Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter is when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Depending on your tradition, it is usually called Palm or Passion Sunday. All four gospels record this significant and prophetic event, and I highly recommend you read them for yourself. You can find them in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19. As I reread each account myself here are four things that stick out about this historic event that we still commemorate today.

Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy

Not only was Jesus the long awaited King, which the Jews had been longing for, but his very entry into Jerusalem was just how it had been prophesied over 500 years earlier.

Zechariah 9:9 says:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

What’s with the Palms?

The imagery of palms was a part of the Jewish culture and often reflected honor and nobility. 1 Kings 6 and 7 record how Solomon had them as part of the sacred carvings of the temple. In Mark’s account of Jesus entry, people are spreading palm branches out on the ground along with their cloaks. To me, it sounds like a sort of ancient red carpet that probably helped keep the dust down.

The significance of this honor paid to Jesus also foreshadows what is to come. In Revelation 7:9 there’s an incredible description of worship that – you guessed it – includes palm branches. So we see that Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah and also pointing forward to an even greater scene of worship that is to come.

Hosanna

The chances are pretty good that at some point you’ve sung a song at church with the word ‘Hosanna’ in it. As Jesus made his entry there was definitely worship going on but what does Hosanna actually mean? Hosanna was a desperate cry from an oppressed people living under Roman rule that means ‘Oh save’ or ‘Save us now’.  Jesus would certainly save them but not quite how they imagined.

 

Where’s the Victory?

The Jews had been waiting and their King was finally here! Sure he was riding on a baby donkey and didn’t have a sword, armor, or an army but he was there nonetheless. As the shouts of Hosanna went out, everyone anticipated what this long awaited Kings next move would be. How would he save them? Would he be like David and his mighty men? Would he be like Solomon with wisdom and riches? “Save us now,” they cried!

One week later, many of these same people who had shouted ‘Hosanna’ would be shouting “Barabbas.” They would trade their long awaited King for a thief and a murderer. He hadn’t fulfilled their image of a King or brought about their idea of salvation and so they turned on him.

But God, in his sovereign grace, had a plan that included a vastly different idea of what salvation was to look like. This is what we will be celebrating.

I’ll leave you with these words from Revelation 7:9-10:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ” Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

 

That’s my King!

 

Paul? Saul? What's the difference?

We’re currently walking through the book of Ephesians in our Sunday worship gatherings and this last Sunday I went on a brief tangent and discussed the two different names used in scripture to identify who we most commonly call the Apostle Paul.

First, let me say, I understand the confusion. Some people have wrongly assumed that his name was changed at his conversion to Christianity, but scripture shows otherwise. When we first meet him he is called Saul in the book of Acts chapters 8, 9 and 13 and then starting in Acts 13:9 he is called Paul. Why the name change?

It’s actually very simple. Acts 13: 9 says “Then Saul, who was also called Paul…”
Paul was simply another name he was known by.

Saul, was his Hebrew name, probably after the first king of Israel. As a Roman citizen, he also had a Latin name, Paul. This wasn’t uncommon then and is actually very common in our country as well. I have friends and neighbors who were born in different countries and to easier connect with and assimilate in American culture many have chosen to adopt an English name. I’ve even had folks ask me to help them pick one out.

Most likely one of the main reasons Paul goes by his Latin name is that his missionary journey’s took him to primarily non-Jewish people. Maybe he saw using this name as one less barrier in the way to sharing the good news of Jesus to a gentile audience, or maybe the meaning of the name (little, small) helped serve as a reminder of his changed life in Jesus from persecutor of the church to missionary.

Why is it called Good Friday

Why is it called Good Friday?
There are different theories on how it came to be called this. 

  • At one point in the english language the word good meant holy.

  • Instead of Good Friday, it used to be called God Friday and it got changed as the tradition moved between cultures. Kind of like the game telephone.

  • It's called good because of what it means theologically. While the event is horrific, what Jesus death accomplished was history changing.

Most likely the truth is a mix of point one and three. Jesus death set into motion a new way (John 14:6) for all of humanity to be freed from sin and reconciled to God. That is truly good!





The Big Dark

I remember when our family first moved north from California to Spokane and being surprised how early the sun set that first Winter. “Wait, it sets before 4 PM here?!” (Spokane, being east, gets darker even earlier than Seattle)
As the weeks went on I started to feel the effects of the darkness and I later found that there’s even a clinical term for it, seasonal affective disorder or SAD. That’s it, I was SAD and drinking more coffee didn’t help (ok, maybe a little) and binge watching more shows definitely didn’t help. 

