One of my earliest memories is from when I was in preschool. I was four years old and attending Hickory Grove Presbyterian Preschool, where my mom was one of the teachers. Occasionally we would watch movies projected onto the block wall of the basement, and one day we watched the story of “The Little Train Who Could.” I remember feeling sad for the train as his friends made fun of him. I remember feeling anxious as he finally had a chance to prove himself by hauling that big load up that hill. I remember cheering him on in my mind as he chugged, “I think I can, I think I can…” until he finally crested the top. It is
a wonderful story to teach children the values of determination and perseverance.
But there is a downside to a story like that. The truth is that there are some things we cannot do, no matter how hard we try or think we can. If we stubbornly push ahead anyway, insisting that we can do something when it is impossible for us, we will become frustrated, angry, and eventually, give up altogether. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual things. Because we are sinners, there are some things that we cannot do on our own. We cannot save ourselves.
No amount of effort will ever be enough to merit salvation or pay off our sin debt. We cannot sanctify ourselves either. Some people teach that salvation is by grace, but sanctification is by works. That is a lie. We are sanctified the same way we are saved: by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Instead of always saying, “I think I can,” we need to learn when to say, “I know I can’t.”
- Nov 6, 2022I Know I Can’t
Nov 6, 2022I Know I Can’tBy: Pastor Chambers
One of my earliest memories is from when I was in preschool. I was four years old and attending Hickory Grove Presbyterian Preschool, where my mom was one of the teachers. Occasionally we would watch movies projected onto the block wall of the basement, and one day we watched the story of “The Little Train Who Could.” I remember feeling sad for the train as his friends made fun of him. I remember feeling anxious as he finally had a chance to prove himself by hauling that big load up that hill. I remember cheering him on in my mind as he chugged, “I think I can, I think I can…” until he finally crested the top. It is
a wonderful story to teach children the values of determination and perseverance.But there is a downside to a story like that. The truth is that there are some things we cannot do, no matter how hard we try or think we can. If we stubbornly push ahead anyway, insisting that we can do something when it is impossible for us, we will become frustrated, angry, and eventually, give up altogether. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual things. Because we are sinners, there are some things that we cannot do on our own. We cannot save ourselves.
No amount of effort will ever be enough to merit salvation or pay off our sin debt. We cannot sanctify ourselves either. Some people teach that salvation is by grace, but sanctification is by works. That is a lie. We are sanctified the same way we are saved: by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Instead of always saying, “I think I can,” we need to learn when to say, “I know I can’t.” - Oct 30, 2022Walking In The Truth
Oct 30, 2022Walking In The Truth
Walking in the Truth
For many deceivers are entered
into the world, who confess not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This
is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look
to yourselves, that we lose not those
things which we have wrought, but
that we receive a full reward.(2 John 1:7-8)
Truth is important. A culture built
on a foundation devoid of absolute
truth is not sustainable. It will collapse
under the weight of its own subjectivity.
It results in a loose collection of individuals
all living in their own imaginary worlds
with no way to relate to each other. It is
important that you believe that there is
truth, and it is important that you believe
the things that are true.In the tiny epistle of 2 John, the
beloved apostle commends those who
walk in the truth and warns them to be
on guard against those who do not believe
the truth and spread lies about the person
of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life.” Those who follow
Jesus must acknowledge that there is
truth and that Jesus is the personification
of truth. John goes so far as to prohibit
truth followers from extending hospitality
to those who come to deceive and deny
Christ. The danger is that we would be
swept away by their lies and deceit, or
that we would harm our testimony by
associating with them. We could then
lose the rewards we would have received
if we remained faithful. We must practice
Godly discernment concerning the people
we follow and promote lest we be guilty
by association with those who don’t follow
the truth. - Oct 26, 2022Peter, the Gospel, and the Gentiles
Oct 26, 2022Peter, the Gospel, and the GentilesBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Life of PeterWednesday PM by Pastor Chambers
- Oct 23, 2022The Job of a Pastor
Oct 23, 2022The Job of a PastorBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Sunday EveningSunday PM by Pastor Chambers
- Oct 23, 2022Ordination and the Call to the Ministry
Oct 23, 2022Ordination and the Call to the MinistryBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Sunday Morningrom Sunday AM by Pastor Chambers
- Oct 16, 2022Running At God’s Pace Part 2
- Oct 16, 2022Running At God’s Pace Part 1
- Oct 9, 2022Stay Guarded in the Love of God
Oct 9, 2022Stay Guarded in the Love of GodBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Lies the Devil TellsSunday PM by Pastor Chambers
- Oct 9, 2022Lies the Devil Tells: “You Need to Learn About Evil
Oct 9, 2022Lies the Devil Tells: “You Need to Learn About EvilBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Lies the Devil TellsSunday AM by Pastor Chambers
- Sep 28, 2022Peter’s First Sermon
Sep 28, 2022Peter’s First SermonBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Life of PeterWednesday 9/28/22 PM by Pastor Chambers
- Sep 25, 2022Faithfulness of Giving to Missions
- Sep 25, 2022The Lies the Devil Tells “You can get away with it”
Sep 25, 2022The Lies the Devil Tells “You can get away with it”By: Pastor ChambersSeries: Lies the Devil TellsSunday AM by Pastor Chambers
- Sep 19, 2022The Contagious Church
- Sep 12, 2022What to do after Church discipline
Sep 12, 2022What to do after Church disciplineBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Church DisciplineRecorded September 9th Sunday PM by Pastor Chambers.
- Sep 7, 2022Peter’s Reset
Sep 7, 2022Peter’s ResetBy: Pastor ChambersSeries: Life of PeterRecorded Wednesday September 9th by Pastor Chambers