what we've always believed. The church isn't about any one man or woman (ok, maybe one man named Jesus but besides Jesus). You didn't skip a beat.

The gospel was sung, preached, and celebrated. Church members served one another and welcomed guests. Sunday School was in session. People were encouraged and comforted. Friendships were forged. God was glorified.

Well done Sovereign Grace. Keep on keeping on...

This month Lucas Enge (our Pastoral Resident) is preaching a 3 sermon series through the Book of Lamentations. You can listen to the first one here. It was a wonderful reminder of how the severity of our sin and God's judgement leads us to marvel in our great salvation.

"Mourning turns to marveling."

Pastor Eric reminded us during the service that having other men preach isn't only an opportunity to develop new preachers. This is also an opportunity for God to develop us (the congregation).

1. When others preach, it helps us keep the gospel first and foremost. It is the gospel we have come to hear, not a particular man.
2. When others preach, we learn to share our ministries. We watch our pastors invest in others. We watch them support and encourage and celebrate their progress. This in turn encourages the entire church to do the same in their ministry roles
3. When others preach, it cultivates trust. It trains us to place our confidence in Jesus, not in our preachers.

Pastor Eric said "We are so humbled by your trust in us (your pastors). It is a precious and fearful thing and we are honored by it. But listen. You're trust in us is not our goal. Not at all.

"We labor for you to trust your Savior, not your pastors."

Deacon David Christensen

This past Sunday we celebrated the ordination of our second deacon. You can see all our leaders here and the process with which we ordain deacons here. This was yet another reminder of how much God loves us and cares for us.

Deacons are men called by God to lead us by serving us. They do more than ensure no one goes without basic necessities, deacon's protect the communal joy we share in Christ.

Deacons are servants.

Deacons promote diversity.

Deacons work for unity.

Deacons preserve pastoral ministry.

Deacons are missional.

Mourning Sin Like A Saint

This week Lucas Enge begins a three-week series on the Book of Lamentations. If you don't know this book, you are in for quite a surprise. It is an alphabetical account of a very disordered response to sin. Join us this month in celebrating the astounding, never ceasing grace of God to save sinners.

This Sunday.

Come celebrate the ordination of David Christensen to the Office of Deacon.

Deacons are a sign from God that He cares about us, from our biggest needs on down to the least. Deacons are our boots on the ground. They are individuals God calls and equips to set the pace among us, as we serve, strive for diversity and unity, and extend mercy.

Learn more about what we believe about deacons.

"...It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched..." (Mark 9:47 ESV)

This past Sunday Pastor Eric preached from Mark 9 and the realities of sin, hell, and the kingdom of God. The logic behind these hard sayings is straightforward. You can't get around it.

Heaven isn't full of people who fear hell.

Heaven is full of people who love God.

The greatest burden mankind has ever born is the guilt of our sin. The greatest consequence of our sin is hell. And the greatest news is that both of these are canceled at the cross.

“Hell is the backdrop that reveals the profound and unbelievable grace of the cross. It brings to light the enormity of our sin and therefore portrays the undeserved favor of God in full color.” (Francis Chan, Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity and Things We Made Up)

Listen below and come ready to sing (like you always do)!

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 ESV)

Last Sunday Pastor Eric preached from Mark 9 and the interchange between Jesus and his disciples over greatness. What truly makes a person great? How is greatness measured? And how does this shape our relationship with others, especially those we only know from a distance?

The irony was that the disciples were arguing about greatness while walking with the greatest man who has ever lived. You would think His presence would have humbled his disciples, but it didn't. And still doesn't.

We size one another up.

"...from the first moment when a man meets another person he is looking for a strategic position he can assume and hold over against that person...all this can occur in the most polite or even pious environment.

The important thing is that a Christian community should know that somewhere in it there will certainly be "a reasoning among them, which of them should be the greatest." It is the struggle of the natural man for self-justification. He finds it only in comparing himself with others, in condemning and judging others. Self-justification and judging others go together, as justification by grace and serving others go together." (Dietrich Bonhoffer, Life Together)