I’m thinking about this because as I write, it’s the afternoon and I’m not sure if the sun put more than one leg out of bed today. If, during this season. you are feeling SAD, or even the normal kind of sad, let me share a few tips that have really helped me deal with what some call the ‘big dark’.

  • Take Vitamin D supplements - I’ve had multiple MDs tell me that nearly everyone is vitamin D deficient in the PNW during the winter. The reason being is the primary way we get vitamin D is from the sun, and as you already know, it’s on vacation right now. A lack of vitamin D leads to fatigue and a weakened immune system. When I started taking Vitamin D consistently during the winter I noticed the effects of SAD weren’t as great and I wasn’t getting as sick. It works!

  • Move your body - This is always good but a lot harder to do when it’s cold and wet outside. You and I both know that sitting for hours doesn’t make you feel rested but more tired. Even a brisk 15-minute walk after a meal can boost your mood, your energy, and lift your spirits. So, stay moving this winter. In the PNW there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.

  • Better lighting - I haven’t tried this one but have friends that bought lights specifically designed for those dealing with SAD who say they greatly helped.

  • Have something to look forward to - Part of the reason I don’t struggle as much in the early part of the winter is that I have Thanksgiving and Christmas to give me something to look forward to. But oh boy, by late January I’m looking up flights to Hawaii. The constant thing though is that Jess and I have a weekly date that I always look forward to. Even something small like treating yourself to a special coffee drink on Friday can serve as a boost to get you through the dark.

How about you? If you have any other tips for overcoming the ‘big dark’ this Winter leave a comment below.

The Antidote to Worry

I Was A Worrier
Worry was a big part of my life in my younger years. This was in the days before 24/7 news and social media, which now bring us non-stop things to worry about. I was just a natural worrier. I worried about missing out on fun, worried about the weather, and I especially worried about myself.

Am I good enough? Do people like me? Am I healthy?  Oh man, did I worry a lot about my health. But I was a young, athletic teenager. There was no reason to worry about my health. But that didn’t stop me. I literally lost sleep over muscle pain ( which is normal when you play sports) and other things that are typical for a growing teen, often convincing myself that my time on earth was probably going to be pretty short. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?

What I didn’t realize was that my worries were acting like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The mind body connection is strong and we know that worry and anxiety have all kinds of effects on the body. In other words, if unchecked, my worry about health issues would actually create health issues!

 

The Antidote
The worst thing a worrier can do is not share their worries (the second worst thing is to google them). Worry naturally leads to anxiety and fear, and those things grow in the darkness. Every once in a while, usually when I was sure I had only days to live, I would share my worries with someone. I remember one time finding my Mom in the kitchen and desperately sharing about a muscle spasm I’d been having every night that week. I was pretty confident that at age seventeen I had early onset Parkinson’s (I’m not joking). She asked me a couple of questions and kindly said, “Andrew, that sounds normal to me. You just need to drink more water.” Her words were more powerful than any medication and the poison of my own worry was almost immediately gone.

As I (mostly) outgrew my hypochondriac-type worries I realized how important relationships are as an antidote to my self-produced anxiety. Just sharing your worries and bringing them to the light allows you to see them differently and allows others to speak truth to your fears. But the real antidote to our worries is found in sharing them with the right person and that’s where our connection with God is vital.

The Power of Prayer
Don’t miss this! I know that even saying ‘the power of prayer’ sounds like some sort of Christian t-shirt or meme. I think that part of the problem is that prayer is often talked about as something we’ll do for others. “Oh, I’m sorry that you are going through that. I’ll pray for you.” And sometimes, we even ask for that for ourselves. “I’m going through a tough time, will you pray for me?” None of these are wrong, but if the people who need prayer aren’t praying themselves, they are missing out on the power of prayer!

The power of prayer is found when we walk into the kitchen with all that is on our heart, find God there, and share our worries with him. As we connect with him, we are reminded of his love for us and gain his perspective, peace, and even his wisdom. The power of prayer is found in how it connects us relationally with God, not in him snapping his fingers to instantly resolve whatever issue is causing our worry. If prayer were simply about changing external circumstances, we would never truly grow (mature) in our faith or get to know God’s heart and character.  I didn’t know it at the time but my Mom was an example of the kind of relationship that God desired to have with me. Prayer is the time where God offers the antidote to all my worry and anxieties.  

