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When we face difficulties in life, our temptation is to blame God, rather than claim God. We are always looking for someone to blame. We may say, “This is not my fault… This is my parents fault…This is my friend’s fault…Maybe this is even God’s fault…God doesn’t care about me…And that’s why I’m suffering.” So we blame God, and I just want to tell you, folks, that is not with the New Testament apostles and disciples were doing, when they faced trials & difficulties, they were not blaming God, they were claiming God.

• They were claiming God’s promises.
• They were claiming Gods power.
• They were claiming God’s everlasting Spirit at work in all circumstances.
• They were claiming God’s providence.
• They were claiming God’s sovereignty.

So here’s the question for you, when you face difficulties in life, will you choose to blame God or will you choose to claim God? That’s a decision. That’s a choice. And one of those choices will lead to despair. But, one of them will lead you to CHOOSE JOY.

Sermon Summary: Pastor Dave Hentschel

Date: April 23, 2023

Scriptural Text: Philippians 1:12-26

How can I find joy in the midst of difficult circumstances? Philippians 1:12-26 is a passage from the New Testament of the Bible, written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Philippi. The passage discusses Paul’s perspective on his imprisonment and his attitude towards life and death. Here is an overview of the meaning of Philippians 1:12-26.

1. You need a Purpose to Live for. (Phil 1:12-14)

Paul shares that despite his imprisonment, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has advanced. He explains that his circumstances have actually served to spread the Gospel, as he has been able to share it with the guards and others in the prison. He expresses joy and gratitude, emphasizing that God’s work cannot be hindered, even in difficult situations. What purpose are you living for? Paul has joy even in Adversity because he has a higher purpose than his own comfort and pleasure. Paul lives his life for the purpose of advancing the Gospel.

2. You need a Priority to Live by. (Phil 1:15-17)

Paul acknowledges that there are some who preach the Gospel out of selfish ambition and rivalry, but he does not dwell on this. (Phil 1:15-17) Instead, he remains focused on the fact that the Gospel is being proclaimed, regardless of the motives of those who preach it. This is his priority. He trusts in God’s sovereign plan and does not allow human frailties to discourage him. What is your priority in life?

3. You need a Power to depend on. (Phil 1:18-20)

Paul expresses his confidence that he will be delivered from prison through the prayers of the Philippians and the help of the Holy Spirit. (Phil 1:18=20) What is your source of strength when you are weary? Paul says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) He also expresses his earnest expectation and hope that he will not be ashamed in anything, but that Christ will be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death. He sees his imprisonment as an opportunity to glorify Christ, and his ultimate desire is to honor Christ in everything he does.

4. You need a Perspective to see with. (Phil 1:21-26)

Paul has an eternal perspective. he wrestles with the idea of whether he would prefer to live or die. (Phil 1:21-26) He acknowledges that to live is Christ, meaning that he is dedicated to serving and proclaiming Christ while he is alive. But he also says that to die is gain, because it would mean being with Christ in heaven, which is far better. Despite his personal desire to be with Christ, Paul acknowledges that it is more necessary for him to remain alive for the sake of the Philippians and their growth in faith. Do you see with an eternal perspective?

In summary, Philippians 1:12-26 conveys Paul’s perspective on his imprisonment, his confidence in God’s plan, his desire to honor Christ in all circumstances, and his struggle between the desire to live and be with Christ, and the willingness to remain alive for the sake of others. It emphasizes Paul’s joy, gratitude, and unwavering faith in God’s sovereignty, even in challenging situations.

How do you see the people in your life? Do you see them as annoying? Or as irritating? Or as burdensome? Friends, the people in your life are gifts from God, do you see them that way? If not, then you are robbing yourself and you are missing out on a great source of joy in your life. Because people are gifts.

Henry Nouwen says it this way, “Friendship is such a holy gift, but we give it so little attention.”

