The Transformation of a Fisherman: From Diet Christianity to Radical Discipleship

We live in a world obsessed with quick fixes and minimal commitment. This is evident in how so many approach things like physical health and, worse yet, spiritual well-being. The parallels are striking—and convicting.

The Disciple Diet

Consider the typical diet. We establish a few rules about what we'll consume, commit to them for maybe a a few days or weeks, reward ourselves with a "cheat day" (or two, or three) and then wonder why nothing changes. After a couple months of this less than valiant effort, we declare that diets simply don't work.

Too many of us treat our faith the same way we treat diets. We decide to give Jesus a couple of changes—maybe we'll say fewer "bad words", attend church, or give a little more to charitable causes. We devote minimal energy towards our commitment to Christ and then wonder why we don't experience transformation.

The fact of the matter is this: Jesus isn't asking to be Lord over a part of you. He is calling you to make Him Lord over all of you.  

A Fisherman's Journey

The story of Simon Peter illustrates this truth perfectly. When his brother Andrew first brought him to Jesus, declaring "We have found the Messiah," Jesus looked at this fisherman and immediately renamed him. "You are Simon, son of John. You shall be called Peter"—which means "rock."

At first, Peter followed Jesus part-time. For a full year, he maintained his normal life—fishing with his family business, going home at night to his wife. For the most part, as best as we can see he lived his regular routine. When Jesus called, he'd come. But it wasn't exclusive. It wasn't total.

The Turning Point

Then came the moment that changed everything.

After teaching from Peter's boat to a crowd on the shore, Jesus made an unusual request: "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Peter, exhausted from fishing unsuccessfully all night, responded with pure logic: "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing."

Every fisherman knows that some days the fish just aren't biting. They had tried every spot, used every technique, employed all their expertise—and caught absolutely nothing. Going back out made no sense.

But then Peter said five transformative words: "But at your word, I will."

Because You Say So

Those words—"because you say so"—represent the heart of genuine discipleship.

Following Jesus doesn't always make sense. Biblical generosity doesn't make sense when you're struggling financially. Biblical sexuality doesn't align with modern cultural values. Forgiveness doesn't make sense when someone has deeply wounded you. Loving a difficult spouse, submitting to an imperfect husband, working diligently for an unreasonable boss—none of it makes logical sense.

But transformation begins when we say: "Lord, this doesn't make sense to me, but because You say so, I will do it."

When Peter obeyed, the catch was so abundant that the boats began to sink. Overwhelmed by Christ's power, Peter fell to his knees: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

This is the appropriate response to encountering Jesus. Not "What can you do for me?" but "I don't deserve this."

Jesus ignored Peter's request to leave and instead issued a new calling: "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching men."

At that moment, Peter gave up everything. He wasn't on a "Jesus diet" anymore. Jesus wasn't part of his life—Jesus became his life.

The Process of Transformation

Peter's journey with Jesus included extraordinary moments. Moments that would leave Peter stunned and changed.

Jesus was transfigured on a mountain where Moses and Elijah also appeared. Peter, James and John saw the whole thing.

Peter walked on water—literally—as long as his eyes remained fixed on Christ. But the moment he looked at the wind and waves around him, he began to sink.

How often do we do the same? We focus on worldly problems instead of our Savior, and we sink into fear and doubt. The things of earth become overwhelming when we take our eyes off Jesus.

Peter, with a display of tremendous courage even put his own life at risk by drawing swords against the temple guard when they came to arrest Jesus.

Despite this courage, he later denied knowing Christ three times. On his third denial, a rooster crowed, fulfilling Jesus's prediction. Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Imagine the highlight reel playing through his mind as he wept: The wedding at Cana, the moment when Jesus called him to become a fisher of men, walking on water, intimate moments of teaching, healing, and tremendous displays of love.

And now, for fear, he had abandoned Jesus.

Saturday Darkness, Sunday Hope

What must the Saturday after the crucifixion have been like for the disciples? Their Lord was dead. They were locked in a room, terrified. Just days earlier, they had entered Jerusalem in triumph. Now everything seemed lost.

Those Saturday moments—when we think our situation is beyond hope, when we can't imagine how God could possibly work things out—are when God is often preparing something extraordinary. Your failed marriage, your lost job, your shattered plans, your addiction—it might all feel like Saturday. But God specializes in taking ugly things and making them beautiful.

Breakfast by the Fire

After His resurrection, Jesus met the disciples while they were fishing—once again, they had caught nothing all night. When they followed His instruction to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, they couldn't haul in the massive catch.

Peter, recognizing Jesus on the shore, didn't wait for the boat. He jumped into the water and swam to his Lord.

There, by a charcoal fire—reminiscent of the fire where Peter had denied Him—Jesus asked three times: "Do you love me?"

Three denials. Three affirmations. Complete restoration.

Jesus gave Peter his mission: "Feed my sheep."

Your Transformation Awaits

Peter was transformed from the monotony of simply existing to a man on a mission. On the day of Pentecost, he preached a sermon that led 3,000 people to salvation. When religious leaders commanded him to stop speaking about Jesus, he boldly refused.

The same transformation is available to you. Not a diet version of Christianity where you make minimal changes and expect maximum results. Not a partial commitment where Jesus gets Sunday mornings when convenient.

Real transformation comes when Jesus becomes your life—when you can say, even when it doesn't make sense, "Because You say so, Lord, I will do it."

What is He calling you to today? What doesn't make sense but requires your obedience? That's where your transformation begins.

The Empty Tomb: What Easter Truly Means for Your Life

Let's start with a thought experiment: If someone offered you $100 million right now—completely yours to do whatever you like with—but of course there is a catch: you would only have seven days left to live. Would you take it?

The answer is obvious. Weather you are eight or eighty, you wouldn't sell your remaining days for any amount of money. Why? Because no amount of money, not even a billion dollars, could compare to the value of life itself. We instinctively understand this truth, even if we scarcely if ever pause to reflect on it. Life is the most precious commodity we possess.

Now, take that thought one step further: What if someone offered you eternal life? A life without end, with a glorified body, free from pain, suffering, and death itself. What would that be worth to you?

This is precisely what Easter celebrates—not just a historical event that happened two thousand years ago, but an offer that remains open today.

Ancient Prophecies Point to Something Extraordinary

Nearly a thousand years before Jesus walked the earth, King David penned a mysterious prophecy in Psalm 16:10: "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your Holy One see corruption." Corruption here being used for its less common definition dealing with organic decay.

For centuries, the Hebrew people pondered these words. What did they mean? This prophecy spoke of someone whose soul would not be abandoned to death and whose body would not decay. But how could someone die and yet not experience the decay that inevitably follows death?

The prophet Isaiah added more pieces to this puzzle seven hundred years before Christ's birth. In Isaiah 53, he described a suffering servant who would be "crushed" and offered as a "guilt offering" for the sins of many. Yet remarkably, this same servant would "prolong his days" and "see his offspring." Offspring here being translated from an agrarian term dealing with the seeds that had been spread.

In other words, this savior would see the fruit of their ministry post mortem.

How could someone die as a sacrifice and yet live on? How could someone bear witness to the fruit from the their ministry even after their death?

The Temple Prophecy

In John chapter two we enter the scene as Jesus arrives at the Jerusalem temple. He entered the temple courts to find that it had been transformed into a marketplace. What was meant to be a place of worship and prayer had become a corrupt enterprise where religious leaders exploited worshipers.

The system worked like a well-oiled scam: Travelers would bring animals for sacrifice, only to have priests declare them "unacceptable." The priests would then buy these animals at deflated prices and resell them to other worshipers at four or five times their actual value. Money changers charged 15-20% fees for currency exchanges. It was extortion.

Jesus, filled with righteous anger, overturned the tables and drove out the merchants. When the religious leaders demanded to know by what authority he acted, Jesus gave them a cryptic answer: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

They thought he was talking about the physical building. He was talking about his body.

The Evidence That Changed Everything

Three days after Jesus was crucified, something unprecedented happened: the tomb was empty.

This wasn't a private event witnessed by a handful of devoted followers who could have conspired together. Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after his resurrection. The apostle Paul would later write about this, noting that most of these eyewitnesses were still alive and thus could be questioned.

Think about the implications. This wasn't ancient history when Paul wrote those words—it was recent enough that skeptics could have traveled to Galilee and interviewed the people Jesus healed, found Lazarus's family, and spoken with those who saw the risen Christ. The early church didn't hide behind the fog of distant history; they invited fact-checking.

Even non-Christian historians of the era documented these claims. Josephus, writing around 39 AD—just six years after the crucifixion—recorded that Jesus's followers reported he had risen from the dead.

Perhaps the most compelling evidence is this: both Jewish and Roman authorities desperately wanted to stamp out this new movement called Christianity. They had every motivation to disprove the resurrection. All they needed to do was produce Jesus's body.

They couldn't. Because there was no body to produce.

Why It Matters Today

The disciples didn't die for a philosophy they found intellectually stimulating. They didn't endure persecution for a moral code they admired. They suffered and died for something they knew to be true because they had seen it with their own eyes.

Peter was reportedly crucified upside down. Others were burned, stoned, and executed in various horrific ways. These weren't people dying for a belief—they were eyewitnesses refusing to deny what they had experienced. Who would die such a death for something they knew was a lie, especially when there was nothing to gain—no wealth, no power, no fame?

The answer is simple: no one would. They died because they had encountered the risen Christ.

The Invitation

Romans 6:3-4 presents a beautiful picture: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Perhaps you're reading this and thinking, "I'm not good enough." That's actually the point. We don't go to a doctor when we're healthy; we go when we're sick. You don't get well to go to Jesus—you go to Jesus to get well.

Maybe you're thinking, "My past disqualifies me." There is nothing in your past that the sacrifice of Jesus cannot cover. The blood shed on that cross was sufficient for all sin—including yours.

