[Sunday] Creation Day 8 - Rest The Week
When the joy of Easter meets the chaos of daily life, we don't need to panic. Jesus, the true Creator-Gardener, has secured our future, which frees us to plant seeds of hope right in the middle of the mess.
When the joy of Easter meets the chaos of daily life, we don't need to panic. Jesus, the true Creator-Gardener, has secured our future, which frees us to plant seeds of hope right in the middle of the mess.
Questions for the Week: Creation Day 8: Plant
Read John 20:11-18. Where in your life is it currently difficult to see Jesus at work, and how does remembering He is the "Gardener" (gently cultivating and bringing life back to His creation) change your perspective?
Read Revelation 21:1-6. When the "sea" is raging (stress, illness, conflict), we are sometimes tempted to try and save ourselves by taking control, which only creates more chaos. Jesus has handled the sea and saved you by his grace. How does resting in this grace give you peace?
Read Jeremeiah 29:4-14. It’s been said by the church, sometimes attributed to Martin Luther, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” What is one specific “apple tree” you can plant for someone this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
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Easter 26’ Photos
Easter was amazing time for us at Grace.
Big Thanks to Everyone
Thank you to all who helped set up.
Thanks to all who came to the services.
Thanks to all who participated.
This year’s attendance was higher than in a long time.
247 total in person attendance
50 people on the livestream
[Easter] Creation Day 7 - Rest The Week
Jesus' cry of "It is finished" echoes God's seventh-day rest. Because the tomb is empty, the work of putting the world back together is complete. You can stop trying to fix your own brokenness and finally just breathe and rest.
Jesus' cry of "It is finished" echoes God's seventh-day rest. Because the tomb is empty, the work of putting the world back together is complete. You can stop trying to fix your own brokenness and rest.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 7 Rest
What is an "unfinished project" (literal or figurative) in your life right now that is robbing you of your peace and rest?
Read Luke 23:50-24:12. The women at the tomb were so focused on their grief and their incomplete tasks that they initially missed the miracle in front of them. The angel asked, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" How do we sometimes act like those women, focusing only on the dark, broken parts of life instead of the hope of Jesus?
It is powerful to realize that Jesus' final cry on the cross uses the same word as God finishing the six days of creation. How does knowing that the work of your salvation is 100% "finished" change the way you view your own daily striving and spiritual performance?
The world says we can only rest when everything is fixed, but the resurrection means we can rest right in the middle of our mess. How can you practically "breathe and rest" this week, even with unresolved circumstances?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] The Land of Holiness - Use The Gifts](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1793826376794-ODO5P2V4NBU9E6QUEQM3/Land+of+Holiness1.jpg)
[Good Friday] Tohu Vavohu The Week
in the crucifixion of our lord its as if the creation itself is rolled back to the beginning.
Good Friday
Noon & 7PM
Noon Live Stream
in the crucifixion of our lord its as if the creation itself is rolled back to the beginning.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Seder Meals [Photos]
This Maundy Thursday, Grace Lutheran PSL went mobile! We had 53 people gather across 6 different homes for Seder meals.
We kicked things off with a host prep session at the Pastor’s house, then headed into the holiday to celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper. By walking through a variation of that original meal, we were able to truly lean into what Jesus was saying to His disciples. It was a beautiful night of laughing, sharing stories, and being the Body of Christ in our own living rooms.
Thank you to our incredible hosts and all who joined in!
With apologies to those who attended Ed and Claudette’s house. (I forgot to shoot photos)
Thanks to our hosts
Pam, Bebe, and Kevin.
Paul and Nancy
Vance and Betsy
Kurt and Denise
Ed and Claudette
New Song for Easter, Living Hope
New Song for Easter 2026
Here is Grace’s Recording for Sunday
"As we conclude our 'Week of Creation' sermon series this Easter with a focus on rest, This song beautifully illustrates God’s work of salvation within the world He brought to life."
On April 5th 2026 we are singing
“Living Hope” (CCLI 7106807)
© 2017 Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs;
1.
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain we could not climb
In desperation we turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of our soul
The work is finished the end is written
Jesus Christ our living hope
2.
Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear our sin and bear our shame
The cross has spoken we are forgiven
The King of kings calls us His own
Beautiful Savior Your ours forever
Jesus Christ our living hope
(REFRAIN)
Hallelujah praise the One who set us free
Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ our living hope (x2)
3.
Then came the morning, that sealed the promise
Your buried body, began to breathe
Out of the darkness, said the Creator
hold back the sea, so that we may breathe
Jesus, Yours, is the fruitful tree
(REFRAIN)
Ending
Jesus Christ our living hope
You are God are living hope
Listen to the Original
(We Changed Some Lyrics)
[Sunday] Creation Day 6 - Image of God, The Week
We shattered God's image by trying to be our own gods. But on the cross, Jesus took our brokenness upon Himself, dying and rising to restore the true image of God within us.
We shattered God's image by trying to be our own gods. But on the cross, Jesus took our brokenness upon Himself, dying and rising to restore the true image of God within us.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 6 Image of God
We shatter God's image when we try to be our own gods by serving our own desires rather than reflecting His love. In what areas of your life (work, relationships, finances) are you most tempted to act as your own god?
