Morning Service Live Stream

This week’s service explores the profound transition from running from one's past to walking in the promises of God. Focused on the life of Jacob, the message delves into the messy reality of being a "work in progress." The sermon highlights how God meets us in our desperation—not to leave us as we are, but to chisel away our old nature and conform us into the image of Christ.

Service Breakdown

- Worship and Music: The service opens with a spirited congregational singing of "When We All Get to Heaven." Later, the choir leads a moving rendition of "Emmanuel, Lord of All," focusing our hearts on the presence of the Messiah.

- Bible Reading: The congregation joins in a reading of Galatians 6:1-18, emphasizing the law of sowing and reaping and the importance of boasting only in the cross of Jesus Christ.

- Children’s Corner: The lesson focuses on the inevitability of making mistakes. Using the story of Jacob fleeing home, the children are reminded that while there are consequences for our actions, God’s love never fails. Just as parents help us learn from mistakes, God uses our journey to help us grow.

- The Message: Drawing from Genesis 29:1-14, the sermon follows Jacob as he arrives in Haran. The message explores two "heavy" doctrines: Election and Predestination. It explains that while God predestines His children for heaven, the path involves a difficult "working out" of the old, deceptive nature. Jacob’s encounter at the well with Rachel serves as a turning point where his "sowing" begins to meet its "reap" through his relative, Laban.

Key Moments & Themes

- The Significance of the Well and the Stone: In Scripture, a "well" often signifies life and the Spirit, while "stones" mark significant encounters with God. Jacob’s ability to roll the stone away alone signals a newfound strength born from his personal encounter with the Almighty.

- Sowing and Reaping: A central theme is that salvation does not immediately exempt us from the harvest of our past choices. The message warns that God is not mocked; what we plant in our character—honesty or deception—will eventually come to fruition.

- The Mirror of Character Flaws: The sermon challenges believers to recognize that God often places "mirrors" (difficult people or circumstances) in our lives to show us our own sins. These are not signs of abandonment, but signs of divine discipline and love.

- The Battle of Two Natures: The message emphasizes the ongoing war between the "flesh" (the old nature) and the Spirit. Growth isn't about the absence of struggle, but the persistence of it.

Call to Action

Are you struggling with a recurring sin or a difficult season? Don’t quit. This struggle is an indication that the Holy Spirit is at work in you. We invite you to be honest with yourself and God today. Identify the character flaw, repent, and yield to the Chisel of the Great Physician.