Or perhaps you're thinking, "I'm afraid of what it will cost me." This is actually the most honest objection because it recognizes the seriousness of following Christ. Yes, it will cost you. It might cost you relationships, habits, comforts, and the life you've built for yourself.

But remember our thought experiment: if one week of life is worth more than $100 million, what is eternal life worth? What would you be willing to pay for it?

The beautiful truth is that the price has already been paid. The tomb is empty. Death has been defeated. And the offer of eternal life stands open before you.

The question is: what will you do with it?

The Week That Changed Everything:

The Great Depression began not with a single catastrophe, but with the slow erosion of collective emotions reaching a tipping point. When fear gripped investors in October 1929, panic selling triggered a cascade that brought banks to their knees. Twenty-five percent of American banks failed within the coming months. Today, we have safeguards—market freezes, cooling-off periods—because history taught us that big emotions and group think often lead to disaster.

This same pattern of emotional frenzy played out during the most significant week in human history: Passion Week, the days leading to Jesus's crucifixion. It started with jubilant crowds shouting praises and ended with crowds demanding death. Between these emotional extremes lies a story that had been written centuries before it unfolded.

A King on a Donkey

Five hundred years before Jesus entered Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah penned words that would echo through generations: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

This prophecy emerged during a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The Jewish people had returned from seventy years of Babylonian captivity, just as Jeremiah had predicted. They rebuilt the temple under Zerubbabel and reconstructed Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah. Yet something was missing. When Solomon's temple was completed, God's presence had descended in miraculous clouds. But when Zerubbabel finished his temple, nothing happened. The people waited. And waited.

For five centuries, they wondered when God would send the promised Messiah to fill the temple again.

The prophecy itself was peculiar. A king arriving humbly? On a donkey instead of a war horse? This wasn't the conquering hero Israel expected. When your team is down in the championship, you don't want a gentle comeback—you want domination. Yet God promised something different: not revenge, but salvation. Not warfare, but peace.

The Moment Arrives

When Jesus finally rode into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, the crowds recognized what was happening. They had been waiting since Zechariah's prophecy was written. They spread their cloaks on the road, cut branches from fields, and shouted "Hosanna!"—which means "save (us) now."

The implication was unmistakable. This was the Savior. This was the fulfillment of ancient promises.

The religious leaders knew it too. They demanded Jesus rebuke His disciples for the spectacle. His response was unapologetically awesome: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." This moment was predestined. Nothing could stop the will of God from unfolding.

Blood on the Doorposts

To understand what happened next, we must travel back even further—to Egypt, around 1500 BC. God's people were enslaved, and Moses stood before Pharaoh demanding their release. Plague after plague struck Egypt, but Pharaoh's heart remained hard.

The final plague would be the most terrible: the death of every firstborn son. But God provided a way of escape for His people. He instructed each household to take a lamb without blemish, kill it, and spread its blood on their doorposts and lintels. When the angel of death passed through Egypt that night, every home marked with blood would be passed over.

God gave specific instructions for that meal: eat with your belt fastened, sandals on your feet, staff in hand. Eat in haste. Why? Because freedom was coming. Be ready to move when God sets you free.

Life must be taken for life to be given. This is a truth we've become disconnected from in our modern world of grocery stores and pre-packaged meat. But in an agrarian society, everyone understood: your life gets to continue because life has been taken from elsewhere, whether from plant or beast.

The New Passover

Fast forward fifteen hundred years to Thursday night of Passion Week. Jesus and his disciples gathered for the Passover meal in an upper room. They had likely gone through all the traditional Jewish customs—the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread, the retelling of the Exodus story.

Then Jesus did something revolutionary. He held up bread and wine and said: "This is my body... this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

A new Passover. A new covenant. Everything the prophets had spoken about was unfolding before their eyes. The old Passover was merely a foreshadow of this superior reality. Just as lamb's blood once protected God's people from death, now the blood of the perfect Lamb would offer something far greater: forgiveness of sins and a new kingdom.

Thirty Pieces of Silver

Even the betrayal was prophesied. Psalm 41 spoke of a close friend who ate bread with the Messiah lifting his heel against him. Zechariah 11 got even more specific: thirty pieces of silver would be the price, and that blood money would be thrown to the potter.

When Judas betrayed Jesus for exactly thirty pieces of silver, the religious leaders were literally fulfilling prophecy while fighting against it. After Jesus was condemned, Judas returned the money in guilt and despair. The chief priests, recognizing it as blood money, couldn't put it in the temple treasury. So they bought the potter's field with it.

Every detail, written centuries earlier, came to pass exactly as foretold.

The Cross Foretold

Perhaps most remarkably, Psalm 22 describes the crucifixion in vivid detail—written hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented as a method of execution.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These words, penned by David, would become Jesus's cry from the cross. The psalm continues: "They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

The mocking crowds. The pierced hands and feet. The unbroken bones. The soldiers gambling for his clothes. Every detail was written before it happened.

When Emotions Trump Truth

The crowds that welcomed Jesus on Sunday were shouting for his crucifixion by Friday. Group think and unchecked emotions led them steadily toward their own destruction. If they had paused to think deeply about what they were doing, perhaps many would have come to their senses.

This is precisely what the forces of evil want—for us to remain distracted, dopamine-addicted, emotionally driven, never stopping to think deeply about truth. Instagram scrolling, substance abuse, sexual indulgence, consumerism—anything to keep us from the quiet reflection that might lead us to recognize our need for a Savior.

The Savior You Need

Jesus may not be what we think we want. We want a Savior who lets us keep our vices, who doesn't challenge our autonomy, who rubber-stamps our choices. But Jesus is precisely what we need—even when that truth makes us uncomfortable.

He came humbly. He died sacrificially. He rose victoriously. And he offers what our souls truly ache for: forgiveness, peace, purpose, and eternal life.

The question is not whether Jesus is the Savior. History and fulfilled prophecy have settled that. The question is whether we will accept him as our Lord—whether we will bow our heads, confess his name, repent of living under our own authority, and commit to living under his. Because, when we do this, the Savior becomes our savior.

The crowds had a choice that week. So do we.

The Unexpected Savior: When God Defies Our Expectations

The RMS Titanic received six warnings about icy waters ahead. Six explicit alerts from nearby ships sailing through the Atlantic that April night in 1912. Yet the radio operator, overwhelmed with passenger messages to relay back to land, dismissed the final warning with frustration. It has been reported that he responded: "Shut up! I'm working Cape Race! Keep out!"

The lookouts had no binoculars—they were locked away in a cabinet by a crew member who had since disembarked before the Titanic was underway. How could these crucial roles and safety measures be overlooked or ignored.

Simply put, it was because of a dangerous presupposition. There was a deeply held belief that ran in the background of the crew members minds influencing their decisions and behavior: the Titanic was unsinkable.

That presupposition cost 1,500 lives.

Throughout history, humanity has held presuppositions about who God's promised Savior would be. These assumptions, built over centuries of waiting and wondering, shaped expectations so firmly that when the Messiah finally arrived, many couldn't recognize Him standing right in front of them.

The Shepherd King from an Unlikely Place

The prophet Micah spoke of a coming ruler who would be both shepherd and king—a fascinating contradiction. Shepherds occupied one of the lowliest positions in ancient society, while kings held the highest. Yet Israel's greatest king, David, had been exactly that: a shepherd boy who killed lions to protect his flock. He faced down giants with nothing but faith and five smooth stones.

Micah declared this shepherd-king would come from Bethlehem. The town was small, insignificant, easily overlooked. Yet God delights in choosing the unexpected, the underestimated, the places where human pride cannot take credit.

This shepherd-king wouldn't lead from a distance, watching His people struggle from the safety of a throne. The prophecy declares He would "open the breach" and "pass before them"—a now warrior-leader charging into battle at the head of His troops. He would gather the remnant, the faithful few who still believed, and lead them into their mission.

Called Out of Egypt

"Out of Egypt I called my son," God declared through the prophet Hosea. The words carried layers of meaning, winking back through history to when Israel itself was young, enslaved in Egypt for 400 years until Moses led them to freedom. Just as the nation of Israel was called out of Egypt, so too would God's Son be.

When King Herod heard about a king born in Bethlehem, his jealous rage led him to order the murder of all boys two years old and under. But an angel warned Joseph in a dream, and the family fled to Egypt. Later, after Herod's death, they returned—fulfilling ancient prophecy in ways no one could have orchestrated.

God is a God of details, weaving patterns through history that reveal His careful attention to every promise made.

The Eccentric Messenger

The people expected grandeur. Perhaps they imagined the Messiah's arrival would be announced like the parting of the Red Sea, or accompanied by fire and storm as at Mount Sinai. Instead, they got John the Baptist—an eccentric man living in the wilderness, wearing camel hair, eating locusts and honey, and crying out, "Prepare the way of the Lord!"

Isaiah had prophesied this messenger would be "a voice crying in the wilderness," preparing the highway for God. Yet religious leaders who should have recognized the fulfillment of prophecy missed it entirely. They were too focused on their own expectations, their comfortable religious grooves, to see God working in unconventional ways.

Throughout Scripture, God consistently chose unlikely messengers: Joseph the slave, Moses the runaway murderer, Gideon the fearful, David the harpist shepherd boy. The pattern was clear for anyone willing to see it. God delights in using the unexpected to accomplish His purposes.

The Nazarene: Despised and Rejected

Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would be "despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." He would come from Nazareth, a place so looked-down-upon that people asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

We all have our metrics for determining who matters and who doesn't. Geographic origin, economic status, educational background—we use these measures to quickly categorize people. The Messiah would defy all such human measurements. He would come from the margins, from the places polite society dismissed.

