ShelbyChurch

The opening week of 2025's Major League Baseball season caused some excitement about the “new” torpedo bat. In the season's opening game, the New York Yankees scored 20 runs with nine home runs! That was a record of some kind for sure. This “new” bat's larger barrel increased the bat's “sweet” spot to add more strength to more of the bat. The teaching time in the services this month will emphasize how we can experience more power, impact, and influence in our relationships at home, work, and at SCC as we know and understand our own “sweet spot. We will use the acronym “SWEET” as we talk about: S – Spiritual Gifts W - What we do well E – What we get enjoyment from doing E – What our experiences have prepared us for T – Temperaments and Personalities are God's design Marriages are strengthened when we know and understand each other's wiring and gifting. We can have better relationships with our kids when we know and understand other's “Sweet” spots. At work, we can approach and reply to others better when we know and understand their spiritual gifts and temperaments. I trust that God will allow us to experience some Biblical and practical insights into having better relationships and significant impact with others. Hope to see you at 9:00 or 11:00 AM. You could be much better prepared to gain insights into the subject of SPIRITUAL GIFTS tomorrow by taking a couple of on-line spiritual gift surveys this afternoon or evening. They are “gifttest.org” and the other is “giftstest.com”. The “.com” address has the plural “gifts.” They're both free. Find the button that says, “take or fill-out” and see what you might discover.

Have you ever played a sport? In many sports they have tools, such as a golf club, baseball bat, or tennis racket. Each one is important for that sport because it helps you succeed. Within each tool is a special area, focused on helping you hit the ball with the best impact and power, called the Sweet Spot. If the ball meets that spot, usually you'll see the ball go off harder and farther. In each sport, you want to hit the Sweet Spot. That is what we want for you! We want you to live in and “hit the sweet spot” with your life. We believe that when you are in your Sweet Spot, you'll have more power and impact for God's kingdom. In the month of June, we'll be focusing on helping you with your Sweet Spot. The first week, this Sunday, I will show you WHO you are, and the next three Sundays, Pastor Daniel will show you HOW to live in WHO you are. Both the WHO and HOW are important as we live in our Sweet Spot for God's Kingdom. We hope you'll join us for a powerful morning of learning WHO we are!

As we close out the first half of our study in the Gospel of John, we'll see Jesus respond to the question "Are you the messiah?" Jesus doesn't just answer the question, He makes a statement that will ultimately cost Him His life. This Sunday we get to look at Jesus response to this question, what it means for Him, and the beautiful reality of what it means for us.

This Sunday we are going to marvel at Jesus as the Good Shepherd. But if Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what does that make you and me? We are sheep, the animal mentioned most often in the Bible. The word is used around 200 times, usually in the context of our own need as human beings for a shepherd. When the Bible says we are like sheep, that is not meant as a compliment. Sheep are not very smart, and that is being kind. Think about it. You can go to a zoo or a circus, you'll see all kinds of animals that have been trained to perform. But you never see a sheep in a circus because they are too stubborn and too stupid to train. This may explain why it is so difficult for husbands and wives to train each other! Sheep are also defenseless. A cat can claw your eyes out. Many animals have fangs or horns. Some can kick, some can fly away, some are really fast. Some are poisonous. Some blend into the environment. Some smell bad or even try to look scary. Does a sheep look scary? NO! Sheep can't do any of those things; they're totally defenseless. They need a shepherd to look out for them. Join us this weekend as we look into ourselves and at our Jesus as our Good Shepherd. You're going to be so encouraged!

You are meant for compassion. Studies indicate that compassionate people are far more satisfied with their lives than people who call themselves less compassionate. Not only do they indicate fuller and more meaningful lives, but also a greater sense of connection to others. This begs a question: If compassion is a key to happiness, why aren't more people practicing it? There are probably a couple of reasons. First, compassion isn't convenient. The needs of others rarely wait until we have an opening in our calendar. Second, compassion is inefficient. It's rarely a “one and done”, but more like a sloppy and uncomfortable pouring out of ourselves. Truth is, our culture is built around both convenience and efficiency, and compassion doesn't check either of those boxes. Compassion asks the question, “Who are you looking out for?”, while culture would encourage us to ask, “What's in it for me?” In John 9, Jesus and His disciples encounter a man who had been born blind. The disciples don't really see this man or his needs but instead see him as an on-ramp to an interesting discussion about theology. The religious leaders clearly don't care about this man's needs, but only the keeping of the law. In this story, only Jesus sees this man's need and responds with compassion to the glory of God. While we are called to be like Jesus, the reality is that many of us act more like the disciples and teachers of the law. We live our lives blind to the needs of others. Join us this weekend as we explore the amazing power of compassion, both to grow you in your own walk with Jesus and to point others to Him.

Baptism is a picture of a new life! This weekend we have the amazing opportunity to celebrate what God is doing here at SCC through the ancient practice of baptism. We're used to thinking that baptism day is about us or the other people who made their declaration of faith alongside of us, but nothing could be further from the truth. Baptism is a celebration and picture of Christ's loving work of salvation on the cross. It points us to His grace and power in our lives. For this reason, baptism is a reminder to keep our spiritual appetites sharp. It reminds us to never stop pursuing Christ, seeking to know Him, and letting Him fill us with His grace and mercy. Scripture reminds us: “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time–to show us His grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:9). Join us this Sunday as we gaze together at the grace that is found in our Jesus. You're going to be so glad you came!