What’s the Big Worry?
I still worry. My worries are just more mature now and include things like world affairs, the economy, and my kids. As an adult my worries still grow in the darkness but they are also fed by the media (social and news) which bombards me with non-stop things to worry about. Unlike my self-diagnosis of Parkinsons, a lot of my worries are based on reality. There really are a lot of things to worry about!

I’m reminded of Jesus words where he specifically addressed worry saying, “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…”.  How do we do that? Through regular, intimate, time with God in prayer. Whether it’s about health, provision, or politics, when we bring all of our concerns to God, he shows us his Kingdom and our fears dissolve.  And then he shows us his righteousness and we know what to do. He doesn’t ignore the very real needs of our lives, but he removes the worry and then as Jesus said, all the other things we need will be provided to us as well (Matthew 6:33).

Last Thoughts…
It’s interesting that worry and prayer often share a similar physical posture. Can you tell who is worried and who is praying below? When we find ourselves burdened by our worries, we are only words away from turning that weight into an encounter with our Father God. If it’s important enough to worry about, it’s important enough to pray about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Survey Results

Hello Sunset Community Church Family, 

We are excited to share that we received a total of 38 responses from our recent church survey! Thank you to everyone who participated over the past two months. Your feedback has provided invaluable insight into how we are growing as a church and how we continue to reflect Jesus. Here are some key highlights from the survey results:

Demographics

Here’s a quick snapshot of our demographic themes of who filled out the survey: 

  • Gender Distribution: The majority of survey takers identified as female, making up about 60% of the responses. Males accounted for about 40% of the responses.

  • Age Groups: Our survey takers spans a wide range of ages, with the largest groups being:

    • Ages 40-44: This group made up significant portion of the responses

    • Ages 60+: The second most responses came from this group

    • Ages 50-54: The third most responses came from this group

  • Length of Attendance:

    • 2-5 years: This group made up significant portion of the responses

    • 6-10 years: The second most responses came from this group

    • 0-1 years: The third most responses came from this group

Q #1: In What Ways Do We (Sunset Community Church) most reflect Jesus?

One of the most encouraging takeaways from the survey is how strongly you feel that Sunset Community Church reflects Jesus in its humility, inclusivity and service to the needy. Common themes include:

  • Humility in Service: Several shared on the church’s authentic approach to serving others. A few appreciated that the Sunset Community Church avoids self-promotion, instead focusing on simple, meaningful acts of service. 

  • Welcoming and Inclusive Atmosphere: Many of you pointed out that our church does a wonderful job welcoming people from all walks of life, creating a safe and loving space for all. 

  • Service to the Needy: Many of you mentioned the church’s commitment to serving the poor, marginlized, and those in need. 

Q #2: In what ways can we (Sunset Community Church) better reflect Jesus?


While the survey reflected many ways we are reflecting Jesus today, it also highlighted opportunities for consideration, prayer, and growth. Common themes include:

  • Deeper Community and Connection: Many of you emphasized the need to connect and be known. There was a significant desire for more community groups and opportunities to connect through personal relationships outside of Sunday service. 

  • Intentional Outreach: Several of you mentioned the importance of being more proactive in our outreach efforts to engage friends, family, neighbors, and our broader community who may not know Jesus. This includes the need to be actively participating in current service outreach opportunities to share Jesus and being involved in the public square. 

Q #3: For your personal journey, in what ways do you need support to better reflect and know Jesus?

In terms of your person journey, many of you shared areas where you are seeking growth:

  • Community and Connection: As reflected above, many of you are seeking deeper friendships and spiritual community.

  • Prayer and Trust: Several of you mentioned the challenge of trusting God and having a more prayferful life. 

  • Hearing God’s Voice: A number of you shared a desire to better listen for God’s guidance. 

Next Steps

We are deeply grateful for your participation in this church-wide survey. Let’s continue this journey together praying for wisdom and engaging one of another to grow from this survey. Here are some areas of focus as we continue to follow Jesus together:

  • Jesus Centered: Our goal is for the gospel of Jesus to be deeply known and experienced in our community. We prioritize everything we do to reflect our glorious Redeemer and God. Without Him, all our efforts are in vain and rely solely on human strength.

  • Deeper Community and Connection: Based on the survey results, we hear you, and we want to prioritize and equip you to have deeper community and connections so that you can experience God and be known and know one another. But, we need your participation and engagement to do this well.

