Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Romans 12:3-8Gifts of Grace3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.Have you ever met someone with an inflated ego? Don’t they just rub you the wrong way? I think many of us find ourselves becoming annoyed with people who have inflated egos because, if we are really honest, we often see something in them that we don’t like about ourselves. We all have one thing in common: we often think we are the most important person in the world. Whether you agree with me or not, I have been around long enough to know that we are a self-absorbed people. Now, I don’t mean to sound like I am berating you; I am simply acknowledging a reality.Paul goes into depth about the importance of not thinking too highly of ourselves, but instead having sober judgment. He then lists a series of different gifts that we find within the body of Christ. His main point in doing this is to show that each of us has a role to play in building up God’s kingdom, but we should never think that our role makes us more important than someone else.This Sunday, I pray that we would continue to be equipped to build up the body of Christ. I pray that we would walk away viewing ourselves with greater humility and sober judgment, while also recognizing the gifts God has graciously given each of us. And ultimately, I pray that we would look to the example Christ set for us in how we should live and conduct ourselves.In Christ,Blake

What shapes the way you think? Where do you find yourself conforming? What percentage of your thoughts are completely original to you? Where do you find yourself becoming what other people expect you to be?As we turn our attention to Romans 12 this week, the apostle Paul coaches us not to conform to the world’s pattern; rather, we are to be transformed. Perhaps you’ve heard it said this way: “Conforming to the world is like removing the screen door to our minds and letting all the bugs fly in.” But when we are transformed, we refuse to comply any influences that compromise our character or the witness of Christ.I’ve heard someone describe it like this: Imagine if I filled up a glass with water, but then added dust and lint from the floor, cigarette butts from an ash tray, and a dried piece of gum from under the table. What if I then asked you to drink it? My guess is that you would refuse. Why? Because you know that it isn’t good for you!But that is what happens when we pollute our minds by taking in worldly influences that muddy the waters instead of clearing them. Paul says that we need to offer our bodies as living sacrifices by no longer conforming to the pattern of this world and being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Just as we put on clean clothing after a shower, so are we to put on Christ and allow Him to dwell in us richly. May we continue to grow as we allow ourselves to be shaped by the heart and mind of Christ.Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

On occasion, Nicole and I (more so Nicole) enjoy the challenge of putting together a 1,000-piece jig­saw puzzle. Other people might get the daily newspaper and do the crossword puzzle or Sudoku. Still others use various phone apps – Wordle anyone?But sometimes our puzzles can end up puzzling us; and this is how it was for the apostle Paul. Throughout Romans 11 Paul has been wrestling with the puzzle of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. As a Jew, by the grace of God he had come to know Jesus as his Savior. Then as he went about doing his missionary work, many Gentiles came to faith in Jesus as Lord but many of his own Jewish people rejected Jesus. It “Boggled” his mind.Yet this mystery didn’t leave him searching in the darkness. Paul was so confident that God would bring the Jewish people to faith that he broke into song:“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”(Romans 11:33) As we will be reminded this week: Theology leads to doxology.My prayer for us is that as we continue to study these deep and difficult things, God will lead us higher into His mercy. Mercy that is deeper than our sin, mercy that none of us can earn or repay, mercy that is wider than our narrow assumptions, and mercy that stretches across generations to reach Jews and Gentiles through Christ Jesus.May our worship be focused this week on the One who is merciful!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

Have you ever had your plans subverted or thwarted? You had an idea in mind that suddenly became something different? As we study Romans 11:11-24 together this week, Paul reminds us that Israel’s stumbling did not derail God’s plan. Instead, the gospel went out to the Gentiles and showed that God was at work to accomplish His saving purposes. What appeared to be a dead end became another avenue for grace. God is never surprised, defeated, or forced to improvise. Yet the inclusion of the Gentiles is not a reason for pride. Paul says that Gentile believers are like wild branches grafted into a cultivated olive tree. We don’t support the root; the root supports us. We are only able to stand by faith, we are nourished by promises we did not create, and we are welcomed into a covenant family we did not deserve. Because of this, we are called to humility and perseverance. We should never look down on those who are presently far from God, because we were once far off ourselves. The God who grafted us in is also able to restore those who have been broken off. No one is beyond the reach of His mercy, and no believer has room to boast. As we will see, because God’s grace is abundant, we should never treat it casually. We are called to remain in His kindness, trusting Christ, and bearing fruit. The proper response to grace is not arrogance or presumption, but gratitude and dependence upon the One who holds every branch. I look forward to seeing you this week!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

Romans 11:1-1011 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,[a] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace…There is no doubt that the nation of Israel has been a topic of conversation throughout history. From God's choosing of Israel in the Old Testament to the present day, Israel continues to be at the center of global attention. This naturally leads us to ask an important question: Has God rejected His people? Even more, how should we think about and pray for the people of Israel?My goal is not to enter into the political discussions surrounding the modern nation of Israel. Rather, I want us to consider the nation God chose as His covenant people in redemptive history, how they fit into the unfolding story of redemption, and what Romans 11 teaches about God's ongoing purposes for them.More important than my own thoughts, however, is what the Apostle Paul teaches. In this passage, Paul emphatically declares that God has not rejected His people. Instead, He has graciously preserved a remnant according to His sovereign grace, while the rest have experienced the hardening Paul describes. Above all, Paul reminds us that salvation—for both Jew and Gentile—comes by grace alone, not by the works of the law.This Sunday, come expectant and come hungry as we continue diving deep into the rich theology of Paul's letter to the Romans. Together, we'll seek to grow in our knowledge of God's Word and be conformed more and more to the image of His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.In Christ,Blake

Every once in a while, Nicole will ask me, “Did you hear me?” Now, as a person about to hit 50, I could probably use an excuse about hearing loss. But the truth is, more often than not, I’m involved in something else or not paying attention.In a similar way, Paul is going to unpacking a similar line of thinking. In our verses for Sunday, Paul is going to quote from a plethora of Old Testament passages. One of them will be Psalm 19, which speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God. But as we know, not everyone pays attention to the message of creation that points beyond itself to God.  The same happens when missionaries, pastors, or people bring the good news of God’s salvation to others. In those moments, we must always understand that there is a twofold response to the gospel. Some people will respond with belief and acceptance, while others refuse to believe.So the issue isn’t that people didn’t hear. As Paul says, “Did they not hear? Of course!” The real issue is paying attention and responding! As we gather together this week, every single one of us will be confronted with this question: If “God is holding out His hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people,” how will I respond? My prayer is that we will respond with genuine worship, grateful living, and the promise of a sure hope for eternal life.I look forward to seeing you in person or online.Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

