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This week David preached from Zephaniah 3:14-20. The focus of this text is on the hope and promise of the coming Messiah in the context of the inevitable judgment that will be brought by our righteous God (listen online).  

We easily forget the story of God’s redemption, as it has been revealed through Christ’s coming, when we get caught up in the story of how we fit into that. The monumentally amazing truth of the Bible is that the God of the universe sent His Son to be with us, to save us (Zeph 3:15), to walk among us, to be in reach of human hands and yet be crucified by those same hands… And in that same redemptive story what’s not over is God remaining with us through His powerful Spirit, until He restores everything and calls His children home. We so often forget or take lightly the CRESCENDO of God’s story, the coming of His son, when we neglect or don’t remember the groaning felt by those who were originally longing for it.  

May we embrace and remember the significance of our sent Savior, and wait in eager expectation for His victorious return!

--Austin Lambert - C3 Member

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Last week, Pastor David focused on the Old Testament passage Malachi 2:17 – 3:5, with the intent of allowing the Old Testament to inform us how to worship Christ and to prepare us for his second coming. This passage teaches that Christ has come to save us from sin and will come again to judge. God is speaking through Malachi to Israel, who has learned very little from captivity. On the outside they have changed but their hearts still stray from God.  

They have continued to do evil, and when they find they have no consequences for their actions they start to think “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” (verse 17). God takes his reputation very seriously, and he lets the Israelites know that justice will be served – but not in the way they might think. There was a need for a Messiah’s intervention! Now our position before God has changed because of Jesus – God looks at us and sees his perfect Son.  

David poses a question: “Do you work hard to project a well-ordered life in order to hide the chaos within?” I think this is something we all do and is in fact something I myself struggle with, because I want people to think well of me. I like to appear as if I have all my ducks in a row while in reality I’m lost and confused and in desperate need of Christ’s constant saving grace. Instead of working to perfect an outward image, we should work to change our inmost hearts to reflect Christ’s love so that the fruit in our lives will be a glorious reflection of Him. In Jeremiah 31:31-34 God promises to write his law on our hearts so that we might know him fully. He will take what is outside of us and put it inside! Verse 34b, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  
Praise God!  

--Caroline Carlson - C3 Member

Sermon Reflection::Jeremiah33:14-16

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Last week, David preached from Jeremiah 33:14-16 (listen online). The text is one of many in the Old Testament that prophesies about the coming Christ. Just as the people of the OT eagerly awaited and anticipated the arrival of their Messiah, this side of the cross, we ought to eagerly await and anticipate Christ’s second coming.  

As we enter the Advent season, we can see that this time of year is marked by anticipation and expectation. For the culture, that anticipation and expectation is applied to things like giving and receiving presents, spending time with friends and family, or enjoying time away from school or work. For the believer, the anticipation and expectation ought to be for Christ’s return. Our expectations for his second arrival should be grounded in our confidence in a God who has already kept his promises.  

Too often I get caught up in the world’s enjoyments and swept away by its expectations. Especially during this season, it’s so easy for me just to echo the culture’s values and paste God on the end. I need to be rescued from that mindset. My prayer is that during this Christmas season, my life would be a testament to the true reason we celebrate, and that I would proclaim with everything I have in me that “Christ has died and Christ is risen and Christ will come again!”  


--Catherine Canzoneri - C3 Member

Sermon Reflection::Exodus 14

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This week, Justin Turner brought the Word to us from Exodus, introducing the Advent season and reminding us of God's great redemptive power.
(Listen Online)

‎"You are stronger, you are stronger! sin is broken, you have saved me. It is written, Christ is RISEN, Jesus you are Lord of all."

Thank you God for your faithfulness in the small things like school and photography assignments; to the big things like being our propitiation and taking God's wrath for sinners upon yourself. You are good and I love you. I forget your miracles quickly and I am not faithful or obedient. Just like Israel was not faithful. We fear things more than you and we don't trust you like you deserve. Thank you Lord for sanctification, for continually changing my heart to be more like you. Thank you for your Spirit who is waging war with the sin in my flesh. Thank you for taking the penalty of my sin so that I am not enslaved to it any longer. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light and you are my God and I am your child.