    Here are several ways you can get involved:

    • Community groups are one of the ways we build connections and walk out our faith in Jesus. Groups meet in homes, coffee shops, church, and throughout Renton and beyond. They do life together on a recurring basis outside of Sunday and intentionally serve our community.
      —> Sign up to be a part of a group here.
      —> We want to start more groups! Read our Community Group explainer here and then make an appointment to explore starting a new group.

    • Ministry Teams play a key part in assembling the mosaic of ministry at Sunset Community Church and are a key way we connect with each other and serve God together. Whether it’s Music, Hospitality, Community Outreach, Kids or Youth, these are just a handful of the many ways we desire to reflect the value of living a life in service to God. Interested in connecting this way? Let us know here.

    • Sunday gatherings are our weekly family get together as the church. Make it a priority to join and connect! We understand that there are circumstances or seasons of life that keep you away but let’s lean into Hebrews 10:24-25.

    • Smaller groups: We have various small groups of 2-7 people that come together in relationship to encourage each other as they follow Jesus. This is a place to grow in your faith and encourage each other. They meet in various places and times so if you are interested in starting or connecting with a smaller group email us.


      Want to chat about the survey results? Visit with us after Sunday Service. Members of the leadership team will be available for the next three Sundays after Sunday service in the Bistro and Worship Center to connect and hear from you. If you are unable to connect in-person but want to get involved, send us an email.

- Derrick Cruz
for the Leadership Team

Sabbatical Reflections

Church Family,

 As most of you know I took some extra time off this Summer in what was originally going to be a 12-week sabbatical but ended up needing to shift to what we called a ‘hybrid-sabbatical’. Regardless of the shift it was a blessing to have some time to read, write, reflect, and spend some extra time with my family. This week marked the end of that time and I’m looking forward to fully reengaging in my role and by God’s grace continuing to serve Jesus and follow what the Spirit is leading us into as a church for many more years to come!

Because I couldn’t have taken this time without the support of you and our Leadership Team, I wanted to share a bit of a report. If you’d like to hear more in person, let’s go for a walk or grab a cup of coffee sometime.

Some things I read…
I don’t recommend books unless I really think they’re worth reading. Here are three I read this Summer that were outstanding.

 Jayber Crow (Novel)
by Wendell Barry
I tend to like mystery type novels that move fast. This was not that. In fact I have never read a novel as slowly as I have Jayber Crow. Maybe it’s my age but I’ve recently found myself drawn more to stories that burn slowly and are more focused on the characters than a specific plot line. In this novel Wendell Berry walks you through an entire lifetime in a few hundred pages in his unique writing style which is poetic, theological, and emotional. His style isn’t for everyone but for me this book came at just the right time.

 The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible (Theology)
by Michael Hesier
We know that God is wholly different than us. We know that there is an evil one that the Bible calls Satan. But do we really understand the spiritual world and how it connects to our world and how it should affect our understanding of the Bible? For many of us the answer is, “No”. Dr. Michael Hesier does a great job in this comprehensive work, helping us see the Biblical story through a supernatural worldview and it’s one of the best theology books I’ve read in recent years (check out Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes for another good one!).

The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness (Non Ficition)
by Jonathan Haidt
About 5 years ago we had a mental health professional come to our church for a presentation. At that time she shared how anxiety and depression are at levels not seen since the Great Depression and no one really knows why. Well, five years later the data is in and Dr. Haidt unpacks it an accessible way that should serve as a wakeup call for the current generation. As sociologist he also goes beyond the current data and talks about how fundamental changes in parenting and childhood development have contributed to our current epidemic. While this book does not come from a Christian perspective it’s a must read for any parent. I won’t spoil the ending but the author (who is an atheist) comes to some amazing conclusions on what can reverse the dangerous things we have allowed to affect the younger generation and as a Christian I wasn’t surprised by his conclusions at all.

Some things I did…

One of the trips I took was to my hometown on the North Coast of California to meetup with my siblings as we spread my dad’s ashes and dedicated a memorial bench. I tacked on a couple of extra days to write and that’s where I met God in a profound way. When was the last time you took 24 to 48 hours to be by yourself without any distractions? I couldn’t tell you when (if ever?) I had done that. In those two days I found time to process, pray, reflect and hear from God in a deep way. I’m a people person by nature but it made me realize how important regular times of silence and solitude are.

As a family we also got to take the kids to where Jessica and I first met, on the Big Island of Hawaii. We saw friends, worshipped with our old church family, and visited the headquarters of the mission’s agency (YWAM) that we served in for four years. A piece of our heart is on that island, and it was sweet to be there again.