Read Matthew 27:45-54. On Palm Sunday, Jesus said if the people were silent, the stones would cry out. On Good Friday, as the Creator died, the earth quaked, and the rocks literally split. How does viewing the crucifixion as a cosmic, creation-shaking event change the way you read the Good Friday story?
Read Genesis 1:24-31. God gave mankind dominion on Day 6, but we abused it. Jesus, the true image of God, showed that real divine dominion looks like taking the posture of a servant. How does Jesus' example on the cross challenge the world's definition of power and success?
Because of the cross and the empty tomb, Jesus has breathed His Spirit into us, restoring the image of God in us. What are practical ways you can actively reflect the restored image of God to someone in your life this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Easter 2026 At Grace in Port St Lucie
April 5 -Easter Sunday: 6:30 AM (outside), 8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 service Live Streamed)
Easter 2026
HOLY WEEK
March 29 - April 5
March 29- Palm Sunday: 8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 AM will be Live Streamed)
April 2 - Maundy Thursday: Seder Meals at Various Homes
April 3 - Good Friday:
12:00 (Noon) and 7:00 PM (Noon service Live Streamed)
April 5 -Easter Sunday:
6:30 AM (Sunrise outside),
8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 Live Stream)
Easter Breakfast & Fellowship:
After Sunrise Service 7:30 - 10:00 AM
Egg hunt: 9:50 AM
Check out photos from Last year
Job | Lent Wednesday Services
Job | Questioning God’s Wisdom
Wednesday Lent Services
5:30 Dinner
6:30pm Service & Stream
March 25th
Click the Image to Watch Live Stream
Reading Plan
February 25th | Job Chapter 2
March 4th | Job Chapter 3
March 11th | Job Chapter 19
March 18th | Job Chapter 38
March 25th | Job Chapter 42
March 18th
Job Chapter 38
March 11th
Job Chapter 19
March 4th
Job Chapter 3
Feb 25th
Job Chapters 1-2
[Sunday] Creation Day 5 - Washing Fish, The Week
God fills the chaotic seas with life and still comes in the midst of chaos to bring life and love.
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Main Theme:
The central theme of the sermon, delivered on March 22, 2026, is that God does not run from chaos but enters into it to bring life, order, and love. Using the fifth day of creation as a framework, the speaker illustrates how God fills the chaotic seas with life (fish) and the sky above it with creatures that soar on His Spirit (birds). This act of creation is presented as a pattern for God's redemptive work, culminating in Jesus, who enters the chaos of human sin and suffering to bring forgiveness and peace.
Key Biblical Passages:
Genesis 1:20-23: This is the core text, describing the fifth day of creation. God commands the waters to "teem with living creatures" and the sky to be filled with birds. This act is seen as God speaking life directly into the chaos (symbolized by the sea).
John 13:1-5, 34-35: This passage details Jesus washing his disciples' feet during the Last Supper. Its relevance is in showing Jesus entering into a chaotic situation—knowing his betrayal and death are imminent—and responding not with power, but with servanthood and love. He uses water, the symbol of chaos, to cleanse and serve. He then commands his followers to love one another, filling the chaos with a new purpose.
John 20: The speaker references Jesus appearing to the disciples in the upper room after the resurrection. He appears with his scars (the marks of chaos) still visible and breathes peace on them, connecting to the "breath" or "spirit" that keeps the birds aloft.
Exodus 19:4: "I carried you on eagle's wings..." This verse is used to illustrate how God lifts His people above chaos. The speaker humorously clarifies that the original word likely refers to a vulture or buzzard, emphasizing the point that God uses what is present to elevate His people on the "wind of the spirit."
Main Ideas:
Creation as a Redemptive Pattern: The sermon series, "The Weak," frames the creation story as a pattern for God's salvation. It begins with darkness and chaos (the unbound sea), which God systematically orders (Day 1: light, Day 2: sky, Day 3: land).
The Sea as a Symbol of Chaos: In the ancient Hebrew mindset, the sea represented chaos, danger, and disorder. Therefore, God's actions toward the sea symbolize His power over all that is broken and fearful in the world.
Day 5: Life in the Midst of Chaos: Unlike the first three days which bound the chaos, Day 5 shows God filling the chaos with life. He creates fish and great sea creatures within the chaotic waters, demonstrating that He works from the inside out, bringing fruitfulness even in difficult places.
Jesus Embodies the Day 5 Principle: Jesus is the ultimate example of God entering chaos. He doesn't avoid the pain and betrayal of Holy Week. Instead, He steps into it to serve, wash feet, and establish a meal of forgiveness (the Lord's Supper) right in the face of his impending death.
Two Responses to Chaos (Birds and Fish):
The Fish: Represent God speaking life into the very heart of our struggles, creating something good and fruitful where it seems impossible.
The Birds: Represent God lifting us above the churning waters of chaos, giving us peace and a new perspective as we are carried by the "wind" or "breath" of His Spirit.
Illustrations or Examples:
Avoiding Someone in Walmart: The speaker illustrates our natural human tendency to avoid chaos by describing seeing someone you're in an argument with at the store and immediately turning down another aisle (e.g., the bread aisle) to hide. This contrasts with Jesus, who moves toward the chaos.
Passover and the Red Sea: The sermon connects the Last Supper to the Passover festival, reminding the audience that Passover itself celebrates God rescuing His people from the chaos of slavery in Egypt and parting the chaotic waters of the Red Sea.
