Death is the harshest reality.

We have been grieving this week over the deaths of Kobe Bryant and every person that died in the tragic helicopter crash. The news was shocking. The aftermath was confusing. The days following filled with grief were unsettling. Why is death so hard and disturbing?

Death is so hard because it seems final, separating, and unnatural. Death is final in the sense that we long to hear the departed’s voice. Or see their face. Or feel the comfort of their hug. Death is separating because we are no longer together in this life - we want more. And death is unnatural because the original creation had no death. It is not right.

But there is hope. We know from Genesis, chapter 3 that death came later, after God’s original creation. Death was a result of man’s rebellion against God. We, as humans, brought death upon ourselves. But also in Genesis, God began to hint at His plan to give humanity eternal life in Jesus - a resurrection. God gave hope. Death was then soundly defeated when Jesus came. In Matthew 28 Jesus rises from the dead after he went to the cross. Death no longer has its hold on us because of Jesus’ work! And death will be no more when Revelation 21 becomes our future reality.

We mourn - yes. But, as Christians, we do not mourn without hope. Jesus is our life-bringing hope. Jesus is the hope of the world in troubled, grieving times such as this.

"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." - Revelation 21:4


- Pastor Curt

Theological Word of the Week:

Resurrection

A rising from the dead into a new kind of life not subject to sickness, aging, deterioration, or death.


Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

Upcoming Events

Children's Ministry

This week Rock Kids will be digging into the story of Jesus bringing a widow's son back to life, found in Luke 7:11-17. The kids will learn the Bible point "Jesus is compassionate, so we're compassionate." Kids can't bring people back to life like Jesus did, but they can show compassion. Receiving compassion is life-giving in a different way. Jesus' heart overflowed with compassion just at seeing the widow's pain. We want to help kids develop hearts that notice and feel others' pain. 

-Cameron

Sermon Topic - February 1

Super Saturday Service

Heather Buchta

October 2019 YTD