Back in the late 1800s, doctors and scientists believed in something called spontaneous generation. The idea was that living organisms could suddenly pop up anywhere from non-living organisms, and this theory was used to explain the spread of things like sickness and disease. The assumption was that it was random, and there was nothing you could do about it. Then a man named Louis Pasteur came along and said, “No! There are unseen organisms that you cannot see that actually transmit these diseases, and they can be carried by the wind, spread by touch, or carried in your food. These diseases aren't being spread randomly or just popping up spontaneously but are being carried by something that would eventually come to be called germs. Nowadays, it's not a theory, right? I mean, it's an assumption. We all believe in germs, even though most of us have never even seen one. That's why some of us are addicted to hand sanitizers! The writers of Scripture say there is another unseen world, and that this spiritual world greatly impacts the world we see and know. Time and time again, this unseen spiritual world is described as a war for the hearts of men and women all over the world. We are also told by them that this unseen world isn't simply random. It has a leader that operates in opposition to God and in opposition to God's children. And unlike germs, you don't need a microscope to see it. All you need is a rear-view mirror, because all you have to do is look back on your life, like I've looked back at mine, and thought “How could I have said that? How could I have done that?” “What in the world was I thinking?” Join us this weekend as we discuss our enemy, his primary strategies, and how to overcome through our banner Jesus. Missing church this Sunday could be the worst mistake of your life.

There was an old chorus that we used to sing based on Numbers 21:17: "I've got a river of life flowing out of me It makes the lame to walk and the blind to see, Opens prison doors, sets the captives free I've got a river of life flowing out of me. Spring up, O well, within my soul, Spring up, O well, and make me whole, Spring up, O well, and give to me His life abundantly." As the Hebrew nation of Israel wondered in the wilderness for forty years after their choice to not trust God to take the promised land of Canaan, God was faithful to still supernaturally provide food and water for them. God would instruct Moses where and when to strike the rocky ground and water would flow from that place - supernatural life sustaining provision! One of the mandated feasts that Israel observed in Jesus' day was the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, which called to remembrance God's provision for their people while in the wilderness. Jesus had already taught that He was the True Manna from Heaven and the Bread of Life. Now, on the last great day of that feast He declares, "If you're thirsty, come to me and drink and out of your innermost being will flow a river of living water." Yes, He was stirring it up again by claiming to be the One who provides living water - God! We'll be unpacking John 7:37-39 tomorrow and talking about receiving and releasing Holy Spirit through our lives. I look forward to worshiping with you at either 9:00am or 11:00am.

For thousands of years, people have gathered on Easter Sunday to proclaim a central and powerful truth. They've not gathered to say, “The Stock Market has risen” or “The dollar has risen”. They haven't come together to say “the Housing Market has risen”, or “the value of my 401K has risen.” The one hope that has held people and cultures and countries together all over the world in the face of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, even death itself is this: Christ is risen!!

In John 6, as Jesus' followers are forsaking Him, Jesus turns and asks His inner circle a question. ““You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”” (John 6:67–69, NIV84) I love Peter's attitude. “Where else are we gonna go? There's no one else able to offer us eternal life. There is no other Messiah, there is no other Lord but you! We are convinced that You are our Savior. We know that You alone are the Son of God.” When I was a little boy, probably around 9 or 10, I got upset about something (I don't even remember what), so I announced to my mom that I was running away from home. But instead of trying to stop me, my mom went with me to help me pack! She kind of called my bluff. And as we were packing my stuff, she began to ask me questions. “If you run away, who is going to tuck you into bed at night?” I hadn't really thought about that. “If you run away, who is going to fix breakfast for you? Truth is, I hadn't really thought of that either. “What will you do about dinner?” Now she was really starting to make sense! Do you know what she was really asking me? Where else are you gonna go? You got some spare parents lying around that we don't know about? In a nice way, she was reminding me I didn't have anywhere else to go. There was no one else willing or able to take me in. Peter is acknowledging what I learned as a little boy. “Where would we go, Jesus?” There is no one else. No one else is waiting or able to take us in. Do you know why? Every religious teacher who ever lived is dead in the grave. They couldn't even help themselves, much less help any of us. Only Jesus has been raised from the dead. As a result, only Jesus can offer us eternal life. Join us this weekend as we talk honestly about why it is that people are tempted to forsake Jesus and unfollow Him.

In John 6, right after the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus makes a startling claim: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NIV84) Isn't it true that hunger can drive you to all kinds of bad decisions or attitudes? We even have a word for that. We call it “hangry”. In the same way that my hunger can lead me to bad decisions and attitudes, our spiritual hunger can lead us to self-destructiveness. When Jesus declares that he is the bread of life, He is saying, “I will meet your deepest needs.” He is saying, “I will be your satisfaction.” I am the one that you are looking for.” I am who you crave.” I am who will satisfy your hunger.” Being satisfied in Jesus means that you enjoy absolute assurance that you belong to Him and the He belongs to you. It means that Jesus became the bread of our forgiveness so we would never have to know what it felt like to be hungry for God. As we feast on Him, we feast on the knowledge that we are never alone, always loved, deeply accepted, and profoundly forgiven. Join us this Sunday as we unpack this incredible claim and what it means for you, your family, and your life.

Most of us have probably seen the drawings where two people may see the same image, but each of them will see something different. This weekend Jesus is going to say very plainly, “When you read the Old Testament, you should see me. It is fulfilled by me, centered on me, and carried out by me.” So the question is, “When you read the Old Testament, what do you see? Do you see laws or rules? Do you see judgement and punishment? Do you see stories about people unrelated to you or life in the modern world? Here's the thing: we don't read the Bible simply to know more about the Bible. We read the Bible to know more about Jesus, who unites the Bible and stands at the center of all God is doing in the universe.

The feeding of the 5,000 is one of the most famous miracles performed by Jesus. Outside of the resurrection of Jesus, it's the only miracle recorded in all four gospel accounts. This miracle takes place after Jesus has been breaking social norms, healing the sick, casting out demons, and revealing Himself to those He encountered. In John chapter 6, we see thousands following after Jesus. As evening approached, the disciples were concerned about the crowd's hunger and suggested sending them away to find food. However, Jesus told the disciples to give the people something to eat. Taking five loaves of bread and two fish—a small lunch from a boy in the crowd, Jesus fed the masses. Miraculously, everyone ate and was satisfied, and there were even twelve baskets of leftover food. This event demonstrated Jesus' compassion for the people, His power to provide, and His ability to meet both physical and spiritual needs. It also foreshadowed Jesus as the Bread of Life, the one who sustains and satisfies the deepest hungers of the soul. The miracle revealed Jesus' divine authority and care, showing that with Him, even the smallest offering can be multiplied to meet great needs.