Looking Back on Life's Struggles: The speaker shares a personal reflection that while it's hard to see God's work during a chaotic time, looking back reveals how God placed life and fruitfulness within those past struggles, much like finding fish in the sea.
Call to Action/Practical Application:
The primary call to action is to emulate Jesus's response to chaos by filling it with love. Instead of running from difficult situations, we are called to enter into them with a spirit of service and forgiveness.
Receive God's Peace: Recognize that Jesus meets us in the middle of our personal chaos (anxiety, financial stress, family issues) to offer forgiveness and peace, just as He did for the disciples in the upper room.
Participate in the "Feast of Forgiveness": The Lord's Supper is presented as a tangible, physical reminder that Jesus prepares a feast for us in the presence of our enemies and offers forgiveness in the midst of our sin.
Love One Another: The new command to "love one another" is the way we continue to "fill out creation." When we face chaos in our lives and relationships, our mission is to bring love and forgiveness into that space, showing the world that we belong to Jesus. We are sent out to be agents of love in the midst of the world's deep hurts.
God fills the chaotic seas with life and still comes in the midst of chaos to bring life and love.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 5 Washing Fish
When have you assumed a situation, a ministry, or a relationship was "too messy" to get involved with, but God ended up doing something beautiful when you finally stepped in?
Read John 13:1-25. In the Upper Room, Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the Passover, specifically remembering how God rescued their ancestors by parting the chaotic waters of the Red Sea. Why is it so important for us to intentionally remember and talk about God’s past rescues when we are staring down a new wave of chaos today?
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, a feast of forgiveness, at the exact moment humanity was plotting to murder Him, Judas was betraying Him, and His closest friends were bickering over who was the greatest. How does Jesus' ability to offer grace before anyone even apologized challenge the way you handle grudges or conflict in your own relationships?
Jesus gives us a new commandment (to love one another). What is one practical way you can bring a sense of love into a chaotic environment (like a stressful workplace, a tense family text thread, or your neighborhood) this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Letter from Claubert
A letter of gratitude from Claubert.
Dear Members of Grace Lutheran Church,
Grace and Peace be with you from our Father through His Son Jesus Christ.
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your support and for voting for me in the election this past Sunday. I am truly honored and deeply thankful for the confidence you have placed in me. It brought me great joy to receive this news, and I want you to know how much it means to me.
I am now prayerfully preparing myself to come and serve alongside you at Grace. I look forward to joining you in ministry, growing together in faith, and working as one body in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Thank you once again for your trust, your kindness, and your warm welcome. I am excited for what God has in store for us as we walk this journey together.
With sincere gratitude and joy,
Claubert
[Sunday] Creation Day 4 - Day or Hour, The Week
God created the Sun, Moon, and Stars on Day 4 to bring order. But the sun went dark as the Creator took our chaos. You don't have to fix your life in the dark; the Lamb is your light.
God created the Sun, Moon, and Stars on Day 4 to bring order. But the sun went dark as the Creator took our chaos. You don't have to fix your life in the dark; the Lamb is your light.
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Sermon Series: The Week
Content Creation Date
March 15, 2026, 10:43:18
Sermon Context
Series concept: Interweaving Holy Week with the seven days of Creation to reveal God’s redemptive arc in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Jesus.
This sermon focuses on Day Four of Creation and its resonance with Jesus’ apocalyptic teachings in Matthew 22–25, the cross, and the hope of new creation.
Opening Prayer
Gratitude for God’s goodness, holiness, and presence amid chaos and distress.
Request that the sermon reflect God’s will for His people.
Review of Previous Weeks: Days 1–3 of Creation
God’s creative acts counter the “tohu vavohu” (formless and void; wild and waste) by bringing order and life.
Connections to Holy Week:
Day 1: “Let there be light” corresponds to Jesus’ entry into dark Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Day 2: Separation of waters corresponds to Jesus overturning the tables, opening the temple to the blind, hurting, and outsiders.
Day 3: Emergence of dry ground and fruitfulness corresponds to the fig tree incident, revealing the danger of appearing healthy without true fruit.
Day Four of Creation: Filling the Order with Lights
Scripture: Genesis Day Four.
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them serve as signs to mark the sacred times, days, and years…’” — Highlighting cosmic order and governance by sun, moon, and stars.
Theological observation:
Days 4–6 “fill” the form placed in Days 1–3. Day Four “fills” Day One’s light with governing lights that establish order and sacred times.
These lights provide rhythm, breathability, and stability to human life.
The Question of Disorder: When Governance Breaks Down
Pastoral application:
Even small disruptions (e.g., time change) can unsettle us; how much more when cosmic order collapses?
Cultural anecdote: Floridians’ dependence on sunlight; Seattle’s low-light environment as an example of emotional impact.
Spiritual implication:
The apocalyptic teachings of Jesus in Matthew 22–25 warn of times when the cosmic order fails and chaos returns.
Jesus’ Apocalyptic Teaching: Matthew 22–25
Scripture: Matthew 24:29–31.
“Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky… Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man… and he will send his angels… and they will gather his elect…”
Key points:
The language of cosmic collapse echoes the creation themes and signals profound judgment and transition.
Jesus situates Himself within the prophetic tradition, not inventing apocalyptic imagery but fulfilling it.