Have you ever wondered what beautiful feet look like? For most of us, our feet spend the majority of their time in shoes, so you might not think too much about that question. Of course, as I mentioned on Sunday, with so many broken toes, I'm not sure mine qualify!But what about shoes? If you have been in the military, shiny shoes are a part of your service dress. But even as a child who grew up going to church each week, I have lots of memories of my dad (and later myself) shining our Sunday shoes before we went off to service. And even now before I leave the house to preach, I still try most weeks to make sure my shoes have been buffed.But that’s not what Paul is referring to when he talks about beautiful feet bringing good news. Paul quotes a line from Isaiah that has to do with bringing news to people near and far. In ancient times, messengers were sent to the king and to major cities to bring news about battles or attacks from other nations. This meant that the messengers often ran a long way, with their feet getting dirty or bloody. But when the message was good news, those tortured and bleeding feet were considered beautiful.Isaiah used that imagery to describe a messenger who brought the good news of salvation and peace, announcing, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). In our world of bullets and bombs, we need messengers of good news that speak of peace and reconciliation with God and with one another. Because we have good news to bring, that means we have beautiful feet – whether they are physically beautiful or not! But regardless of whether people look at our feet, what they will see is the joy on our faces as we share that Jesus Christ is Lord!I look forward to discovering more about that together as we gather this week.Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we pause to celebrate with gratitude. We do not give thanks because our country is perfect, nor because our history is without sorrow, or sin, or struggle. We give thanks because, by God’s mercy, we have received blessings that many throughout the world have longed for: freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the opportunity to live, work, gather, and serve in peace.We also remember that these freedoms were not handed to us cheaply. They have been preserved through sacrifice, courage, hardship, and the shedding of blood. Across generations, men and women have served, suffered, and died so that others like us might live in liberty. Such sacrifices should make us humble, grateful, and prayerful. Yet as Christians, our hope is not ultimately in any nation, government, flag, or earthly kingdom. Our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yet precisely because we belong to Him, we are called to be faithful citizens: to seek the welfare of our neighbors, to pray for those in authority, to pursue justice and mercy, and to use our freedoms not for selfish gain, but for love of God and love of neighbor. So today we give thanks for the blessings we have received as a nation, while also asking God to make us wise stewards. May we never confuse patriotism with worship, or liberty with license. May we cherish what is good, repent where repentance is needed, and labor for an America where the highest ideals are upheld. Above all, we give thanks to God for the greater freedom we have in Jesus Christ: freedom from sin, freedom from condemnation, and freedom to live as children of God. Nations rise and fall, but the kingdom of Christ is everlasting. May our gratitude for earthly freedoms lead us to deeper worship of the One who alone can make us truly free. Have a wonderful and blessed 4th of July!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

I am mindful of the times I have spent over a lump of clay (whether on a wheel, or shaping or molding or manipulating it into whatever you desire). There is something about being mindful and dreaming about what it could be in terms of its form and function. At the same time, there is also something beautiful in the hard work and craftsmanship that brings it about. In the end, the piece may be exactly what you envisioned; other times it may take a different shape as it is forming.  As we continue in our sermon series on Romans, chapter 9:19-29 brings us face-to-face with one of the most humbling questions in all of Scripture: Is God forming us, or are we forming ourselves and God is going along with it? Paul answer that with this truth: God is sovereign, and we are not. But if that is the case, Paul anticipates the question many of us might ask: “If God hardens whom He wills, then why does He still hold people accountable?” Do human beings have any real agency? Can we be blamed for rejecting Christ if no one can resist His will? Paul’s answer is not to solve every mystery to our satisfaction, but to remind us of our place before God. And to make his point, he asks, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” While that may sound sharp, Paul is not shutting down honest wrestling; he is reminding us of everything that he has said prior about election, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. We are the clay, not the Potter. The clay does not tell the potter what he must make or how he must use what he has made. As we have been saying, salvation begins with God’s mercy, not human achievement. If God were only just, no one would be saved. But the wonder of Romans 9 is not that God judges sin, but that He shows mercy at all; and that He calls people from both Jews and Gentiles to belong to Him. And what is the result? Worship! Because the Potter is not cruel or careless, but holy, wise, patient, and merciful, He alone is worthy of our worship. And for all who trust in Christ, we can find our worshipful rest in this: the hands that shape us are the same hands that were pierced for us. Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

As we began last week, Romans 9:6–18 continues in this difficult section of Scripture unpacking the relationship of Israel to Christ. This is not an easy passage, but one that contains deep comfort. Paul is wrestling with a painful question: if many Israelites have rejected Christ, has God’s Word failed? Yet his answer is clear:“It is not as though God’s word had failed”(Romans 9:6).God has always been faithful to His promises, and His saving purpose has never depended on human effort, or achievement, or background, or status.Paul reminds us that God’s grace is rooted in God’s mercy. As we know, God’s promises came through Isaac, not Ishmael and Jacob, not Esau. It has never been about merit, but about mercy. And so this passage humbles us all because it reminds us that salvation is never something God owes us; it is always His free and gracious gift. As we will see:“It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Romans 9:16).While this may be hard to hear, it is also extremely comforting because it reminds us that if our salvation depended on our strength, wisdom, consistency, or spiritual performance, then we would have every reason to fear. But because salvation rests on God’s mercy and purpose, we can rest in Him.So rather than try to understand things perfectly that may be hidden from us, it actually invites us to worship. Why? Because God is sovereign and faithful and merciful and good. And that means that His Word has not failed! His promises still stand, and His mercy is greater than we know.Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

Do you know your purpose in life? Do you really believe you are also sent? Has God called you to his mission? Throughout Scripture, we certainly see the way in which Jesus understood his purpose and calling. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus and had dinner with him, his purpose was laser-focused:“For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”Paul knew it as well. After scaling the heights of God’s love for us in Jesus and reminding us that nothing will separate us from the love of God (Romans 8), his next words almost give us whiplash:“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race...” - Romans 9:2-3Why could things turn so quickly? Because Paul had the heart of a missionary. Most of us get distracted or sidetracked every day from our purposes. But not Jesus...and not Paul. Just as Jesus saw Zaccheus through the crowds in a tree, Jesus sees you and me. And just as Paul saw his people were far from Jesus and desired that they would know Him, Paul encourages us to have the same heart.Do we understand the privileges we have been given? Do we grieve over those who are lost? Do we love those who are far from Christ? Do we long to see the people we know come to Jesus? As we explore these questions together this week, I pray that we will begin to see the people and community around us with the same heart and through the same lens. Let’s keep leaning into our invitational nature!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”-Romans 8:31Have you ever paid attention to “bumper sticker theology”? They are the short quips that people put on their car indicating their beliefs. They’re the kinds of phrases that get stitched onto pillows or make it into graduation cards. It’s not necessarily bad or wrong; but lacking context, it can be taken to mean something that might not have been originally intended.Romans 8:31 is one such phrase. When your back is against the wall? Romans 8:31. When someone seems out to get you? Romans 8:31! When the opposing team seems bigger and stronger than you? Romans 8:31!!!Again, it’s not necessarily bad, but it lacks context, because what is Paul really talking about here? In the first eight chapters of the book of Romans, Paul has moved from the honest reality of sin, to our need for salvation, to the incredible reality of being God’s child through Jesus. And now Paul wants to draw a conclusion: “If you understand these things about God – that He wants you, that He has done everything needed to save you, and that He gives you His Spirit so that you can be part of His family in Christ – then ask yourself, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’”God is saying, “For those of you who worry about if you belong, or about the status of your sin, or about earning My favor, or about how to understand life; do you really think that I’m just going to give up on you? Nothing will be able to separate you from My love!”And, ultimately, that is the kind of confidence we need!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.Isn’t it interesting that although the Christian life is full of trials, suffering, and tribulation, God still works all things for the good of those who love Him? It is a remarkable dichotomy. God is ultimately the One doing the work to shape us, refine us, and conform us to the image of His Son—and He does this for all who have been called by Him.But there is an even greater purpose in all of this: God desires to glorify the Christian. Yes, Christian’s ought to glorify God in all they do, but we often forget that God is also in the process of glorifying His people. What do I mean by that? Those who have been called according to His purpose will one day be perfectly conformed to the image of His Son in eternity.These verses that Paul introduces are often called “The Golden Chain.” Just as a gold chain is made up of interconnected links, so too God interlinks these realities in the Christian life: foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. This passage has often become a point of contention within Christianity because it raises the discussion of free will versus God’s effectual calling. We will certainly talk about this on Sunday with both grace and humility.Paul also introduces the “already, but not yet” reality that many scholars speak about. Although we have been justified and reconciled to God, we have not yet fully experienced what it means to be glorified. The glorification of the believer will ultimately take place at the resurrection.I long to be with you all this Sunday. Even now, pray that the Spirit would continue His work of glorification in our churches, homes, and individual lives.In Christ,Pastor Blake