You'll hear many pastors encourage people to start in the book of John, if they are asking, where should I start in the Bible. The reason behind this is the focus of the Gospel of John, to help people SEE and KNOW Jesus as He truly is and come to LOVE Him and have a RELATIONSHIP with. Through that RELATIONSHIP, want to become like Him and SERVE Him. It's a beautiful thing when we decided to take this journey. We'll see in John 5, we won't be able to read the whole chapter, the overarching focus the Gospel wants us to have. The focus = Jesus wants us to SEE and KNOW Him as God, the Son of Man and the Son of God. Jesus will go against the religious leaders and try to help them see who He really is and why they should come to Him. All of us have a choice. We can come to Him and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him, or we can choose not to come to Him. Our prayer is that everyone who hears this message will decide to come to Him. For those who have already made that choice, our prayer is that you'll challenge yourself to tell others about Jesus and share your testimony to what He has done in your life. Why = John 5:30-31 gives us the answer, 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Let's strive to have life in His name and help others do the same!

At the Pool of Bethesda Jesus heals someone who has been disabled for 38 years. Before healing him, Jesus asks this man a very interesting question: “Do you want to be made well?” Isn't that an odd question to ask? Why would Jesus even ask this question in the first place? Well, the Pool of Bethesda is like a church. People come to church for all kinds of different reasons, don't they? Sometimes people come to church, not because they necessarily want to get better or be made well, but because they love the sympathy and commiseration they get at church. These folks may want to complain, but not necessarily to change. Others may come to church to derive some benefit, like meeting someone, making friends, or even to receive some kind of help or aid. People like this may want their circumstances to change, but they are not interested in being changed. Still others may come to church to showcase their own intellect, knowledge, or gifting. They may want to receive accolades, but truth, growth or change? Not so much. Join us this weekend we ask three critical questions of ourselves from this story that are vital to healing and wholeness. Let's not settle for only wanting our circumstances to change when Jesus wants to change and heal each of us.

Our study together through the Gospel of John is about Jesus' history of revealing who He was to the people He encountered during His brief three-year public ministry. John, Jesus' disciple and author of this Gospel, openly declared his purpose for writing his account of Jesus' ministry and encounters. John 20:30-31 says, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” John included only seven of the thirty-seven miracles recorded in all the Gospels collectively. He also included some stories the other Gospel writers did not include in their accounts. The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is unique to John's Gospel even though chronologically it was the first time He declared to a person that He was the promised Jewish Messiah. This story was included specifically to build our faith in Jesus as the Christ. and that believing we would receive His gift of eternal life. We won't have time to unpack all the great truths in this story in one message this week, but I am confident we will all receive some insights to increase our faith in Christ and motivate us to follow Him more absolutely! I like the woman's words in John 4:29- “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” He told me! Could He be? Come and See! That is my invitation to you for tomorrow to. Call and invite some friends to come to church with you. (Offering to take them out to eat afterwards usually improves the response.)

Before his downfall for taking performance enhancing drugs, Lance Armstrong was one of the most well-known cyclists in the world. His name was synonymous with being a champion and a winner. But for a season, every time Lance Armstrong got on his bicycle to train, another cyclist trained with him. He helped Lance go farther and faster than Lance could have ever gone on his own. His name was George Incappe. George was known in French racing circles as a “Domestique,” which is essentially the French word for “servant.” A domestique is defined as: “A rider who works for the benefit of their team or leader rather than trying to win the race for themselves.” While Lance raced and sacrificed for his own name, George raced and sacrificed knowing he would never be called a “winner.” George raced for another name. The idea of a domestique is simple: “Whatever my champion/team needs.” So if your rider has a flat and needs a tire change, you switch out your bike for his and change the flat so that he can keep racing. If your rider needs a drink of water, you carry water with you so that he can stay hydrated enough to win. You do whatever it takes to help your team or rider win, with no thought of yourself in the process. When John the Baptist spoke of Jesus and said, “He must Increase, and I must decrease”, he was speaking from the perspective of a domestique. But what if this is meant to be more than just a statement, but rule of life for all of us? What if we all would know more joy if we championed Jesus rather than ourselves?

”I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” (Psalm 89:1, NIV84) “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, NIV84) For generations, we've seen our Heavenly Father pour out his faithfulness here at SCC. Join us this weekend as we celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of our God. It is His faithfulness that sees us through the hardest and most difficult of times, bringing hope and help to everyday living. You'll hear from folks just like you who have been a part of our church at every stage of her existence and how God has been faithful each step of the way!

We often think of church as needing to be a place where people are accepted, welcomed, and loved. But this was NOT true of the temple in Jesus' day. Archeologists have found two inscriptions from the Temple walls that read: “No foreigner is to enter within the enclosure around the temple area. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which will follow.” Not too seeker-friendly, is it? Clearly there was no outreach at the temple of God. They weren't focused on visitors unless it was to hunt them down and kill them for trying to get too close to the presence of God (The Holy of Holies). The Temple was one of the most segregated places in all of Israel. If you were a gentile (anyone who isn't Jewish), or a woman, or poor, there was little to no opportunity to participate in the worship of the temple. You were kept from the presence of God by a series of walls and barriers. This just infuriated our Jesus, who said He came so that everyone (all nations) could approach God and be made right with Him. Jesus came to destroy those walls, and that is one of the things His driving out of the moneychangers at the temple is meant to represent. I don't know what walls you may have constructed in your relationship with God, but Jesus simply won't let them stand.