Prophetic Background: Amos and the Day of the Lord
Scripture: Amos 8:9–10.
“‘In that day,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight… I will turn your religious festivals into mourning… like mourning for an only son.’”
Interpretation:
Amos frames darkness as judgment tied to sin and rebellion. The “Day of the Lord” is a reversal of Day Four’s order—lights fail, sacred times turn to mourning.
Historical Fulfillment: The Temple and Judgment
Jesus’ fig tree teaching and mountain/temple saying:
“If you have faith… you can say to this mountain… be thrown into the sea.” Interpreted as a prophetic sign regarding the temple’s fate.
Historical note:
The destruction of the temple (c. AD 70) occurred within a generation of Jesus’ words.
For the Jewish people, this felt like cosmic darkness—the collapse of the center of worship and order.
Personal Chaos: Modern Applications
Examples:
Medical diagnoses that plunge us into fear.
Relationship trauma that reawakens pain.
Temptations:
To fight in our strength (“war paint”).
To mislabel darkness as light—especially in politicized or militarized narratives.
Pastoral Warning on Calling Darkness Light
Contemporary note:
Social media giddiness about war or temple-related geopolitics as “signals” for Jesus’ return.
Caution:
We do not know the day or hour; beware of voices that monetize apocalyptic predictions.
Do not baptize destruction as light; remain grounded in the Gospel’s true hope.
The Cross as the Great and Glorious Day of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 27:45; Psalm 22:1 (echoed by Jesus).
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Theological claim:
On the cross, creation “rolls back” into “tohu vavohu”—the lights fail, the clock stops.
Yet God the Father is not far from the Son. Jesus embraces chaos, dies for us, and descends into the darkness.
Resurrection: “Let There Be Lights” Again
Creation echoes:
The Spirit still hovers; the Father’s call renews the light.
Easter is the new dawn—Jesus rises as the true Light, reestablishing order and peace.
Identity and calling:
Who God is: Holy, present, sovereign over chaos, faithful to redeem.
Who you are: Beloved, carried by God’s Spirit, called to trust and be prepared.
How to live: Breathe, do not manufacture light, wait on God’s governance and grace.
Parable of the Ten Maidens: Preparedness in Darkness
Scripture: Matthew 25:1–13.
Ten maidens await the bridegroom; five wise bring oil and are ready for the delay and the night, five foolish assume perpetual daylight and are unprepared.
Clarification:
“Virgin” as a translation of “young maiden.”
Application:
Wisdom is readiness for darkness—trusting God’s provision when rhythms fail.
Foolishness is presuming endless daylight—neglecting serious engagement with faith and discipleship.
Final Hope: New Creation and the Seventh Day
Scripture: Revelation 21:22–23.
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon… for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
Eschatological vision:
The temple is fulfilled in God and the Lamb.
Sun and moon become unnecessary—Jesus is the Light, establishing eternal order and peace.
Applications for Today
When your life feels like “tohu vavohu”:
Breathe. God’s Spirit gives breath.
Do not try to manufacture your own light or baptize darkness as light.
Prepare your faith-life for seasons of darkness—practice trust, prayer, community, and Scripture now.
Remember: Jesus took the chaos upon Himself and rose to govern your days with His peace.
Key Points
God’s creation brings ordered light into chaos; Day Four fills Day One’s light with governing lights and sacred rhythms.
Jesus’ apocalyptic teaching echoes the prophets: the Day of the Lord is a reversal of created order, revealing judgment and the need to be ready.
The cross is the great Day of the Lord: darkness at noon signifies creation’s rollback; yet God remains faithful, and resurrection renews light.
Do not call darkness light—avoid apocalyptic speculation and politicized “giddiness” over conflict; cling to the true Light, Jesus.
Wisdom is preparedness: like the five maidens with oil, cultivate a faith that can endure the night, trusting God to say again, “Let there be lights.”
Our identity and hope: We are carried by the Spirit, governed by the Lamb’s light, and destined for a new creation where Jesus Himself is our lamp.
Closing Exhortation and Prayer
Exhortation:
“Breathe; He will carry you through. Everything’s going to be okay, even when it doesn’t seem like it is. Just breathe because He will say, ‘Let there be lights.’”
Prayer:
Thanksgiving for God’s abiding presence.
Petition for readiness in darkness and trust that God will lead us through by His light.
Questions for the Week: The Week: The Week: Day 4 - Day or Hour
A one-hour time change at Daylight Savings Time throws us off. Why do you think human beings are so deeply dependent on rhythm, routine, and the "governors" of our time to feel at peace?
Read Matthew 24:29-31. Jesus warned of a time when the sun and moon would go dark, times when life feels completely chaotic and time seems to stand still. Can you share a time in your life (like a sudden phone call or crisis) when it felt like the "clocks stopped" and everything went dark?
When we hit times of darkness, our temptation is to try and "fix it" by finding or creating our own light, which often just brings more chaos. What does "manufacturing your own light" look like in your life when you are stressed or afraid?
On the cross, Jesus took the total darkness of our sin upon Himself (Matthew 27:45) so that He could be our eternal light (Revelation 21:22-27). How does knowing that Jesus has already conquered the ultimate darkness change how you handle the "dark days" in your current life?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Dublin the Fun (Photos)
We had more than Dublin the Fun!
