There is a Peanuts comic that has Lucy and Linus staring out a window, looking at a torrential downpour. Lucy, with much anxiety, confesses that she fears that it will never stop raining- perhaps it will flood the whole world. Linus reassures her that such a thing could never happen. He explains that in Genesis God proclaimed that he would never flood the earth again and that he put the rainbow in the sky as a sign for reassurance. Lucy then, happily satiated from these fears, proclaims that Linus’ words have put her mind at ease. Linus responds, “Sound Theology has a way of doing that.” Indeed, sound theology does. It listens to the instruction of Holy Spirit and seeks to faithfully live that out for the edification of the believer, the church, and the world

So what really is the point of theology anyways? I know that in many circles the word “theology” has a bad reputation. It is often viewed as a way to dissect and perhaps even analyze to death one’s faith. So to begin, we must first define what theology is not– it is not a replacement or an alternative to a personal relationship with Jesus. It is not the foundation of the faith that we have. The faith is founded and rooted in the person Jesus Christ. Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith. Theology is simply trying to make sense of this faith as it is lived out, thought over, and articulated by the faithful. Anselm, the early bishop of Canterbury, once described theology as “faith seeking understanding.” I find this definition to be very helpful. I believe that all good theology, in its diverse traditions and denominations, is best lived out when it seeks to be this– a faith in Jesus seeking to be lived out and understood in our world. It always, and must, start from faith.

We see the disciples do this precise thing after hearing and responding to the call of Jesus. These people were called and made a decision to follow Jesus. However they often got stumped concerning certain teachings of Jesus. Their actions show us that they sought to understand this calling that they had received. They approached Jesus out of these quandaries and asked him to explain what he meant concerning many parables as well as some of Jesus’ actions (see Matt 13:10; Luke 11:1-11, John 13:6). When wondering how to pray, they came to Jesus and asked him to teach them. When unsure about parables, they asked him to explain them. When unsure as to why he predicts the collapse of the Jerusalem, they ask for clarity. In these instances we see that integral to being a disciple means being a learner- being curious, inquisitive– it is a faith seeking to understand. Theology then is the servant of faith and not vice versa.

Theology then, in its purest form is an attempt to connect faith in Jesus to faithful living. The living out the faith interpreted through scripture, through the speaking of the Holy Spirit as lived within a community of fellow believers, then is nothing short of discipleship. To be a person seeking to be a disciple of Jesus, we are then beckoned to be theologians. Therefore the congruency or overlap of discipleship and theology cannot be overstated. To do one without the other is either futile or impossible.

In response to faith, we come to believe in Jesus and live out the life that he has for us. The task of the Christian then is to be a disciple- one that approaches Jesus in prayer asking him to teach us. The Holy Spirit then speaks to us, through the word of the Bible. However, scripture must be read and interpreted in a community of believers. Theology and discipleship therefore holds Church community as a prerequisite. Christian communal living is the place in which theology and discipleship are able to be taught, lived out, corrected, and articulated.

Each redeemed person within the church then is a living and breathing theologian. We are people of faith, coming to God asking him to teach us. We are people of faith seeking understanding. And as his Spirit speaks to us individually and communally, we are brought deeper and deeper into his presence. A presence that is Holy and pure. A presence that teaches us more and more how to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind… and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

I pray that we may be such a community of faith that vigorously seeks understanding.

Announcements:

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• VBS with the KBM and Salvation Army is August 3-6 (poster is below)

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

______________

I am an amateur naturalist. In Texas, through my many nature adventures, I learned the names and caricatures of the native bugs, reptiles (yes, even snakes), mammals, flowers, trees, shrubs, and cacti. As a young man, I picked and pressed flowers and collected leaves for field notebooks and composed countless sketches and paintings of animals. Why? The joy, peace, and beauty of nature was like a poem that slowly and quietly unlocked a part of my soul that I didn’t even realize was closed.

Jesus picks up on this attunement to nature that seems to pervade culture and class. He seems to say, ‘do you notice how sparrows are so abundant and prolific. They seem to be of little value in our world. They are even captured and sold for next to nothing, exploited and used for mere pennies. But God cares for them deeply. When one of them comes to the end of their life, hidden under the briars and brambles, taking its last breath, our Father is there with it, present and compassionate. If this is how compassionate and present he is with sparrows, just think how compassionate and present he is in our lives- we are made in his image; we are worth more than many sparrows.’

