“Push yourself to your limit!” Many of us have been encouraged in this way to achieve something great in our lives. Just last week, Eliud Kipchoge pushed himself to the limit and ran the first marathon under two hours. He had a team of people pushing him to keep up a world record pace. To achieve this feat he had to physically and mentally push himself beyond what he had ever done before.
We can also be “pushed to the limit” in a negative way. Our patience can be tested to the limits raising children. We can be tempted to anger and despair thinking about problems in our country. When finances are tight we can feel like there is no way out. And we can be “pushed to the limit” in our faith when God calls us to belief and faith in the midst of a generation that is opposed to God’s ways, values, and truths.
Being “pushed” in our faith can also lead to growth when we remain faithful. We will grow closer to God and others as we trust in God during faithless times. Noah was characterized in Genesis 6:9 as a righteous and blameless man. He was then tested by God as He revealed judgment through a worldwide flood. Noah could have departed from God and comfortably lived for himself with his peers. That would have been disastrous. Thankfully, Noah was obedient to all God commanded of him. He must have been “pushed to the limit” in his faith.
May we carefully study the life of Noah in order to grow closer to God. His faith will help ours. And as we grow closer to God, may we each be faithful to God in our generation!
"Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him." - Genesis 6:22
- Pastor Curt
Theological Word of the Week:
Special Revelation
God’s words addressed to specific people, including the words of the Bible. This is to be distinguished from general revelation, which is given to all people generally.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Upcoming Events
Children's Ministry
This week Rock Kids will be digging into the story of God taking Elijah to heaven, found in 2 Kings 2:1-18. The kids will learn the Bible point "God is mysterious, so we have faith." Kids love mysteries. But sometimes God's mysterious qualities can be an obstacle to belief. It can be harder for older kids to believe in something they can't see or fully explain. We want to help kids understand that faith is believing even when we don't understand the mystery of God.
-Cameron
Sermon Topic - October 20
Genesis: Beginnings
Genesis 6:9-22
“Faith in Difficult Times”
Lectionary Readings
Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
August 2019 YTD