When is “Enough” Enough? I have the opportunity to speak from one of the most popular chapters in the Gospel of John, and probably the whole Bible. John chapter three contains one of the most popular Bible verses too. One of the first verses many of us memorized was, “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” Is that really enough? Is God's love for us enough to get us into Heaven? Are we religious enough, faithful enough, smart enough, committed enough, or changed enough to really be acceptable to a Holy God? Have we really been “born again?” Is that enough according to Jesus' words? I'm glad that what Jesus does and says is enough for us! If you have a friend, family member, or one that you've been praying for to receive Christ, call today and invite them to come to services with you on Sunday. Tomorrow's message will be enough to give them a clear message and invitation to trust Him who is ENOUGH for our every need!

Every wedding has a crisis. It's got to, or it wouldn't be a wedding. Most of the time, it is family drama of some kind, but it could be anything. Even with the best planners and venues, something always goes wrong. Here in America, weddings are all about the bride. We don't think a lot about the guests who will be coming to the wedding. Even the groom is kind of optional. The groom is mostly there as kind of a prop to showcase the bride. Think about it. We have television shows like, “Bridezilla”, but to my knowledge there are none about the groom. We sing songs like, “Here Comes the Bride”, but nobody is singing about the groom. But I digress. As I said, every wedding has a crisis, or it wouldn't be a wedding. We need to understand that in Jesus' day, especially at a wedding, hospitality is everything. If you invite your friends, family, and neighbors to a wedding, etiquette dictates that everyone has enough to eat and drink, not just on day 1, but all the way through day 7. That's right, their weddings were a full week of festivities! So when Mary comes to Jesus and says, “We've run out of wine”, this is not just an inconvenience; it is a disgrace. It would be considered shameful to invite guests to a wedding party like this and then run out of food or drink. Worse yet, when you make a mistake like this in a small village or a small town, people won't ever let you forget. But what if this story isn't just about their shame, but yours and mine? What if this isn't just a story about running out of wine, but a story about running out of anything? It could be peace, strength, hope, or even love. Join us this weekend as we discuss how Jesus lavishly pours out his provision in our lack, resulting in a full and abundant life.

Baptism is a picture of a new life! This weekend we have the amazing opportunity to celebrate what God is doing here at SCC through the ancient practice of baptism. We're used to thinking that baptism day is about us or the other people who made their declaration of faith alongside of us, but nothing could be further from the truth. Baptism is a celebration and picture of Christ's loving work of salvation on the cross. It points us to His grace and power in our lives. For this reason, baptism is a reminder to keep our spiritual appetites sharp. It reminds us to never stop pursuing Christ, seeking to know Him, and letting Him fill us with His grace and mercy. Scripture reminds us: “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time–to show us His grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:9). Join us this Sunday as we gaze together at the grace that is found in our Jesus. You're going to be so glad you came!

For many years Ned Colletti was the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent his whole adult life looking for talent that extended to the baseball field. Each year Colletti went to the Dominican Republic to scout young players. Most of them, he said, had only one parent. They had no education past the 5th grade, and no prospects for their future. One year he saw a young man who had great tools but held back because of his fear of failure. Ned pulled him aside and told him that all great baseball players fail. He explained that God had blessed him with special talent that was meant solely for him. This six- foot-two-inch, two-hundred-ten-pound gifted athlete looked at Ned with tears in his eyes and wouldn't let go of Ned's hand when he tried to leave. Imagine you are a fifteen-year-old kid in the Dominican Republic: you have never seen your father, you have no money, no education, and you are destined for a life of poverty. But then one day a major league scout comes along and says to you, “Follow me, and I will make you a professional baseball player.” Would you need a long time to make that decision? When Jesus called His disciples, they knew they weren't major league material. They had already washed out as Rabbis and were simply trying to seek out a living in the family business. The Rabbis of Jesus' day never recruited. They took applications, and their applications had been rejected. But here was a famous and powerful Rabbi who approached them! He invited them to Follow Him, essentially saying, “What I know I will teach you. What I can do I will teach you to do.” No wonder they left their nets and followed Him! He came to fishermen and tax collectors, inviting them to follow Him. He is still inviting people to follow Him today. He is inviting you, regardless of your background. You may not even be sure that you believe in Jesus. That's okay. The invitation of Jesus means that He believes in you.

On Sunday morning, we're going to join millions of people around the world in the corporate worship of Jesus. This gathering, we often call church, started with one simple invitation - "come and see." This is the invitation of Jesus. As Jesus started gaining followers this was His invitation. Yet too often most of us think of Jesus and immediately think of things we should be doing or things we need to stop doing. But Jesus didn't say "feel guilt and shame." He didn't say "be afraid and worry." Jesus said, "Come and see!" As we kick off another year, may we be a church that will accept and extend that invitation. May we see every nudge of the spirit as a come and see invitation.

Have you ever thought about the comparison between the size of the front windshield of your vehicle compared to the rearview mirror in that same vehicle? You might say, “Sure Stahl, I was just calculating that in my head.” Well, an AI help estimated that the front windshield is 96 times larger than the rearview mirror in most vehicles. To quote the rising star and not quite theologian, Jelly Roll, “Where you're going is more important than where you've been!” It is a new year already. We are still here on this side of eternity. For us, Isaiah's words in Isaiah 43:18-19,21 give us hope. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Look, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?” The New Living Translation says, “Look…..can you not see it?” If you are in town tomorrow, I hope you will join me and the SCC Family at 9 or 11AM. We are going to celebrate the past months, and poise our eyes to look toward a great future.

Christmas is a time to remember the beautiful story of Jesus and how God invites us into something better than we could have imagined.