Life is precious- no matter the size or monetary value we put on it. Because its worth is not given by human scales, but by the love of our Father who declares all of his creation: “very good” - and who declares all of humanity to be made in his image.

Therefore, do not fear. You, yes you there- you are worth more than many sparrows. And if God is attuned to the living and dying of the smallest of birds- attending each of their funerals, just think of how much he loves you.

Announcements:

• This Saturday is a Camp Woody work day. The boat leaves at 9am and returns at 5pm. Bring a sack lunch. Beverages are provided. Participants should be middle school age and older. (flyer is attached)

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• Pastor Steven will be visiting family in Texas from June 22- July 8 (if you need me, call or text - 972-921-2516)

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

² Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.

³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.

⁴ Their voice^[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,

⁵ which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,^[c]
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;

⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules^[d] of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Romans 1:20-23
²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

____________

The Psalmist begins with the declaration that the heavens, declares the glory of God. God is seen through the beauty, vastness, and diversity of the heavens - the sky, clouds, sun, moon, planets, solar systems, galaxies, black holes, the expansion of space itself. Here on our beautiful island we see first hand how God reveals his creativity and character through his created order- from the snow capped peaks to the intricacies of moss growth.

Many theologians through the years have called this type of revelation, General Revelation. This is the revelation that points to divinity, and in this way it awakens the divine image within us. With constant exposure, it causes the divine image latent within each of us to yearn for the divine.

Paul points out that with only general revelation, humans tend to worship created things rather than the God of all the universe. With the divine image within each of us, we have a longing for a relationship with God, but without the specific revelation, humanity worships other created things or even things that we have created. We do this, because there is this innate desire to worship and give praise. We were made for communion with the Divine. As Augustine said in his Confessions, “You have created us for yourself. Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you, Oh God.”

Therefore, as the Psalmist and Paul in Romans point out, there is a need for a specific revelation, i.e. the revelation of who God is. The Psalmist points to the law, the Torah, to be the defining mandate. Here we see God’s character and judicial order revealed. Jesus later said, he came to fulfill the law, meaning that the full revelation and mandates of God are seen and learned through him.

The specific revelation of God is Jesus Christ. He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3)- the same image as God (Philippians 2:6). We see and experience Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit as it speaks to us through scripture. Scripture tells us that if we want to see God, how God rules, how God treats his enemies, how God seeks and saves the lost, how God shows compassion and endurance in commitment, we look at Jesus.

We cannot live the type of life God has in store for his people if we do the Christian life in isolation. Christianity was never meant to be a personal, sequestered belief lived merely in the private confined parameters of personal life. Stanley Hauerwas jokingly personifies this type of theology by saying, “Jesus is Lord and Savior, but that is just my personal opinion.” If Jesus is Lord, he is not just my Lord, but Lord of all creation- the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them. This means that all things under heaven and earth fall under his authority, including (and perhaps most importantly) the communal life of the church. The church, as it interprets scripture in community and seeks to live out this Word in community, together shares the image of Jesus. We need each other in order to share the full image of Christ, the specific revelation of God, to the world. When we read scripture or seek to live out the christian life in isolation, we read with our own set of spectacles, our lens of understanding the world. We interpret and live out the word through our lens of culture, education, experiences, etc. This, when done without the body of believers, (at best) gives only a sliver of the vastness and wholeness of Christ. At worst, it creates a false identity of God that is formed in our own likeness (since we become the only one that listens and defines the will of God). Isolation of faith (without a community of believers) often creates a false deity that resembles the individual, i.e. the deity loves and hates the same things that the individual loves or hates.

Therefore, we need each other to share our own spectacles (experiences, culture, etc.) so that together we may grow and build each other up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:16)- to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13). A community of faith is not optional; it is essential. We need each other.

Announcements:

• Potluck this Sunday after Service

• No Sunday School classes (youth and adult) until September

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• Pastor Steven will be visiting family in Texas from June 22- July 8 (if you need, me call or text - 972-921-2516)

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

²³ I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.

²⁵ I looked, and behold, there was no man,
and all the birds of the air had fled.

²⁶ I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.

In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah laments the lack of relationship the people have with the Lord. They have priests and prophets in the land, but are unaware of who He is and how he desires a covenantal relationship with them. The false prophets proclaimed a blessing without repentance, wealth without sacrifice, and justice without obedience.