Romans 8:18-27I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.Have you ever waited so long for something that it caused you to literally groan? I can think of several moments in my life when the Lord had me wait, and it led me to groan. Sometimes my groaning was for His glory, and other times it came from a place of selfishness.Paul’s point in Romans 8:18–27 is that even though we groan, we groan with purpose. We recognize that suffering and pain are part of life, but for the Christian, suffering is never meaningless. Our suffering draws us closer to Jesus as we share in His sufferings, which we talked about last week, but it also reveals glimpses of the glory being formed within us. I know that might sound surprising, but the Bible is abundantly clear that when we suffer, God uses it for our good and for His glory.This Sunday, we will dive deeper into Romans. As we continue to explore this letter together, my hope and prayer is that the Lord would reveal to you that the pain, struggle, and suffering you experience all have purpose. Ultimately, that purpose is to share with Christ in the glory that is to come.And the greater reality is this: once you step into eternity with Christ, the suffering you endured will not even be worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in you. It will be as though your suffering has faded in light of the overwhelming joy of being with Him. In that moment, your new and glorified body will far surpass any pain, sorrow, or struggle you experienced in this life.In Christ,Pastor Blake

Over the years, what have your children called you? Mommy? Daddy? Mother? Father? Mom-mom? Pop-pop? Grandma? Grandpa? Mimi? Pappy? Your first name? According to Paul, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”There is something so special about the fact that we get to call God “Abba.” "Abba" is the Aramaic word for “father;” and since Jesus spoke Aramaic, it is possible that “Abba” was one of the first words he learned as a child. But more than simply meaning “father,” it indicates a closeness that is more akin to “Daddy,” or “Papa.” Jesus referred to his Father this way in prayer (Mark 14:36). But what is truly incredible is that we are also able to speak to God in this way! As Romans 8 puts it, by the Spirit of God we cry, “Abba.” As a result of our union with Christ, we are children, heirs, and co-heirs. We can have confidence as we approach the throne of God!As we gather together for worship this week, may we be reminded that because of the Lord’s obedience (and by the power of the Holy Spirit), the one whom Jesus called "Abba" is our "Abba" as well. May we choose to live in the Holy Spirit with the assurance that no matter how often our doubts try to talk us out of faith, or no matter how much we are bothered by our unworthiness; we can say to ourselves over and over again: “I belong to God!”Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

It doesn’t take much time around the television or internet to know that we are being bombarded with advertisements about improving the self. (Is anyone else’s Facebook feed mostly ads?) We know that the multibillion-dollar self-improvement industry consists of a seemingly endless supply of cosmetics, strategies to boost self-esteem, fitness equipment, and weight-loss programs.To be sure, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to become more healthy. But as we have been noticing as we’ve been working our way through Romans, human nature is in need of much more than mere improvement. We need total recreation, and no person has the resources to accomplish that. But because we are sinful, it’s not a matter that we just need to be improved; we need something else.As we’ve alluded to, no branch can improve itself. The quality of its fruit depends entirely on the vine to which it is attached. That is why we need Christ and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus died on the cross, he took on himself all of our sins. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He changed the root.As a result, the Spirit of God should change our fruit. While we cannot change our past, we can ask God to work in us through His Spirit to change our future. We needn’t live in shame, but we can ask Him to produce in us all the fruit of the Spirit and to help us live obediently. As Colossians 3:10 says, we should seek to, “Have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”I look forward to unpacking these things with you this week whether in person or online. Keep up the great job of inviting friends and neighbors as we continue to see our church grow!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

Have you ever been on the road when you’re in a hurry and lost track of how fast you were going? You know that sinking feeling when you suddenly notice a car quickly catching up to you with flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Unfortunately, you didn’t see that “reduced speed zone” a mile back, and now you’re up against the law. As much as you might try to explain that you didn’t mean to break the law; unless the officer is feeling generous, you’re going to end up paying the penalty.Most of us realize that laws are important, but what we also understand is that laws are limited in what they can do. Police officers may diligently enforce the rules of the road, but laws are unable to make us better drivers. Similarly, laws against bullying at school cannot make a bully into a kind person, nor do laws about sugary snacks make someone healthy. In the end, we need more than the law to transform our lives.As we will see as we continue in our study of Romans 7, the apostle Paul knew the importance of God’s law. At the same time, he also knew that pleasing his heavenly Father was not just a matter of obeying a set of rules. Jesus gets at the spiritual nature of law when he says he came to fulfill the law rather than to do away with it.However, as Paul wrestles with his own sinful nature, he cries out, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” But then comes the glorious answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen to that!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

As we continue in our sermon series this week, Paul moves on from the imagery of slavery to the imagery of marriage in order to talk about the law. Now, as someone who is married, I know a few things about marriage and how it’s supposed to work. I have preached sermons about marriage, I have helped couples prepare for it, and for nearly 28 years I have experienced it. However, none of that means I am a good husband (even though I try). But the larger point is that, even if I’m poor at it, I am still a husband.Paul’s point is that marriage is not based on performance or on the application of laws to the situation. Marriage is about two hearts and lives connected in close relationship to one another. In my marriage, whether times are good, bad, or indifferent, one thing I know for sure is this: as a husband, I belong to my wife. And because my marriage is about a LIVING union, the “laws” of marriage only apply while both of us are living.And that’s the point Paul is making about Jesus and the law. Belonging to Jesus is not about living within certain laws about faith; it’s about a living union in which Jesus and I are in active relationship. As a result, it means that Jesus as my Savior has my heart and that I am fully devoted to him. I desire to put him first in my life by forsaking all other claims to my loyalty to Him. If Jesus has my heart, then that is where my passion needs to be.And so it is with all of us!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” - Romans 6:16Have you ever had a conversation with someone that made you think, “What? How do they not get this?” as you bang your head on the table. I wonder if Paul was like that as he said for the second time in Romans 6, “By no means!” The reason why was because some Christians in Rome seemed to have been suggesting that if the law is no longer the master, then the law shouldn’t be a big deal.And, apparently, they didn’t get it; which is why God inspired Paul to write this to them (and to us) – because we don’t always get it either. The point of Romans 6 is to help us to understand the problem of sin and why the law helps us to gain that understanding. It’s not just God’s intent that we just disagree with sin; God wants us to understand that sin messes up who we are and how we connect with God and each other. He also wants us to recognize that if nothing is done, sin will increasingly separate us from God.On the other hand, the enemy wants us to ignore that fact and to let sin destroy us. This is why we must take sin seriously and why we need to decide what/who will be our master. Of course, Paul points us in the best direction:“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