A Ministry of Light and Healing

In darkness, God promised to bring light. The prophet Isaiah declared that the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the lame would leap like deer, and the mute would sing for joy. The Messiah's ministry would be marked by miraculous healings and radical service.

But here's the revolutionary truth: Jesus later told His followers, "You are the light of the world." The light that began with Him would continue through His people, shining in darkness, impossible to hide.

Think of fireworks on a dark night—that initial spark rising silently, then exploding in brilliant illumination, bathing everything in light before cascading down in a shower of sparks. That's the image of a life lived for Christ: a brief but brilliant explosion of light that continues to shine even as the sparks fall.

The New Covenant Written on Hearts

Perhaps most revolutionary of all, God promised through Jeremiah that the coming Messiah would establish a new covenant—not written on stone tablets like the law given to Moses, but written directly on human hearts. "I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts," God declared.

This wasn't about external religious performance. This was about internal transformation. God's Spirit would take up residence within His people, convicting, guiding, transforming from the inside out.

The True Image of Jesus

Consider this scene from Luke's Gospel: A woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years, who had spent everything on doctors with no results, approached Jesus in a crowd. She touched the fringe of His garment, and immediately she was healed.

Jesus stopped. "Who touched me?"

Everyone denied it. The crowd was pressing in from all sides—how could He know? But Jesus insisted: "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone from me."

The woman came forward trembling, falling at His feet, expecting judgment for her presumption. Instead, Jesus spoke words that reveal His heart: "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

When you confess your brokenness, and go to Jesus for healing, this is exactly what you'll find.

Healing. Acceptance. Peace.

Confronting Our Presuppositions

What are your presuppositions about Jesus? Perhaps you see Him as an angry judge, a disapproving father, the fun police here to ruin every good time. Maybe your image of Christianity comes from media portrayals, from the worst representatives portrayed as the norm, from internet memes and cartoon depictions.

The real Jesus is the shepherd-king who leads the charge into battle on behalf of His people. He's the light shining in darkness, the healer who stops for the desperate, the Savior who writes His law on hearts.

He came from unexpected places, announced by unconventional messengers, defying every human expectation. And He's still doing that today—showing up in ways we don't anticipate, working through people we'd overlook, accomplishing purposes that confound conventional wisdom.

The question isn't whether Jesus matches our expectations. The question is whether we're willing to let go of our presuppositions and see Him as He truly is: the Savior who has been sought throughout all of human history, the one who came not to destroy but to heal, not to deliver death but to offer life.

Wherever you are, whatever you think about Jesus, know this: He's waiting. And if you reach out to Him, He won't respond with anger or rejection. He'll declare you well, adopt you as "daughter" or "son," and send you forward in peace as a new creation. A creation created through Christ for good works that we might walk in them.

That's the Savior we've been searching for all along.

The Miraculous Details of Our Savior's Birth

If you read through the narrative, prophesy, and prose of the Old Testament in a chronological format you will discover that over time the prophesies and promises regarding the savior become more and more precise. They move from the grand to the granular. From the sweeping to the specific.

Have you ever stopped to consider just how meticulously God orchestrated the arrival of our Savior? While we often breeze through the Christmas story with a familiar comfort, the prophetic details surrounding Jesus' birth reveal something profound about God's character: He is a God of precision, purpose, and perfect planning.

When Details Matter Most

In our daily lives, details can make all the difference. A nurse administering medication knows that "close enough" isn't good enough—the details can literally mean the difference between life and death. Similarly, new parents don't casually throw darts at a name board. They carefully consider the meaning, the significance, the weight of the name their child will carry through life.

God operates with even greater intentionality. Throughout Scripture, we find that God is intimately concerned with details. Furthermore, that each detail serves a divine purpose in the grand narrative of redemption.

The Prophet's Vision

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke words that seemed impossible: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).

A pregnant virgin. The very phrase is contradictory—it's an impossibility, unless, of course  God enters the equation.

But why a virgin birth? Why wouldn't God have worked through natural means?

The Necessity of Purity

Perhaps the answer lies in understanding the inheritance of sin. Paul explains in Romans 5 that through one man—Adam—sin entered the world, and death through sin. This spiritual contamination spread to all humanity. Every person born through natural means inherits this sinful nature, this default setting of death and separation from God.

As one commentary beautifully states: "A sinless man is not subject to death, but since every person is subject to death, even the smallest baby, it proves that all mankind sinned in Adam."

For Jesus to be our perfect sacrifice, He needed to be completely without sin—not just in His actions throughout His life, but from the very moment of His conception. Had Joseph been His biological father, it is possible that Jesus would have inherited the sins of His father. Thus, the virgin birth would not have been miraculous just for the sake of being miraculous; it would have been necessary to ensure that Jesus was "pure even to the point of His birth."

Hebrews 4:15 confirms His total sinlessness: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."

God With Us

The name Emmanuel means "God with us"—not God cheering from the bleachers, not God merely favoring our cause, but God physically present on earth with humanity.

This wasn't the first time. In the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve in perfect fellowship. But sin created a chasm, forcing separation. Throughout the Old Testament, God's presence came and went in various forms—in the tabernacle, in the temple, through prophets and priests. But He was never again, in the fullest sense, with them.

But with Jesus, God took on flesh and dwelt among us. The eternal became carnal. The timeless entered time. The Creator walked among His creation.

And if we read to the end of the story in Revelation, we discover this is how it will be forever—no more temple needed because God Himself will dwell with His people for all eternity.

Names That Define a King

Isaiah 9:6 gives us even more names for this coming child: "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

Throughout history, rulers have been given impressive titles—Alexander the Great, William the Conqueror, James the Just. But these pale in comparison to the names given to Christ.

Wonderful Counselor speaks to His omniscience—not just wise, but the very source of wisdom itself. Perfect, supernatural wisdom that transcends our limited earthly perspective.
Mighty God emphasizes not "a god" but "THE God"—fully divine, possessing the power to create and sustain all things, demonstrating His omnipotence.

Eternal Father reveals a God who has no beginning or end, who will never abandon or fail us. Regardless of your earthly experience with fathers—whether positive, negative, or absent—God is the best Father you have ever known, and He is eternal.

Prince of Peace might have sounded to Isaiah's original audience like a promise of political deliverance from their oppressors. And while world peace has objectively increased since ancient times when warfare was constant, the deeper peace Christ brings is reconciliation with God. He is the bridge across the divide between humanity and holiness.

The Zeal of the Lord

Perhaps the most powerful phrase in Isaiah's prophecy comes at the end: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

Rather than removing sin from the world by removing sinners, His zeal brought redemption for sinners like us.

Instead of annihilation, He chose incarnation. Instead of judgment, He chose sacrifice. The solution wasn't to destroy the problem but to pay the price of it's consequence Himself through His Son.

More Than Just a Book

The Bible isn't just a book—it's 66 books written over 2,000 years by 40 different authors across three continents in three languages, containing nearly 64,000 cross-references. Yet it tells one unified story: how humanity who was separated from God by sin received a way back to their Creator through one perfect life, one sacrificial death, one miraculous resurrection.

This isn't ancient mythology or inspiring fiction. This is living, breathing truth that remains "sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce through the bone and marrow."

Changing Your Default

We're all born with a default setting and a default ending—sin and death. But through Christ, we have a choice. We can claim asylum in His kingdom, leaving behind the oppressive reign of sin and entering the eternal government of grace through Jesus.

The miraculous birth we celebrate wasn't just a divine magic trick. Every detail—the virgin conception, the prophetic names, the perfect timing—served the singular purpose of making a way where there was no way.

The question isn't whether God can save you. The zeal of the Lord of hosts has already accomplished that.

The question is: will you accept the invitation to leave the default behind?

The Trajectory of a Promise: Recognizing the King

There's something remarkable about watching a baseball pitcher hurl a 2.9-inch sphere at nearly 100 miles per hour through an imaginary rectangle just 17 inches wide. Even more astounding is the batter who has a mere 125 milliseconds to decide whether to swing—to predict where that ball will be and make contact with its future trajectory.

How do they do it? Practice, patience, and persistence.

This athletic feat mirrors a far more profound reality: the way God revealed His plan of salvation throughout Scripture. From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, something was set in motion—a promise released like a ball from a pitcher's hand. With each passing page of Scripture, with every prophecy and promise, we receive more data about when, where, and how the Savior would arrive. The question is: would people be paying attention enough to recognize Him when He came so that just like the batter, they could make contact with Him when He arrived.

The Promise Begins

The story starts in the aftermath of humanity's greatest failure. After Adam and Eve chose to trust themselves over God, seeking to become like Him rather than submit to Him, God pronounced both judgment and hope. There would be an epic battle between good and evil throughout all human history, but someone was coming who would crush the head of the serpent.

This wasn't just a vague possibility. It was a certainty, a ball already in flight.

Generations later, God made a specific promise to Abraham: through his offspring, all nations would be blessed. The Hebrew text plays with both plural and singular forms—suggesting that through the nation of Israel, the world would be blessed, but also through one specific descendant, the world would receive an eternal blessing.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Galatians some 1,500 years after Abraham, clarified this mystery: "Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say 'and to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'and to your offspring,' who is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).

The Pattern of Human Leadership

The historical trajectory continued through slavery in Egypt, deliverance through Moses, and the giving of the Law—430 years after God's promise to Abraham. The Law wasn't meant to replace the promise but to reveal humanity's need for the promised Savior.

After settling in the Promised Land, Israel entered the period of Judges—leaders raised up to deliver them from oppression and call them back to God. The judges had four primary roles: to adjudicate disputes, to govern, to deliver from external oppressors, and to turn the people's hearts back to God.

But the people grew dissatisfied. They looked around at neighboring nations and wanted what everyone else had: a king.