What an incredible time we had at "Dublin the Fun"! My heart is still so full from seeing everyone. The day was packed with laughs, starting with that super fun bounce house that was a hit all day long. And the food! We had so many baked potatoes and other yummy treats. I even spotted some Irish coffee creamer by the coffee station, lol!
We really went all out with the games, and they were such a blast. A huge congrats again to Pam for winning the Pot of Gold challenge! Watching everyone compete in Hot Potato and especially the 3-Legged Race (where there may have been some creative carrying involved) was hilarious. We even got a little help from the weather when the clouds came out right at 5 PM to give us some needed shade.
But honestly, what made me the happiest was just seeing everyone together, enjoying each other’s company. Watching old friends catch up and new friendships start, that’s how we live as the body of Christ together. A massive thanks to everyone who helped organize and to everyone who came out to make "Dublin the Fun" so special!
2 Weeks and 2 Baptisms
Great to have 2 baptisms in the last few weeks.
Talk about a holy streak! It has been an incredible couple of weeks at Grace. First, we had a new family move to the area and ask for their baby to be baptized, and who are we to keep the gifts of God to ourselves!?
Then, just three weeks ago, Hunter and his father joined us for worship, and Hunter shared that he wanted to be baptized too. From the littlest ones to those a bit older, seeing the family of God grow like this is such a gift. It’s been a very good couple of weeks!
[Sunday] Day 3 - Sprout, The Week
We often settle for the mere "leaves of religion" by simply going through the motions, yet the third day of Creation reveals our design to sprout and bear fruit.
We often settle for the mere "leaves of religion" by simply going through the motions, yet the third day of Creation reveals our design to sprout and bear fruit.
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1. Notes for Your Bible
Genesis 1 (The Creation Account): The sermon extensively parallels the first three days of creation with the events of Holy Week. The speaker suggests that the authors of the Gospels, inspired by the Spirit, naturally saw the "re-creation" work of Jesus through the lens of the original creation.
Day 1 (Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light"): This is compared to Jesus, the Light of the World, entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He brings light into a city that believed it was already enlightened.
Day 2 (Genesis 1:6-8, Separating the waters): This is paralleled with Jesus cleansing the temple. By driving out the merchants, Jesus "separated" the chaos from the holy space, reigning in the chaos just as God reigned in the waters to create the sky, allowing people to "breathe" again and find peace.
Day 3 (Genesis 1:9-13, Dry ground appears & vegetation sprouts): This day has two parts. First, God further reigns in the chaotic seas by making dry land appear. Second, the land is commanded to be fruitful, producing vegetation and fruit-bearing trees. This theme of "fruitfulness" becomes the central focus of the sermon.
Matthew 21:19 ("Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said, 'May you never bear fruit again.' And immediately the tree withered."):
Meaning: The withering of the fig tree is not an act of random anger from Jesus. It is a symbolic act. The tree, full of leaves but lacking fruit, represents the religious system of the day, particularly the temple in Jerusalem. It had the outward appearance of life and religiosity ("spiritual foliage") but was spiritually barren and not producing the "fruit" of justice, mercy, and love for neighbor.
Context: Jesus performs this act while walking from Bethany up toward the Temple Mount, making the temple the clear object of this symbolic judgment.
Matthew 21:21 ("...you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done."):
Meaning: This is not about literal mountain-moving. The "mountain" refers to the Temple Mount, the center of the fruitless religious system. The "sea" represents the primordial chaos and formlessness ("tohu vavohu") from Genesis 1.
Application: Jesus is teaching that faith in Him allows believers to recognize that fruitless religious structures and outward shows of piety are hopeless and should be "cast away" into chaos. The real hope is not in the building or the rituals, but in God's work of producing genuine fruit in people's lives.
Amos 5:21-24 ("I hate, I despise your religious festivals... But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream."):
Purpose: This passage is used as an Old Testament parallel to Jesus's critique of the temple. It demonstrates that God has always been more concerned with the "fruit" of justice, righteousness, and care for the needy than with the "leaves" of religious festivals, sacrifices, and songs. It serves as a mirror, forcing listeners to question if their own worship is just "lip service."
Gospel of John (Resurrection Account): The speaker notes that in John's Gospel, the resurrected Jesus is presented as a "gardener." This connects the resurrection to the Day 3 creation theme of the land sprouting new life and fruitfulness. Jesus's resurrection is the ultimate act of "sprouting" life from the darkness of the tomb.
2. General Summary of Main Points
The sermon intertwines the creation narrative from Genesis 1 with the events of Jesus's final week in Jerusalem to explore the theme of genuine "fruitfulness" versus empty religious appearance. The speaker posits that the Gospel writers naturally saw Jesus's work of "re-creation" through the lens of the original creation.
The central metaphor is the contrast between leaves and fruit, drawn from Jesus cursing the barren fig tree. The leaves represent the outward appearance of religiosity—rituals, magnificent buildings (the temple), and going through the motions of faith. The fruit, however, represents the tangible outcomes of true faith: justice, love for neighbor, patience, forgiveness, and caring for the vulnerable.