Notice that word “gift.” You know, Christmas morning at our house with kids is sometimes a little chaotic, there’s all these gifts and we try to get them to open them one at a time, but somewhere in the middle, we lose control. And it is fun. But because of that, sometimes a couple of days after Christmas we find out that we forgot something. We’ll find a present that was kind of hidden under the tree that was unopened on Christmas morning. Somehow it just got lost in the wrappings or the shuffle somewhere, and it wasn’t noticed until we were cleaning up.

Friends, sometimes the people in our lives are like that, amidst all of the other things we are focusing our attention on, we forget about them. They are like unopened gifts. But very valuable gifts at that! What I mean is, what could be more valuable than the people that God has placed around you? What I’m saying is this, take time to appreciate them, to see the best in them, to be patient with their progress, to love them from the heart, and to pray for them. Because they are a gifts and from the Lord. Paul knew that,  and Jesus knew that too, and if you know that, it will bring you joy.

The ultimate example of this for all of us, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. He found great joy in people. In fact, there’s a verse in Hebrews that says Jesus endured the cross for the “joy” set before him. (Heb 12:1-3) And what was that joy? The joy that was set before him was you. Your salvation, a restored relationship with you. The grace of the gospel that would bring us back in fellowship with him. Because of that joy, he endured much pain. And friends, when you see Jesus making you his joy, then you can make him your joy.

Sermon Summary: Pastor Dave Hentschel

April 16, 2023

Scriptural Text: Philippians 1:1-11

Author Katherine Wolf says we need to “Disrupt the myth that joy can only be found in a pain-free life.”  This could be the tag line for the book of Philippians. Philippians 1:1-11 is a passage from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, written by the Apostle Paul to the Philippians, a Christian community in the city of Philippi. The passage carries several themes, including gratitude, prayer, love, and growth in faith. It is also a passage about choosing joy in the midst of very difficult circumstances.

The passage begins with Paul expressing gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the Philippians and their partnership in the Gospel. He remembers them fondly and prays for them with joy. (Phil 1:1-3) Next, Paul expresses his prayers for the Philippians, specifically praying for their love to abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. He also affirms his confidence that God, who began a good work in them, will carry it on to completion.(Phil 1:4-6) Third, we see Paul’s Affection for the Philippians (Philippians 1:7-8): Paul expresses his deep affection for the Philippians and how they have been in his heart, both in his imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. He longs for them with great affection and desires their continued growth in faith. (Phil 1:7-8) Finally, Paul prays that the Philippians’ love may abound in knowledge and discernment, so that they may approve what is excellent and be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ. He desires that they bear the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil 1:9-11)

Drawn from these first 11 verses, here are the six decisions we can make to choose joy, even in adversity:

1. I Choose Joy … When I Remember the Grace of God.
2. I Choose Joy … When I Am Grateful For the People In My Life.
3. I Choose Joy … When I See The Good In Other People
4. I Choose Joy … When I Remember That All People Are In Process.
5. I Choose Joy … When I Choose To Love People From The Heart.
6. I Choose Joy … When I Choose To Pray For The People In My Life.

Overall, Philippians 1:1-11 conveys Paul’s deep affection, gratitude, and prayers for the Philippians’ growth in love, knowledge, and righteousness, as well as his confidence in God’s faithfulness in their lives. It encourages the Philippians to continue in their faith, be united in love, and live in a manner that brings glory to God.

4/2/23 Sermon summary (Eccl 12:9-14) 

by Pastor David Hentschel

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 is the concluding section of the book of Ecclesiastes, which is attributed to the wisdom of King Solomon. This passage includes one final exhortation to the reader in preparation for the final judgment. To prepare for this day, one must accept three realities: The Gift, The Goad and The Peg.

THE GIFT: In essence, the passage is a reflection on the wisdom and teachings of the Teacher, who is believed to be King Solomon. It emphasizes the importance of listening to the words of the wise, as they can provide guidance and direction in life. These inspired words are a gift and a delight.

THE GOAD: These words are also likened to “goads.” A goad was a six-foot long sharp stick used in the herding of animals. Like this, at times, God’s wisdom must inflict pain upon us to keep us going in the right direction and get us to our divine destination.