Their request revealed a fundamental misunderstanding. They thought a political solution could solve a spiritual problem. They believed that if they could just get the right leader in place, everything would be fine. Sound familiar? Every election cycle, we hear similar promises—that if only the right person gains power, our problems will be solved.

God granted their request, but with a warning. Through the prophet Samuel, He explained what kingship would mean: they were rejecting God as their king and choosing to be ruled by flawed humans instead. In chess, every piece exists to serve and protect the king. That's what they were asking for—to become servants to a human ruler rather than living under God's perfect law.

A Kingdom That Would Last Forever

Their first king, Saul, failed. Their second king, David, also failed—but with one crucial difference: David repented. The word "repentance" literally means to change your mind. It's not primarily about feelings but about thinking differently. When we start thinking rightly, our feelings follow.

To David, God made an extraordinary promise: "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

This promise had an immediate fulfillment in Solomon, who built the temple. But the word "forever" pointed beyond any mortal king. God was promising that from David's lineage would come a king whose throne would be established for all generations.

Psalm 89 reflects on this promise with wonder: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.'"

The Stump and the Branch

The prophets foretold that before this eternal kingdom came, Israel would face devastation. The kingdom David established would be reduced to ruins. Isaiah used the image of a mighty oak tree cut down to a stump—but promised that from that stump, a holy seedling would emerge.

"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1).

Jeremiah echoed this promise: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land" (Jeremiah 23:5).

The Inscription Above the Cross

The trajectory of all these promises converged at a place called Golgotha. There, a Roman governor named Pilate—who knew nothing of Hebrew prophecies—made a decision that fulfilled them all. He ordered an inscription placed above the crucified Jesus: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

Remarkably, Pilate insisted this be written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish leaders, recognizing the implications, protested. They wanted it changed to say "This man claimed to be King of the Jews." But Pilate refused: "What I have written, I have written."

In three languages—representing the Jewish world, the Roman Empire, and the broader Hellenistic culture—the declaration went forth: Jesus is King. Not just for one nation, but for all nations. The promise to Abraham that through his offspring all nations would be blessed was being proclaimed from the cross itself.

Making Contact With the Promise

Like that batter with 125 milliseconds to decide, we face a choice. The ball has been thrown. The promise has been fulfilled. Jesus, the King whose kingdom lasts forever, has come.

Will we recognize Him?

In order to to do so we must study the Scriptures, tracing the trajectory of God's promises with practice, patience, and persistence.

We must humble ourselves to admit that our ways are not better than His. We must change our minds—repent—and align our thinking with His truth.

The Savior we've been searching for is a King. Not a political ruler who will fail like all human rulers eventually do, but an eternal King whose throne is established forever. His kingdom not being one bound by boarders, but by human hearts. Including all those who have made the choice to kneel before King Jesus. The question is not whether He has come, but whether we will recognize Him.

What is written is written. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews—King of all nations—reigns forever.

The Story of Salvation: From Genesis to Golgotha

There's something remarkable about that first breath of spring air. You know the one—when you step outside and suddenly your mind floods with memories, nostalgia, and hope for what's coming. The forsythia bushes are preparing to burst with yellow blooms. Those first patches of grass appear through the melting snow. It's a moment of anticipation, of knowing that something better is on its way.

In many ways, this captures the entire arc of Scripture—a long winter of waiting, punctuated by moments when we catch the scent of redemption drawing near.

The Problem We Can't Ignore

Along with those the first hints of spring comes the promise of summer. Saturdays on the beach soaking in the sun in between moments when you--if you're a parent--are keeping your kids from hurting themselves or worse. That of course is why the odd profession of the lifegaurd exists.

We hire people to sit and scan the water all day. Why do they have to scan though? Why can't they just sit there and scroll on their phones until they hear someone calling for help? The reason is simple, very rare is it that a drowning person will actually call out for help. Even when death is imminent, human pride, embarrassment, and denial keeps us silent. We're too stubborn to admit we need saving.

This stubborn pride reveals something profound about our condition. We need saving from so many things: the meaninglessness of existence without God, the monotony of life, anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness, selfishness, greed, insecurity. We need saving from the evil inside us and the evil surrounding us. Most of all, we need saving from death itself.

The question isn't whether we need a Savior. The question is whether we're too proud to admit it to ourselves.

The First Glimpse of Hope

The first glimpse of a savior is found in Genesis 3, in what theologians call the "protoevangelium"—the first gospel. After humanity's rebellion in the garden, God speaks a cryptic promise to the serpent: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

It's vague and mysterious. But, it's hope. Something is coming. Someone is coming. A specific offspring who will crush the serpent's head, even while being wounded in the process.

When Evil Multiplies

The pages turn, and the picture darkens. By Genesis 6, humanity has descended into complete corruption. Scripture tells us that "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God looks at His creation and is grieved in His heart.

The flood comes—not as capricious divine anger, but as a necessary justice. Yet even after the waters recede and Noah builds an altar, God acknowledges the persistent problem: "The intention of man's heart is evil from his youth."

The rainbow appears as a covenant sign. But notice what it truly represents—not pride as many have come to see it today, but humility. It's a reminder that we deserve judgment, yet God promises not to destroy us in that way again. The problem remains unsolved. Something else must be done. God does not desire our extinction; He desires our redemption.

A Promise to Abraham

Enter Abraham, a man called to leave everything familiar and walk toward the unknown. God makes him an extraordinary promise: "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

But the most profound moment comes later, in Genesis 22, when God tests Abraham with an unthinkable command: "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering."

Picture the journey. Abraham rises early, cuts the wood, saddles the donkey. For three days, he walks toward the place of sacrifice, knowing God has promised to make a great nation through this very son he's been commanded to kill. The tension is unbearable. How will God work this out?

On the third day, Abraham sees Mount Moriah in the distance. Isaac, carrying the wood for his own sacrifice, asks the piercing question: "Where is the lamb?"

Abraham's answer carries weight beyond the moment: "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son."

The Pattern Revealed

At the last moment, an angel calls out. A ram appears, caught in a thicket. Isaac is spared. But notice God's words afterward: "In your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

The word shifts from plural to singular—from "offsprings" to "offspring." It would not be in many descendants, but one specific descendant through whom blessing would come.

The parallels between Issac and Jesus are numerous:

• God asked Abraham to sacrifice "your only son whom you love." Later, God would give "his only Son" for the world.
• Abraham saddled a donkey for the journey. Jesus would ride a donkey into Jerusalem.
• Isaac was delivered on the third day of their journey. Jesus would rise on the third day.
• Isaac carried the wood up the mountain. Jesus would carry His cross.
• An angel stopped Abraham's knife and the precise moment of no return. But when Peter drew his sword in Gethsemane, Jesus said, "Put your sword away... How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled?" Rather than calling in "more than twelve legions of angels" to stop what was about to take place, Jesus withholds them.

The story of Abraham and Isaac wasn't just a test of faith. It was a preview of the gospel itself—a dress rehearsal for what God would one day do on a neighboring hill called Golgotha.

The Sacrifice That Changed Everything

What began on Mount Moriah would be finished on Mount Golgotha. The knife that was stayed in Abraham's hand would not be stayed in the hands of the Romans. The ram caught in the thicket was only temporary. The true Lamb of God would come and would not be spared.

Abraham didn't withhold his son. But God? God did not spare His own Son. He gave Him up for us all.

This is how God chose to save us—not through another flood of judgment, but through a flood of grace. Not through death, but through life emerging from death. Not by destroying the evil ones, but by taking our evil upon Himself.

The Invitation

For those who follow Jesus, we've been grafted into this story. We're now called the offspring of Abraham—not by physical descent, but by faith. The promise made thousands of years ago on a mountain in Moriah extends to us today.

The question that echoes through all these stories is simple yet profound: Do you trust God?
Not "Do you understand His ways?" Not "Can you figure out how He'll work things out?" But simply: Do you trust Him?

Like a child standing at the edge of the pool, terrified to jump into their father's arms, we're often paralyzed by fear. The jump seems impossible. The risk seems too great. But the Father stands in the water, arms outstretched, saying, "I've got you. Jump. There's joy on the other side of this fear."

Whatever God is calling you to today—whatever obedience looks difficult, whatever sacrifice seems too costly—remember Abraham. Remember that God provided a ram. Remember that God provided His Son.

And remember that the same God who brought life from death on resurrection morning is still in the business of redemption, still working out His promises, still worthy of our trust.
The long winter is over. Spring has come. The Lamb has been provided. Are we humble enough to cry out, and wise enough to trust Him?

Our first of three episodes exploring the fall season celebrations from a Christian worldview.

I have been encouraged as of late to see a kind of waking up to the individual call of evangelism and discipleship. This calling is among the most important calls that a Christian person is tasked with. Thus, it would seem obvious that we all have an individual duty to participate in this calling. It gets confusing though. The messages we preach do not always marry well with the culture we nurture through church policies and practices.

Two things before I continue. What do I mean by "calling?" AND What do I mean by "evangelism." Both of these words can be understood in various ways, so it would be good to define what it is I am speaking about, that you might understand well the points I am trying to convey.

Calling (call): I use this word in the broadest sense. As Christians we are, all of us, called to the same things. Here is a list of some things Christians are called to: 

1. Obedience (righteousness) to God's word. One could argue that everything else falls under this.
2. Love God with all that we have
3. Love other as ourselves
4. Love, specifically our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the extra and unique ways the scriptures teach us to.
5. Participate in/with the body of Christ (aka. the church).
6. Share the Gospel with others.
7. Disciple other Christians towards a more mature faith. (teach them)

Evangelism: When I speak of this, I do not mean it in the sense that we get from Ephesians 4:11, where it lists "the evangelist" among other gifts that Christ gave to, presumably, specific people in the church. While it is still an active discussion within Christendom, many people would liken this gift of the evangelist to a modern day missionary or traveling preacher (such as Billy Graham was). Instead then, when I use this word, I use it to describe the actions of regular Christians in verses like Acts 8:4

"4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word."