Let's face it. There is no holiday in the western world that suffers more propaganda than the Christmas season. Every commercial, song, television special, and Hallmark movie promises us that this is the year that Christmas will bring everything and everyone together. This will finally be the Christmas where my family experiences great joy, peace, togetherness, and gratitude. I mean, this is the year our kids are going to be great. They will be filled with gratitude and joy for everything they receive. They are going to open every present and be like, “Thanks, mom. This is perfect. I couldn't ask for more.” This is the year when everyone is going to get along. We'll sing carols, eat cookies, tell stories, and laugh together around a roaring fire. The conversation will be uplifting and inspiring as we bask in one another's presence. This will be the year when I will finally feel rested, peaceful, and joyful. Even though Christmas is one big, massive shop-till-you-drop, make sure everybody is happy, gift buying, food-gorging panic attack. To make matters worse, Christmas is that it is a time where we are reminded not only who is coming but also who won't be coming. It is a season when we are reminded of what we are going to get, but also of what we will never get. It is a season where we are told there is beauty in this world, but that same beauty seems to pass us by. What if all that propaganda misses the mark? What if the hope and joy of Christmas isn't found in propaganda, but a simple message? The message of Christmas is this: Christ came to be with me in spite of me. Christ came to be with you in spite of you. He came for me to live in me to free me from the weight of my sin so that I may have life in His name. Merry Christmas indeed!

In December of 1903, the Wright brothers finally got their flying machine off the ground for the first time. They were thrilled! It had been a lot of trial and error for them to make it to this point. They were so thrilled they sent a telegraph to their sister back home sharing that they had flown 120 feet and they would be home for Christmas. Katharine, their sister, took this telegraph to the editor of the local newspaper and his response to the message, "How nice, the boys will be home for Christmas." He had missed the news that the brothers had finally flown! He read past the good news and focused on their visit. Is that the Christmas season for you? Have you missed Christmas while you're focused on the Christmas season? Decorating, social commitments, gift lists, family get togethers, traditions... It's a busy season. This Sunday, we're going to take some time to slow down and celebrate "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world."

When I was in seminary, a board game called “Trivial Pursuit” was all the rage. The game was designed to test a persons' knowledge of trivia around 6 categories. Topics like Geography, Sports, Leisure, History, and Science. In 1984 alone, the game sold more than 20 million copies. As of 2014, more than 100 million games had been sold in 26 countries around the world. It has been published in almost 20 different languages through more than 60 editions. Pretty significant for something labeled “trivial.” Now it's one thing when you don't know the answer to a trivia question. That's no big deal. But what about when the questions really matter? Where do you turn when you need an answer to the biggest questions of life? Because life is way more important than a board game, and there are some questions that aren't the least bit trivial. Questions like: “Why are we here?” “What is the purpose of life?” "Why should I get out of bed in the morning?” The good news is that John Chapter 1 answers all those questions with some of the most profound and hope-filled words ever written. Join us this weekend as we discuss the person of Jesus and His ability to crowd out the darkness of the human heart.

How many of you have ever taken a really hard test? There was a college student at Purdue that took an ornithology class as an elective. As an engineering major, he figured it would be an easy “A”. For those of you who don't know, ornithology is the study of birds. So he gets to the final. His preparation for the final was exemplary. He worked hard, having taken careful notes in class and using the study guide given to him by the professor. But on the day of the final he is stunned and surprised to see that there are no essay questions, no multiple choice questions, just 25 pictures of different birds feet. No wings, no beaks, just feet, and he is supposed to name the kind of bird that belongs to each of those pairs of feet. The student is appalled and says to the prof, “I'm not going to take this test. It's ridiculous.” The professor says, “If you leave without taking the test, I will flunk you.” The student says, “I don't care! I'm leaving.” So the professor says, “What is your name, son? You just earned an “F”. To which the student takes off his shoes, rolls up his pants, and says, “You tell me professor X. You tell me!” The Scriptures tell us that our God tests His people. These tests are always designed to bring out the best in those He loves to demonstrate complete faith and trust in Him. Perhaps no character in the Old Testament faced a more difficult test of faith than Abraham. Would Abraham obey God and willingly sacrifice His son along with all of the promises of God? Did Abraham trust God enough to do what God had asked? Why would God even ask this? Join us this weekend as we discuss the kind of trust that our God requires. If we really believe that our God will provide for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), then why do we sometimes withhold obedience from Him?

Content or Discontent? Which “Tent” do you live in? I remember a person talking about Christian camping experiences, and that campers choose which tent they sleep in. The choices were “content” or “discontent.” He said that my choice of “tent” would totally impact my life's experiences. This analogy stuck in my mind and regularly influences my choice to rejoice. The apostle Paul said that he had “learned” to be content in whatever circumstance came into his life. So, it isn't something that is just automatically dropped into our lives. It's learned! He also said that he had learned the secret of learning contentment. It may seem that secret is very well kept! Mary and I hope to unpack some of the secrets to contentment tomorrow during our teaching time at 9 and 11 AM. Do you even enjoy camping? See you tomorrow.

In Philippians chapter 4, we find this incredible command: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” If someone were to ask you: What is or has been the greatest day of your life? What would you say? There have been some amazing days in your life. There was the day that you were born—when you took you first breath and the whole miracle of your existence began. That was an amazing day. There was the day you took your first step. That day you became a walker, and suddenly your world was never the same, and neither was your mothers! Maybe it was the day you fell in love, or got married, or had your first child. Surely those were good days! But what if this day—the day that you are in right now—what if this day is God's greatest gift to you? What if this day, with all of its distractions and problems and worries, was your best day, because today is the day that God is in. That's why the Psalmist says these words: “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, NIV84) Join us this weekend as was talk about some practical ways to find joy in each and every day.

There is a standard of righteousness that Jesus declared and modeled that absolutely shuts the door on any hope for our own goodness to make us acceptable to God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus is the only One who ever lived in an earth suit that met that standard! He is 100% righteous. Boy, if only His righteousness could somehow be counted as mine! It can! It is! How does that happen? My message tomorrow will be life changing for some people. I'm looking forward to seeing and sharing with you.

