Beautiful Savior
Pastor Quinn • October 23, 2022

Faith Demonstrated Through Total Dependence

Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).


As we consider Jesus’ question, it might be easy to assume that any decrease in faith we observe in the world corresponds with an increase in secularism and disdain for God’s Word. That type of unbelief certainly can be observed in our world. However, today we see there is another type of unbelief, a type that looks upright and moral. The absence of the faith Jesus seeks isn’t always complete and total rejection of God or the Bible or even Jesus. It is possible for someone to have respect for Scripture and Christ, yet ultimately trust in his own goodness when it comes to his relationship with God.


It is natural for us to want to believe that our relationship with God revolves around our obedience to his commands. We desperately desire to believe that, if we just apply the right spiritual advice and effort, we can earn God’s approval and eternal inheritance. This, too, is unbelief, just as much as paganism or secularism. This week Jesus uses God’s law for its chief purpose: to expose sin and crush our natural pride. In Christ’s hands God’s law is a powerful tool used to shape in us the faith he seeks—one totally dependent on God to do what only he can do.

By Pastor Quinn February 9, 2025
It is easy for us to assume that if God says “no” to a request, we are getting less than we wanted. We need to have an epiphany moment, seeing the reality—that God always wants more for us than we want from him. Saying “yes” to all our requests would often result in us receiving less joy, less blessing, a lesser life. So, when God says “no” to our request, we can be assured it is because he wants to give us more. Far more than existing as a “help desk” or 911 dispatch, God’s love for us is like that of a groom for his bride. His love for us exceeds all expectation and understanding. In that love, God always delivers more than we ask, not less.
By Pastor Quinn February 2, 2025
Freedom is one of the United States’ key ideals. And while ideological divides mean different groups have different concerns when it comes to the pursuit of freedom, there’s a common thread woven throughout all the varying perspectives: self-determination. Such emancipation from outside control and the opportunity to follow one’s own path in life is a cherished right. Yet, that ideal of freedom assumes that individuals are, in themselves, free. But is that true? The fall into sin means we’re not only impaired in our ability to understand and make decisions; this same condition applies to our very motivations, desires, and passions. While it seems we are free to do what we want and want what we want, in reality our very impulses are deceptive. The deceit of sin runs deep. Not only does it fail to deliver promised freedom, it actually brings a truly sad and desperate slavery to a cruel master. Satan’s lies brought servitude and suffering, pain and death to our first parents and every generation since. Yet in abundant mercy, God has revealed truth in his Son Jesus Christ—truth that saves. Truth that brings life. Truth that frees from sin’s deception. This truth of Jesus Christ is beautiful beyond measure, and the freedom it brings is so very deep and profound. And it is a truth that is for all. Stewarding the truth, therefore, requires us to help people recognize their sad condition and to speak the beauty of true freedom in Christ into their specific experience of sin’s deception.
By Pastor Otterstatter January 29, 2025
“The deep search for identity—Who am I, really?—is going on in each person, and no one should accept shallow answers” (Kinnaman and Matlock, Faith for Exiles ). Though identity has become an especially hot topic today, our sense of self has always been a critical aspect of being human. Generation after generation has been shaped by a combination of internal and external factors, giving us points of connection with one another and contributing to our sense of individuality. However, in the recent past, aided by media, consumerism, and technology, we’ve also experienced a tremendous shift in the relative authority of various factors, with an increasing emphasis placed on personal experience or choice. The idea that my preferences, desires, and feelings define me is the core of what some have called expressive individualism or elective identity . Regardless of how we seek to define ourselves, our merely human answers are limited. They may reflect an aspect of our experience, but they can never fully satisfy. They cannot provide enduring answers. To one degree or another, they disappoint.  But God’s answer to the question, “Who am I?” is truly different. Truly better. Truly beautiful . Our true identity is found in Christ. It will become ours fully at the resurrection, but even now we get to live each day as God’s restored “very good” creations who are continually set free from sin’s deception because Christ shared our humanity. Our call as stewards is to deeply grasp this beautiful identity for ourselves and to share it with the generations after us.
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