Or Acts 11:19-20

"19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus."

Or the charges to Christians we read about in verses like Jude 22-23

"22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."

Or 1 Peter 3:15

"15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect"

Or of course the great commission given by Christ to His apostle before his ascension in Matthew 28:18-20

"18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The truth is there are many verses in both the old and new testament which exemplify and even command the calling to share the truth of God with people who do not yet know it. This is done by sharing the gospel message directly, living lives of righteousness, and sharing testimony of what God has done. Psalm 105:1 reads, " Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

So then, back to where we left off. We know that a Christian is called toward these kind of evangelistic efforts, and we even preach it from the pulpits of our churches. Still, often times in our churches we function in such a way so as to promote, not individual evangelism, but a kind of corporate evangelism instead. The promotion and exercising of corporate evangelism can look something like this:

The church organization has engaging and inviting (sometimes "seeker sensitive") services on Sunday. The church organization uses buzzwords and phrases like being "outwardly focused." The church organization has outreach events like fall fests, Christmas celebrations, plays, city clean up days, fun activities, etc. As a result, it is often true that Christians don't tell people about Jesus, they tell people about their church. Christians don't invite people to Jesus, they invite people to church services and functions.

What's wrong with that? There are far worse things you can invite someone to. There is even Biblical president for inviting people to the weekly fellowship gathering (1 Cor 14:23). Many people come to Christ at church services and functions. This is all very true. Yet there are two problems which, as far as I can tell, have emerged from this kind of church culture.

1.  We invert the main purpose of the church. The church organization (the collective fellowship of believers) has a primary role. It's primary role(s) is to equip Christians for ministry, and to build them up (encourage). Thus, the church organization is supposed to be inwardly focused, not outwardly focused. We read about this in Acts 2:42, Ephesians 4:12, Hebrews 10:24-25, and many other verses. There is a lot that is included in equipping and building up too. Here is a list of some of the things housed within those two phrases:
   1. Discipling/teaching
   2. Admonishing
   3. Holding accountable
   4. Encouraging/edifying
   5. Mourning together
   6. Rejoicing together
   7. Helping each other emotionally and financially when needed.
2. The second problem is a consequence of the first. Since we have made the main purpose of the church organization to be outward, we have created a culture where Christians sub-contract their individual call of evangelism to their church organizations. As long as they give their offering, they don't have to share the good news with anyone. I say this in jest, but I do think there is a subconscious truth to this statement with many believers.

If these negative consequences can and often do happen when the church focuses it's budgets, programing, rhetoric, and thus culture on being outwardly focused, what would happen with the inverse. Well, it is my conviction that when the church organization focuses inward on it's people, the people focus outward. Essentially, the church equips it's member to live evangelical lives. The biggest outreach program the church then has is not a program at all, it is it's people. What does it practically look like to do this?

A church is inwardly focused when it's programing, budgets, rhetoric and thus culture are laser focused on pouring into the individual Christian people that make up the church. Take discipleship for example.

Every new believer should go through discipleship. At RCC we do it via our "One on One" discipleship program. If you find your way to Christ because of the faithful witness of one of the Christians at RCC, we do not invite you into discipleship, we just assume it. We pair you up with someone who walks through the milk stage toward the solid food stage. This program does not just work for new believers either. It is great for those older believers who like a new car which was parked in a garage a few days after rolling off the lot, are now in need of a dusting off, oil change, and jump start. What good is faith that is parked in a garage? Or, to use our Lord's illustration, what good is your talent if it is buried in the ground? Or, to quote James, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"

In addition to this, and inwardly focused church is intentional about taking people deeper on Sunday mornings. This does not mean that the preaching can not be sensitive in many ways to seekers and new believers. It means that the preaching does it's best to get the congregation to the deeper end of the proverbial pool. This takes intentionality and skill development on the part of our preachers, but it can be done.

I reject the idea that you either have a message which is so shallow that it is nearly an insult to our Christian attendees or a message that is so technically advanced that even our Bible college professors would be scratching their heads. That's a bit dramatic, sure, but the hyperbole drives the point home.

On top of all this, good Bible education is an essential element of an inwardly focused church. This education can come in many forms. Here are three examples:

1. Classes. Classes should not be more of what we get in our Sunday morning services. Classes should be laser focused on leveling people up in specific ways. We should work hard to put our best teachers and curriculum forward so that our classes rival what one might experience at a university level in terms of quality.
2. Small Groups/Bible Studies. One of my pet peeves is that we often call small groups Bible studies when they are not at all Bible studies. My experience has been that when someone says they want to be in a Bible study they mean they want some volunteer to rigorously study the Bible in their free time, then for it to be presented to them over cake which another volunteer made, in the living room which another volunteer has offered to share. Where is the collective "study." The truth is, most Christians have not the first clue in how to study the Bible. So, lets teach them. Exemplify it on Sunday mornings. Teach them with classes. Then, give them collective opportunity with true group Bible studies. That is, a group of people reading the Bible in a room with shared resources floating around. Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, study Bibles, and commentaries should float around while the facilitator keeps the flow. Read a few verses, then let people think and study on them. Talk about it, then move it along. This is not to say that the video led small groups don't have their place, because they do. What it is to say is that we ought to maximize the opportunities we offer for people to become true students of the scriptures. 
3. Resources. Churches ought to provide and promote resources in a myriad of ways. Start a little book store and tie the latest book offering to the sermon series for those who want to dig in more. Write topical articles and share them on your social platforms. Share links to online resources, of which there are so many. There is a lot you can do.

Of course, all of this can easily serve to create the polar opposite problem that the outwardly focused church has. Churches hyper focused on being inward can quickly become isolated congregations of intellectual hubris. Once more becoming totally sterile in terms of spiritual reproduction. So in addition to all this, we need to have constant preaching and teaching on evangelism as a calling and as an art. We need reminders of our calling, the education to speak intelligently about our faith, and a steady exposure to the testimonies of Christians who have successfully lived out this calling.

So today I am encouraged. I am encouraged because, in my small world, I see believers reigniting with a fervor for evangelism. I see believers learning not just what they believe but why they believe it. I see Christians adopting a DIY approach to evangelism while they reject the idea that they can simply "hire" the church to do it for them. I see them studying up on youtube by watching street evangelists and Biblical apologists. I see them sharing their faith boldly, lovingly, and wisely. I see a rejection of the old adage that we ought not talk about religion or politics. In fact, that's almost all I ever hear people talking about (perhaps with too much focus on politics and worldly matters)! When done with shrewdness, it is so effective.

So, as a result, I see others coming to faith in Jesus. Whats better, is when they do, I see them taken on a discipleship journey to learn about their new found faith that they too might become effective in multiplication.

No one wants to be the faithless servant that buried his talent in the ground. We want to be numbered among those who multiplied our faith by sharing it with others. We like to envision ourselves as the "good soil", yielding 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. To my knowledge, it has always been true that Christians want this. Now though, for the first time, I see it consistently in action. People not just hoping to be useful, but they are working hard to be useful. Praise God for this. Are you among them?

As a small church, we do a lot of stuff. This by itself is neither good nor bad — I suppose one could argue that it is far better to do something than it is to do nothing. Even if the something you are dong is the wrong thing, you learn from it. When you do nothing, nothing ever gets done, including mistakes. — Still, if we are going to do something, it is probably a good idea hat we have answers to questions like: What are we doing? and better yet, Why are we doing it?

These are questions we ask any time we set out to do anything. What is the purpose of the thing? While everything we do will generally have a main purpose, fellowship is often a secondary or tertiary purpose when it is not the main goal. Fellowship is such a vital function of the church, and the fruit of fellowship is absolutely necessary for a healthy and growing congregation.

Now do me a favor. Read this question and then take a moment to pause and answer it in your mind: What is fellowship?

Because this word is used a lot in the broad Christian conversation, it is often allusive and vague in it's meaning. How can we call a community group, a Sunday service, a dinner party at our house, and a pot luck lunch "fellowship." Those are very different things.

This is absolutely true, but they can and should all be productive towards our fellowship.

Let me start by re-framing the word, because I think it will be helpful to you. Lets first consider that fellowship was a noun before it was a verb. So, it is probably good to treat it as such: a noun. Fellowship is something we have as apposed to something we do. Much like the word family is a noun.

The word family indicates a grouping and bonding. There are many things we do as a family that support that bond, but we don't usually use the word family to speak of these things. When my family and I recently went on a vacation together, we did not say that we went "familying." I assure you though, the purpose of the vacation was primarily "familying." The main point was to be with each other and to participate in things which strengthen our bond and enjoyment of one another.

The word fellowship is similar in this way. Fellowship doesn't describe what we do, it describes a bond we share. Much like how, in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a small band of unlikely friends was bonded together for the common purpose of moving the One Ring closer to its fiery end — we Christians are often an unlikely group of friends from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures who are bonded by our devotion to and purposes in Christ.

Thus, when we use fellowship as a verb, it ought to describe anything we do to strengthen that bond and further our Christian purpose together.

Fellowship as a verb then, can be many things. When we go to a community group there is generally a deeper sense of vulnerability as well as participatory discussion, encouragement, and accountability. All of these things help to bind us to one another and strengthen our individual and collective abilities to carry out the mission of our Christian faith.

When we gather on Sundays, while it is not the most intimate and transparent setting, it binds us in spirit. This is not unlike, though I would argue ought to be so much more powerful than, going to a sporting event or concert. Those gathered in the arena or stadium feel a sense of common bond as they share in the experience with one another.

Furthermore, the things we at RCC often do after service throughout the summer are geared toward the verb form of fellowship. This week, for example, is Sunday Sundaes. At face value this seems a little silly, and without a doubt unhealthy. I believe both of these face value assessments are false though.