Last week Paul said, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” What makes complaining so toxic is that complaining about my circumstances ignores that fact that a Good God is doing a Good Work in me for a Good Purpose through those very same circumstances. We also said that we argue with others to get our own way or to assert our opinion as the ultimate one, which is the opposite of “considering others more important than yourself.” Not only do complaint and arguing stunt our growth, they also taint our witness for Christ. Instead of “shining like stars in a dark world”, we bring darkness with us by acting like everyone else. Think about something like the moon for a minute. The moon can't produce any light for itself. It is just a big rock, with no power of its own. But when the moon reflects the light of the sun, it becomes the biggest shining object in our night sky! In the same way, you and I have little power to change on our own. But as we reflect the glory of our Heavenly Father, we too have the capacity to shine like stars in a dark world! Join us this weekend as we discuss the joy that comes from reflecting Our Heavenly Father's glory through service to others, or personal ministry. You and I will never grow up to become like Jesus if we aren't willing to serve. Do you know why? Because Jesus came as a servant! He came to serve you when no one else would or could.

One of the primary causes of conflict in marriage are arguments over what might be called “Division of Labor” issues. In other words, who is responsible for what in a marriage? Which tasks belong to which person? Who is going to take out the garbage, who is going to do the dishes or the laundry, who is going to dust, who is going to cut the grass, who is going to feed the dog and the kids? If the bed goes unmade, if the diaper goes unchanged, whose job is it to get that done? A little over 20 years ago, Jackie and I were having one of these conversations. She said something like, “For the last 20 years, I've been paying the bills. I get cranky and stressed when I have to pay the bills.” Well, I'd kind of noticed that too. So I said, “Honey, from now on, you don't have to worry about paying the bills. You will never have to pay another bill.” And she hasn't. Now what she doesn't know is that I haven't been paying our bills either. We're deeply in debt, in a lot of financial trouble, but she has been far less stressed, at least until now.” This Sunday we are going to talk about the urgency and necessity of Spiritual Growth. Whether you are growing spiritually or not is the most important thing about you. It is the single best indicator of things like the quality of your marriage, the kind of children you will raise, and the quality of your friendships. Spiritual growth determines the habits that you will form and the legacy that you will leave. Spiritual growth is how people with addictions become people without addictions, how people who lack wisdom gain wisdom, and how people without joy become joyful. But when it comes to spiritual growth, what is the division of labor? In other words, whose job is it to grow me, anyway? Is spiritual growth my job, or is it God's job? Join us this weekend as we discuss the joy that comes from a vibrant relationship of trust and obedience to God.

Paul said that we should maintain an attitude of humility and the right actions of encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tender-heartedness, and compassion would follow that foundational attitude. Right actions naturally flow out of us when we choose to allow Jesus Christ to be Lord in our lives and choose an attitude of humility. He produces the right actions people need from us. We are not just to mimic what we think Jesus would do, but to submit to His Lordship, choose humility, and allow the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known through us!

Courageous Joy can be found at any time because it is a choice. Have you ever gone through a tough moment in life and just wanted it to be over? Have you ever hit a point in life you'd rather Jesus just come, or for Him to call you to be with Him? Know that you are not alone! Paul shares with us that He wants to be with Christ so bad, but He knows that there are benefits to still being here, on earth. He knows that God can work in him and through him. That Paul can continue to teach and encourage the Philippians in their journey with Christ and that more people could come to know Christ because of his life. It is the same with you. As we wrestle with life, God calls us to more. He says to us, “whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Basically, life is going to happen and in that I still want you to live the way I am asking you to live and help people know me. The good news, besides the gospel hehe, is that we can, and Philippians 1:27-30 shows us how! We can STAND, STRIVE, SAVED, and SUFFER. Through all four we can find that Courageous Joy.

Joy and hardship often must co-exist together. They are not mutually exclusive. If you wait until there is no hardship in your life to have joy, you will go your whole life without it. In the book of Philippians, Paul exhorts us to joy while he is in prison, chained to a Roman guard. His future is uncertain. His circumstances unfair. To make matters worse, others are using his imprisonment to take advantage of Paul and his situation. There is little that remains for Paul, except that Paul has a wildcard. His name is Jesus. Years ago, the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman, was playing a concert when one of the strings on his violin broke with a loud crack, and everyone heard it. So the conductor stopped, and he waited for Perlman to put on his new string, but Perlman told the conductor to start over. He played the concert with only three strings on his violin. He modulated and improvised. He recomposed and changed the piece as he went, even retuning strings as they played along. At the end of the piece, the audience gave him a standing ovation, recognizing His genius. After the concert, he stepped to the microphone and said, "It is my gift and my joy to make music with what remains." I don't know what hardship you are facing. I don't know what has been taken from you or what remains. I don't know what strings have been broken in your life. But it is God's gift and His joy to make music with what remains. He can make new music in that marriage of yours. He can make new music in that career of yours. He can make new music in that broken heart of yours. The music isn't inferior because of the broken strings. The music becomes even more beautiful because it reveals the genius of the Master and Savior whose work in your life is far from finished. Join us this weekend as we discuss the secret to joy, even in hardship.

Baptism is a picture of a new life! This weekend we have the amazing opportunity to celebrate what God is doing here at SCC through the ancient practice of baptism. We're used to thinking that baptism day is about us or the other people who made their declaration of faith alongside of us, but nothing could be further from the truth. Baptism is a celebration and picture of Christ's loving work of salvation on the cross. It points us to His grace and power in our lives. For this reason, baptism is a reminder to keep our spiritual appetites sharp. It reminds us to never stop pursuing Christ, seeking to know Him, and letting Him fill us with His grace and mercy. Scripture reminds us: “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time–to show us His grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:9).