As I reflect on the events of last week, I am in awe of what God is doing in the life of our church. It was a joy to be able to worship together as one body, to see the sanctuary packed and in need of extra chairs, and to see the connections taking place during the “carry-in” luncheon. Since people often fall into one service or the other, it’s good for everyone to see the new faces and get to know each other’s names and stories. My prayer is that God will continue to grow us in our love for God and our love for each other.It was also good that we came together at the start of Holy Week to remind us of how we have gained access to God through the grace and peace of Jesus. Because of Jesus, we now have peace with God! However, each of us knows that we can be “hosanna hailers” on Sunday and “hypocrites” by Thursday. As we will see this week, this sin brought death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death as well in our separation from God.That’s what makes Maundy Thursday so powerful. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He didn’t distance Himself from sinners – He drew near. He broke bread, poured the cup, and told His disciples that this was His body and blood given for them. Jesus stepped into our mess.But where Adam disobeyed, Jesus submitted – which leads to Good Friday and the text of Romans 5. Paul tells us that sin reigned in death; but at the cross, Jesus breaks its power. While the cross may seem like a tragic moment, for us it is a decisive victory! If the first Adam brought death, the second Adam brought life!And then comes Easter Morning! The empty tomb is God’s declaration that grace now reigns through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We no longer live in the shadow of Adam; we live under the reign of Christ!As we consider the events of this week, I pray that Christ may speak into your hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget to invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to be your guest at any of our services this week. I look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at 7 PM for our Maundy Thursday service or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11 AM.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1In Romans 4, as Paul reminded us of the story of Abraham, he emphasized Abraham’s faith. Yet even Abraham (who was considered a God-fearing and good man) was praiseworthy – not because he was good – but because he believed God. As any person who reads Genesis knows, Abraham made a number of mistakes and committed sins. The thing that made Abraham different was the fact that he put his trust and hope in God. The Bible says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”The same is true for us today. If we hope in our own power or our own goodness or strength, we will be disappointed. That's because, within ourselves, we do not have enough goodness to give us hope for the future. But when we put our faith in God which we have been given through the Holy Spirit, then we have hope.What is that hope? That we have been given peace with God. What is amazing to think is the fact that this peace with God is not just something we desire; it is something that God desires to have with us! That’s why God sent Jesus, and it’s why He wants us to know that we have a place in His family. And the result is that not only do we have peace with God, but we also have peace in this world no matter what our circumstances.As we enter into worship together this Sunday for the beginning of Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, may we know the incredible love of God and the sure found hope that we have been given through the Holy Spirit.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” - Romans 4:20-21I’m the type of person who tries to fix most things on my own. Car maintenance? Changing oil, changing brakes, and general “wrenching” doesn’t scare me so long as I have the time. General plumbing and electrical work? No problem! But ask me to replace a head gasket, rebuild a transmission, or change an electrical panel, and I’m going to need to call someone who can diagnose and fix the problem.In the same way, while I am tempted to think that I can fix myself, the reality is that I cannot. As we continue in our series through Romans, Paul expands on his thoughts about how we can get right with God, and he uses the Old Testament patriarch Abraham as the example. While God had made a promise to provide him ancestors that numbered the stars, Abraham knew he couldn’t do that himself (though at times he tried). In the end, he trusted in God and believed “against all hope” that God would have the power to do what was promised.What Paul is reminding us of is the fact that the strength of our hope and faith does not start with us; it starts with what we hope for and what we have faith in. It’s God who made a promise, and God who keeps His promises. He doesn’t need our help! In the same way, it wasn't circumcision or the law that helped Abraham; it was who he put his faith in!And as we will see as we approach Easter, what this passage points us to is the fact that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead invites us to put our faith in Him. Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Our faith and hope didn’t make that happen; God did! Yet when we put our faith and hope in Jesus, we are embracing what God has promised and fulfilled.As we gather together this week for worship, my prayer is that we will put our faith in the One who has the power to raise us!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” - Romans 3:19This may seem like an odd illustration, but consider this: Let’s say that you are under water and you can’t breathe. Is there any reason to boast that you are drowning in only two feet of water as opposed to ten feet? Does it matter that you are closer to the surface while there are those beneath you?As we have seen (and will continue to see), Paul is reminding the Jewish people that for anyone who is assessing themselves by comparing their level of sinfulness to that of others, it is still deadly. We cannot assume that we aren’t so bad because there are others who are far worse sinners. We need to check our own hearts according to God’s standards.When you’re drowning, if your main focus is whether you are closer to the surface than ­others, you might miss what you need in order to be saved. The only thing you really need is to get out of the water and breathe again. But because we are unable to save ourselves, we need someone who will pull us up out of the water.As we gather together this week, Romans 3:1-20 will give us one more “heaping helping” of the bad news before we get to the good news. But oh, how glorious that good news will be! Yet even in the bad news, we are reminded that God is faithful, even when we are unfaithful.As God has been moving powerfully in the life of WEPC, please keep spreading the news and inviting your friends and neighbors to join this movement of seeking to bring joy to our city and world!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” - Romans 2:4Having just put before us some very hard truths in Romans 1, we might think that Paul would take his foot off the gas. Instead, he drives headlong into reminding us that we all fall short of the glory of God by way of passing judgment without making any heart changes ourselves. With that in mind, Paul states that the way all of us come to repentance is through God’s kindness.We often assume that the threat of judgment is what leads to repentance. We think, “If only we can show people how bad they are, then they will be sorry.” Or we say, “If I can show them the consequences of their actions (like some negative life outcomes or the ultimate punishment of going to hell), then they will repent.But Paul reminds us that the path to repentance is quite different. Instead of the posture God could have had towards us, God is kind. In fact, God waits patiently for us to notice his kindness. And rather than showing us our consequences, God sometimes holds back (though eventually they will be known according to verse 8). But this holding back of consequences is called “forbearance.” God forbears with us with the desire that we will repent and return to Him.So here’s a question: If God’s kindness is what leads to our repentance, how are we being called to forbear with other people’s unrepentant attitudes in the hopes that they will return? We can judge them as if it is up to us to bring about their consequences, or we can step into the gap and seek to help them through our seeking to be like God. As we gather together this week, my prayer is that every heart will be changed as we seek to show the kindness, ­patience, and forbearance towards others that God has shown us.Grace & Peace,Aaron