First, I have been to plenty of churches where people b-line it for the door when the first note of the last song is struck. There is seldom any greeting of one another, or sharing of stories from our weeks, let alone the more rare and elusive deeper conversations.

So, things like a cafe ministry, comfortable furniture, and even the occasional Sunday Sundaes helps provide a space for those types of things to happen. Of course, one of these events does not usually result in a massive leap forward in the bonding of any congregation or group. Thus, a repeated focus on the fellowship is needed. When this happens, much like the power of compound interest, the effects of togetherness and bonding compound as well. This results in a much closer and strongly bonded group of Christians.

Whats more, is that the fruit from this strongly bonded group is too numerous to count. As this happens there will be an increase in so many positive cultural realities. People will more frequently and consistently bear one another's burdens. They will begin to shy away from envy and thus grow in their capacity to rejoice with one another. They will be able to disagree on non-essentials and sharpen or even change their positions at times through such discussions. There will be more genuine love, and less ego on aggregate. The list goes on and on. It's a very good thing.

Secondly, and very briefly. Yes, ice cream sundaes are more unhealthy than they are healthy. Still, having fun and enjoying the pleasurable things of this world in moderation is a good (providing that it is not sinful in and of itself). So, feel free to have ice cream for lunch this one day out of the year. Just don't make it a habit! We hope to see you there.

I don't have a lot of time to write now because of my next pressing calendar agenda item. Regardless, as I was about to post an encouraging graphic and caption via our social media platforms I was convicted to go a little deeper than one can go with a caption.

Thus, here I am. There may be typos and it may not be the most clear writing I ever do, but I hope it helps some one out there today or in the days to come.

Philippians 4:8 reads "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

These verses follow Paul's challenge to rejoice always and reject anxiety. We are taught to present our needs and request to God with thanksgiving. Then, were are told in verse eight that the meditation of our mind and heart matters too.

How do we focus on these things though? How do we think about these things? How do we choose a biblical mindset by committing ourselves to biblical meditation? Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Use Phil 4:8 as a meditation guide.
Choose to make it a daily or otherwise regular ritual. Maybe at the start of your day. Walk through the verse and with each directive take a moment to conjure up in your minds actual realities that fit the bill. What is true today? I am breathing, I am saved, Jesus paid it all, for example. What is honorable today? My son defeated selfishness today by offering me some of his chocolate when he noticed I wanted some! That's honorable, for example. So on and so forth. Go through the verse like shopping list of positive and biblically commanded meditation.

2. Read the Bible and pray.
Not much else to say here. You just have to make it a habit. It's a well that you can infinitely keep coming back to for refreshing and life. I do not care what your excuses are to not make this a habit. There is no good excuse, including yours. So stop not doing the thing that breaths life into your soul.  

3. Listen to, and participate in, worship music.
Might I recommend Mosaic MSC. I have been listening to their music a lot lately. It is simple, it is beautiful, it is true. Music like magic in a way. Rather than hearing the truth, we feel the truth. It is so good. Just make sure the worship you listen to and participate in is good, true, God honoring worship.

4. Cut back on other inputs.
Less doom scrolling, less news, less secular music, less secular shows, less of everything that does not fill you with the goodness of our everlasting and loving father in heaven. Again, I know we all have excuses. They are all pitiful. Why would we continue to feast on top ramen when God has prepared a 3 star Michelin infinite buffet, and then laid it before us.

5. Get alone.
Find a spot, or some spots. Get alone. Do this regularly. During this time you can practice any of the aforementioned points enumerated before us. Pray, read, think, sing, you name it friends. These moments fill you with peace, revelation, and joy.

That is it.

I did mention excuses. I did say that our excuses are worthless. However, I do understand very personally that while there is no good excuse, that does not mean that it isn't hard to overcome them. So here is the last thing I will say. Invite someone into your Phil 4:8 journey. Share with them your plans and struggles. Get accountability and support. We are not meant to do this alone.

I hope this is helpful to someone.
Love, Breandan

GT300 Stands for "Grow to 300," and is our latest vision/initiative at RCC. Simply put, it is a goal or a drive to grow the church by focusing on our mission to help people find and follow Jesus.

WHY GT300?

1. Because we exist to help people find and follow Jesus
2. Because people focus and thrive more with goals laid before us
3. Because 300 is a number that nearly maxes out our current campus' capacity

WHY DOES A NUMBER MATTER AT ALL?

Simply put it doesn't, but our mission does! And the consequence of pursing our mission is church growth. Rest assured though, we are hard pressed to not lose sight of important and necessary values of the church:

1. A commitment to Biblical teaching without compromise 
We believe the teachings of the Bible are not a hindrance to our goal of growth, but the sole driver of it. Let us never compromise what the Bible teaches in pursuit of shallow growth. It is sincere and deep Christian faith that we aim to cultivate.

2. A commitment to discipleship
Driving attendance is not our aim. Discipleship is. Helping people find Jesus is only half of the mission. The other half is to help them follow Him. This means that we must maintain an high level of commitment to Biblical discipleship. The tools that we have for this are our One on One discipleship program, Community Groups, ReclaimU classes, a multitude of fellowship opportunities, and of course Sunday morning services.

3. Community 
It is often thought that growth is a barrier to community; that as the church gets bigger individuals matter less. First, individuals can never matter less because our value does not come from our role in the church, the amount of faces we recognize (and that recognize us) on Sunday mornings, or by an importance we feel as proverbial bigger fish in smaller ponds. Our value comes from the fact that God made us in His image and loves us without condition. Your value was declared by Jesus when He was crucified in your place. It can not and will not change. Second, it is true that as the church gets bigger, we can individually feel a bit smaller. This is a good thing though. Our Christian faith should call us to humble ourselves to make room for others to share in the gifts of God that we so blessedly get to enjoy. Thirdly, our level of community does not have to shrink back, it does have to evolve though. In a growing church we must seek community in smaller groups. Jesus had His three closest friends in His inner circle. Then He had the twelve disciples. Then He had the 100+ people that followed Him throughout His ministry. What does this mean for us? It should never be expected that we will have an extremely deep relationship with every person who calls RCC home. We should however, seek deep relationships in smaller groups within the church. People who we can be open and vulnerable with. People who can sharpen us through encouragement and admonishment. People we habitually spend time with and share our lives with. At RCC we will always strive to cultivate opportunities for you to grow closer to others with discipleship, community groups, and intentional fellowship opportunities. Remember, community doesn't happen TO YOU, it happens BECAUSE OF YOU. Because of your intention to build strong community in your life.

ALL THIS SAID...

GT300 ought to be a strong reminder to press on in a world that prefers we call it quits. It should be a reminder that there are a myriad of opportunities to share the love of Christ, and the good news of His invitation each and every day of our lives. It should encourage us and challenge us to "number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). At the end of the day, what we believe is that an eternal existence with or without God lays before us all; and if we as God's people sit on our gifts, those around us perish. We have good news. Do you know what good news is for? It's for sharing. It's for celebrating. It's for spreading.

May we be a church that: 

1. Grows personally in our practice of the spiritual disciplines which take us deep
2. Constantly invites God into our plans and asks Him to bless our efforts
3. Dedicates our gifts, talents, time, and other resources to the Kingdom of God
4. Seeks out missional opportunities in our day to day lives, and supports them abroad

Let us do our part, so God will do His. Let us next, and for now, do all we can to grow to 300.

Books to Check Out:

The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel
Physical Book
Audio Book
The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel
Physical Book
Audio Book
Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis
Physical Book
Audio Book 
"I don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist" by Frank Turek
Physical Book
Audio Book
"Stealing from God" by Frank Turek:
Physical Book
Audio Book
"Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible" by J. Warner Wallace
Physical Book
Audio Book
"Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels" by J. Warner Wallace
Physical Book
Audio Book 
"God's Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe" by J. Warner Wallace
Physical Book
Audio Book

Websites:
CrossExamined.org

• Blog
• Podcast
• Videos
• Online Courses & much more

ColdCaseChristianity.com

• Articles
• Podcast
• Videos
• Community

Debates to Watch:

The God Deabte: Dinesh D'Souza v Hitchens at the University of Notre Dame 

The God Debate II: Sam Harris v.s William Lane Craig at the University of Notre Dame

Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens at Biola University

I present to you three assumptions about life: (1) In life, as a general rule, it is good to ask questions. (2) The main reason for this is that often times when you ask questions you find answers. (3) This is good, because answers are intrinsically good, because truth is intrinsically good.

Take for example the famous question, “Will you marry me?” If you never ask the question, you will never receive an answer. If you never receive an answer, you never move on toward new and rewarding futures. You may ask, what if they say no? This is a great question about the aforementioned question. If they say no, then you are on your way to new, albeit temporarily difficult truth. Perhaps the timing is just wrong. Perhaps they are afraid of commitment. Perhaps they are not in love with you. No matter, they all lead to better futures. If the timing is wrong, you can then ask why, and discover why. With that information you can adjust your plans accordingly. If they are afraid of commitment you can ask why. Maybe you’ll discover that they need to work through some things in their past. You will both grow as a result of this. If it is something they can heal from, you will likely grow closer together into a better future. If not, you can accept the temporal pain of breaking up in exchange for escaping a future likely full of the deep sadness that comes from a long term broken relationship. The same is true if you learn that they don’t love you. Better to have truth now, and deal with the pain now, then build your life on foundations of lies which almost certainly lead to your future destruction. Truth is good. It can be very difficult, but it certainly leads to what is best.

So back to questions then. If we want truth we need to get answers. If we want answer we need to ask questions. If we are going to ask questions, we need to get unafraid. Too many people are afraid of asking questions. They are afraid of looking stupid. They are afraid of the answer. They are afraid of the social pressures that come with asking a question others don’t really want answered. If we want to live full meaningful lives though, we need to get past this. We need to love truth more than we fear questions.