The North American Porcupine is a member of the rodent family that has around 30,000 quills on its body. Each of these quills can be driven into an enemies' body, inflicting tremendous pain. Sometimes the wounds can fester, occasionally even to the point of being fatal. The porcupine is not regarded as a loving animal. The latin name for porcupine means “the irritable back.” Porcupines seems to have two emotions when it comes to other animals, fear and anger. Books and movies celebrate almost any animal you can think, not just dogs and cats and horses, but even pigs (Arnold Ziffel, Babe), spiders (Charlotte's Web), dolphins (Flipper), bears (Gentle Ben, Smoky the Bear) and killer whales (Free Willy). Skunks even get some love in the form of Pepe Le Pew. But I don't know of any famous porcupines or of even one child who has one. As a general rule, porcupines are solitary and have one of two methods for handling relationships: withdrawal and attack. Porcupines don't always want to be alone. In late autumn, a young porcupine's thoughts turn to love. But love turns out to be a risky business when you are a porcupine. Every porcupines' dilemma is this: How do you get close without getting hurt? Turns out, porcupines aren't the only ones who have that dilemma in relationships. This is our dilemma too. Every one of us carries around with us an arsenal of barbs and quills. Our barbs have names like anger, rejection, comparison, condemnation, resentment, arrogance, selfishness, envy, and contempt. We respond to those barbs exactly like the porcupine does, with either withdrawal or attack. Attack and withdrawal are practiced by every human being on earth, and every single time they damage a relationship, a marriage, a family, a workplace, or a church. The problem is that withdrawal and attack both violate the great command of Jesus to love. When I withdraw, I am unable to love, and when I attack, I am unwilling to love. Join us this weekend as we discuss the importance of community for anyone who would call themselves a Christian.

A few years ago, our church sent a missions team to Houston Texas to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. On our final night in Houston, the team was debriefing the week in a small upstairs room in St. Andrews Presbyterian church. Team members were talking about the high points of their week and the low points of their week. I asked "who here is tired?" Everyone raised their hand. I then asked, "But who here feels full?" And everyone raised their hand. Life doesn't have to be easy to be joyful. In fact, ease of living and joy of heart have little to do with each other. Joy is not the absence of hardship, but rather the presence of Jesus. That week we were physically poured out for the benefit of a couple different families. We were doing manual labor for the week in the Texas heat and humidity. Yet we all felt full from the experience. Paul's letter to the church at Philippi is a letter dripping with joy and surprisingly so. The author is writing from prison. As we begin our study in this beautiful letter, my prayer is that your love of Jesus would grow and in turn joy would fill you in spite of your circumstances.

This weekend we will be talking about Christian Atheism, which is an oxymoron. An oxymoron is two words that are used together that don't seem to belong together. So for example, we may eat “jumbo shrimp” at a restaurant, take note of a “small Crowd” at said restaurant, and have the waiter or waitress give us an “exact estimate” of what the meal will cost. In history class we may talk about the “Civil War” while being taught by a “student teacher.” If we wanted to be guilty of employment profiling while also being mean-spirited, we might talk about a “postal worker.” The mantra of the Christian Atheist is a phrase we find in the book of Judges, right at the very end. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.” (Judges 21:25, CSB) Christian atheists are people that say they believe in Jesus, but they live their lives doing what is right in their own eyes. They say they believe in God, but they live as if He doesn't exist. They don't follow Him, trust Him, or obey Him. They do what is right in their own eyes. So a Christian atheist might say things like: “I believe in Jesus, but I don't pray.” “I believe in Jesus, but I'll never forgive them.” “I believe in Jesus, but I'm in charge of my sex life.” “I believe in Jesus, but I refuse to be generous with my money.” “I believe in Jesus, but I won't share my faith.” Join us this weekend as we take a deep dive into Christian Atheism from our final look at the book of Judges. Following Jesus isn't simply about saying we believe in Him, it is about living in a relationship of trust and surrender.

The story of Samson and Delilah is a well-known guy meets girl story. But what is less known is what Delilah is meant to represent. While the story of Samson and Delilah as it is found in Judges 16 is certainly a historical one, there is much more to this story than meets the eye. The name “Delilah” means “diminished” (possibly “one who diminishes”) or “delicate.” Interestingly, the Hebrew name for Delilah also rhymes with the Hebrew word for “night.” In Hebrew literature, night always represents darkness. Specifically, the darkness found outside the light of God. So, for example, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.” (Isaiah 9:2, CSB) What if even in Delilah's name we are meant to see a picture of sin and its consequences? Isn't it true that sin diminishes us and causes us to walk in darkness? What if we could take a common Bible story and use it to give us great insight into the devastation that sin causes? What if that story might even cause some of us to change our minds about our own sin? Join us this weekend as we use the story of Samson and Delilah to look into the nature of sin and the incredible damage it inflicts on human beings. This could be a life changing message for many of us.

In old Roman ruins archaeologists have discovered lots of prayers, ancient prayers, that people would actually pay to have written down and stored. They are called curse tablets because the most common kind of prayer recorded on them, by far, are curses. People would address a god or goddess and say, "This person hurt me, and here's how they hurt me, and I want payback. I want you to hurt them and here is how I want you to do that." Here is an excerpt from one of those prayers (really): "I invoke you, holy angels and holy names, tie up, block, strike, overthrow, harm, destroy, kill, and shatter Eucherios, the charioteer, and all of his horses, tomorrow in the arena of Rome. Let the starting gates not open properly. Let him not compete quickly. Let him not pass. Let him not make the turn properly. Let him not receive the honors… but instead, let him collapse. And let him drag behind...both in the early races and in the later ones." You know, just in case the gods got confused and let him win one! "Now, now! Quickly, quickly! Let his breath be bad, and let his teeth not be dazzling white." I just made that last sentence up; but the rest of this curse basically said, “He hurt me, please hurt him back.” Now guess how many “bless my enemy” tablets they've found in Rome? Maybe a tablet that reads: "Eucherios hurt me badly, would you deliver me from my resentment? Would you help Eucherios to find genuine repentance? Would you forgive his sin and mine? Would you heal our relationship?" The answer is Zero. Nada. Not a single tablet. This week as we look at the life of Samson, we will see that even though Samson was sent to bring freedom to Israel, he would live in bondage and slavery to his own emotions, especially anger, resentment, and a desire for revenge. Like a lot of men, his fuse was really short, and it cost him everything. I wonder, what is your own anger costing you?