The people did not just turn from God but were actively working against him. They used the name of God as a pillar of power rather than a sign of humility and service. Because of this, the good creation of God suffers. Jeremiah looks upon the earth and sees that it is “without form and void.” The sky above “had no light.” The hills are a flowing chaos, no human was on the land, no birds of the air, and no fruitful gardens to be seen.

In Genesis 1, the Spirit of the Lord hovered over the waters of the deep, meaning that God was over the chaotic soup of maverick creation dust. The author of Genesis makes this statement as a contrast to other creation myths where the deity (or deities) are fearful of the chaotic physical matter (see Mesopetamian creation myth of Tiamat). But in Genesis 1, Elohim (the Hebrew word used for God here) is in control of the waters, the soup of creation dust. Elohim then brings order and boundaries within creation, as one would separate the colors and edge pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Elohim makes light, land, sea, birds, animals, and lastly humanity. He then looks upon his creation and declares it to be very good.

The prophet Jeremiah takes the Genesis narrative and shows the deep fissures that sin creates. Sin is not just a personal problem; it is a global one. It breaks apart humanity, animals, birds, land and sea. It runs directly counter to God’s good work. Like the humans that took the forbidden fruit with a desire to be like God, we continually lap up this false fruit of human arrogance and rebellion. We have sought to be gods without God, but we leave destruction and deserts in our wake. We may seek to create a utopia, but we leave children without a future, land that is poisoned, an internet littered with pornography, and entertainment that idolizes violence. Who will save us from this chaos we create?

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to be our God with us. To forgive and cleanse us from sin. To make us into that New Creation where we take our swords and spears and turn them into farming equipment. Where we live in the forgiveness of God and therefore live in our forgiveness of others. Where we look not just to our own interests but also to the interests of others. Where we live and move and have our being in the God who loves us and gave himself for us.

Sin destroys, but God creates.

A creation filled with life, abundant and eternal life, is indicative of the Spirit of God working and creating- taking the maverick particles of a broken world and making a people who are called to be ambassador of this New Creation.

Announcements:

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• VBS will be Aug. 3-5

  • sign up sheet is at the back of the church

  • We are looking for a few (4-5) people to help with snacks and crafts

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

This is a reminder that we will be having a video game and pizza get together for the kids. This will be tomorrow, May 29th, from 5-7pm. Right now I am looking at having cheese and pepperoni pizzas (2 of each), ranch, and fruit drinks.

I have 2 switch consoles with 4 controllers. If your child would like to attend and they have a switch one controller, please feel free to bring that with them. We will be set up in the upstairs youth room.

Blessings,

Pastor Steven Darst

5 Then he lay down and fell asleep under a broom tree; but behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat!” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a round loaf of bread baked on hot coals, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 But the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him, and said, “Arise, eat; because the journey is too long for you.” 8 So he arose and ate and drank, and he journeyed in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

The story here tells of the prophet Elijah. He is running away into the wilderness, fleeing from the wrath of deadly royalty, King Ahaz and Queen Jesabel. Elijah had just got into a theological death match with the prophets of Ba’al. He had called their bluff and said, if Ba’al is god, he will answer you and ignite the offering altar with fire. So the prophets of Ba’al spent all day crying out to their deity, but no one answered. Then Elijah, after the false prophets exhausted themselves in the Palestine sun, takes some 5 gallon buckets of water and pours it all over the altar. He prays one simple prayer asking God to show that he is King of Israel and that he is turning the people’s hearts back to him.

Then suddenly, fire careens out of the sky and engulfs the altar, licking up all the water, proving without a shadow of a doubt that YHWH is the true God and true King. It was the emotional high point of Elijah’s ministry. He was faithful and the Lord had answered. He was a hero of the faith.

But all this changed in the blink of an eye. Suddenly the tables had turned. The royal family, devout Ba’al worshippers, were now seeking out Elijah to capture, torture, and kill him. So Elijah does a 180 degree turn and high tails it for the deserts of the south. He flees for his life, knowing that this could very well be the last time he sees his homeland. He runs to the wilderness, the place where God tabernacled with his people so long ago in the days of Moses. He goes out in the desert and like this great prophet of old, he desires to die there. He falls under a broom tree, and like Hagar and Ishmael in Gen. 21, he thinks that he might die. In fact, he welcomes this idea. He prays that it might happen. The great days of the past are gone. There is nothing more to look forward to.