 

Some things I think…

  • Routine is comforting and often efficient and tidy. Stepping out of my routine this Summer was transformative. I was reminded of the importance of not always ‘going with the flow’ so much that I let life sweep me along without thinking.

  • Consumeristic culture is ugly. We visited a few churches this Summer and it was alarming at how easily I fell into the mentality of being a consumer instead of a participant in the shared faith. The fact that mentality could so easily pop up in me still has me thinking.

  • I want spend myself on things that matter. Years ago I realized if I can only make four disciples of Jesus (my kids) then that will have been a life worth living. With some extra time to spend with them this Summer I was reminded of how true that still is. Future retirement funds, professional recognition, personal comfort, these aren’t things that I want to dominate my thinking. My family is my most treasured possession on earth and to date is still my best return on investment. I’m thankful to Jess who has helped cultivate this with me and made our home a place of peace and joy, even in hard times.

 

Baptist Pastor and Civil Right Activist Ralph Abernathy has a quote that resonates with me. He once said, “I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” It reminds me of Proverbs 16:9 that says, We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (NLT). I often feel like sailboat captain. The sail is up, the wind is blowing and God is going to take me where he wants me. I’m grateful that he has me here, with my family, pastoring this church, and living in this city.

Grace and Peace,

Andrew Fouché

 

Is the ‘rapture’ in the Bible?

In my church in the 1980’s all things end-times were a big deal. Maybe it was because the Cold War was still very much a thing and knowledge of all those missiles from the USSR pointing in our direction made the end of the world seem like a real possibility.

I still remember the imagery from a 1970’s movie with strong end-times themes called A Thief in the Night - people everywhere mysteriously disappeared, the one-world government was demanding everyone get the mark of the beast, and the world had suddenly descended into chaos. What had set off all of these events was known as the rapture. This is the belief that before Jesus returns, Christians will be secretly taken away to avoid the tribulation that will descend on the earth. The rapture would be a prominent idea in my Christian upbringing and was popularized even more through the Left Behind book series.

This last Sunday when we read Jesus letter to the church in Philadelphia there was one line in Revelation 3:10 that connected with my rapture roots; “…I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world…” There it is! Jesus has to be referencing the rapture, except as I explained on Sunday, he’s not. In fact this idea of a secret rapture of his church so they can avoid suffering, is nowhere to be found in the book of Revelation.

And here’s the thing, the type of rapture that was depicted in A Thief in the Night or the Left Behind series isn’t actually anywhere in scripture and is pretty badly pieced together doctrine (teaching). Before you get upset and call Kirk Cameron on me, let me briefly share the roots of the sudden rapture doctrine and then walk through some scripture with you.  

The idea of a rapture of the church so Christians can avoid a worldwide tribulation was first taught by John Nelson Darby in the mid-1800’s and later made popular by the Scofield Reference Bible published in the early 1900’s. This is why you won’t find any ancient church writings on the rapture and why it’s almost nowhere to be found outside of Western Christianity. The teaching that there will be a secret rapture of believers whisked away into heaven until Jesus returns, is a fairly new idea.

But, like a lot of bad teaching, it didn’t exactly come from nothing. There are two passages, that are often connected together, that gave rise to the idea of a secret and sudden rapture of Christians from the earth.

The first is Matthew 24:40-41. It says, "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”

Jesus goes on to say to keep watch, that like a thief in the night you won’t know when he will return. This certainly sounds like a type of rapture, but the question is, “Who is getting taken away?”

The key to understanding this passage is in the verses that precede it. You always need to read the whole thing. Matthew 24:36-39 talks about how the evil world in Noah’s time had no idea that the judgement for their sin was coming (in the form of a flood) and in a flash they were all taken away. Jesus then says, “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Context matters and you can see with this passage that the ‘taking away’ is tied to judgment of sinners, not a saving of believers. Being left behind in this case is good! (see Luke 17:34-37, 1 Thess. 5:2-3 for more)

The other more overt passage, often tied to the idea of a secret and sudden rapture, is found in Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The last part that I bolded is primarily where Darby and Scofield got their rapture doctrine from. Again, context is important. What is this all about?

First, some in this church have lost loved ones (Paul says, fallen asleep) and so he wants to anchor their grief in the resurrection power of Jesus and his second coming.

Second, take note of the imagery:

·      a loud command

·      voice of the archangel

·      trumpet call of God

This is definitely not a secret rapture but a worldwide proclamation that King Jesus has returned.

