Brothers and Sisters,

How grateful we are for Rob Krause sharing with us this past Sunday.  What an incredible opportunity we had to hear of the work God is doing in Italy.

We were also blessed to have Rob share from Genesis 4:1-17 and remind us of our responsibility to and for our brothers and sisters.  One result of the fall is to drive us apart, but the gospel brings us back together.  Cain and Abel quickly show us this reality and highlight the devastating effects of the the fall upon humanity.  Rob reminded us that we tend to be ‘Cain’ with superficial worship and by our actions we reject the design of God.  But Abel offered a better sacrifice; therefore, showing his deep devotion to God.  In jealous rage of God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice Cain killed his brother (Gen 4:8).  Though Abel did not verbally speak a word his blood shouts, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” (Gen 4:10).  Justices needs to be served  and sin dealt with.

Abel’s cry has been heard; “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:24).  Abel’s voice has been answered by the blood of Jesus!  Jesus blood cries from the ground, “Salvation has come and sin has been defeated!” Let us rejoice this week as we live in that truth.  May it also drive us towards each other rather than apart.

East Asia

On May 14th we will be sending a team to East Asia to work alongside adopted missionaries and former Residents, the Patterson family.  This team will help to reach people with the good news of Christ on college campuses and spend time encouraging the Pattersons.  Please be in prayer for the team as they finish up last minute preparations and more importantly that God would prepare their hearts.

Church on Mill Distinctives

Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight and remind ourselves of the things that distinguish us as a church—a gathered people devoted to glorifying God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As a church we aim to always be bible-believing. The Bible is the Word of God given to teach us about God and how we should live in His world. It is our final authority for all things. It is the ‘roadmap’ for all that we are, say, and do. God’s voice, speaking through it, must make sense of our past and guide our present and future. Personal and corporate traditions, history, and experience are all important, yet it is God alone through Scripture who is definitive. (Psalms 1, 119 / Matthew 22:29-33 / Mark 7:1-23 / John 17:17 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17 / 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Grace be with you,

Bryan Jerry