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” - Romans 1:22-23Last week, we ended by hearing the wonderful news that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus is justified by faith. But instead of continuing in that theme, Paul takes a moment to remind us of the types of thinking that we have been saved from; things which lead to God’s wrath. It is what happens when people suppress the truth – not because the truth was hidden – but because the truth points us to a God who is to be obeyed.God has revealed Himself in the beauty of creation, in the order of the universe, and in the intricacy of the human body. These invisible attributes testify to the reality of God, so everyone is without excuse. But sadly, many people cover their eyes.And Paul says that the result is an exchange, one that leads to trading truth for a lie. Sin, at its core, is a bad trade. We give up the infinite for the finite, and we trade glory for substitutes. Because we swap the Giver for the gift, Paul says that “God gave them over...”But in order for the good news to be truly good, we first have to see the bad news. And this bad news is going to give way to the good news of chapter 3 that another exchange is coming (and has come). At the cross, the ultimate exchange takes place, and our sin is traded for Christ’s righteousness.With that in mind, this week, may we approach our time together in humble thanksgiving.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”Paul’s words in Romans 1:16-17 are not merely a burst of “rah-rah” enthusiasm; they come from a deep conviction in his heart. He’s not unashamed because his message is popular, or impressive, or easy to explain. He is unashamed because of the way God has acted through the gospel (good news) of Christ.At the heart of these verses that we will study together this week is the counter-cultural truth that righteousness is not something that is achieved, it is revealed through Jesus. The gospel doesn’t tell us how to climb up to God; it announces how God has come down to us in Christ. What we could never earn through effort, or morality, or religion, God freely gives us through faith.That is why Paul reaches back to Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous shall live by faith.” The truth is that walking with God has always been this way – whether in the Old Testament or the New. It’s not about self-reliance or our spiritual résumé, but by trusting the promises of God.And this truth gives us a deep assurance because it means that our righteousness is not dependent upon our performance. If it were, we’d probably never rest, as we’d always be trying to achieve more. Rather, our confidence is in Christ. As Paul says in Galatians, salvation is no longer “I who live,” but “Christ who lives in me.” As we prepare to gather for worship this week, may we find ourselves with a faith that rests in the power of the gospel of Christ.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Have you ever been so excited to share news with someone or a group of people that you could hardly wait? I remember when Shantel found out she was pregnant; we wanted to tell the entire world. We were filled with joy.The apostle Paul received what is known as the Good News, and he too was filled with joy as he shared it with everyone he could. The Lord commissioned Paul to take the gospel of Jesus to people of many cultures, especially the Gentiles. He was entrusted with a great task.We will be exploring Paul’s introduction to the church(es) in Rome. Although at first glance it may seem that there is not much to draw from the first seven verses, I believe that often there can be a greater depth when we take the time to dig a little further. This letter is especially wonderful because it is rich with truth about who God is, the purpose of faith, how salvation is granted, and how believers are to live.This Sunday we will embark on a journey through the book of Romans. We will spend several months in this book, so pray up, and buckle up. Our hope through this series is to continue to fan into flame the good work God is doing in the life of our church and in your individual walk with Jesus. Many blessings…In Christ,Pastor Blake

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs _________ in his ways.” If you had to choose a word, what might fill in the blank? How about “the humble”? How about “the upright”? “The righteous” would also fill in the blank nicely. All of these would qualify as students who listen and are teachable.But what does David say? “He instructs sinners in his ways.” That is an amazing statement considering that God is good and upright. You would figure that God would choose only righteous people to be His students. After all, if the best universities maintain the highest entrance standards, wouldn’t God expect as much?Thankfully, God has an “open enrollment”! He loves the most difficult students and the slowest of learners. What is the only requirement for the entrance exam? To seek forgiveness! Verse 11 says, “For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.”Sin can harden our hearts and cause us to doubt whether we can trust God to forgive us. But it can also humble us and lead us to the place where we receive God’s forgiveness and follow God’s instructions. The good news of God’s grace is that He comes looking for us even if we skip class!As we continue in our sermon series called, “Songs for the Searching,” my prayer is that God will remind us that He can be trusted; not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Our hope is in the God who is faithful and the God who saves. That is why we can say, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust!”Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

When was the last time you slowed down to look at the world around you? Each starry constellation, every birdsong, each chirping squirrel, and every biological breakthrough displays the wonder and awesomeness of God. Psalm 19 begins with the beautiful statement, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” and then continues to preach a sermon about the Creator. By it, we can know God and taste His goodness.However, we cannot fully know God by simply admiring His creation. David also makes clear that it is only through His laws, decrees, and statutes (His Word) that we can fully know the depth of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.As we have briefly looked at some various Psalms of David, we have answered the questions of “Who is God?” and “Who Am I?” Hopefully, we have been reminded of the greatness of God and His faithfulness to come to our rescue. But as we continue to walk through this life, we may also wonder, “How should I live?”Thankfully, God has revealed that to us through the testimony of creation and the giving of His Word. As we hope to discover this week: “And the better we get to know the WORD of God, the better we will be able to know the WILL of God.” I hope to see you in person or online as we continue in this series. And don’t forget to keep inviting your friends, neighbors, and co-workers as God continues His amazing work in the life of WEPC!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

When you think about God, what comes to mind? Creator or sustainer? Joyful or angry/wrathful? Close or distant? A rescuer? A listener?As we turn our attention to Psalm 18, David says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” What’s interesting to note is that David wrote this at a time when God delivered him from his enemies (including Saul), the king he would replace.At times, David was so overwhelmed by his enemies that he felt as if “the cords of death entangled” him. He felt that his end was near. Yet in response, David called on the only one who could help. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.”If last week’s Psalm explored who we are and how God sees us, this week’s Psalm will unpack who God is. And what we discover is that God hears us when we cry, that God is a rescuer who can be trusted, and that God is our rock and deliverer. Through experience. David had been taught and had learned that the Lord was always present for him. No enemy could separate him from the care of God.As we will see, God has revealed himself to be faithful, dependable, and strong. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is unparalleled in His majesty, power, and endurance. There is no one like Him! This is why we can hide ourselves in the cleft of our chief, our protector, our God – our Rock – and He will provide shelter for us.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