Lastly, when both the previously dead (now resurrected) believers and those who are alive meet him in the air, where do they go? They come to Earth with him. Jesus wouldn’t make that grand of an entrance and then pivot in the air and head back out. The imagery of believers meeting him in the air is that of a delegation going out to meet their king in celebration and joining him as he returns to his kingdom. This is not a secret rapture but the beginning of a very public restoration.

And that, my friends, is the hopeful message of the Gospel of Jesus. So much of New Testament scripture tells believers to expect suffering and to be ready to endure trials and persecution, we won’t be spared (or raptured) from them. But we do know that this suffering is not eternal for those who belong to Jesus. It will end when Jesus returns and sweeps away all that is evil and corrupt from the Earth and restores goodness and righteousness forever. This restoration will happen with all of creation, even us (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

And back to the writing of Revelation we see this…

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

-       Revelation 21:3-4

Support Linda White

Hi Friends,

I am excited to have the opportunity to go to Armenia this April on a short-term mission trip with a team from Movement Church. Armenia lies at a strategic crossroads of the world, near countries and people groups with very little access to the gospel.

During this trip, our team will be serving local Armenian churches who have asked for our help with outreach projects. We will serve in a variety of ways, such as distributing vital supplies to internallydisplaced refugees, ministering to children in the villages, sharing the gospel and prayer, and helping with construction projects. The Armenian churches have complied a list of their highest priority needs, and we are excited to work alongside them to make this trip as impactful as possible. Our team will split up and serve in either the capital city of Yerevan, Gyumri, or Nshavan. In each of these places is a small church we hope to bless, strengthen, and encourage.


As I prepare to go, I am assembling a team of supporters who will partner with me in this mission. If you would like to be a prayer partner please let me know! Right now, you can pray for me as I prepare myself spiritually and logistically for this trip.

Another way that you can partner with me is financially. The total cost of this trip is $2500, which includes airfare, lodging, and meals. If you would like to make a contribution to help cover these expenses, please give at this link: https://movementrva.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/lindawhite1

I appreciate your prayers and support as I take this step of faith to follow His calling! Thank you for your consideration!

-Linda White

Loving our neighbors

When we found out that the mother of one of our ALLIN students had been struggling to walk due medical conditions, the need was shared to see if someone could help build her a ramp to get in and out of her house.

Jephta Haendeler put his skills to work and built her a ramp so that she could more easily get in and out of her house and to much needed appointments. This is what compassionate love looks like.

Missions Month 2024

February is Missions Month at SCC and the theme this year is supporting the sent. We’ll be hearing from members of our church who are taking the courageous step to take the gospel internationally and they’ll be sharing how we can support them as they go.

Another emphasis this month will be prayer and fasting. Download our Missions Month calendar by clicking/tapping here and let’s pray together!

A Labor of Love

Mary Anne Vandiver is one of our long-time beloved church members and due to health challenges and mobility has been unable to worship with us in person for several years. In a visit to her house last year Herb and Cathy Hiegel discovered that the layout of her bathroom made it very difficult for her to navigate with a walker. Not only that, but due to a leaky toilet her floor was rotting away.

This is when some of our church members sprung into action.

Carl Ueland volunteers for Rebuilding Together Seattle (RTS), an organization that focuses on helping low-income homeowners who are in need. Because of his connection he was able to secure a grant to cover the cost of repairing Mary Anne’s bathroom.

What followed next was a true labor of love as Carl, Ray, Aalijah and Herb first took on the task of completely gutting the bathroom.

After that came rebuilding it in a way that would allow Mary Anne to use it more easily. This included more space to navigate with her walker, a new toilet, and a walk in shower. Ray and Carl went to work on much of this and Chad Nickless lent his expertise in installing new tile. The results…a functional and beautiful bathroom!

The Bible speaks of how a pure expression of our devotion to God is taking care of those in need (James 1:27) and how each of us have gifts to be used to demonstrate the love of God. Thank you to all who demonstrated that in a tangible way to Mary Anne.

August in the Psalms

As a new month begins lets read the Bible together!

The Psalms are the song book of scripture, putting into words what the people of God feel in almost any circumstance that life throws at them. They model how to grieve, lament, express joy, praise God and more. So let's read them together...

During the month of August read three Psalms a day and by the end of the month we'll have read all 150 of them together. If you’re doing the math that will only be 30 days but I’m giving you one day to read Psalm 119. If you don’t know why, you’ll find out.

We’ll also be diving into some specific Psalms in our worship gatherings during the month of August and talking about how the Psalms can be a template for prayer as well as worship.