For the next couple of weeks, we'll be looking at the battles that men fight. I'm going to be talking to men, so if you are a woman reading this, I have a couple of thoughts. First, chances are you know some men. Maybe you live with one. Maybe you married one, or have been raising one, or maybe you grew up with some. Maybe you would like to marry one someday or you have some male friends. Since you probably have a lot of relationships with men, this is going to be a great few weeks for you as well. Second, especially for the married ladies, don't nudge your man during the service this weekend. Men hate nudges, especially when a woman does it. Also, no glaring. Men hate glaring, especially when that glaring is coming from a woman. He needs to be able to process the teaching from this series, and so you need to give him the room to do that. You also need to know that we're not really interested in the differences between men and women. We're more interested in the differences between a boy and a man, and age doesn't always produce a man. The call this Sunday will be to leave boyish thinking and behavior behind for something bigger and better. The call will be to become men, not just who are physically strong, but who are spiritually and emotionally strong as well. We want to build men who champion Christ, not just boys who champion themselves. When people think of a guy like Samson, they usually think of the ultimate male: jacked and handsome. But that's probably not even true. Samson is not meant to be a picture of the ultimate male, but rather of what God can do through ordinary people through the power of the Holy Spirit. So Samson probably looked very normal. He may have even looked a little bit pudgy. He probably didn't look like Hugh Jackman or Tom Cruise, but instead more like Jim Gaffigan. Join us this weekend as we leave boyish thinking and behavior behind for something better.

Pride and self-righteousness are incredibly damaging to our relationships with one another and our relationship with God. Unfortunately, you can be filled with either one and not even know it. In the story of Jephthah, we see how damaging his self-righteousness was to his own daughter and how his pride and need for self-preservation led to the slaughter of 42,000 of his own countrymen. Jephthah was right, and he had a sword to prove it! Join us this weekend as we continue our study in the book of Judges. God is going to do good things in and for us as we gather.

The period of the Judges lasted for about 400 years. That is about the same length of time since Jamestown and Plymouth Rock's settlements were established and 150 years longer than the thirteen original colonies declared independence from Great Britain. God is so merciful and patient with all of us. Have you been like me before and threatened you kids with a “You do that one more time and I'm going to……”? Maybe you sounded more like, “Don't try me or you're going to end up in timeout?” We really don't understand how patient and merciful our God is with us! Instead of saying “Play it Again, Sam”, He said, “That's it! No more! You've made your bed, now sleep in it!” Well, it wasn't exactly those words, but He turned them over to their rebellious choices and consequences until they “genuinely” repented. What is “genuine” repentance? What did it look like for Israel in Judges 10? What does it look like for us in 2024? What does it look like for Shelbyville Community Church? What does it look like for you and me? We won't be blowing any trumpets tomorrow, but we will let the Holy Spirit apply this passage to our lives. Hoping to see you tomorrow.

Our study in the book of Judges this summer has given us some unseemly glimpses into the lives of God's people and even His heroes. All of these stories are written for our instruction, examples to follow or avoid, warning, and encouragement. Gideon is still our character of emphasis this Sunday. Our main take away from Gideon is that he did things while he was still afraid. Gideon has a lot going on in his faith that we can identify with. He has a desire and willingness to serve God and is totally transparent with God about his fear to step out in obedience. I think I can identify with this guy! I like him because he didn't stay stuck in fear, but asked God for help and ultimately “pulled the trigger” on his obedience. The story gives me a lot of hope related to God's patience with us. He knows our weaknesses and speaks His promises to our everyday human lives. Mary and I will team teach again this week and will seek to unpack this story in relevant ways to our lives. We hope to see you this Sunday.

The Lord's rule trumps man's rule. Do you have any siblings? Have you ever wanted to hurt them, or even kill them? That is where our story is heading this Sunday. One brother wants to be the only one standing so he can rule. He does the unthinkable, kills all his brothers. We'll see how our striving for power and authority can affect those around us. If not blessed by God, it can cause serious problems. Up to this point, all the judges have been appointed by God, but Abimelech does this on his own. We'll learn more about his story Sunday. The beautiful thing is the story doesn't stop there. One, we see things turn for the better as you continue to read in the book of Judges. Two, we know God is in control and He will one day send a better Lord to earth to save all of Israel once and for all. Join us as we'll see the comparisons of a human king and our Lord.

Our series continues this Sunday morning in the book of Judges as we look at another broken hero. Our main character this week is a guy named Gideon. The circumstances were the same as the people were being provoked and trodden down by an enemy nation. They again cried out to God and God in His mercy raised up a deliverer. We probably will be able to identify with Gideon very easily since he was dealing with, doubts, fear, and a poor self image. He did not see himself as the hero type at all. I think that sounds like us, even though God has some incredible plans for us. I think we will be able to clean some applications this Sunday morning from the message, as we also learn how to do things that God has asked us to do even while we might be afraid. Obedience is not always full of great declarations and hope and faith. Sometimes, obedience is just a step in the right direction and then God gives us the grace to make the rest of the steps. I am welcoming Mary to help team teach with me this Sunday. We always enjoy teaching together. Hope you have a great Fourth of July weekend and hope to see you this Sunday morning.

We're heading into week three in our study of the book of Judges. And just like the previous weeks, we're going to see the sin cycle continue. As miraculous as Ehud's defeat of King Eglon was, the victory didn't last forever. There was 80 years of peace before a new generation grew up who didn't know God. This week we're going to see God deliver his people again, this time through an incredibly wise women, a reluctant leader, and a gal who was pretty good with a hammer and nails And while this story clearly points to the problem of the human heart it also points forward to the permanent solution.