Therefore, the words of the Bible will make us smile and the words of the Bible will make us wince. One way to evaluate your relationship with your creator is to ask yourself, “When was the last time you enjoyed the pleasure of the Bible or felt the pain of the bible and submitted to it, even though you didn’t like what it said?”

The passage also acknowledges the limits of human knowledge and the futility of excessive study, suggesting that there is no end to the making of books and that too much study can be tiring and overwhelming.

Ultimately, the passage concludes with a call to fear God and keep his commandments, emphasizing that all deeds, whether good or evil, will be judged by God in the end. This is seen as the ultimate duty of all mankind.

THE PEG: There is one more image provided for us in verse 11 which reads like this, “The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.” Notice it says God’s wisdom is likened to firmly fixed nails. Does that remind you of anything? The term literally means, “a peg.” Did you know one of the for the Messiah – in the Bible is “the peg”? We find this very rare term used by Zechariah the prophet, “From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg” (Zech 10:4).

Out of all the images in the Bible to take on for himself, isn’t it interesting that God chose this one for His Messiah? Why? It’s not only because He secures the tent of your life, It is also because the Messiah would take the firmly embedded nails, the peg of God’s judgment in His own hands and feet for you.

To avoid a life of meaninglessness and to prepare for the final judgment, you need to embrace the wisdom of God found in the Gift, the Goad and the Peg.

By: Bob Erbig

 

Are You Afraid To Die?

Or are you afraid to die? I remember when I first encountered death. I was seven years old and my grandfather died of cancer. It was terrible. In fact, my parents decided I was too young to go to the funeral. However, in the span of four years, 1988 through 1992, I lost not only my grandfather but my maternal grandmother and my father. Death stared me in the face multiple times at 10 years old.

Truthfully, we never know the day or the hour or the age. You could be 15, you could be 45, you could be 95. You… don’t … know. When we encounter death, especially the death of someone close to us, it becomes associated with a number. What is YOUR Number? My father died when he was 40 years old. Ever since then—my number has been 40. That was the number I associated with death. There was a trepidation around that number and I had to work through it with the Lord. This year I turned 41 and it was surreal experience. You don’t know the day or the hour. The question is: how do we live in light of eternity?

 

Don’t Waste Your Youth

Ecclesiastes 11-12 unpacks the tension of youth, old age and death. Solomon offers three prohibitions to follow as we live in light of eternity. First, don’t waste your youth. Why? Life is not about you—it’s about the glory of God! The sooner you learn this lesson the greater impact you will make in the world.  How do you keep from wasting your youth? Solomon offers three words. Rejoice in your youth (11:9). Remove vexation from your life (11:10).  Remember your Creator (12:1). These principals are marks of a well-lived life.

 

Don’t Grumble in Old Age

Second, and sadly, we don’t stay young forever. The aging process catches us all—we start to grumble. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells us to rejoice in the days of our youth, but it is a whole life principal. 12:1-7 is a poem about the aging process and it paints a sobering picture of our mortality. Our hands, arms, legs, teeth, eyes, ears, and joints all decay! This process is painful and can easily create a spirit of ingratitude and bitterness, which leads to grumbling. How do we combat this? Solomon says, “Remember your Creator!” In other words, model Creator centrality in your life! Don’t grumble in old age.

 

Don’t Settle For The Dust

The third and final principal in this: don’t settle for the dust. What does that mean? Ecclesiastes 12:7 contrasts the dust and the spirit. Yes, our bodies decay and return to dust—reminding us of Genesis 2. The Hebrew word for spirit is ruah, which refers to our “life breath.” The point? Our life continues beyond death. The problem? Too often people focus on the temporal not the eternal. However, eternity is forever! Yet many people seem unconcerned.

Solomon says, if you don’t want to settle for the dust: “Today is the day to remember your creator!” The only thing that truly matters in life is a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. The New City Catechism captures this glorious truth:

What is our only hope in life and death? That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

By: Pastor Dave Hentschel

There are two main issues when it comes to being risk adverse and those issues are fear and control. And these two are related, right? We fear because we lack control, and we try to control, because we’re afraid. But the Bible teaches us how to deal with both.