But just as God in the past worked wonders in the wilderness, providing water and food for the Hebrew people as they dwelt in the wilderness or like Hagar and Ishmael as they were dying of thirst, here too God intervenes and provides food and water. Why? Because as the angel says, “the journey is too much for you.”

So many times we come to a point where we think the journey is too much. There have been great times, but the difficult times seem to outweigh all the good that has happened. The ups and downs are too much and the unknown is bewilderingly dark.

Here God intervenes. Giving us the daily bread. The word of encouragement. The believer that sends a text. The prayer from a sister. The meal that shows up on a door step. God uses his people to show he has not abandoned us. He loves us and will never leave us nor forsake us. The journey is too much for us. It is. But we are not, nor will we ever be, alone.

I pray that you and I may be the hands and feet of Christ. Handing to one another the bread of Christ, through sacrificial love, compassion, and commitment to those that God loves.

And to those that are facing the journey knowing that it is indeed too much for you, God is telling you to get up and eat. Take the comfort of Christ that is shown through his body, through the fellowship of believers. Reach out to those that love you and have a commitment to you.

And together, may we show the love of Christ to each other and to the lost world around us.

Announcements:

• If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, please take a few moments to fill out the survey provided: CBC Survey Link

• This Sunday will be the last Sunday School until September. I will still be available Sunday morning from 10-11 for coffee and community.

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• I am so proud of our church and the way we came together to create a worshipful experience in so many ways during Holy Week. Thank you everyone! We are a strong and faithful church!

• We will be having a night of fun for our kids on May 29 (this Friday) from 5-7. The aim is to be low-key with video games and even some pizza for good measure.

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

Hello Church,

CBC has created a Worship Survey and would like to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey using the link below.

Blessings,

Pastor Steven

link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc4lLDgT4_ZCDLhxusPasxGMGbI4mS8BJqP4vAADWOLGBRRg/viewform?usp=header

Announcements:

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• I am so proud of our church and the way we came together to create a worshipful experience in so many ways during Holy Week. Thank you everyone! We are a strong and faithful church!

• We will be having a night of fun for our kids on May 29 (a Friday) from 5-7. The aim is to be low-key with video games and pizza.

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Sunday School at 9:45am

  • I am teaching through the Gospel According to Matthew

  • Youth/Children’s Group! Daniel and Emily Mendez are heading up the Youth Group Bible Study at 9:45

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org

These lyrics come from the Rich Mullins’ song, “Calling Out Your Name.”

From the place where morning gathers

You can look sometimes forever ‘til you see

What time may never know

What time may never know

How the Lord takes by its corners this old world

And shakes us forward and shakes us free

To run wild with the hope

To run wild with the hope

The hope that this thirst will not last long

That it will soon drown in a song not sung in vain

And I feel thunder in the sky

I see the sky about to rain

And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

In these words, Mullins expresses his expectation for newness- the newness that is only possible through the work of Jesus Christ. He illustrates an important point: it is not just humanity that longs for this new creation but all of creation with us. Just as Isaiah prophesied in chapter 11, the whole world is yearning for a newness that can only come through a miraculous work of the Creator. But in the mean time, we sing songs, we break bread, we are good stewards of the spiritual truths sharing the holy hope of redemption, and remain good stewards of the created order around us. In this we proclaim that there is a loving God, in Jesus Christ, who has not abandoned us to our own devices, but has entered into our world to redeem. And he will one day return to fulfill, entirely, that hope of renewal.

Announcements

• The service last Sunday was so beautiful. Many came up to me after the service telling me how much they enjoyed the community of reading, singing, and the wonderful sermon by Julie Ball. I was truly blown away by the powerful, worshipful atmosphere. Thank you to all who played their part in this. I would especially like to thank Marilyn Davidson for orchestrating the whole thing.

• Link to the CBC Calendar

• We will be having a night of fun for our kids on May 29 (a Friday) from 5-7. The aim is to be low-key with video games and a movie… and even some pizza for good measure.

Church Weekly Schedule

• Sunday worship at 11am

• Sunday School at 9:45am

  • I am teaching through the Gospel According to Matthew

  • Youth/Children’s Group! Daniel and Emily Mendez are heading up the Youth Group Bible Study at 9:45

• Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm

• Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm

• Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday

  • I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)

  • If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone

  • Call or text me 972-921-2516

  • Email steven@kodiakcbc.org