"Dear Mom" - A Letter of Hope for Future Holiness from 1 Samuel 2:1-10

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Dear Mom,

     I'm writing to say that I thank God for you today. The witness of your persistent love for me over the years - even in the times when I knew I didn't deserve it - were like a sign-post pointing me to Christ. I'm all grown up now. But looking back on my childhood I realize that in giving me you, God has been too good to me. I've been thinking back over all the things God has used you to teach me and I thought you'd like to know what I've learned ...

"And Hannah prayed and said, 'My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God."

     For as long as I can remember, you've loved what God has done for you in Jesus more than you've loved anything else in the whole world. More than Dad, or me, or the house, or the car, or the living room rug you protected so fiercely, or ... anything! I can remember as a kid wondering how you could be so consistently content especially in the tough times. I know now that it was because, to you, being saved by the gospel meant you didn't have to be scared by the world. No matter what. Thank you for teaching me that.

"Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

     You never let me forget where everything I got came from. Christmas presents. Birthdays. Graduation gifts. Even in the little things like the waves that made the beach so much fun or the snow we used to make our yearly one-armed snowman with. I was always so quick to take things for granted. You were always so quick to slow down and give credit where credit was due. Thank you for teaching me not to steal from God the glory that belongs to him. He is such a great Giver! And he has given me everything. I learned that because God showed it to you first and then were faithful to show it to me.

"The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world."

     Mom, you taught me that God can do anything. I remember being so upset when I first learned that God was in control of all things because I knew it meant he was even in control of bad things. It didn't make sense of his love at first. But you were so obviously helped by know it that it made me want to know it too. I've never told you this I don't think but, your love of God's sovereignty has been the most influential gift of my life. I know now and will know forever that God's unflinching love for me means no matter how bad things get, God is willing and able to work things out for my good and his glory!

"For not by might shall a man prevail. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

     Lastly, I just want to say thank you for teaching me grace. Thank you for teaching me from day one how much I need God's grace. You taught me the pricelessness of grace both when you gave it and when you withheld it. God used the love of your undeserved kindness and the love of your discipline to teach me the depth of my sin. I can remember thinking as a kid, "I'm a pretty good person ... better than him ... better than her!" But you loved me enough not to let me go on believing that. Instead, you taught me that only God is good; that you needed him just as much as I did. God used you're humility to teach me that I was proud. In truth I was weak and only he was strong. You drew lines to the cross for me every day. You hoped in God every day. Now I do too! Thank you for showing me where all the beauty comes from. I love you Mom! Thank you for all of this and for everything else you did to make my joy complete in Christ. In you, God has been too good to me!

 Love,

The future believing, Christ-adoring, others-loving, church-enjoying, Heaven-hoping, sin-assaulting, world-changing, children of C3

(Lord, be pleased to bless us with the eternal delight of believing children. May you bless them and keep them and make your face shine on them and give them everlasting peace.)

Sermon Reflection::Hebrews 1:1-4

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This past Sunday, David taught on Hebrews 1:1-4, speaking about Jesus Christ himself, the radiance that He is of God’s glory, and the supremacy of Christ in our lives as Lord and Savior.

I don’t think that I have ever been to any type of church service where the pastor spoke only about whom Jesus is and His lordship over our lives. His lordship and supremacy in our lives should bring us joy! As John Piper said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” The deep love of The Father is immeasurable. Lately I have been tested to trust in God’s mighty love and grace more than my own strength. Sometimes when I am at war with sin in my life and in shame and guilt, I forget Jesus. I get so caught up in scripture and memorizing verses to protect myself. (That thought, “protect myself”, is something I struggle with. I try to fight solo and tend to focus more on scripture that encourages and declares we are not to partake in the delights of this world than the love of Jesus Christ and his amazing, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, careful, and mighty authority in my life. That if I follow HIM, and depend on HIM, and love only HIM, I will not gratify the desires of my flesh.) I believe that memorizing verses, praying, and being held accountable by colleagues all are tools that we should use to put sin to death, but without the remembrance and trust of Jesus Christ (that He has reconciled us with The Father by His blood) fighting sin, and the guilt and shame that it brings, is useless.

When I think about how God even spoke to us at all after man disobeyed and sin infected the earth humbles me. That after the fall of man, God being rich in mercy, still spoke to this dirty human race; and sacrificed His spotless lamb for mud. “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.”

"He is the radiance of the glory of God.”