--Amanda Singer - C3 member

Sermon Reflection::Ezekiel 37:1-14

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Last Sunday morning (Listen Online), David walked us through Ezekiel 37:1-14. Through the message, I continued to think about how the phrase “Stay on Message” applies to my life. On a constant basis, I struggle with becoming too caught up in MY everyday living that I lose sight of the life that HE has promised. In doing so, I tend to forget that in our existence, from birth, we deserve wrath and without the Word we remain lost. In scripture, God continually reveals Himself to his people through his Word – Abraham, Israel, Ezekiel. The spiritual life that God has laid in front of you and me comes from HIM through His word. We must “Stay on Message”. God needs NOTHING and he saved us because he wants to bring himself glory [Psalms 50:15].

Our response should be:
- Focus wholeheartedly on the Word that God has given us [scripture]
- Reflect Christ by living a life that comes from the Word of God [in response to Grace]

We attend C3 because we believe, as a united body of believers, our church is continually moving toward becoming more like Christ through our every day struggles and continual focus on the Cross. This body is unlike any I have ever been a part of – we are digging into what God has provided through [His word] and through [His leadership]. Continue to encourage and lift up your brothers and sisters and always remember the focus is Christ, without whom there is nothing else.

--Wade Boggs - C3 dad and husband

Sermon Reflection::Luke 7:36-50

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Continuing on the subject of forgiveness begun in Matthew 18:21-35, last week Pastor David shared two scripture passages (Ezekiel 16:1-22 and Luke 7:36-50) to remind us of how far God reached to redeem us who were helpless and unworthy, and what our response should be to that great act of love and forgiveness.  The Ezekiel passage paints a graphic picture of us as we wallowed in our sin, unable to help ourselves.  God enters the picture and gives us life, but we should not, as Israel did, trust in our own "chosenness" and take the Lord for granted; instead we should worship unreservedly, like the woman in the Luke passage, as people who have been forgiven much. As we prepared our hearts for the Lord's Supper, I was challenged to think about the times recently when I have insisted on my own rights and have not loved as much as I could have, especially considering my own sinfulness and how much I have been forgiven.

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--Leland Moody - C3 Deacon

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 18:21-35

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On Sunday Pastor David taught out of Matthew 18:21-35 - the parable of the unforgiving servant. Listen Online.
The parable taught us how unimaginable our debt of sin is to the Lord and how it is absolutely impossible for us to repay it back. Read Matt 18:21-35.

Through this text I was convicted of some past events that still affect me today and that I may still be carrying. I was reminded of the enormous debt of sin that is impossible to pay off and that I deserve to be in jail for the wages that I cannot earn or repay back to the King. But in His grace and mercy He has released me of that debt through Christ, as did the king to the servant in the first part of the parable. What also convicted me in my life was the second part of the parable and how the forgiven servant treated his fellow servant and his debt, and how the fellow servant pled for patience and the forgiven servant didn’t show the same mercy as the king had shown him. This really hit home when I thought about the people that have hurt me or angered me and how I still have this bitterness towards them even though it’s been a long while. Through Christ I’ve been relieved of this enormous debt and in light of this truth I should be forgiving of others. Pastor David said, “Forgiven people are forgiving people.”

With this message my response is to pray and plead with the Lord to give me a forgiving heart, to reconcile relationships that should be reconciled, and to release me from any bitterness or anger that I may still have.

--Steven Nguyen - C3 Student

Sermon Reflection::Matt18:10-14

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This week David added onto our series in Matthew 18:10-14 about the church. He reminded us that in verses 1-9 Jesus addressed his disciples’ hearts and ours as fellow believers. We as believers were created to be in perfect harmony with God, but this was broken. Since the fall our flesh has sought to steal the praise and glory that only God deserves. This attitude can be understood with your answer to the following question: What is God like? You would be surprised at how much this answer governs your life. Continuing into verses 10-14, Jesus shares the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd is charged with one-hundred sheep, and one goes astray. This parable is perfect for our pastoral leaders in our church who are charged with His flock.  

God has blessed our church with leaders who love to glorify and enjoy life in Him. They have been charged with teaching God’s truth and guiding His flock whether through celebration, sorrows, and at times discipline. As little children, as Christians we are to imitate Christ and in this case we are to reach out our hands and go to fellow believers who have gone astray.  