First, when it comes to dealing with our lack of control, the bible teaches that this means humbling ourselves. The issue is you don’t know. You think you can manage all this, but you can’t. 3,000 years ago, Solomon said, guess what, you don’t know, you’re not God. God is God.

So, you need to humble yourself and recognize you’re not in charge. You can’t manage everything in your life. You’re not in control, but there is one who is. His name is Jesus Christ.

And you can trust Him. Because he’s good. And this leads us to deal with the second issue when it comes to being risk averse. 

So, to deal with fear, what we have to do is we’ve got to relocate our identity, not in our possessions or not in our accomplishments, but only in our relationship with God. Here’s why that’s relevant, sometimes if we risk and we lose, we see that loss as a statement about our worthy and about our identity. But if our identity is rooted in anything except God, this is a problem, because its unstable, so we’ve got to make God, our real and most valuable asset. And if we have him, there’s never any risk to this asset, no matter what happens.

This is what a Christian is. It’s someone who says. “God, you are my real asset.” And so, I’m not afraid. Because my real assets are never ever in jeopardy. So, as Christians we confidently sing:

 

My worth is not in what I own

Not in the strength of flesh and bone

 

My worth is not in skill or name

In win or lose, in pride or shame

 

As summer flowers we fade and die

Fame, youth and beauty hurry by

 

I will not boast in wealth or might

Or human wisdom’s fleeting light

 

Two wonders here that I confess

My worth and my unworthiness

 

(So) I will boast in knowing Christ

At the cross.

 

And so, we don’t have to fear, because knowing God is our greatest asset, and that asset is never in jeopardy. Because God’s “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18, ESV)

(3.19.23 Sermon Summary)

By: Pastor Dave Hentschel

What is Risk? The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary gives a simple summary, defining risk as “the possibility of something bad happening.” The two main issues when it comes to risk are Fear and Control. These two are related. We fear because we lack control, and we try to control, because we’re afraid. However, the Bible teaches us how to deal with both. How do you relate to risk?

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 is a passage from the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically from the book of Ecclesiastes. The passage encourages readers to embrace generosity and take risks, even in uncertain circumstances. Here is a brief breakdown of each verse:

Verse 1: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” This verse is often interpreted as an encouragement to be generous and to give to others without expecting anything in return. “Bread” is a metaphor for whatever one has to offer, whether it be material goods, money, or kindness. The principle here is to invest with liberality.

Verse 2: “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.” This verse urges readers to be generous to as many people as possible, even beyond what may be expected or required. It acknowledges that disaster and hardship can strike at any time, and that by being generous, one can help to alleviate suffering. The principle here is to invest with diversity. We need to adapt to various contingencies to compensate for our ignorance by preparing for multiple eventualities.

Verse 3: “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.” This verse uses nature as a metaphor to illustrate the idea that events happen according to their own natural course, regardless of human intervention. It suggests that humans should accept this fact and not worry excessively about things they cannot control.

Verse 4: “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” This verse is often interpreted as an encouragement to take risks and seize opportunities, even when there is uncertainty or risk involved. It suggests that those who hesitate and wait for perfect conditions will never accomplish anything. This leads to a “paralysis of analysis.” The maxim of verse four teaches us that the attempt to plan too meticulously can paralyze initiative.

Verse 5: “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.” This verse acknowledges the mystery of life and the fact that humans cannot fully understand or control the workings of the universe. It suggests that humans should be humble and accepting of their limitations.

This brings us back to fear and control. When it comes to dealing with our lack of control, the bible teaches that this is faced by humbling ourselves. We need to recognize we are not in charge. We can’t manage everything in our lives. To deal with fear, what we have to do is we have to relocate our identity, not in our possessions or in our accomplishments, but only in our relationship with God. Sometimes if we risk and we lose, we see that loss as a statement about or a commentary on our identity. However, it is not. This is what a Christian is. A Christian is someone who says, “God, you are my real asset.” If so, our real assets are never ever in jeopardy.