The speaker argues that Jesus's actions, like cleansing the temple and cursing the fig tree, were a prophetic judgment on a religious system that was all "leaves" and no "fruit." He calls the congregation to self-examination, warning against the ease of cultivating "spiritual foliage" while neglecting the actual fruit God desires. The ultimate hope is found not in our own efforts to be fruitful, but in the Gospel, where Jesus takes our barrenness upon Himself on the cross (a barren "tree") and, through His resurrection, brings forth new life and true fruitfulness for all who have faith in Him. This new creation is now breaking into the world through the Spirit's work in the church and in the lives of individual believers.
3. Gospel Presentation
The Gospel is taught explicitly towards the end of the sermon.
Time Stamp: The core message begins around 00:16:04 from the start of the recording.
Summary: The speaker explains that while we, like the barren fig tree, are often fruitless and caught in sin, deserving to be "thrown back into the sea" of chaos, the Gospel presents a divine exchange. Jesus takes our "unfruitful, barren tree" (our sin and failure) and exchanges it for His "fruitful tree." He dies on the cross—our "tree of barrenness"—for us. In his death, the Creator of the universe takes on the "regressing of creation," entering the darkness and chaos ("tohu vavohu") of the tomb. But just as God commanded "Let there be light" on Day 1 and "Let the earth sprout" on Day 3, God raises Jesus from the dead, filling His lungs with air again. Through this resurrection, Jesus brings forth the fruit of forgiveness and grace for us. This act initiates a new creation in which believers are joined, enabling them to bear true spiritual fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Illustrations and Their Points
Writing the Sermon with a Friend:
Illustration: The speaker recounts a conversation with his friend Mark about the deep parallels between the Genesis creation story and Matthew's account of Holy Week. His friend suggested it wasn't a deliberate, formulaic mapping but rather that the themes of creation were so foundational to the Gospel writers' worldview that they naturally emerged as they wrote about Jesus's work of re-creation.
Point: This idea makes the connection feel more organic and profound. It shows that the work of salvation is intrinsically linked to the work of creation, as both are expressions of who God is.
Citrus Greening Disease in Florida:
Illustration: The speaker describes a disease affecting Florida's citrus trees. A key characteristic is that an infected tree can initially look healthy and full of leaves but will not produce any fruit. Eventually, it begins to die, and farmers must quickly remove it to prevent the disease from spreading.
Point: This serves as a modern-day parallel to the barren fig tree and the temple. A religious life, or a church, can look healthy and vibrant on the outside (many leaves) but be spiritually diseased and fruitless on the inside. This external health is deceiving, and the lack of fruit is the true indicator of its spiritual state.
The Temple Mount's Location:
Illustration: The speaker describes the geography of Jerusalem, noting that the path from Bethany to the city ascends toward the Temple Mount. Jesus's actions against the fig tree and his teaching about casting "this mountain" into the sea happen in the literal shadow of the temple.
Point: This physical context makes the symbolic meaning of Jesus's actions undeniable. The fig tree is a stand-in for the temple, and the "mountain" is the Temple Mount itself. The proximity connects the judgment on the tree directly to the judgment on the fruitless religious system centered at the temple.
5. Interesting Quotes
Quote: "I think it's just who they are. That so interweaved is the theme of the creative order that when they are writing and the Spirit is inspiring their writing about how Jesus saves the world... it just mirrors themes of creation too."
Point: This quote emphasizes that the connection between creation and redemption is not a clever literary device but a deep theological reality. The God who creates is the same God who saves, and His methods of bringing order from chaos and life from nothingness are consistent.
Quote: "It's incredibly easy to grow leaves of religion... to know how to show up on Sunday morning, know when to stand, when to sit, when to laugh at the pastor's jokes... We put a magnificent display of spiritual foliage."
Point: This quote makes the sermon's warning highly personal and practical. It defines "leaves" not just as ancient temple rituals, but as modern church-going habits that can exist without any genuine inner transformation or outward love for others. It challenges the listener to look past their own religious performance.
Quote: "How many times have you read this verse in your lifetime, and you've never thought about the sea of chaos in the creation?... He's saying that if you have enough faith, you can realize that all of that empty platitudes of religion, it all can be thrown away."
Point: This highlights a fresh interpretation of a familiar passage (Matthew 21:21). By linking the "sea" to the chaos of Genesis 1, it transforms the verse from a generic statement about faith into a specific, powerful declaration that faith in Jesus frees us from relying on dead, fruitless religious systems.
Questions for the Week: The Week: The Week: Day 3 - Sprout
We are often tempted to just show the "leaves of religion" (showing up on Sunday, knowing the songs) and mistake them for the actual "fruit" of faith (loving neighbors, patience, genuine repentance). What are some ways we easily mistake having "leaves" for actually bearing "fruit"?
Read Matthew 21:18-22. Have you ever experienced a season in your spiritual life where you looked fine on the outside but felt completely "fruitless" and disconnected from God on the inside?
Read Amos 5:21-24. Why is God so opposed to religious routine that doesn't actually result in loving people or seeking justice?
Where have you seen genuine spiritual fruit in the lives of the people around you recently?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Guys Night at Millers! [Photos]
Great time at Miller’s
Huge thanks to everyone who came out to Miller’s Ale House! We hit a new milestone with 18 in attendance, making it our largest gathering to date.
The energy was so high we even had a few people mention the volume—apparently, we’re officially the "loud table" now! Love seeing this group grow.
Dublin The Fun March 8th 5pm
Why just have fun when you can Dublin it.