I used to not value church membership. I went from the mentality of ‘God and I are fine, I don’t need to go,’ to the polar opposite by attending any and every Bible study possible from every church in town. Both mentalities have the same heart problem: I was picking and choosing what commandments to obey from God, I wouldn’t commit to a body (Heb 10:25, Rom 12:4-5). As an active member of a church you live day to day life with one another, not just Sundays. During this daily life others can hold one another accountable and grow spiritually while seeking to glorify the Father.  

If this was your first time to visit C3 I encourage you to walk with us. If not us, with a body that teaches the truth. Just remember the following about God’s character: 1. God cares for His children. 2. God seeks us when we stray. 3. God rejoices when we come back to Him. 4. God exercises His care for His children through His children.  

-- Rachel Evans - a C3 sheep

Sermon Reflections::Matt18:5-9

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The Lord taught me multiple things through the preached Word this weekend. The sermon was the second in a series about the institution of the church and what Jesus has to say about what it should look like. David summed up last week's sermon in a statement similar to this: "The church should be marked by a childlike humility that communally puts the world on notice that Jesus Christ is supremely valuable." This weeks might read: "The church should be marked by honoring Christ in humbly receiving one another, on the basis of the gospel!"  

It's been only in the last year and a half of my life that I have embraced the "communal living" aspect of the church that we're called to as Christians. Father continues to reinforce the doctrine of the church that I denied for most of my life, by having it come up time and time again in my study of the Word as well as in the preaching at C3. God is showing me that He is a God of community, and we are called to love each other in a way that brings attention to the gospel we are saved by as we hold that gospel supremely valuable in our lives, TOGETHER.  

My response for the sermons these past two weeks has to be one of childlike humility in which I forget anything the world will try to bring to my attention that could result in me treating my brother or sister in a way that doesn't reflect my attention upon the gospel. I must ask the Lord to humble me and have me submit to communal living the way we are called to. I must stand alongside my brothers and sisters, never denying another brother or sister that same fellowship, and further, reaching our hands out to them that they may be transformed and made new by the power of Christ-centered community. 

 -- Joshua Miller - C3 Student

Sermon Reflections::Matt17:16-20

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This past Sunday, Pastor David continued in Matthew 17:16-20. Here, the disciples are given the opportunity to perform a miracle while Jesus is away praying and the disciples come up short, finding themselves unable to heal this father's epileptic child. Last week we talked through the idea of works without faith and how worthless they are in such a state as the disciples were. This week, jumping off from that topic, Pastor David preached over what kind of faith it is that is described in verse 20 as "faith like a grain of mustard seed" which can allow you to say to a mountain "'move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

In our sermon reflection Sunday night, we were given the question from Pastor David's sermon: What kind of faith is it that moves a mountain? As we discussed this, we found links to some other very interesting passages in the Bible. For instance, after agreeing that (in this context) doing the impossible (like moving a mountain) is solely within the realm of believers, we wondered whether the father of the young child believed. In looking at the parallel passage to this one in Mark 9, we found the father exclaiming "I believe, help my unbelief!" The father seems to have a genuine faith which is still working itself out within him. This idea of deliverance through genuine faith is echoed in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:17-18. These three faithful servants of God boldly proclaim that God will save them from the fiery furnace but that whether they are saved or not, God is still God and he can do as He wills. This connection really blew my mind, especially in the context of Pastor David's sermon. He explained that when Jesus said "nothing will be impossible," he meant that nothing which serves your created purpose will be impossible. That created purpose is to do God's will and glorify Him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a genuine faith that God's will would be done regardless of whether they were saved from a fiery death or not. That is the faith that moves mountains.

When talking more about the impossible via Romans 8:28-29, we recognized that, honestly, all things are impossible for us as fallen humans, especially our salvation. Though we are saved initially from death through belief in Christ, we are going through progressive salvation in that we are daily being saved from our sinful nature by being molded into the image of Christ. So how is it that we are being conformed into the image of Christ when we are in circumstances from which we are not being saved? How is that sanctifying? Well, just as Christ cried tears of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane for God to take his cup from him if it be God's will and God did not, we must see that in our circumstances, God's will is still working and that His glory is still supreme over all our plans. When we look at it this way, we see that God is saving us and gaining glory for His name IN our circumstances, whether it be through deliverance or enduring through our hardships. Also, we see that Jesus' example, as always, shines through as a wonderful example for what we are to do in our own lives. We are to be about the same business as Jesus was, namely, God's will and His glory. That begs this question: Do I have genuine faith in the sovereign will of God? Am I allowing myself to be molded into the image of Christ daily through radical submission to God's will? Am I praising God daily through every situation, good or bad? Or even more challenging, am I relying upon God and His will through every situation, big and important AND mundane and small?

