The Great...

Matthew 13:27, 28a

The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ 

After an awesome Youth Ignite Program, we are diving back into our new sermon series on the Great Controversy. We are exploring the grand narrative of God's story, in which we have a part to play, and I wanted to share with you the Bible texts we used as the starting point of our journey so you could study them for yourself.

• Tares and the Wheat Parable (Matthew 13:27-30, 36-43)

• Creation of the World (Genesis 1 and 2)

• War in Heaven (Revelations 12:7-9)

• Pride of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15)

• The Fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7)

• Declaration of Satans End (Revelation 12:10-12)

Some additional texts to consider:

• Ezekiel 28:12-15

• Romans 5:12-21

• John 3:16, 17

We invite you to pray along and study along with us as we continue this journey with "The Great . . . Tribulation" this week.

–Pastor Jackie James

Sola Scriptura

It means scripture alone and is the basis for our faith. Yet, we know this is not simple, no matter how much we wish it were. If I have learned anything in my years of studying the Bible, it is that I must be humble in my interpretations and applications of scripture. There is always more to know and new eyes to see it through.

The Great Revelation–our scriptures, give us a lens to see God. How we interpret it in our time on earth matters. There are good ways to wrestle together. This last Sabbath we touched on a few principles, and they are worth repeating.

When exploring a text, rather than assuming the verse stands as it sounds, dig deeper. If the text does not reveal the loving character of Christ, then it must be studied more and understood better. Any understanding that does not make us more loving and more Christlike is the wrong understanding.

Scripture is learned best when wrestled with in community. Everyone’s experience differs, but together we make a more complete picture. Questions must be welcomed and included, not feared or answered simplistically. 

And, finally, we need to lean into our questioning, always seeing texts through the eyes of Christ and who Christ has called us to be in service to each other. I know if we approach scripture this way, encouraging true searching and questioning, our individual and communal faith will grow beyond what we can imagine.

–Pastor Jana Lee

The Great Controversy

God is love. From the creation of the world, to its re-creation, woven within the tapestry of earth’s history is a compassionate, merciful, patient, loyal, faithful, and just God (Exodus 34:6-7). This is the conviction at the heart of what we call “The Great Controversy.”

As Seventh-day Adventists, we are unique in how we wrestle with the problem of evil. Why is there suffering? Why does sin exist? Doesn’t God have the power to end it? Instead of addressing the issue by referencing God’s sovereignty and omnipotence, we refer to God’s character.

God most certainly has the power to end things, but the Great Controversy is not a conflict that can be settled with brute force. Why? Because the issue is about character, not power. The real questions at the heart of the controversy are: “is God just? Is God fair? Is God loving?” not “Is God powerful enough?”

As the narrative of history unfolds through the pages of Scripture and time, we see a God who, despite being all-powerful, gives freedom to creation because He desires love, and love can only exist in a free world. Freedom, of course, comes with the risk of rejection but with opportunity. With all the pain and suffering that exists in the world, it is hard to imagine that freedom is worth the price we are paying. The Great Controversy is the wisdom that allows us to say now, “Alleluia! heaven is cheap enough,” (Spiritual Gifts 2:34, 35) as we wait for the day of the coming of our Lord. Our prayer is that at the other end of this series you may come to proclaim with all the saints that God is love.

–Pastor Alex Portillo

The Education of Community

Education does not stop once we earn our various degrees and certificates. Sometimes I wish it would. I would like there to be a time we can say “Ok, I’ve learned all I need for life, now let me just live it.” This is not reality. In reality, life continues to teach us. It is what we do with that continuing education that defines us.

In Ephesians, Paul tells us a little of how to work with each other. He says: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Paul does not reassure us that it will be easy to work with each other, quite the opposite. Diving into the word for “bearing” here, we see that “The word ἀνέχω (anechō) only appears in the middle voice in the NT and means here to patiently tolerate someone who is difficult or foolish... This is why Paul brings in ‘patience’ to qualify the bearing with one another. One can easily tolerate a mildly irritating personality, but patience is especially needed for the foolish or difficult brother or sister in Christ.”