--Colton Moore - C3 Member

Sermon Reflection::Exodus 33:12-20

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The first Sunday of the year was very special for the C3 body. Ryan Shelton, previous student and worship leader, came home from seminary and helped bridge our study of David’s “True Love” series to January’s yearly emphasis on prayer. As he walked us through Exodus 33:12-20, we were each challenged to ask ourselves how far we would be willing to go without God’s presence.

Just as Exodus is provided as a means for Israel to remember what the Lord has delivered them from, and just how big their God really is – this sermon held a similar purpose for me. I know what it feels like to be without HIS presence, and I beg to never have to feel that again. I wanted a family, the fulfilling job, the American dream – but without HIS presence. I now ask the Lord for a job that uses the passions that He has given me, for a husband that fears and glorifies HIM, children that will grow to love the God I serve, and a faith that honors HIM. Even if I do not receive what I have asked for, it’s amazing how much more secure and content I feel standing on the solid foundation of Christ, rather than my righteousness and hard work.

--C3 Member - Rachel Evans

Sermon Reflection::1John 4:7-12

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David preached last Sunday on 1 John 4:7-12 which is about how we know love because God first loved us by sending His son to die for us, and a call for us to display that love to one another. This morning’s message was so good for me to hear. I was getting to a point that I felt, in a way, that the Lord had taught me all that He wanted to in the last month, but I was certainly wrong. I didn’t think that there was much else that I could learn from my situation. David talked about believers being known by their fruits and I had heard that 100 times. Every time I thought of all the decent things that I had been doing that was fruitful. This was the first time that it felt real though. I could apply it and feel like there is without a doubt fruit in my life. I don’t say this to discredit those times in my past, I still feel like my life was bearing fruit, but for some reason this really hit home. I can’t completely explain it without divulging every detail of my life in the last month so I will spare you, but I can tell you that the Lord is so good. He has been teaching me several things about trusting Him fully and not half-heartedly, fleeing from sin, and recognizing that a bond with another person in Christ is so much stronger than the everyday relationship. The sermon today helped to reinforce these things even more so.

The first point that we focused on was that we are to love one another because it is in God’s nature to love. I realized that I do not trust easily which comes from years of baggage that I have held onto but in the last month the Lord has been revealing this to me. He has been peeling away layers of armor that I used for so long to protect myself so that I could feel truly loved and cared for. He has used many of you (C3) to show me that love as well as other believing friends. I cannot begin to express how much I love my church family. Having brotherly love for each other is something that I can say I feel often from y’all. It is genuine and not selfish and that is so amazing. But what the Lord has been showing me is that the foundation of love is because of the love given to us from God. Love reflects our Creator; it is in His very nature to love. The Lord has been so good to continue teaching this to me because often times I fear rejection and I compare the love I receive now, that is good, to the love that I have received in the past. The difference is that (as David explained) it is the true love that flows from God. That true love has been shown to me through my church family and I am so thankful that the Lord revealed the barrier that I had so that I could feel His love for me. I praise God for this time in my life and I want to share the love of God with others. I want to bring glory to His name. I hope that I would be so filled by His love for me that it would overflow from me to reflect God’s love to others and convey the brotherly love that we are called to.

​The second thing that I took away from the message this morning is that since love is God’s nature, and the ultimate form of love ever shown was Christ dying on the cross for sinners, God shows His love to me every day. That seems really simple but for me it was huge. When I consider my trial, and how difficult it is often, I feel God’s love for me. God has used times like this in my life to reveal more of His loving character to me. It is so loving for God to use hard times in our lives to reveal sin and draw us closer to Him. I would not have this any other way because I’ve learned so much. To the world it is strange to be so thankful for hardships, but I am. What the world doesn’t understand is that I have gained so much from it and that is why I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel like a new person because I want to pursue holiness and flee from sin with a whole new passion that I didn’t have before. I am humbled by looking and seeing what the Lord has done in one month to reveal sin in my life and draw me closer to Him. I want to seek His kingdom and be fruitful with what I have because God loves me and sent His son to die the death that I deserved. I want to live a life that brings glory to God and run as fast as I can away from worldly desires. God uses trials not necessarily as a means for punishment of sin, rather to convey His love for us. How loving is it that God would use these times to bring light to sin so that we don’t continue to walk in sin? Praise God for trials because He shows His love for us.


--C3 Member - Lauren Bullard

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 22:41-46

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Last Sunday Pastor David preached over Matthew 22:41-46, to which he tied the question, "who/what is Lord over your life?" Ouch. That question hit me pretty hard. I felt the Lord whispering something similar to that this past week, so thanks, David, for confirming that one!