--Sermon Reflection Small Group (Sun pm @ Peron's)

Student Sermon Reflections::1Tim 1:1-2

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K evin taught about the reproducibility of discipleship. He said that just as Paul discipled Timothy, and Timothy then discipled others, Kevin is to disciple J.T. who is then to disciple others. When we think rightly about God, our authority to disciple is authenticated in Jesus' name. He said the DNA of discipleship is Jesus, and that it is easy to fall into idolatry by placing value on anything other than that which should rightly be placed on Jesus. In quoting A.W. Tozer, he said that we have lost the ability to imagine how great God is. Therefore, it is easier to imagine that other things are as great as He and thus to fall into idolatry.

In the light of this sermon, I am challenged to see if I am placing undue value on anyone or anything. To do so is idolatry. Are the hours I spend in front of the T.V. an indication of a heart that has lost the ability to realize how big God is? Do I mistakenly think that time spent with Him can't measure up to some hokey T.V. show or even an excellent movie? Can I truly view myself as an idolater, or do I think so highly of myself that I don't think that is even possible. Open my eyes Lord that I may see You in Your glory. The things of the world will grow strangely dim…

--David Canzoneri - C3 Deacon

Student Sermon Reflections::1Thess 5:16-18

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This week Ron reminded the body of our need for prayer as a substitute for the want for self-sufficency. We studied 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, pulling it into three parts as an application to prayer. First we unpacked the phrase, “Rejoice always,” learning that it is better understood as “Rejoice always in the Lord.” This does not mean Christians are incessantly happy, but incessantly hopeful, since God is always working out things for the good of His chosen people, even in the sufferings. Next we studied the command to “pray without ceasing.” This does not necessarily mean that we are constantly on our knees, but it is a mind-set we live out, always looking upwards. Two things this does for us: it protects us from temptation (Mark 14:38), and it keeps us alert (Eph. 6:18). Finally, we focused on “giv[ing] thanks in all circumstances.” When considering the almighty God and His wonderful works, all that is left is gratitude.

This is a wonderful model for prayer after one has considered traditional models such as the Lord’s prayer. Related to it, Christians can keep in mind the APTAT guide for Christian living put together by Pastor John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. Praying is our communication with God. It’s part of our sanctification, and it glorifies the Trinity in our faith. It is an often overlooked hinge in Christian living that should consciously be addressed, “without ceasing.”

--Chris Ramos - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflections::1 Peter 5:1-5

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Speaking from the perspective of an average collegiate, the roles of church positions such as eldership, are shrouded in misinformation and cultural biases. Kevin taught on the doctrine of eldership, focusing primarily on 1 Peter 5:1-11 and accompanying scriptures. He began by defining first what eldership is not. Eldership in the Bible is not a rogue dictatorship, does not consist of a lone ranger activity and is not the elite special forces of the church. In contrast to these things, eldership absolutely consists of shared leadership, gentleness, humility and an overall attitude that is to be an exact comparison to that of a shepherd. Eldership is not to be taken lightly, as the qualification can be seen in scriptures such as 1 Timothy 3:17 and the weight of the position can be seen in scriptures such as Hebrews 13:17.

All in all, Kevin defines the genetics and purpose of the eldership in what is equally to be defined as the role of any and all followers of Jesus, and that is to simply BE LIKE JESUS. John 13:14 is evidence of this as Christ provides an example to be followed. Although imperfect, elders should be aspiring toward and likewise posses the characteristics that are found in Christ and shepherd the congregation with these attributes until the Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus, returns.

So how does this apply? Just as an elder's responsibility is wrapped up in shepherding the flock, I, as a member of the body, should responsively strive to be "shepherd-able". This involves being open, accountable and obedient to the elders, not with a motivation founded upon impressing them, but rather respecting them as leaders guiding me toward the ultimate desire of my heart and their's which is growth in a relationship with Jesus Christ - the source and perfecter of our faith.