My son asks me all kinds of questions. At five years old, he has no fear. What happens when we die? Will you die daddy? May I have ice cream? Does a man flip switches to turn the traffic lights red? What happens to people who don’t love Jesus? Will you play with me? How much longer are you going to be working for?

Every one of these questions is a question he has asked me. Each one of these questions is useful. The question about the traffic lights, and questions like these, help us to understand reality. They help us to make sense of our environments. They grow our personal data-base of knowledge. The questions about having ice cream, or about me playing with him: These are great questions. How many of us do not have because we refuse to ask? I don’t always say yes to the ice cream question. But I do sometimes. Same goes to playing with him. I can’t always drop everything to do this, but sometimes I can. Most of us would be far better off if we could clearly ask for things that we want. Understand, that I am not suggesting that meaning and joy in this life come simply from getting everything we want. In fact, sometimes that which we want isn’t good, and can cause a great amount of stress and pain. Still, as a general principle, having the clarity of thought to understand what we want and precisely ask for it is a good thing.

Now, what about those heavier questions? I remember having those questions as a child. I also remember some of the answers. “You don’t have to think about dying, it’s a long ways away.” I’m not sure that is a helpful answer. When my son asked if I was going to die, I simply said “Yes, some day. Every living thing on earth dies.” My son then had follow up questions, and he learned more. These heavy questions are where life really gets good. It get’s good because not having answers to these questions leaves us only with fear, anxiety, and a constant drive towards escapism. We take on the attitude of “lets not talk or think about such things, they are too depressing.” This idea is a lie, and a very good one at that. It’s a very good one because there is a strong element of truth in it. It is true that dealing with hard questions can be emotionally grueling. The lie is in the conclusion of this idea: That to therefor have joy we have to escape ever grappling with the hard questions. This is not where joy comes from. In fact this is where the deepest pits of internal despair reside. The world is riff with examples of this:

Do I live a healthy life?
Can I really afford this thing that I want?
Do the people I fill my life with really care about me?
Am I using my money well?
Am I a hard worker?
Do I love the people in my life well?
Am I an addict of…?
Am I a good person?
Where did the cosmos come from?
Is there a God?
If there is, who is He?
Was Jesus God?
Is the Bible really God’s word?
What happens when I die?

A person who is willing to ask questions like these in search of truth, as apposed to what they wish to be true, is a person with a future full of joy and meaning.

As a very practical example, let’s examine the first question in the series. “Do I live a healthy life?” This questions does not usually take this form, but is often asked in different ways. How about, “Am I getting fat?” I have had to ask myself this question lately. The answer is fairly objective if we are to understand getting fat as gaining unnecessary body weight in the form of fat. Just look at the scale. Generally, if it’s going up the answer is yes. If you're not pumping iron every day building a bunch of muscle mass, and your body is shedding water as it’s supposed to, the answer is yes. Let’s suppose you asked this question to a spouse or friend. Well, good for you for inquiring. Let’s hope they are honest now. If the answer is truly no, you now have grounds to put you mind at ease and go on with your life. However, if you have to ask, the answer is likely yes. On hearing that yes, do you feel good? Absolutely not. You feel embarrassed, ashamed, and a whole slew of other things. However, now you can do something about it rather than living in denial. You see, without the answer, you will more than likely just continue down a path of willful ignorance thinking it makes you happier. It doesn’t though, because deep down you know something is not right. The truth leads to healing, and in this case a good chance at a healthier life. The lie leads to despair, self-dissatisfaction, maybe a less intimate relationship with your spouse, and possibly an early death. For me and my life, I desire the former. I want the truth. Unfortunately for me now, that means knowing that I have indeed been getting fat. For my future though, it means developing a plan and the necessary discipline to become healthier for my God, my family, my church, and even myself. I want to give them all my healthiest self.

Extrapolate this now to all the other questions. It shouldn’t be hard to see how asking questions then leads to joy.

If we don’t understand our personal financial accounting, as many do not, it leads at best to financial stagnation and at worse to financial ruin. How many people don’t have a general understand of the difference when subtracting their total expenses from their total incomes? How many people don’t understand the allocations of monies on their pay stubs? How many people don’t understand where their investments are held, or how their mortgage is structured? By my experience, it is the majority. They should ask more questions to themselves, their HR departments, their financial advisors, and their loan officers. Think of all of the success they are denying themselves because they are unwilling to ask questions and seek out answers.

How about personal development. We all want to think we are good people. We are great drivers while other are horrible selfish ones. We are great employees when all of our bosses have been despicable people. We are wonderful friends, and spouses, and parents, right? Well how about we ask that question honest. How about we put ourselves on trial by examining the things we have done and the motivations we have? An old proverb says “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” We will likely find we have been too generous with ourselves. Thus, we will discover ways we can be better, and more righteous in our speaking, thinking, and doing.

These extrapolations are great, but no questions denied asking are as harmful to our joy as denying the greatest questions of life. Questions about the origin of all things, the meaning of life, and existence of a soul. Many man have been robbed of peace because they spend their lives running to their distractions rather than facing these questions. Those who face them though, find their answers, and they no longer need relationships, alcohol, television, thrills, travels, or what have you to fill the void deep in their hearts. They can stop living lives running away from something and begin to live a life where they are running to something. Do you understand what this means? It means they find meaning and purpose. A life with meaning and purpose is a life brimming over with joy; even in the greatest moments of sorrow. So, what are we to do then. It’s simple.

We must ask questions. We must refuse to live life of willful ignorance and silence. This is making no one happier, better, peaceful or more full. In every context of life it worsens our circumstances. Again, we must love truth more than we fear questions. This should not be difficult intellectually now knowing where truth leads. The truth will set you free right? Great question. If you believe this to be true there is but one thing to do.

Ask.

"How to Read the Bible" is a class that covers the basic concepts of reading through and understanding Biblical literature. Literary type, historical context, place in the Biblical narrative, and many other factors all play a role in not just reading, but understanding the Bible. Join us in this class as we seek to not just be those with ears, but also those who hear and then do. Sign up at the Connect Center on Sunday morning, or click the sign up button below. 

Maybe you were in the cast and therefore did not actually get to see the production. Maybe you were sick and could not attend. Maybe you just want to see it again. Whatever your reason. On the 6th of February we are having a viewing party after second service to watch Christmas Eve Eve's A Night to Remember production. 

While our newly structured community groups launch in March, we will be signing up all February. Here is how they will work:

• We will have multiple groups that meet on various nights of the week, and the times will vary.
• Each group will be hosted by a different person or family. 
• Each group will have pre-selected a Biblical focus they will study together while they meet. 
• The groups will meet from the first full week of March through the end of May.
• While there will be mixed groups focused on Biblical topics, there will always be a men's & women's only group as well as a recovery group for those with habits hurts and hang ups. 
• Some groups will meet in homes, others will meet at the church.
• Each group will have a "kid friendly" summary on it's corresponding sign up sheet/form. 
• Sign ups will be available with all of the group information beginning March 13th.
• You will be able to sign up at the connect center, at ReclaimCC.com, or via our ReclaimCC mobile app. 

If you have questions, or are interested in hosting a group, please call the church at 203-726-0161.

Family Feud Game Night and Annual Meeting is a night for our church family to get together, laugh, and not take ourselves too seriously. We have our very own custom built Family Feud software; so this is as close to the real thing as possible. Whether you are coming by yourself, or with others, we are going to have a great time. Everyone will have a team, and an opportunity to participate.

After we crown our winning team, we will press on to talk about the state of the church and what we are looking forward to in 2022. We hope to see you there!

Sign yourself, or your group up below!

On Sunday November 7th we will be beginning a new series titled "How to Love." This will be a very practical series where we don't just unpack the what and why of love, but the how. In other words, we will be exploring practical ways of how to demonstrate love towards our families, church, and communities. Join us from Sunday to Sunday as we build this topic out. Our prayer is that at Reclaim, love would be more about something we do rather than something we have.

Featuring Disney / Pixar's "UP." This event is FREE, and need NO RSVP. Just show up at 6:00PM on November 12th. Bring some camping, or otherwise portable chairs, for a more comfortable experience. We will have FREE popcorn, candy, and sodas for those who attend. 

On November 21st we are celebrating Thanksgiving with our annual Sunday night Thanksgiving dinner. There are two settings. The first setting is at 4:30pm and the second is at 6:30pm. RSVP at the connect center OR online at ReclaimCC.com (Online RSVP available Nov 8th). This FREE dinner will be combined with Thanksgiving trivia as well as a time of prayer and thanksgiving. REMEMBER, we need volunteers to pull this off. So show your church some love by committing your hands a feet to service. Sign up to volunteer at the connect center on Sunday mornings.

December 5th is RCC's next baby dedication Sunday. A baby dedication Sunday is a Sunday where we pause to celebrate all of the babies that God has blessed our RCC families with. Along with this, it is a Sunday to charge parents to raise their children up in accordance with the scriptures. If you are the parent of a baby or toddler that you have never dedicated, this is a great opportunity to commit yourself as a parent to the biblical model of parenting and your mind to intentionality. To learn more, sign up at the Connection Center on Sunday mornings. 

Here is a quick video exploring and explaining fasting for those who are new to this spiritual discipline. 

Every Sunday through the month of October we are encouraging all Reclaim Christians to open up their homes and invite someone over for lunch. Or, get invited to someone's house for lunch! Can't make Sunday after church work? That's ok, have a Friday dinner instead! Just invite or be invited. Get to know some fellow Reclaim Christians a little better.

