Basic Words for Life

The Ten Commandments (literally ten words) constitute God’s vision for a life of human flourishing. Fresh out of 430 years of slavery and in stark contrast to centuries of oppression in Egypt, God initiates a relationship of covenant with Israel shaped by welcoming invitation (Exodus 19:1-5). This Summer, we’re committing to memory the Ten Commandments which lie at the heart of God’s covenant relationship with us. Below are lyrics and a link to a song we’re using to help us. 

Listen to the full message here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org 

The Perfect Ten
Number one, we’ve just begun, 
  God should be first in your life. 
Number two’s the idol rule; 
  Those graven images aren’t nice. 
Number three, God’s name should be 
  Never spoken in jest. 
Number four, Sabbath’s for 
  Our worship and for rest. 
Number five, we all should strive 
  to honor father and mother. 
Number six, don’t get your kicks 
  From killing one another. 
Number seven, life is heaven 
  When you’re true to your mate. 
Number eight, don’t steal and break 
  This rule for goodness sake! 
Number nine, don’t be the kind 
  Who goes around telling lies. 
Number ten, don’t covet when 
  You see your neighbor’s house or wife. 
 
That’s the list and God insists 
We stay away from these sins; 
That is why we memorize 
Commandments one thru ten.

The Perfect Ten, by Kathie Hill

Three Personal God

You were made in the likeness of a relational God. You were created in the image of a God who exists eternally in a tri-unity of perfect relationship: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s why friendships matter and betrayal hurts. That’s why we crave connection and genuine love. The doctrine of the Trinity (“One God in three persons”) is not some abstract theological concept. On the contrary, the Trinity has everything to do with what makes us human. 

Listen to the full message here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org 

Reversing Babel

One way of understanding the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21) is that it reverses Babel (Genesis 11.) The Babel story was about exclusion (building a fortress to keep others out) but the story of Pentecost is about inclusion (all the nations of the earth hear the message of God’s salvation.) The Babel story was about making a name for itself (read Genesis 11:4!) but the Pentecost story is about making a name for Jesus. The Babel story was about a place, but the Pentecost story is about a people (cf. Acts 2:42-47.) 

Wanna know more about how you and I can live the Pentecost story? Listen to the full message here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

What We Know

As the writer closes 1 John, he wants his readers to know they have eternal life: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13) Eternal life is not some far off distant possibility that only happens when we die. Eternal life is a present reality for those in God’s kingdom. The late Dallas Willard was so confident of this reality that he once remarked, “I think that when I die, it might be some time until I know it.” (“Dallas Willard, a Man for Another ‘Time Zone,’ Christianity Today, May 8, 2013). For this reason, 1 John closes with the admonition to “keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) John longs for his community to settle for nothing less than the wide-open goodness of God’s eternal life in Christ. 

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

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Giving to Others

1 John 3:16 makes it pretty clear. Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to do the same for others. Sharing our “worldly goods” (1 John 3:17) with those in need is proof that we are on the side of God’s truth and not just faking our faith (1 John 3:19). But how much? When? With whom? I read one commentary on this passage that said we ought to “give till it hurts.” I think John knows how this kind of thinking can pitch us down a path of “debilitating self-criticism” (1 John 3:21, The Message). 1 John wants his congregation to live in freedom and love, not in guilt and self-criticism. 1 John reminds them that God (not us!) is a God of unlimited resources. He boasts, “Whatever we ask we receive from [God]” (1 John 3:22). Giving that flows from my own resources tends to treat others as projects and problems, while giving that flows God’s generosity reflects Jesus’ love for people. 

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

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Practice What?

Love is supposed to define us as children of God, yet there are times when loving ourselves and others can be difficult. When we stumble, wrestle with old habits, or feel disappointed by others, we can wonder if Jesus really makes a difference. However, 1 John 3:1-7 reminds us that we are a work in progress. The writer assures us that we are God’s children now, and that more is to come. "What we will become has not yet been revealed," as it says in 1 John 3:2. Years ago, I heard someone put it this way: "God loves me just as I am but too much to leave me that way.” 

No matter the trials you face today, remember that God's love doesn’t depend on having it all together. It's grounded in the simple truth that you are a child of God.

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

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Why Are You Doing This?

Palm Sunday begins the culminating week of Jesus’ story of salvation. In Mark 11:1-11 Jesus enters Jerusalem as a very different kind of king. Instead of a seasoned warhorse, Jesus rides on a colt “on which no one has ever sat.” (v.2) Instead of armed soldiers flanking Jesus, we see a rag-tag collection of followers who have taken up life with Jesus. Instead of the spoils of war trailing this king, the people put down the very clothes from their backs. Jesus is coming as king, but his kingdom is one where the first are last, where the least are greatest, where those who lead are those who serve, and you lose your life to find it. This is God’s story of salvation that begins this week. 

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

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org