The area that affected me most is in our view of ourselves, and how He has the last word in who we are. I find myself so wrapped up in what I think others think of me that I lose sight of everything else. Moments that should be sweet fellowship are drowned out by fears of possible rejection. I tend to see myself as the person I was before He took over, and assume that is what others see as well. But if I actually spent time in the Word instead of on Facebook (that's an area that needs lordship as well!), I would be reminded that He does not see the old me anymore. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that I am a "...new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Why is that so hard to remember? Because I haven't given Him lordship there.

Romans 12:2 reminds me to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." This week, I want to focus on renewing my mind and giving God the power when it comes to how I see myself. So, when I am tempted to grab my phone and do a little Facebook stalking, I'll pull up my handy dandy ESV app instead. Susan Gregory, who wrote a book on the Daniel Fast, says to pick five verses to use like the five stones David chose to fight Goliath in order to win the battle for our minds. I'm going to find five verses this week to use to get the Lord back on His throne in my fickle little mind to see myself not as the wretch I once was, but as the clean and whole person He created.

--C3'er - Amanda Barrow

Sermon Reflection::Matthew22:1-14

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I found myself a bit surprised as we reached the end of the parable in Matthew 22:1-14. My memory apparently fails me in how I read this parable before, but I wasn’t expecting the ending that came. Jesus talks of a king and a wedding feast. The king sends out servants and invites all the people you would think he would, doctors, lawyers, leaders. But none of them come; there’s too much to do. So the king, angry, has them all killed and invites everybody else from the streets, complete strangers if you will. However, one of the guests is found lacking in wedding garments. He is bound and thrown into the dark place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called, says the Christ, but few are chosen. Dreadful it is, I say, to fall into the hands of the living God!

I must ask myself, in which group do fall?

Am I too busy being the perfect university student? James rebukes me. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” And then John comes in behind him. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I wonder, who rules the world? Paul answers, Satan. No wonder the king had all those distracted people killed. They were lost in an entertainment they would never snap out of (at least of their own accord). Am I wandering around like a fool keeping myself entertained as I wait for my death?

Am I part of that blessed group saved from destruction on account of those who did not accept the invitation (Romans 11)? If so, how thankful I am! Brought to my knees by grace and kindness, and forever loyal to my King. I cannot boast. It is not my own doing that brought me to the feast, and it is because of others’ rejection that I am here. This has nothing to do with me. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!...To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Am I part of that third group? Am I just pretending to be a child of God? Am I working hard to look like I belong to the Bride of Christ? As a community group leader, this would be a frightening position. John warns against “anti-Christs,” false teachers and prophets. Paul tells us to rid ourselves of them. Shepherds must kill wolves. And rightfully so. God will have His judgement, and I cannot stand before Him naked and expect His mercy. Only the clothing of Christ will save me from the King’s wrath. Blessed is the man who has put on Christ as his Protector, Savior, Lord.

“God is in the heavens. He does what He pleases.”

Sola Gratia
(Sola Scriptura)
Sola Fide
Solus Christus
Soli Deo Gloria!

--C3 Member - Chris Ramos

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 21:33-46

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This week David preached on “The Parable of the “Tenant” (Matthew 21:33-46), the second of three parables that Jesus preached to the religious leaders. In this parable Jesus introduces us to the master of a vineyard who leased his vineyard to tenants while he was away. These tenants eventually became possessive over the vineyard, and when the master sent his servants to collect his fruits, the tenants killed the servants. After the tenants had killed three of the master’s servants, the master decided to send his one son to collect the fruits. The tenants rebelled and killed the master’s son as well. As he spoke, Jesus gives a history of Israel while also shedding light on what was to come. We learned that the master of the vineyard was God, while the vineyard was God’s people. The tenants represented the religious leaders, and the servants were the prophets of old.

Throughout this narrative, God is patient and slow to pass judgment. But we also see a side of jealousy; Jealous for HIS people, HIS first fruits. Ultimately, while God was patient, the religious leaders underestimated how committed God was to getting what was HIS.

Too often we become like the tenants. We take ownership of things that are not ours, ultimately seeking to steal the glory from God. Even as the first fruits we should not treat God’s grace cheaply. With that, seek out sin in your life that offends God. By continuously divulging in a sin, we are “cheapening” HIS grace in our lives, which is a dangerous way to live.

--C3 Member - Rachel Evans