March 8th
Time Change of Dublin the Fun.
5pm now.
Just like that struggle of "springing forward" into Daylight Saving Time, Tons of Fun is shifting the clock! To keep things cool and comfortable, we are moving our Dublin the Fun start time to 5:00 PM.
In all seriousness, the 3:00 PM heat today was just too intense with the current lack of shade. We want you focusing on the fun, not the heat exhaustion! See you an hour later for a much cooler event.
DUBLIN THE FUN! ☘️
Sunday, March 8th | 5:00 PM
Join us for a day of Irish-inspired fellowship and
"spud-tacular" food!
The Feast:
We’re providing a Baked Potato Bar with all the fixin’s
Sign up to bring your favorite Irish dish, side dish or dessert!
The Fun:
Kids’ bounce house,
Potato sack races,
and so much more!
Bring a dish, bring a friend, and let’s Dublin the fun!
Photos of from last year
[Sunday] Day 2 - Flipping Water, The Week
When we are drowning in anxiety and noise, Jesus steps in to flip the tables, pushing back the chaotic waters like on day 2 of creation, so we can finally catch our breath.
When we are drowning in anxiety and noise, Jesus steps in to flip the tables, pushing back the chaotic waters like on day 2 of creation, so we can finally catch our breath.
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The Week: Day Two — “Separation of the Waters” (Holy Week and Creation Interwoven)
Series Context
Ongoing sermon series: “The Week,” interweaving Holy Week with the seven days of Creation.
Last week: Day One of Creation aligned with Palm Sunday—“Let there be light” as Jesus, the Light of the World, enters dark Jerusalem.
Scripture Read and Framing
Primary text: “And God said, ‘Let the vault between the waters separate water from water.’ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault sky. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.” — Highlighted as from Genesis Day Two (see NIV rendering).
Translation note:
The pastor affirmed “vault/expanse/sky” (NIV) as a strong translation.
He critiqued translations that render it “heaven” in a way that confuses it with God’s dwelling; insisted this is the sky where the birds fly, not the heavenly throne.
Emphasized the value of consulting multiple translations to see the full sense.
Theological Thesis
Day Two is not trivial meteorology; it is profoundly theological.
God is pictured as establishing boundaries that restrain chaotic waters, creating breathable, safe space for life.
Parallel in Holy Week: Jesus enters the Temple to push back chaos and create a place of prayer and restoration.
Cultural and Personal Illustrations: Water in Its Place vs. Out of Bounds
Personal love for water: tranquil scenes at Daytona Beach as a “slice of heaven.”
When water exceeds boundaries, it becomes terrifying:
2022 hurricanes in Daytona Beach: seawall breaches; pools hanging or eroded; concrete stairs torn off and buried ~15 feet under sand.
St. Louis flooding near Interstate 44: concrete barriers wrapped in plastic sandbagging the freeway; water overtopping the road—an image of destructive chaos.
Universal human instinct: fear of the deep (e.g., dangling toes while treading water after falling off skis); myths of monsters (Leviathan) in the deep.
Hebrew imagination: “the deep” as chaotic, destructive, unpredictable.
Biblical-Theological Development: From Tohu Vavohu to Breathed Space
Creation language: God confronts tohu vavohu (formless and void) by bounding chaos.
Day Two: God separates waters and names the expanse “sky,” granting a breathable space—humanity comes up out of chaos for a gasp of life.
This is a pattern: God orders chaos into life-giving environments.
Holy Week Parallel: Jesus Clears the Temple
Text alluded to: “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling… ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” — Highlighted as from the Gospel accounts of the Temple cleansing (e.g., Matthew 21:12–14).
Temple design: The Court of the Gentiles intended as the place where the nations, the lame, and the blind could approach God.
Problem: Chaotic “waters” of commerce, greed, noise, animal bleating, and market scales flooded the space meant for the vulnerable.
Theological action: Jesus did not lose His temper; He enacted Day Two—forcefully pushing back the waters of chaos to create a safe expanse for prayer and healing.
Immediate fruit: “The blind and the lame came to Him…and He healed them.” The vulnerable, previously “drowned out,” re-enter and find life.
Who God Is and How He Responds to Humans
God is the Creator who:
Sets firm boundaries against chaos.
Creates spaces where humans can breathe, pray, and live.
Jesus reveals God’s character in action:
He confronts and restrains dehumanizing systems.
He makes room for the vulnerable and heals them.
He transforms acts that appear destructive into new-creation moments of order, peace, and restoration.
Who You Are in God and How to Live
Identity:
In Christ, you are intended to be a temple—a house of prayer (see 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 implied). You are made for peace and rest in God’s presence.
Calling:
Invite Jesus to separate the “waters” in your life—allow Him to push back anxiety, greed, noise, and idolatry.
Protect the vulnerable; ensure your “courts” make space for those in need.
Practice rhythms that sustain a house-of-prayer life: Scripture, prayer, forgiveness, and love of neighbor.
Self-Examination: Our Hearts as Courtyards
Modern chaos floods in:
Constant noise, overloaded schedules, pursuit of wealth, social media churn, simmering anger and anxiety.
Consequence:
The “marketplace of worry” squeezes out prayer, Scripture, forgiveness, and neighbor-love.
We regress into darkness and drown in chaos of our own making.