CLOSER is an initiative based off of James 4:8 which says: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." We invite you to draw nearer to God with us every Wednesday from September 22nd through October 13th. On these Wednesdays we will be fasting and praying together as a church. We will be fasting from when we wake up, until dinner. On October 13th, we will end our last day of fasting with a catered meal at RCC. Focus with us, and drawing near to God. Pray for wisdom, direction, peace, and hope as we seek to affirm God as the director of our lives. 

OCTOBER 3rd. On Sunday Oct. 3rd join us as we conclude our "Any Questions?" series with a special Q&A Sunday. Throughout September we received anonymous questions and on Q&A Sunday we will answer them all! You can ask questions at ReclaimCC.com any time before Sep 29th. 

October 31st. Our Fall Family Fun Fest is this October 31st and there are so many ways you can be a part of the fun with your church family. Join in on our trunk or treat where you can decorate your vehicles and offer candy to trick or treaters as they go from car to car. Have fun playing carnival games with your children, or watching them laugh in our bounce house. There will also be games for Jr. and Sr. high students, a petting zoo, face painting, and so much more! If you happen to have a chili recipe that you are proud of, make a batch for our chili competition. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and other refreshments will be for sale as well. It is going to be a night to make great memories with your church family and amazing opportunity to serve the community where God has placed us. We hope you are a part of the Fest! 

We live in a state where people don’t go to church,
because their god is the money that comes from the jobs where they work.
So they live, each and every day to get paid,
so they can purchase distractions from their soul that's enslaved.
People smile, but inside everybody is depressed.
So they search for answers so long as it is not Jesus
Second job, second wife, second family, second life.
Because, they believe that the first one didn't do the trick.
The grass is greener over there with tons of flowers they can pick.
Then they find out soon, every earthly field is the same.
The problem is not the ground, so what else can they blame.
I know, lets blame the other politician,
Because theirs didn’t win the world is in this chaotic condition.
If only they could get theirs in everything would be better.
Their happiness would be restored, we’d move past this stormy weather.
People wouldn’t hate, and poverty would wash away.
There’d be no more addiction, or traffic on the highway.  
The virus would be gone and we’d be safe and sound once more.
But those anti-vaccers are ruining our chance to win this war.
Why is there still hate, and why am I inside a hater.
Why is pain and suffering a thing when our policies are better?
And church, don’t pretend like we sometimes don’t think the same.
Like our savior is some politician who will wipe away our shame.
Don’t forget, that’s exactly why the they rejected Jesus;
Because He didn’t wield a sword and overthrow those who oppress.
Now back to my state and the state that it is in.
They wonder why peace and love and hope is not within.
They’ve tried everything, and then they tried a little more.
Pills, whiskey, love affairs, and internet porn.
Yet still, the hole inside does not get any smaller.
And it never will, even if they spend their every dollar.
Because, simply put, they’ve been sold a bill of goods
From the culture, you can try and blame Hollywood.
But that is not the source, the problem runs much deeper.
The virus that we fight is not a headline or a feature.
It does not begin with "C" or end with "OVID-19"
It begins with "S" and ends with “IN” and can’t be cured with a vaccine.
The irony of it all, is the cure has long been free
Because Jesus took it all on a hill called Calvary.
For two thousand years now we’ve had the answers that we seek.  
Available to anyone, not just those who speak old greek.
The Bible has be translated into any language that we need.
So we can share with anyone we encounter on the street.
I love my state, but I’m not happy with the state it’s in.
Leading them to Jesus is the only way that we all win.
Reclaim, it’s our job to help God reclaim His people.
But the only way this happens is if we are light beyond our steeple.

Great question: First, what is Friends & Family Sunday? Also a great question. Friends & Family Sunday is a title given to Sunday's where we focus MORE on inviting Friends and Family to church.

So, on these Sundays we invite our church to invite people they know to come to RCC for a week. We bribe you (incentivize?) with free cafe drinks, we usually have some kind of special or unique refreshment, and we even tweak the sermon to make it a  bit more gospel-centric in nature. All in all, we try to a make it a great Sunday for anyone who is joining us for the first time, the same way you would if you were having guests over to your home for the first time.

Here is the trouble: aren't we supposed to always be reaching out to the people we know with the message of Jesus? Can't we invite our friends and family to church ANY Sunday? The answer to both of these is a resounding YES. However, we believe having these unique Friends and Family Sundays creates a space for opportunities that might not otherwise happen. Here is why:

1. As much as many of us love Jesus, we are often so distracted (shame on us :( ) that we forget about His mission for us (the church): We exist to help people find and follow Jesus. So, Friends and Family Sunday is a great way to remind ourselves of what we should already be doing in our day to day lives. Many of us, myself included, need reminders. 
2. It doesn't just remind us, this event challenges us and spurs us on to do what we know we must to be doing. Think about it like this: When I was in high school, the amount of girls being asked out by boys skyrocketed during homecoming and prom season. This is because those events beckoned boys to step up and overcome their fears of rejection! Lets face it, if you ask, you might get rejected. To this I say, "Oh' well, no one will every say yes unless you ask, and everyone you don't ask is an automatic no." 
3. It gives us an excuse to invite people. Some of us feel weird making an ask. Even though many people will come if only someone would ask them. Having an "event" gives us a reason to ask people. For some reason saying, "Hey it's Friends and Family Sunday at my church, you should come to Church with me this Sunday!" seems less awkward then, "Hey, want to come to church with me on Sunday?" Those of you who are normal (not me) don't like awkward situations, so this gives you a little bit of help. 
4. You know we are not going to be speaking about "in-house" topics that won't make any sense to your guests. You know it and I know it; we don't skirt around issues at RCC. We truly try to preach all of the Bible. Not just stuff we like, stuff that is popular, or stuff that we can all agree on. On these Sunday's we do not get into the deeper stuff, because if you don't have a foundational understanding of your Christian faith, the deeper stuff is kind of hard to make sense of. 

All this said, now is a great time to begin making a mental (or physical) list of people you could invite to church this Sunday. Once you get your list, pray for those on your list and go make your asks. They can not say yes to a question that is never asked of them. Remember, people want meaning in life. They want peace. They want joy. And you know how they can get get all of this and more. Go and ask. Then, keep living a life that reflects the meaning, peace, and joy that Christ has provided for you and all of those who choose Him as their Lord.

July is here, and that means summer is here. We are not a church that settles down in the summer. No, during the summer months, RCC comes alive! Here is what is going on this July:

• This is being published on July 8th...so it is a bit pointless to tell you that July 4th is Americana Sunday...because it already happened. Just know this, if you missed out on Americana Sunday, then - well - you missed out. It's ok, more fun and meaningful stuff is coming up!
•  EVERY SUNDAY is CELEBRATE SUMMER @ RECLAIM. 
  • This means that there will be games like corn hole, can jam, bocci ball, etc. as well as fun surprises every Sunday
•  FRIENDS & FAMILY SUNDAY : July 18th 
  • What is friends and family Sunday you ask? It is an opportunity to invite your friends and family to join you at RCC. Yes, you can literally do that any Sunday, that is true. However, we like to give our church a little kick in the pants by dedicating a whole Sunday to inviting those in our lives to hear the greatest news ever told. We throw a carrot in their too by given you and any friends or family you bring for the first time a free drink at the cafe. 
• RECLAIM U NEW CLASS BEGINS : July 21st 
  • Our next class is actually two parallel classes where we will explore the Biblical concepts of masculinity and femininity. These classes will be gender specific, meaning that men who sign up will be enrolled in the masculinity class and women who sign up will be in the femininity class. To learn more or to sign up check out this link: 
• RECLAIM AT THE FAIR : July 25th
  • This is going to be a fun Sunday. First we will enjoy a great time of worship as well as preaching from a guest speaker on Acts 24. Then, we will have a blast enjoying the Reclaim Fair complete with a bounce house, petting zoo, games, and food. Invite your friends!
• Sunday Sundaes : August 1st
  • Yes, we're talking bout August now, BUT it's the 1st of August, so it has a place in a July update. What is Sunday Sundaes? It's ice cream sundaes, on Sunday morning. It's going to be sweet: literally and figuratively. 

May is going to be a fun month for us here at RCC. Here is what is coming up:

1. Refresh Day: On May 15th we are going to be beatifying our grounds and organizing our building with some Spring cleaning. There will be projects for every skill and ability level. After refreshing RCC we will share a meal together. Sign up at the Connect Center this Sunday or online at RelclaimCC.com beginning 4/23.

2. Cafe Update: Check out our cafe this month for some new additions. First, as the air outside heats up our coffee will be cooling down. Iced Coffee is now available for purchase at the Reclaim Cafe. Second, for those of you that skipped breakfast in order to get to church on time, we have got you covered. Hot Jimmy Deans sandwiches, as well as cereal and milk will be available to satisfy your stomachs so you can be thinking about things other than lunch while you worship and serve. We are proud to have a cafe that is dedicated to serving our people and creating an environment for worship and fellowship.

3. Mother's Day: Celebrating moms is a big deal to us. Parents taking their role of raising up their children in faith is something that we always want to celebrate and support. We are celebrating Biblical motherhood this May 15th with a Mother's day family photo-booth. Moms, feel free to force the family to wear matching outfits if you'd like. Look for the family photo booth on May 15th at Reclaim.

4. Tools for Life Finale: For the last two Sundays of our Tools for Life Series we will be speaking about marriage. If you are single, don't worry, everything we will speak about can be applied to nearly all of your relationships. We want to celebrate marriage in big way this May though. We know that 2020 was a challenge for many married couples, this is why we are dedicating to weeks to speak into the heart of your marriage. This is also why we will be delivering a surprise twist to our service on May 23rd. In edition to the surprise twist we are inviting all married couples to dress up on May 23rd for a vow renewal service. A professional photo booth will be set up to capture this magic Sunday for you and your spouse. It is going to be an amazing celebration Sunday and we hope you will be a part of it!