From your Pastors

"Why such an emphasis on commemoration? Because what is not carefully remembered by a community is very naturally and easily forgotten-and virtually completely forgotten as soon as the oldest members of that community who experienced the original event die." Douglas Stuart "Not even the huge novelty of actually, at long last, setting foot in the Promised Land could replac...

"In a way, these instructions must be terrifying to the people of Israel. God tells his people that the angel of death is going to pass through their midst, and the only way their firstborn will be saved is if they kill a lamb and put its blood prominently on their doorposts. Do you see what God is teaching his people here? First, he wants them to understand that they them...

"New Years finds me employed. I compare it to a hill on a road, from the top of which I endeavor to look back on the way that the Lord has led me thus far through the wilderness (past). I look around to contemplate the difference his goodness has made between my situation, and that of thousands of my fellow creatures (present). I then look forward, and perceive that I am d...

Happy New Year, SGCL!I want to invite (or challenge) you to join us in reading through the Bible in 2019. What?! It's such a big book. I will have to read Numbers! I know, there are plenty of reasons people get bogged down. But most of these reasons are easily overcome. If you haven't read through the Bible, or haven't in a while, I want to encourage you to consider joini...

In this week's sermon on Matthew 2, CJ both further helped us connect the gospel to our study of Exodus and encouraged us towards greater affection towards Jesus in light of that. First, we examined the Magi. This mysterious band of Gentiles from the East knew little about Scripture, had to travel a remarkably long distance, and gave precious valuables to the baby. What...

"God's foreknowledge told him that he would stretch out his hand only to meet mighty resistance but, plainly he was in no hurry to implement the final showdown he foresaw (3:19-20). As 2 Peter 3:9 says, 'The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance'-Pharaoh included. But eventually the Lord's patience comes to an end for he...

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon,Power to Strike and Save,given on December 9, 2018. First, the Nile turned to blood. Then the frogs camelots of them.everywhere. Followed by the swarms of gnatsswarms of flies, and still the plagues came. Death of the livestock, boils, hail, locustsand just when the world under the sun couldn't seem to descend any further into c...

"With one single blow he gave them a water and food shortage, a transportation shutdown, a financial disaster, and a spiritual crisis." Phil Ryken "There was a suitableness in God's choosing the frogs to humble Egypt's kings, because frogs were worshipped by that nation as emblems of the Deity. Images of a certain frog-headed goddess were placed in the catacombs, and frog...

This past Sunday, C.J. explored the opening scenes of God's confrontation with Pharaoh and the idols of Egypt. While the stage was previously set for Moses and Aaron to take the Lord's message of deliverance to the king of Egypt, we are now given a prelude, of sorts, for the impending larger conflict. In Exodus 7:8-13, God commissions Moses and Aaron to stand before Phara...

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon,Why the Prelude?,given on December 2, 2018. On Sunday, Pastor CJ preached from Exodus 7:8-13. In this passage, Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh in order to appeal him to let God's people go free. Even after he witnesses the awesome power of God in action, Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Pharaoh is both a merciful warning and a...