--Austin Lambert - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflections::Romans 8

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Romans 8 begins Paul's explanation of the lifted condemnation in Paul's argument to the Romans. Previously Paul has been laying the foundation for the condemnation we all face as sinful humans, but here is the hinge in Romans where Paul spells out how Christ takes that condemnation away from us. Pastor David offered a summary of the process of our salvation in that God has saved us (justification), is saving us (sanctification), and will save us (glorification), then pointed us to Romans 5:18, explaining that our salvation comes "in Christ." Christ is the link that binds us all together in equal justification (everybody including Moses, Paul, and you and me). How? When God sees us, He sees His adopted children because of Christ. Christ's blood is the marker of our salvation, just as the lamb's blood marked the Jews for salvation in the Passover. There is no other way to salvation; not through works, not through a good attitude, not even through love (though those are the marks of salvation), but only through the mark of Christ's saving blood.

This proves to be an easy concept for me to grasp intellectually, but much more difficult to practically apply in my daily life. My problem is the culture in which I live and in the preconceived mindsets I have about individuality and work ethic. I have only to wait inside and in faith for the Spirit to pass over me, yet I am often uncomfortable in sitting still. I want to move, out of the safety of a blood-stained door frame, and take my chances against God in the world. I too often ask the foolish question, "How mad will Pharaoh be if our God does what He says He's going to do?" I worry about my success in this world, and how I might be able to overcome it. And when I might turn my thoughts to Heaven, I wonder how I can insure my entrance there by proving myself to God. What I must realize is that "trying to be a Christian" is not just futile; it's fatal. I am a Christian only because of Christ, and I did nothing, nor can I do anything, to insure it. God is the merciful giver; all I can do is set my thoughts on Him and glorify Him in all that I do. I fail often, but God has looked over my shortcomings on account of Christ, and He is sanctifying me into the Image He intends me to be. And then I simply love because Christ first loved me.


--Chris Ramos - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflections::Matt 17:1-8

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Easter weekend at C3, Pastor David preached through Matthew’s account of the transfiguration found in the first 8 verses of chapter 17. This is the special time in the life of Christ when he took some of his closest disciples to get a sneak peak of his full glory and splendor. The same kind of thing happened with Moses, when he received the commandments on Mt. Sinai and his face literally radiated from being in the presence of God. We learn that it is no coincidence that these two events are so similar, because what Jesus came to do was the fulfillment of what Moses was sent to do so many years before. Moses came to free the people of God from bondage and slavery to Egypt, which was to foreshadow what Jesus came to do. That is, Jesus came to free the people of God not from bondage to a national or political power, but from spiritual slavery to sin and death.

So what does that mean for me? Well, it means that the radiance of Jesus is something so powerful that it breaks the power of cancelled sin, and sets the sinner free, as one of my favorite hymns says. It means that our exodus from sin is found when we turn our eyes upon Jesus and watch the things of this world grow dim.
[1 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another]

--Ryan Shelton - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflections::Matt 16:24-28

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This week, we returned to the study of Matthew that was begun when C3 first started. In chapter 16 now, Pastor David began with a recap, explaining the context leading up to our passage (v. 24-28). Here’s the rundown:
• Peter has proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, God come to Earth to save mankind (16:16)
• Immediately after, Jesus begins to “show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (v. 21)
• Peter takes Jesus aside and basically lets him know that this kind of talk is bad for morale (v. 22)
• Jesus chastises Peter and tells him that “You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (v.23)

I am reminded of Colossians 3:2 which commands this very thing: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” What a challenge in today’s society! That has probably been one of the greatest ‘hindrances’ in my life to Christ doing his work. I allow so many things to get in the way of seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Jesus goes into more detail in verses 24-28 of Matthew 16 with exactly what we should be doing instead of being ‘hindrances’ or ‘stumbling blocks’ to Christ - in short, losing our lives to seek His kingdom. Makes sense, right? If I am going to come earnestly to seek God and his righteousness, I have to give up everything else. Nothing else matters enough to take the place of that. So, taking all that into account, David posed the question “How are you doing at following Jesus in imitating the life that He led?” which is one of total devotion and sacrifice for the gospel. How am I doing? Horribly. But God gives me mercy to try again today. Lord willing, He will give me mercy to try again tomorrow too. I’m starting by looking at how I live and seeing what things I spend most of my time doing. From there, I have to decide what to do about the things that have no kingdom seeking significance and either find ways to turn them into gospel motivated things or eliminate them from the picture. If I am to live life like Jesus, I can’t let anything get in the way of that. Not homework, my boyfriend, my family, my artwork, or even my everyday necessities. If my mind is on things that only pertain to my little life on this earth, my mind is not in the right place.