Prayer for Brian Williams

Update 10:54 AM, June 26, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we share this news — Brian Williams is now with Jesus.

Please be praying for Emily, Brian’s wife, and their three children. Extended family is with them right now. We will share other ways to minister to them in the days to follow. For now, please just keep them in prayer.

The church building will remain open today to any who would want to come grieve and pray in person.

–

Our dear church member Brian Williams is missing after a fall from Jack Mountain late yesterday in the North Cascades and a search is currently underway. I’d ask that you join me in prayer for his life.

We are organizing a prayer vigil at 10:30 AM this morning via Zoom and in person here at the church building.

Zoom link

Further updates will be posted to this page as we have them.

What about the ending of Mark?

This last Sunday we finished our journey thru the Gospel of Mark and came to one of the more puzzling sections of scripture, Mark 16:9-20.  The NIV translation (and most others) says, “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20. “ 

What does that mean?

It means that when scribes first started making copies of Mark’s account of Jesus life, verses 9-20 were not part of those first copies. It’s very clear that this section was added, as the style and vocabulary are different than the rest of the book. In other words, they were added by someone later, possibly a second century scribe. As a result, there were likely a few different alternate endings that began to circulate with Mark’s original work.

 There are any number of reasons why an ending may have been added. Here are a couple possibilities.

·      It could be that the original work had been damaged and so someone felt the liberty to add onto what would have been viewed by some as an awkward ending at verse 8.

·      It could be that a generation later a scribe was looking at the other Gospels and thought more detail should be added about what happened after the resurrection for future generations.

While the ending was clearly added, the historicity of what was added would have still been accepted by the church because verses 9-20 are verified by other scripture. This is why, even though it was added later, its continued to circulate with the original writings of Mark.

 

Here are some cross references between the ending of Mark and other places in scripture:  

9-11    —> Luke 24:11

12-13   —> Luke 24:13-32

14       —> Luke 24:36-43

15       —> Matthew 28:18-20

16       —> John 3:16-17

17-18   —> Possibly Acts 28:3-5 but clearly the idea of divine signs accompanying believers works is seen throughout the book of Acts and still today.

19      —> Acts 1:9

20      —> The rest of the New Testament

 

Should this addition make us question the trustworthiness of the Bible?

The New Testament alone has over 24,000 manuscripts and fragments, far more than any other ancient writing1. With all of those copies there are bound to be differences (also called variants) among them and there certainly are…in fact there are thousands of variants.

It’s estimated that about 70% of those variants are differences in spelling. There are of course other variants that seem a bit more substantial (article link) but even then about 99% of variants are trivial and no variants in the ancient texts affect a single issue having to do with the Christian doctrine (aka what we believe).

Of all the ancient writings there is no other work that compares to the Bible. It is remarkably trustworthy as an ancient manuscript and the sole source of our faith and practice. The Christian faith starts with an introduction of Jesus to shepherds, the announcement of his resurrection to women, and his most prominent followers were peasants.

The scriptures themselves are not edited to make any of this look better. One of the key leaders of the Jesus movement was Peter who was the one to pass on the information of Jesus life to Mark, who wrote it down. He could have edited the story to not include his own denials of Jesus and overly impulsive and downright foolish vows and actions, but he didn’t. It’s not just a remarkable story but a supernatural one, that at times, makes little sense. Yet it has continued to spread to every corner of the globe and has become the largest and most transformative belief system in the history of mankind.

New Year's Liturgy for 2023

Ben Wright put together this beautiful New Year’s Liturgy for our church family. We prayed it aloud together on Sunday, January 1, 2023. This liturgy can be used as a prayer for personal devotions or read aloud together as a family. Download a PDF version here.

2023 New Year’s Liturgy

By Ben Wright

Our Father, by your gracious provision for us, we have lifted our feet from 2022 and set them in 2023. 

You are Lord of the cosmos, the Alpha and the Omega. You were there at the beginning, before the mountains were born (Ps 90); You will be there at the end of this age. (Matt 28:20)

And you are here with us now. You have not left us as orphans; you have sent your Holy Spirit into our hearts to be present with us, to comfort, help, and guide us. (John 14:15,18)

You chose us before the foundation of the world to be blameless before you and part of your family. We who were once far off have been brought near by your blood. As a result, we are no longer strangers, but we are fellow citizens with all of the saints, and are members of your household. (Eph 1, 2:13)

As individuals, each of us is walking the path that you have set out for us, with our different cultural backgrounds and histories, strengths and weaknesses, afflictions, circumstances, and challenges.

