One of the reasons I love the study of Scripture and taking time to deeply pore over God's Word is that there is always more to learn and more to ponder. The most familiar passages may feature an angle we had never considered, and very often a new experience in life or new thought might bring fresh application out of an "old" text. Consider Matthew 28:19, a text very familiar to us all.
Keep ReadingAfter a brief break over the summer, the church planting team is meeting again and considering where the church plant might be located. Please join them in prayer, specifically for discernment on where we are being called to plant.
Keep ReadingI regularly reflect on Hebrews 10:19-25. You can read the passage on your own, but it essentially calls us to cling to God, cling to truth, and cling to each other because of Christ's work in bringing us to God through His death. Right now, I'd like to encourage you with the call of verse 25, that we not neglect to meet together, but that we encourage one another, and all the more as "the day" draws near.
Keep ReadingScripture repeatedly calls us to openly and willingly speak of God's goodness and His faithfulness. You can look to Psalm 34:3; Psalm 71:8; Psalm 145:7; Luke 8:39; 1 Peter 3:15; or 1 Chronicles 16:8, for example. We can simply look at Psalm 107:2; "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble..." With this biblical witness, I'd like to encourage us all to be ever and increasingly willing to speak of what God has done in our lives, to those both outside and inside the church.
Keep ReadingI think it's safe to say that there is no one more patient than the Lord Himself. Therefore, when we see Jesus display a moment of seeming exasperation, we ought to take notice. One of those moments comes in Mark 9, where Jesus says in verse 19; “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?" What causes such a reaction in Jesus?
Keep ReadingLast Sunday I should have remembered to say thank you for allowing me the privilege to travel to our USMB national gathering and represent CBC. There were a number of highlights, including the chance to recall God's faithfulness in and through our family of churches. We will have a chance to celebrate God's faithfulness on Sunday as well, as we celebrate our 60th anniversary as Community Bible Church.
Keep ReadingApr 16
2026
"You can't put God in a box." I don't know if you've heard that phrase, or even used it yourself. It is used essentially to say that God is mysterious in nature, and when we try to define Him with theological and doctrinal terms, we are creating inappropriate (or even wrong) boundaries and limitations on an infinite God. I understand the sentiment.
Apr 9
2026
Sunday begins a new round of adult Sunday School classes, and I think we'll be ending the season on a high note! (We'll take a break from Sunday School in the summer.) Here are the three classes we're offering:
Apr 2
2026
The elders met last Thursday for our regular monthly meeting. A couple of things that we would share with you:
Mar 26
2026
Sometimes short Bible verses are the best Bible verses. This is true with the two simple commands of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing..." That is also our goal and my request of you next week as we lead up to Resurrection Sunday. Many of us lead full and busy lives. My request is that we all intentionally make next week full of prayer and praise. Here's how we will do that together!
Mar 19
2026
All of a sudden, we are squarely into the Easter season (as marked by my annual tradition of enjoying Cadbury Creme Eggs). Each year we have our own calendar of events, intended to lead us into worship of God and appreciating the significance of the cross/death and resurrection of Christ.
Mar 12
2026
This Sunday we will touch on one of my favorite verses in Romans 8:1; "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Another of those verses that I consistently go back to is Hebrews 10:24-25; "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Mar 5
2026
Earlier this week Karla sent out a substantive email with information on three important pieces - a Personal Ministry Survey, a draft for a revised CBC Constitution and Bylaws, and a prototype/draft of our new CBC Discipleship Pathway. We'll be talking more about each of those over the next weeks and months. For now, I just wanted to touch on the Personal Ministry Survey.
Feb 26
2026
The elders met February 19. One of the first items on our agenda is prayer for our church and the individuals within our church. Many think of these as “joys and concerns.” There are always physical and spiritual needs (“concerns,” though it is a privilege to pray and care for one another and is joyful in a special way). But there are always many things that we would classify as “joys.”
Feb 19
2026
This Sunday, we will be on question 20 in our catechism time on Sunday mornings. Thus far, the catechism questions have been establishing God's holiness, our sin, and the need for a Savior. The upcoming questions will revolve around the nature of redemption and our Redeemer. I've enjoyed these catechism times so far (especially this last Sunday), and I hope they've been fruitful.
Feb 12
2026
I thoroughly enjoyed our Heritage Night last Friday evening, and am very grateful for those who worked hard to make it happen. That team is now asking the question - should we do it again? I would love to know what the rest of the church thinks. Should we host another "Heritage Night" next year, or sometime in the future? Should we make it an annual thing?