-- Heather Bowshier - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:1-6

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On Sunday Pastor David taught us about the 5 characteristics of the believer in Hebrews 13:1-6 - about being insiders through Christ and having a relationship with the Lord, how it looks to others, what an insider is and what they do. As insiders to Christ’s plan and works we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ continually, that while we may not have warm and fuzzy feelings towards all of our brothers and sisters, we need to let Christ’s love show through actions. That really made me think of how words are meaningless without actions to back them up. Romans 12:9-10 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

In response to the text, we ought to:

a) Help others without expecting anything in return; reciprocity is not something that Christians need to prioritize when helping others.
b) Rely on God to show you who to help and know that your reward is greater in Heaven.


--Serena Jenkins - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflections::Heb 13:15-16

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This week we covered 3 sacrifices found in Hebrews 13:15-16. These sacrifices will emerge in the life of believers in response to the gospel in our lives. The first was praise to the Father and the author of Hebrews explains to us that this is done by “lips that acknowledge His name”. The second is not neglecting to do good. This is a bold and broad statement with no limits to who this good is to be done to/for. David then emphasized that our enemies are to be counter-culturally loved according to this and other verses (Matthew 5:43-45). The last sacrifice is sharing what we have with others. We were encouraged from this verse to not forget to love the stranger, knowing that it serves as a picture of what Christ did for us. Our love for these enemies and strangers in our lives will shine as proof that we belong to the One whose Son displayed perfect love for us (Romans 5:6). Before we began going over these three ways of sacrificing we acknowledged that our trust in his perfect Son gave us access, making our sacrifices worthy to bring to the Father. We closed by talking about how all of this is not only a response to the love of Jesus, but also because it pleases the Father. We should seek to run delightedly to do these things because of the love we have for our Shepherd who made us for himself.
In the sermon David asked us the question, “Would you still acknowledge his name considering your past week?” The week that I had leading up to spring break was a bit of a tough one. I didn’t suffer for the Lord in some big mighty way however trial “scraped up against my heart” and has caused me to look at the woman I am and allow the Lord to deal with my confusion, sin, and restless heart. A moment of honesty….I applied for a job back several months ago at a camp and I wanted it very badly. I got that lovely letter in the mail however that said I wasn’t going to be hired. It hurt and now my plans are looking quite different than expected. I am, however, beginning to see the Lord work and teach me through all of this, and believe it or not He extended grace and has allowed me to still love others and head forward in a limping sort of fashion despite this bump. I hope that as disappointments, trials and persecutions come, my faith grows and that these moments of confusion will only make me more and more excited for the city to come, knowing that only then will disappointments flee in an eternal way.
I think for me, application of this text involves evaluating my ways of sacrificing to the Father and the motives behind it all. The entire Outsiders Series has made me want to understand how I can better represent the Lord and what my life as an outsider should specifically look like. I can hope that as I learn to better sacrifice to the Lord according to the text that the world will see the blood of my Redeemer that makes any of it worthy and that the glory of my Father will be the ultimate outcome.

--Abby McQueary - C3 College Student

Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:14

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This past Sunday we continued our study of "Outsiders" as Pastor David led us into Hebrews 13:14: "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." As a Christian we are not meant to act as the world around us, and we must continue to check our motivations, expectations, etc. Are your motivations fueled by the world's norms? Or through the Word and Holy Spirit? As we abide by His law we are to follow him fully, dropping all that may hold us back, all that we may believe that defines us because He is who defines us. In this, we are to live for Him today, while living for that Day when He returns.

Pastor David made a reference to the cheesy questions that people ask us: What drives you? What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Etc. But the cheesy-est question that came to my mind: "How would you describe yourself in three words?" This question people often focus on their greatest qualities, but I have been convicted that I need to be transparent in my everyday life: In the flesh, I am a woman who is prone to worry, to plan, to seek security. In the flesh, I am a student who continues to worry, who has learned to plan my time (or plan too much), and is working toward the day that I will be my own security (through a simple piece of paper that is a diploma). But I am eternally grateful to my redeemer and savior, Jesus Christ that my flesh does not define me. My worries do not add a single hour to my life (Matthew6:27, Luke 12:25), His perfect time beats out any of my own plans for the future (Jeremiah 29:11), and His security is better than anything I could hope to achieve (Hebrews 13:6). So my answer does not include three words, just one: I am a Christian.