Over 20 years ago, Casting Crowns released a song that became a hit that spent 6 weeks as the #1 song on Billboard.The song’s title is “Who Am I”, and the lyrics say:“Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name?Would care to feel my hurt?Who am I, that the bright and morning star would choose to light the wayFor my ever wandering heart?  Not because of who I am, But because of what you've doneNot because of what I've done But because of who you are...”Psalm 8 asks the same questions. God made us in His image, which is awe-inspiring to think about. We are just a little lower than the heavenly beings. We have glory and honor. We are rulers over God’s works. Everything is under our feet.  What’s amazing is the fact that we haven’t earned our position or appointment. We didn’t have any prior experience or a resume. Nobody wrote us a letter of recommendation. But before we become too proud, we need to answer some questions. Who made us? Who made us a little lower than the heavenly beings? Who crowned us with glory and honor? Who made us ruler over God’s works? Who put everything under our feet?  But Psalm 8 can’t be read outside of the context of the identical first and last verses:“LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”That puts us in our place! Though we occupy an amazingly high place, we must remember that it is a God-given place. We may be crowned, but it is only by grace.  As we approach this new year, what if we kept these thoughts in mind? How might it shape how we think about, “Who am I?” How might it change our outlook on life?  Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron 

Revelation 21:1-5 (ESV)The New Heaven and the New EarthThen I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”Have you ever given thought to what your life will be like once your time on earth is complete? I do not spend a great deal of time imagining it myself, but I do know this. John’s description of what is to come in the book of Revelation is breathtaking. So breathtaking, in fact, that he often struggles to find words adequate enough to describe the glory of eternity.I am sure I am not alone in finding the book of Revelation challenging to interpret at times. Yet one thing is clear. Revelation is a book about the glorious and victorious Jesus Christ, who will defeat Satan once and for all and who will ultimately make all things new.As we begin a new year, perhaps you are longing for something new in your own life. Maybe you are already reflecting on the changes that need to be made in order to recenter your heart on the Lord. Let me encourage you with this. Place your trust in the Lord, who is in the business of newness.This Sunday, we will explore the promise of an everlasting covenant. A covenant that will endure for all eternity. A covenant in which God Himself will dwell with His people in the new creation. My prayer is that as you step into this new year, your greatest desire would be to draw nearer to the One who is making all things new.In Christ,Pastor Blake

You're listening to Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church's podcast. We'd love to worship with you today!Today's message unpacks the new & better covenant found in Jesus Christ. This comes from our Senior Pastor, Aaron Klein, and was part of our Christmas Eve service.Enjoy & happy holidays!

At some point, King David had time to reflect on the state of things after his palace was built and God had given him “rest from all his enemies around him.” Maybe he felt a tinge of shame that the home of God’s ark of the covenant was merely a tent, and so he decided to build a more permanent house for the ark. Initially, Nathan gave him the go-ahead, until God told Nathan otherwise.Through the prophet Nathan, God revealed that he had bigger plans for His servant. David would have a dynasty that would last forever. From an outside perspective, God fulfilled those promises – David had a son in Solomon who would take the throne and continue David’s kingdom. But eventually Judah fell and was ruled by others.So what was God talking about by an everlasting kingdom? As we will learn this week, it was all pointing to David’s descendant Jesus – the Son of God – who would establish a kingdom for God’s people that would last forever. This kingdom would be ruled by a king who would never waver or fail, and who would bring true peace upon the earth.As we gather together for worship this week, on the Sunday before Christmas, I pray that God will meet you wherever you are and with whatever you need. His Good News is great news for weary hearts, and it allows us to press on when things seem dark. The King is on the throne!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

Why do people make promises that they have no intention of keeping? All of us have probably experienced that from time to time. “Need help babysitting? Just give me a call.” “Need help moving? My truck is yours.” Yet when we go to take them up on their offer, it’s like they forgot what they had promised. Of course, all of us fall into the same trap. How often do we make promises to others OR ourselves about the future that we don’t keep?So, as we turn our attention to the next covenant promise of God, we see that the people have been waiting for quite some time. Between the time of Abraham and Moses, hundreds of years have elapsed. It’s no stretch to believe that by the time of the Exodus, people were starting to question God.And yet, out of a burning bush, God calls Moses. Then, later, out of the fire of a mountain, God calls a people. Well, this week, as we turn our attention to the covenant that God made with the people of Israel through Moses, we will see that it is a challenging covenant to study. Why? Because it contains within it elements of works, even though it is a part of a broader covenant of grace. However, what we will also be reminded of is the fact that God’s people could never owe their salvation to works...it’s all grace!And that should bring us joy!As you can see, we’re going deep in theology this week, so bring a humble heart posture and a head ready to learn. I look forward to seeing you either in person or online!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron

Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)God’s Covenant With Abram15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.Have you ever had to wait for something? I mean, really, wait. I’m not talking about that Amazon package that got delayed or the coffee that should have been ready five minutes ago. I’m talking about a time when God called you into a season of waiting. Those seasons can be hard. They test us. They show how quickly we grow impatient and how easily we lose our peace.Part of the reason is that the world around us has trained us to be this way. We live in a culture that is increasingly impatient, always on edge, and ready to lash out at the slightest inconvenience. The only way we can truly combat this growing temptation is by being nurtured in God’s Word and holding fast to His promises.That is exactly what Abraham was called to do. God called Abraham to be set apart, to live faithfully before Him, and to wait for the promised heir. God established a covenant with Abraham—a new beginning—and promised: “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him whom dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Abraham believed God, but then he had to wait—a long time—before seeing this promise fulfilled.This Sunday, we will explore the life of Abraham, the call to wait, and the promise of peace that only comes from the Prince of Peace.In Christ,Pastor Blake

As we gather together with family over the course of this week, many of our homes will be filled with laughter and joy. Of course, even in the best of homes, we realize that few ever escape some form of trouble. Sadly, many are filled with brokenness that spills out into the world around them.From the beginning, the earth that God created was meant to be filled with goodness, and as we have seen in our last sermon series, men and women were instructed to take good care of it. However, before long, Adam and Eve brought trouble into their home and the whole human race, which spilled out into Cain murdering Abel and Lamech promoting vengeance as a way of life. By Noah’s time, the earth was filled with social disaster, corruption, envy, murder, lust, and more.The result was that God decided to do something about it. Justice would be administered. However, Noah found favor in the eyes of God, and he and his family would be spared through an ark that God told them to build. The God who promised to crush the serpent’s head would not give up on His promises!As we will see in our study together this week, all of the covenant promises of God point to the covenant of grace that we have in Jesus Christ. Christ was born at Christmas as God’s revelation of how we find favor with God and are saved from our sins. How? We have to board the “ark” that is Jesus Christ, through faith in his gracious love.As we gather for Thanksgiving this week and begin the journey of Advent, may we be reminded that when the floodwaters of sin rise, we can be thankful for the only One who saves us from drowning.Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron 

For many people, doors are the first form of protection against the harm that would enter their homes. For others, that is not enough, and so they not only lock their doors but they deadbolt them as well. And still for others, they install peepholes or security cameras so that they can see what is outside before they let someone in. The reality is that outside of God’s presence, all sorts of harm seek to enter our lives.In Genesis 4, God warns Cain that sin is waiting just outside his door, waiting to devour him. Sin is loitering at the threshold. But as we learn, we are faulty doorkeepers; we tire easily of keeping watch, and we let down our guard. And what is the result? Cain killed Abel and sought to cover up the murder. From that moment on, sin would continue like a runaway freight train.That’s why we need a better watchman. Christ is the faithful doorkeeper who stands at the opening where sin lurks. It is Jesus who watches over the door to his people’s hearts. And when sin enters, it is Christ’s innocent blood that cries out on our behalf.As we finish our “Sovereign” series this week, we see that even though sin increases, grace increases all the more. Christ is the better Adam. He is the better Abel. And he is the better guardsman for our lives. Sin is lurking at our doors, but Jesus also “stands at the door and knocks.” Would you open the door to Him and allow Him to protect your heart today and for eternity?Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