During this hard time of recovery from the pandemic, we need to bear with each other, forgiving past hurts, and valuing the education each other has received as we move forward. This is the way of Christ.

In a year of difficulty in relationships, can we grow through it? See it as continuing education–that education takes many forms? This church body is not a competition to see who ends up the most right, but instead a united whole–we are connected. We can do it healthfully if we see each other as a valued part of Christ’s body–each part needing each other.

–Pastor Jana Lee

A Great Future

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."—Matthew 24:42-44

Jesus takes His disciples aside and begins to share what will be the complete scope of God's plan. The question is, do they get it yet? Jesus’ return will not set up an earthly kingdom but instead will end the question of God's sovereignty and character. His return will not be something that can be predicted, but, must be planned for and anticipated. 

As Christians, we see the entire scope of the Bible as the backdrop to explain God’s love and desire for us. The story of Jesus, His incarnation, ministry, execution, resurrection, and second coming become the linchpin that holds it all together. 

In our next sermon series, “The Great . . .,” we will be looking into what the Bible teaches us about the war in Heaven, the need for the Bible, the time of trouble, end-time events, and the second coming. This past year we have seen and experienced the world change. Is this art imitating reality or is this God shaking the world awake to the reality of His love? 

We invite you to pray with us, study with us, and hope with us as we lead in our next study.

–Pastor Jackie James

After

Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”—John 20:27-29

Several times after the resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples. Each encounter brought them a deeper love for Him. We are told not all the disciples were present the first time Jesus appeared to them. Thomas was absent. When he rejoined the group, he could see and hear the joy and hope, but he had doubts. 

When your heart has been shattered, it is hard to have hope even when others around you say “It will be alright.” Even when you want to walk in faith, it is hard.

Thomas's response to his friends is simple; “I need to see it for myself.” Eight days later, Jesus appears to them again, and this time He looks right at Thomas and invites him to come close and touch his wounds. 

Last week I asked the question, “What does the resurrection mean to you?" Until Thomas saw, and was invited to touch, Jesus’ wounds for himself, the resurrection meant nothing.

I don’t blame Thomas for his response. In fact, I think we should all be with him. Our faith must be rooted in a personal, unshakable experience with the risen Savior for ourselves. Not merely an emotional waterfall or theological path but a moment where we are engulfed with spirit and truth, which is only God given. 

This week my prayer for each of us is that we have an encounter with the risen savior. An encounter that redefines us as sons, daughters, husbands, wives ... Christians. 

–Pastor Jackie James

Humble Beast

This past Sunday, Christians all around the world celebrated Palm Sunday in celebration of Christ’s arrival to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Palm Sunday marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy week. Coming out of the wilderness of fasting, repentance, and self-reflection, Christians begin to walk alongside Jesus in the final week of His life. Early on Sunday morning, I read the story of the from the Triumphal entrance to His burial. One thing particularly stood out to me this time: Those who carried him.  

On the first day of the week, Jesus rode past the walls, and into Jerusalem, carried by a donkey. The people greeted Him as their king with palm branches shouting, “hosanna in the highest!” On Friday, He would be completely abandoned and mocked by Roman soldiers. The soldiers would put a purple robe, a crown of thorns, and a sign above His cross that read, “The king of the Jews.” His corpse would hang on Golgotha’s hill, to be carried by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, to be buried in a tomb.

On Sunday He was carried by a donkey and on Friday He was carried by two friends. No one ever talks about the donkey or the friends in any meaningful way. And that is because they are but perfunctory details; they are small details that make the narrative flow. Yet, they had the greatest privilege: 

They carried the king.

I desire to be like that humble beast that carried Him in and those friends who carried Him out. To live my life as one who carries Jesus while remaining a perfunctory detail. What a privilege it is to humbly carry the king.

The way up is down. (Luke 14:11)

–Pastor Alex Portillo