As Christians, my brothers and sisters, will you go with me outside of the city gates? We will not be alone, for God will be with us. What can man do to us? For as we live for Him today and however many days are to follow, we are called to live as aliens in this land (just as Abraham). We are not of this world, we are HIS.


-- Rachel Evans – C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:10-13

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David began preaching this week from Hebrews 13:10-13 by stating simply: “people in love will go to great lengths to be with, and enjoy, the person that he or she loves”. This isn’t a lofty concept, as we have close loved ones for which we will spend greatly of ourselves to be with. In verses 10-13 God likens His Son to the sacrificial lambs to be burned outside the camp, after the shedding of blood for the covering of the sins of the people. Vs. 12: “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.”

As one that’s stirred up by missionary biography, I love the story of the missionary to Ecuador, Jim Elliot. As I read through hundreds of pages of his journal entries, it was clear that Christ was his treasure, the love of his life. How so? In Jim Elliot’s words and actions he craved to join Christ where He is, outside the camp. For Elliot, this meant his physical death, for the sake of the Gospel, for his great Joy and God’s Glory.

If our love is Jesus, we will yearn to be close to Him. Lord, may we be a church that begs: “Let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured.”

-- Lanny Jones – C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:7-9

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In Sunday's sermon, Pastor David was in Hebrews 13:7-9. When talking about verse 8, the point was brought up that we know what the Gospel was for us when we got saved and what it will be for us in the future but often we are not sure what the Gospel means for us today. We were reminded that the Gospel today is sweet and scandalous and I need to hear it all the time. He mentioned how Satan loves to blank out what Jesus is doing in me today because then I won't live for Jesus. We have set up "functional saviors" which are "foods which have not benefited those devoted to them". This reminds me of the sweetness of the reality that I cannot save myself and I need to lean on Christ and trust Him.

I am reminded not to forget about the sweetness of the Gospel because my eternal destiny is assured but find joy in that the Gospel is a wonderful, constant reminder of what I need to look to every day. The Gospel reminds me of God's grace and my unworthiness. Every day I give into the temptation that what I really need is something more than what Christ offers. I do this by choosing what I want over what Christ wants for me.

Christine Morrow - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflection

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In this last sermon Pastor David began his series on “The Outsiders,” based off of Hebrews 13:7-13. Studying vs. 7, which tells the Hebrews to imitate the faith of their leaders, he posed the question, what makes a life worthy of imitation? In order to answer this question, though, we must first answer the question of why it is we find ourselves longing to imitate anything. This is because we are made in the image of God, built to reflect His glory. Unfortunately sin has broken that image, so we are called to imitate the great leaders of faith, Paul, Moses, Abraham, and ultimately and quintessentially, Christ. The Christian people are called away (like any of the great leaders) from the wisdom and ways of the world to the camp outside it, to the place we meet Christ.

In application, this begs its own question.
Q: Do I want to live a life worthy of imitation?
A: Yes.
Q: How?
A: Imitate the great leaders. I must study the leaders of the faith and pay attention to those around me who have been placed as Christian leaders over me. Then, much like when I was a freshman in college trying to figure out how to be successful for the next four years, do like they do (did). Do whatever it takes to be like Christ.

--Chris Ramos - C3 Student

Student Sermon Reflection

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On Sunday Pastor David encouraged us through Romans 4:16-25 to consider our present circumstances with sober minds and hearts while looking hopefully to all that God has promised us through His Word. So often I am guilty of trying to forge a false reality (denial) or “white-knuckle” my circumstances in my own power (determination). I find myself looking at the sin in my life and trying to pretend it isn’t really there, or worse—that I should give up the fight because I am a failure. Other times, I want to “pick myself up by the bootstraps” and fix my own problem.


In light of the message from Romans, my response should be:
a) to trust God in the wilderness and
b) to realistically consider where I am today and fix my eyes on Christ, the one who has promised that “He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion.”

--Ryan Shelton - C3 Student