Genesis 3:1-15The Fall (ESV)3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.Have you ever read Genesis 3 and thought to yourself, “If I were there, I would have done it differently”? Many of us like to believe that we would have made a better choice than Adam and Eve. We imagine that we’d have the strength to say no to the serpent—or that we wouldn’t have entertained a conversation with him in the first place. But the truth is, we wouldn’t have done any better. Scripture makes it clear that we all share in the responsibility for the decision Adam and Eve made when they rebelled against God.Scripture tells us that the serpent was “crafty.” The Hebrew word used here, ʿārûm, appears only eleven times in the Old Testament. It often carries a negative connotation, associated with trickery or deceit. The serpent’s craftiness, then, is not wisdom used for good but cunning used for manipulation—distorting God’s Word to lead humanity astray.Here’s the reality: the serpent was just as crafty in the beginning as he is today. Praise be to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who, by His death and resurrection, has defeated Satan and his trickery. Yet Satan is still called the “prince of the air.” As Christians, we need to study God’s Word — not only to draw closer to Him, but also to understand the schemes of the enemy.This Sunday, we will be looking at the Fall: who our adversary is, what sin did to our relationship with God, and God’s ultimate plan to restore that relationship.Many Blessings,Pastor Blake

“The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” - Genesis 2:18In Genesis 2, we find a close-up on the human experience – we were not meant to be alone! Before Adam even realized it, God saw Adam’s need and provided for him. This beautiful expression of God’s love and care is seen in the fact that Adam didn’t have to go hunting for a spouse – God brought her to him! And we get to see an example of the pattern for weddings to come.This is the Bible’s way of telling us that marriage is from God, established as a creation ordinance. Marriage was not invented by a human being; it was instituted by God when he created us “male and female” and brought Adam and Eve together. That means that marriage is sacred.But it also reveals our need for relationship – human beings were not meant to be alone. As image-bearers of our Creator who lived in perfect communion of Father, Son, and Spirit, so we are in need of communion with one another. As a church, we can play a special role in nurturing marriage relationships, but we also know that for those who are in a season of singleness (by choice or circumstance), we can provide a place of belonging.But for all those in a season of healthy marriages, for those in a season of a lonely marriage, and for all those in a season of singleness, what we are reminded of is that all earthly relationships point us to the One in whom we find our deepest longings fulfilled – Jesus Christ! May we find our hope in him as we gather together this week!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

As we learned last week, Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought contamination into God’s creation. It’s not something that we have to imagine; it’s something that we see and feel every day since we are a part of this story. When Adam and Eve sinned, it changed everything. It forced them (and us) onto a dead-end street and into a huge sinkhole.And even though God makes a promise of hope that is to come, there are still judgments that befall the people. Pain, sweat, thorns, disordered desires, and ruined relationships – all of it is a result of sin, and all of it is judged by a just God. But once again, even as He banishes them from the Garden, we see God’s mercy as He provides clothes for the crown of His creation,Yes, we try to amuse ourselves with the best the world has to offer, but we still recognize that we are living “East of Eden.” And “East of Eden” is not a pleasant place to live. It's a place filled with “thorns and thistles.” It’s a place where we work hard, but find the problems of life are still choking out our joy and satisfaction. And it’s a place that we know is not our home.Why? Because we long to get back to the Garden! We long to go home to God. And as we will see this week, the only way we have access to the true tree of life and a restored Eden is through Jesus Christ. My hope is that you will see (and know) God’s love and grace this week, even in the midst of judgment.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” - Genesis 2:7We know that life is a gift, but it is easy to forget. We feel the pressures from the world around us, prompting us to believe we are self-made; after all, we know where babies come from. Or we think that we are who we are because we’ve worked hard to get there.But Genesis 2 tells us a different story. It reminds us that we are of dust and that God’s breath brought that dust into life. Why are we who we are? Because of the life-breath of God! Our very breath depends on him.Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that, from moment to moment, we rely on the gracious gift of breath that makes human life possible? That makes God the constant source of our being, not us. At the same time, we also serve a God who sees our vulnerabilities and knows the challenges of being human.And that points us to Jesus, who not only sees them, but who has experienced them in the flesh. What gives us hope is that Jesus, who was clothed with our own flesh, died, rose to new life, and is now ruling with God in heaven. To think...The dust from which we were made has entered the heavenly throne room on our behalf! Knowing that, we can sing together with the Psalmist who remembers that we are dust in Psalm 103:1, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” - Genesis 2:3We all live in a world that pushes us to run faster and work harder. How many of you feel the pressures? Just one look at your calendar and you see the busyness of life color coded in all its glory! Except it’s not glory...It’s draining!And yet when we look at scripture, we discover the God-ordained rhythm of life. It’s God-ordained because God is the very first Sabbath keeper. As we discovered last week, the first six days of creation were filled with a flurry of activity. God released His creative energy, and planets were born, the stars were set in place, and the earth began teeming with life. But on the seventh day, the Creator rested.It was God who first started the rhythm of six days of work followed by one day of rest. He is the one who established the pattern in the very beginning, and He gave it to His people as a gift in Exodus 20. And because we have been made in His image, this pattern is built into the very fabric of who we are.We would be wise to reflect the life of the Creator where we follow the rhythm of work and rest. As we prepare for worship this week, may we “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I look forward to seeing you in person or online (though, remember, if bodily able – in person is the preferred option).Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” - Genesis 1:1; 31Have you ever stopped to ponder the wonders of creation, and by that, I mean more than just a beautiful sunset, or the fall colors of leaves, or the splendor of mountains? Bumble bees covered in so much pollen that they can barely fly. Colorful banana spiders and their intricate webs. Even snakes or fat toads that end up in your garage and scare you.There is something beautiful and good about God’s creation that points to the fact that God is the ultimate creator. Yes, human beings can make things, but we make things out of created matter. Only God can create things out of nothing, and each one of those things points to the creativity of God. Imagine God’s smile as he stretched the giraffe’s neck! Imagine His joy at the gazelle leaping!But the sovereign God who created everything is also sustains God who sustains everything. He is attentive to His creation. He cares for it.That means that when you and I feel formless and void, when we feel as though things are out of control, when we weep at the challenges we face, we are reminded that there is a God who created us and who sustains us. As we start a new sermon series together that walks through the opening pages of Genesis, we will see that God is sovereign and in control. We can trust Him.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