THIS YEAR, help us in a fresh way to feel your nearness. Help us to know that we are a son, that we are a daughter. This is who we are because you have made it so.

More than merely individuals, you have swept us into a larger story. In all of our diversity, you have made us one family together, living stones being fitted together into one body and temple that you are filling with your Spirit, life, love, and power. (Eph 2:22, 4, 1 Peter 2) 

THIS YEAR, fill us, Sunset Community Church, all of us together, with your life! (John 17:20)

Jesus, you said that the world will know that you came from the Father because of our unity. (John 17:23) 

THIS YEAR, bind us together afresh at Sunset in a unity of purpose that can only be explained by your existence and resurrection.

Loosen our grips on the idols that distract us. Free us from the false loves and addictions that cling to us. Make us hungry for righteousness, and then fill us with your abundance! (Matt 5)

We oppose the will and power of the Evil One in our communities in every facet, remembering and declaring that Satan’s power was disarmed at the cross. All authority and power are in the hands of Jesus. He is above every name that is named in this age and the one to come, and He is the head of the church! (Eph 1:21-22, John 12:31)

THIS YEAR, we ask that your gospel of peace, reconciliation, and joy would spill from these doors into our neighborhood and communities in myriads of ways. 

Help us live into our calling to proclaim your excellencies and to be your hands and feet in Renton and in our communities.

We pray these things in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did Rebekah Sin? How do we understand Job?

The questions below have been submitted as part of our current teaching series.

The book of Job: Is it all true? Is it a combination of true and parable? 

Along with Proverbs and Ecclesiastes the book of Job is considered to be part of the genre of Wisdom literature in the Bible. What is unique about Job however is that this particular ‘wisdom’ is communicated through the suffering of a specific man (Job), his dialog with friends, and God himself. It also includes a behind the scenes glimpse into the spiritual world as Satan and God interact with each other.

While wisdom literature often uses illustrations and poetic language to convey truth, the book of Job is a fairly straightforward depiction of a man who undergoes immense loss and how he processes that loss in light of his friendships and belief in God. Because of the literary style, including specific names of people, descriptions of culture, and dialog, there’s no reason to believe that this is an allegory or parable. Further, both Ezekiel (14:14;20) and James (5:11) refer to Job as a real person and an example of faith.

With these things in mind, I think we are to read it as a true account and a depiction of God’s sovereignty in the midst of suffering. Job’s closing statements to God seem to be a central statement to the book: “I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you” (42:5)

 

Was Rebekah sinning when she had Jacob deceive his Father for the firstborn blessing even though God had said that the older son would serve the younger?

If you’re familiar with the story, before twins Jacob and Esau are born God declares to their mother Rebekah that Jacob, although born second will inherit his Fathers position and power, also called a birthright (Genesis 25:23).

Later on as their father was getting toward the end of his life two things happen:

1.     In a moment of intense hunger Esau trades his birthright to his younger brother Jacob in exchange for a bowl of food (Genesis 25:29-34) but there is no indication their father Isaac knows this.

2.     As their father is near the end of his life, he calls Esau to come and bless him, which is a formal way of passing on the birthright. Rebekah schemes with her son Jacob to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob instead, and it works. (See Genesis 27)

So, in thinking of the question of sin it’s also important to take into account the fact that Esau willingly gave up his birthright in the first place. But does that mean it was right for Rebekah to deceive her husband, despite God’s words to her years earlier?

Much like the questions that arise around the story of Job, this makes us wonder how God’s sovereignty works. Does the fact that God says something will happen mean that he’s ok with all the circumstances that make it happen? Or does it just indicate that he knows what will happen and will work within his knowledge of human decisions to accomplish his purposes?

It’s important here to be reminded that God doesn’t sin or lie (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18) and he doesn’t cause others to either (James 1:13). We also see throughout scripture that God accomplishes his purposes through imperfect, sinful people. Our heros of the faith such as Noah, Moses, David, and others were all used by God yet were still deeply flawed.

So yes, it’s safe to say that Rebekah’s deceit was a sin but one that God forknew and still worked through to accomplish his purposes. Sinful actions in scripture are never justified and we are all accountable for our actions, but God’s plans and purposes will always come to pass.   Jacob, like so many in his family line, though sinful were still recipients of God’s grace and ultimately through them Jesus would come and extend grace to all sinful people, you and me included.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Andrew

 Still have questions? Drop them in the comments below.