Verse 6: “In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” This verse encourages readers to be diligent and persistent in their efforts, even when success is uncertain. It suggests that by being proactive and taking action, one can increase the likelihood of success.

(3.12.23 Sermon Summary)
By: Bob Erbig

“The Fight Against Folly”

The book of Ecclesiastes delves into many important life issues. Meaning, purpose, time, money, even death! One topic we neglect is folly. What is folly? Simply put, folly is a costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome. Another way to describe folly is “foolish endeavors.” The pursuit of folly is often enticed by our sinful nature, which promises pleasure and fulfillment, but leads to ruin and destruction. As the puritan writer John Owen once said, “be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”

Generally speaking, folly occurs in three non-exhaustive categories. First, there is relational folly. We all have, or will, make mistakes in friendships or romantic relationships. Second, there is financial folly. We can easily make poor investments with our money despite wise advice to the contrary. Third, there is spiritual folly. This categorize lurks below the surface of our heart. It manifests itself in the idols we create and worship—an addiction, a secret sin, or a good thing, like excellence at work, can easily become an ultimate thing.

How do we fight against folly? In Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon offers a battle plan by introducing us to three small animals.

The Stench of Dead Flies

In 10:1, Solomon tells us that folly and foolishness are like dead flies in expensive perfume. The point of the illustration is this: you can be the wisest person in the world like Solomon—but just a few foolish decisions can tarnish your life. Think about your own life. You can make wise decisions for 80 years—but if you let just a little bit of folly in at the end of life, it can change the way you are remembered. Solomon tells us to watch our path (10:2-3) and hold your ground (10:4) against folly.

The Venom of a Snake

Second, we meet a snake charmer. Ecclesiastes 10:11 says, “If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?” The point, of course, is that the snake is a dangerous animal. It has deadly venom. While the fly can make your life stink, the snake can end your life. Likewise, folly is something that must be tamed. Beware! Solomon says that a snake might be hiding around the corner if we are not looking.

The Tweet of a Bird

The final animal we meet is a bird. Here, Solomon confronts our use of words head on. What happens when we use words foolishly? Ecclesiastes 10:12 says, “The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.” Put another way, we can use our words to influence people, or we can use them to talk about ourselves. How we use words is often seen in how we react to people. Too many of us have ignored the exhortation of James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

We fight against the folly of our words by cultivating a life of grace. Are we a reactive people or a grace filled people? We can develop grace in our lives by spending time with Jesus. He invites us to come, eat at his table, and soak in his presence. He died for our folly so we can life a based on his wisdom and peace.

 

By: Pastor Dave Hentschel

 

Have you ever sat and wondered why Solomon focuses on death so much in the book of Ecclesiastes? The answer is because thinking about dying means preparing how to live. In other words, there’s wisdom in knowing where you’re headed, then starting from the end and working your way backwards from there.

There’s a quote from the movie Braveheart where he says, “Every man dies. Not every man truly lives.” And so, there is a scene in the movie, where William Wallace is leading the Scottish army to fight for their freedom. But they are outnumbered and they are afraid of dying. And at this point, Braveheart says, “Will you fight.” And one soldier says, “No, we will run and we will live.” But then Braveheart says “Ay, Run, and you’ll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives [With growing excitement] but they’ll never take our freedom!”

This is exactly what Solomon is saying, to fast forward in your minds to the day when you’ll be dying in your bed. And in light of that day, what would you wish you would have done today?

Author David Gibson writes this, “Left to our own devices, we tend to live life forward. We plan and hope and dream of where we will be. Ecclesiastes teaches us to live life backward. To take the one thing in the future that is certain – our death – and work backward from that point into all the details and decisions and heartaches of our lives, and think about them from the perspective of the end.”[1]

So that’s the challenge that Solomon presents to us. This is what Solomon is saying in light of the certainty of death, “Live life backwards.”

 

Bibliography

[1]Gibson, David. Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.