John 13:1-17 (ESV)6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.”11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.As we conclude our Take Heart series, consider this: Can you imagine your life if Jesus had never shown up? How often do you stop and reflect on the countless moments He has been faithful, serving you, sustaining you, and ultimately giving His all for you?In light of His faithfulness, we are called to live in the way He modeled for us. In John 13:1–17, we see the very heart of Christ’s ministry. Just before going to the cross, He reveals what kind of Master and Teacher He is as He humbles Himself to serve His disciples, even those who would deny and betray Him.Christ calls us to the same posture: to humble ourselves in service, not only to friends but even to enemies. He calls us to holiness, and when humility leads to holiness, true happiness follows.My prayer for you this Sunday is that you will grow deeper in your understanding of Christ’s love, the love that moved Him to lay everything down so that you might truly live.May the Lord bless you,Pastor Blake

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:22What is it about the good news of the Gospel that threatens some people to the point where they break out in violence? And why is this a common response in the book of Acts and in our world? As we will see in our time together this week, while some people believe in Jesus, others decide to pick up stones to try to kill Stephen, Paul, Barnabas, and their companions.Yet what we believe is that violence does not have the last word – life does! Not only is Paul raised back up again, but he goes right back into the city! And the message of the Gospel is that the violence of the cross doesn’t get the last word either! Jesus’ resurrection and ascension assure those of us who are in Christ that we have victory over sin and death.But still...Why such strong reactions?I believe the good news Jesus presents is a threat to lives, to systems, and to governments. It calls us to repentance, to peace, to grace, to love, and to live according to the truth of Scripture. But for many, that is a threat to our usual way of living – one that is self-centered. And when people feel threatened, they often turn to hatred and violence. What is the result? Those who follow after the things of God often get knocked down and beat up (physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally).But as we will discover together this week, Christ calls us to something different. We are to be a people of peace and proclaim peace with God through Jesus. And even when we are attacked and feel like we are “down for the count,” God picks us back up again and sends us back in His grace and strength. We may experience hardships, but they are not the end of the story. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” - Acts 4:13After Pentecost, the apostles’ teaching to the crowds resulted in people coming to faith in Jesus. Then after healing a man and continued preaching and conversions, Peter and John end up spending a night in jail. Now that morning has come, they are brought before the religious rulers and teachers of the law.These religious leaders thought they were done with Jesus when they managed to get him crucified. Now they want to do what they can to silence Peter and John, so they threaten them. But they also know that a great healing has taken place since everyone who goes to the temple knows the man who was lame...And now he’s healed?! How can this be?As they interrogate the disciples, Peter preaches with boldness and courage, and he links it all to Jesus. What shocks the rulers is that they know Peter and John as ordinary, unschooled people. They are fishermen. Yet somehow these two men, who are used to the Sea of Galilee, seem equally at home in the Sanhedrin council of rulers. And what do they note? That Peter and John had “been with Jesus.”As we continue with our sermon series this week on Godly courage, what we will discover is that when we trust in Jesus and are led by his Spirit, God can accomplish great things through us. My prayer is that WEPC will be known as a church that is “with Jesus.” Let’s put that into practice as we gather together in worship this week!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

“Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14Have you ever asked, “Why me?” when someone asked you to do something, or when something tragic happened to you? Queen Esther may have felt that way when she was taken (more like trafficked) to the palace and subjected to participating in a beauty pageant. She’s then forced to be the trophy wife of a foolish king.Perhaps she asked it again when her cousin Mordecai suggested that she could use her position to stop the annihilation of her people. From Mordecai’s perspective, he figured that no one else among the Jews had such access to the king. But from her perspective, she could have said, “Why me?” since she knew it could lead to her death. But knowing what she needed to do (and believing that she was in this position for this very moment), she asked all her people to fast for three days and nights, praying for deliverance.When Esther walked into the king’s throne room, she was wrapped not just in a beautiful robe, but also in the prayers of God’s people. It wasn’t just the king in that room; God was there too. And that gave her the ability to stand even if her life was on the line!It’s a good reminder for us that God is always with us, preparing places, opportunities, choices, and options ahead of us. We have a God who cares and who is in control of the big (and little) things. That means that we can thank God each morning for His faithfulness to carry us through each day.As we unpack this beautiful story together this week, I pray that God reminds us of His sovereignty and providence – and in so doing, it gives us the courage to stand. I look forward to seeing you in person or online. (However, if you are regularly attending online and are able-bodied, I would strongly encourage you to gather with your church family face to face.)Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. - 1 Samuel 17:45Perhaps more than any other story in the Bible, David’s triumph over Goliath is known by people both inside and outside the church. It’s the perfect underdog story with a hero vs. Villain, where a plucky lad with a few smooth stones defeats a giant, armored warrior decked out with heavy weapons. It’s a story filled with contrasts and ironies: tall versus short, arrogance versus humility, strength versus weakness, and glorious victory versus humiliating defeat.But as much as people like to make it out, this story isn’t mainly about David. Or Goliath. The core conflict is between the false gods of the Philistines and the God of Israel, Yahweh Sabaoth, which means, “the LORD of Hosts” or “the LORD Almighty.”This name for God is one of the most widely used names in the Old Testament. It occurs nearly 300 times, and comes from the Hebrew word for “that which goes forth” and for “armies” or “hosts.” It is a name that declares God’s reign over heaven and earth, as well as every earthly and spiritual army.The reason that David had confidence is because he understood that the real conflict belonged to the Lord. He reminded everyone that “The battle is the LORD’s,” and through him, “the LORD of Hosts,” would defeat the mighty Philistine and his gods.In a hymn that we sometimes sing, we say, “Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same. And he must win the battle.” May our confidence come from God because He goes before us as the God of angel armies!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron

One of the most well-known events in the Bible is Daniel in the Lion's Den. It features intrigue, betrayal, courage, and a surprise ending. Daniel inspires us to do the right thing.When I was in elementary school, I read nearly every biography book in the Monger Elementary School library. I was inspired by the exciting events in people’s lives to imagine what adventures might lie before me.I remember reading about Davy Crockett and his confident leadership. A quote that stuck with me was, “Always be sure you are right, then go ahead!" He was willing to stand for ‘right’ even if he stood alone.In Sunday School, we learned James 4:17 – “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” We all knew without doubt that we shouldn’t sin.Later, I remember hearing that Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The time is always right to do the right thing.”The right thing. It seemed to me that the hard part of these quotes was figuring out “the right thing.” But I’ve learned that more often the challenge isn’t knowing the right thing. It’s doing it. Often, what we need is not clarity (we know the answer to what God wants us to do), what we need is courage and conviction to do it.We can become so afraid of death that we never live, so afraid of failure that we never risk, so afraid of pain that we never discover how strong God is. Many of us are not choosing between life and death; we are choosing between existence and death. We actually never choose to live.Erwin McManus said, “The tragedy of a life that is never fully lived is not solely the loss of that one life. The tragedy is the endless number of lives that would have been forever changed if we had chosen to live differently.” We need to move past what God will do for us to what God will do through us.This week, we will see Daniel demonstrate courage and conviction, even when his life was on the line. What can we learn from Daniel that will guide us to be willing to do the right thing? Maybe more importantly, what will Daniel teach us about our God?Jeff Peck