Gospel hope:
Jesus does not convene committees; He clears the courts. He confronts and removes what drowns us.
His cleansing is an act of creation, not mere destruction.
Cross and Resurrection: The Ultimate Separation of the Waters
Crucifixion as drowning:
In Roman crucifixion, death occurs by asphyxiation—Jesus “drowns” under the chaotic waters of our sin: greed, anxiety, idolatry, rebellion.
Baptismal imagery:
Jesus descends into the waters of judgment and chaos on our behalf.
The Father fulfills the Day Two word—He holds back the waters; Jesus breathes again on Easter.
New life:
Jesus’ breath becomes our breath; His Spirit our spirit.
In baptism, we go under the waters and rise into new life with Christ.
Application for Today’s Culture (American context)
The news cycle, work pressures, family tensions, even neighborhood conflicts can feel like hurricanes and floods tearing apart established places of peace.
God’s word to drowners: “Let the waters be separated”—come up to the expanse of grace where you can breathe again.
Practical implications:
Create intentional “expanse” daily: a quiet, tech-free space for prayer and Scripture.
Name and remove “money changer tables” in your life: practices or patterns that monetize or instrumentalize relationships and worship.
Re-center on those pushed out by noise and busyness: the vulnerable in your community, family, and church.
Receive Jesus’ cleansing as mercy, not condemnation—His goal is your life and breathing room.
Key Texts Highlighted in the Sermon
Genesis Day Two: “Let there be a vault/expanse… God called the vault sky… evening and morning, the second day.” — Highlighted as from Genesis 1:6–8 (NIV emphasis on “sky”).
“My house will be called a house of prayer… but you are making it a den of robbers.” — Highlighted as from Matthew 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46 (Temple cleansing).
Themes referenced:
“Tohu vavohu” (formless and void) — Highlighted as from Genesis 1:2.
Leviathan (sea monster imagery) — Highlighted as from Job 41; Psalm 74:14; Isaiah 27:1.
Temple as a house of prayer for all nations — Highlighted as from Isaiah 56:7, echoed by Jesus.
Practical Steps for the Week
Morning and evening “breath prayers” to mark your own “evening and morning”:
Inhale: “Lord Jesus Christ” — Exhale: “Give me Your peace.”
Inhale: “Holy Spirit” — Exhale: “Make me a house of prayer.”
Identify one “table” to overturn this week:
Examples: a social media habit that stirs anxiety; an overpacked schedule; a financial pursuit overshadowing generosity; a harboring resentment.
Re-open the Court of the Gentiles in your life:
Make space for someone on the margins—invite, listen, serve, or pray with them.
Recommit to Scripture and prayer:
Read Genesis 1:1–10 and Matthew 21:12–17; journal where God is separating waters in your life.
Closing Exhortation and Prayer
Exhortation:
When chaos rises like sea billows, hear God’s creative word: “Let the waters be separated.” Come up and breathe in Christ’s peace.
“And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.” This is good news for those gasping for breath.
Closing prayer (themes):
Thanksgiving for gathering.
Petition for God to bind up chaos, keep us from returning to tohu vavohu, reveal His peace and love, and let us breathe again in His rest.
Amen.
Closing Song (Selected Lines)
“When sorrows like sea billows roll… it is well with my soul.”
“My sin—not in part, but the whole—is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”
Assurance: Christ has died for my soul; it is well with God.
Summary Takeaways
God bounds chaos to create life-giving space; Jesus enacts this in the Temple and in our lives.
You are God’s temple—made for prayer, peace, and welcome to the vulnerable.
Let Jesus overturn the tables that drown your soul; rise to breathe in the Spirit’s life.
The cross is Jesus’ descent into our drowning; the resurrection is the Father’s separation of the waters so we can live.
Questions for the Week: The Week: The Week: Day 2 - Flipping Water
Read Genesis 1:6-8. What is your favorite memory of being near the water, and have you ever been in a storm that kind of scared you?
Read Matthew 21:12-17 The Temple was supposed to be a place of peace, but it became a chaotic marketplace that drowned out the vulnerable. What are the "chaotic waters" (anxiety, schedules, social media, etc.) that currently flood your own mind and squeeze out your peace and the peace of others?
To the moneychangers, Jesus driving them out of the temple looked like an act of destruction. To the blind and lame, it was an act of creation that gave them room to breathe. Has there ever been a time in your life when God "flipped the tables" on your plans, which felt destructive at the time but ultimately brought you peace?
Jesus drowned in our chaos on Friday so we could breathe anew on Sunday. When the news, your job, or life pressures make you feel like you are going under, how does remembering that Jesus has already conquered the depths help you find rest?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Habitat for Children at Best Practices
Meshac and Shirlon got to attend Best Practices!
Meschac and Shirlon at the opportunity to attend 2026 Best Practices conference.
The Best Practices in Ministry Conference is a completely free, high-energy gathering in Phoenix designed to refresh church leaders through practical workshops and the simple, powerful reminder that they aren't doing ministry alone.
This sermon could just as easily be titled YHWH I AM EGO EIMI. Today we are going to take a journey to the Land of Holiness. When we get there, we will still be here.. Yes, that is a paradox. No, we are not going to leave this sanctuary. This is a journey of the heart, of the soul. Once we know where holiness lives, it will come alive in us.