Brothers and sisters,
What a joy it is to gather with you all each week. I am continuously encouraged and blessed by your voices lifted up to God in worship!
Sermon Recap
In our sermon series, “Habakkuk: Tough Questions for Troubled Times,” we have been listening in on a conversation between Habakkuk and God. The distressed prophet has wondered at God’s use of the wicked and godless nation of Babylon to bring judgment upon Israel. Sure, Israel has sinned, but why should a people more wicked than they be exalted over them?
Last Sunday we continued to see that God is just, and that the Babylonians will not be exalted forever. In fact, five “woes” are pronounced on them. Babylon will reap what it has sown, for, “The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory!” (Hab. 2:16b). But this “cup in the Lord’s hand” is not just for Babylon. It is the judgment due to each one of us, for we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23). Praise be to God that, on the cross, Jesus drank the Lord’s cup on our behalf! For those who have trusted in Christ as their Lord, there remains no punishment for sin—Christ reaped all the judgment we had sown, and we have reaped the reward of his perfect righteousness! This week, what are some ways we might respond to this glorious truth?
Nickel Gospel Community
Gospel Communities (GCs) are small groups of believers who share life and live their shared life on mission for the glory of God. Last Sunday Pat Nickel shared with the church the outworking of love he has experienced in his Gospel Community. If you are not involved in a GC, consider joining the Nickels in their home on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 5:00pm. Reach out to let us know if you’re interested, and we’ll get you connected with these brothers and sisters.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Pet. 3:18a).
Your brother in Christ,
Phil Hoshiwara
