Invited to Surrender

Three of our greatest human needs are provision, protection, and power. We want to know that we’ll have enough, that we’ll be safe, and that we matter. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Devil tempts Jesus to take these needs into his own hands – to make his own bread (vs. 3), make a spectacular leap (vs. 6), or to grab control of earthly realms (vv. 8-9). In each instance, Jesus resists. Rather than seizing control, Jesus chooses to surrender to God’s loving care. Instead of a weary life of managing outcomes, Jesus chooses a life of responsive obedience.

What outcomes are you trying to manage today? What situations are you trying to control? Jesus invites you to surrender these things to God’s loving care.

If you missed yesterday’s message, you can listen to it here. Or watch the entire service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

The Future of Worship

 Revelation 7:9-17 reveals that worship in eternity will be diverse, God-focused, and satisfying. It will be diverse as we’ll worship alongside other cultures and traditions. Our personal style preferences will pale as our full attention is focused on God. And lastly, as we bask in God’s presence, giving our lives and worship toward to Jesus, we’ll find our deepest longings satisfied. 

This profound and beautiful picture of eternal worship is what we’re preparing for now. We want our earthly worship to reflect our heavenly worship – diverse, God-centered, and soul satisfying. 

On March 26, we will hold a single unified service combining worship elements from our traditional and contemporary services. Afterwards, we’ll hold our annual congregational meeting. Mark your calendars now for this very special Sunday.

If you missed yesterday's message, you can listen to the sermon here or watch the entire service on our YouTube channel.

For Christ,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

The Liturgies that Shape Us

Speaking of the human person’s relationship to God, the fifth-century theologian and philosopher Augustine of Hippo wrote, “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” In other words, it’s the longings of our heart – our desires and wants – that shape the direction of our lives. It’s not our brains, but our gut, that defines our loves and loyalties. In Christian worship we submit our hearts, over and over, to the gentle re-forming work of Jesus (we call it “liturgy.”) Christian worship tunes our desires toward God’s life-giving purposes and builds our resistance to the noise that restlessly lures us away. Daniel 3:1-18 is a great example of what restful, confident, and well-formed hearts look like in the face of temptation to wander. 

If you missed yesterday's message, you can listen to the sermon here or watch the entire service on our YouTube channel.

For Christ,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org