Into the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)

We begin the season of Lent this Sunday, by going back to the beginning of Jesus ministry, pre-ministry really. After his baptism, Jesus is led to go into the wilderness. He spends 40 days there, fasting and praying, and while he is there is tempted by the devil. He's tempted to turn his face away from God, to set down his trust in the promises of the Father, and to take what appears to be an easier road.         

When we find ourselves in the wilderness of life, we often find ourselves tempted as well. We find ourselves tempted to accept the quick solutions presented to us rather than hanging on to the promises of the gospel. We find ourselves willing to take short cuts of our own design rather than following God's design. 

This week, we will spend some time considering how Jesus time in the wilderness is a model for us as we struggle to find our way in our own desert places. 

Be Perfect (Matthew 5:38-48)

Over the past couple of weeks we've worked through the idea of being salt and light in the world, and then Jesus'  re-interpretation of the words of the law  seemed to raise the bar out of reach for most of us. This week,  Jesus apparently raises it even further with his instruction to turn the other cheek, and carry the extra mile. He tops it all off in the final verse of Matthew 5: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

We're left wondering what Jesus really means here? Is he really expecting that we can deliver perfection? Is this a ploy to make us feel like failures, to reinforce the fact that grace is the only way out for us? Or is there something else here?

Join us Sunday morning at 9:30 for worship as we struggle together with what it means to be perfect both as individuals and as a community. 

You Have Heard it Said (Matthew 5:21-37)

Our society is governed by rules. We have rules for driving our cars, rules for running meetings, rules for how we build buildings, rules for how we raise and educate our children. sometimes we feel hemmed in by rules, but usually we accept them as essential to being able to live together in our communities and country. We accept them because they help us to know how to act. 

There are times when we keep rules just because they are there, without ever trying to understand the underlying reason for the rule or law. Jesus spoke about this type of rule keeping as he introduced the new kingdom, the kingdom of God, in the Sermon on the Mount. Over and over he says "you have heard it said", or you have been told, that one of God's laws can be fulfilled in a particular way, "but I say" here's what it really means.

Jesus points us in a new direction in our understanding of God's laws.

Join us Sunday morning as we look at how God's law points us toward relationship with God and with our neighbours.

An Introduction

About a week and a half ago, I began my work as the interim pastor of the Fruitland Christian Reformed Church. It's been a smooth, but busy, beginning with a move to a new area, many new faces to match up with names, new places to explore, and new ways of doing things, of being community, to understand.

I'm excited about beginning this new challenge. I've realized this is a church that is dedicated to Christ, working to live out what it means to be God's ambassadors to their community. I've come to  a church that loves the Lord and values the support they find here. There are struggles  as well, worries about how to continue to be effective in a rapidly changing world, but, those I have met so far are prepared, even eager, to face the challenge.

I'm glad to be part of this adventure. Over time I'll use this space, this virtual keyboard to share what's happening at the Fruitland CRC and to invite you to become part of what God is doing with us here.

Pastor Ken