Worship 10 am & 6 pm
Belgrade United Reformed Church
17333 Frontage Road
Belgrade, MT 59714
Refined in Tribulation (LD 20; 1 Peter 4:14)
Peter, despite his past failure when he denied Christ three times, exhorts us to rejoice in suffering. This might sound hypocritical, but Peter is being consistent because Peter understands suffering as a refining process, much like precious metals being purified. Trials do not signify God’s abandonment or punishment, but strengthen faith, deepen union with Christ, and reveal our character. The Holy Spirit, who raised Christ and filled the temple, now dwells in believers, preserving and empowering them to persevere until the glory.
Fruitless Faith or Fruit-bearing Faith? (Luke 13:1-9)
The book of Job challenges the simplistic idea that righteousness guarantees blessings and wickedness results in suffering. Instead, the book presents a deeper theodicy that studies how God’s justice works in time. God is showing he will triumph, and his people need to submit to him as his champion people. Job comes to know God, repents of his self-righteousness, and finds victory by bowing the knee to his redeemer.
Christ echoes this theme in His response to the Siloam tower disaster and the parable of the fig tree. Christ’s point is that our outward appearance is not the substance of righteousness. One needs to be oriented and tuned into the Lord’s kingdom, and discerning the Lord’s ways. Job’s story fits within this broader biblical narrative, calling believers to move beyond a rigid understanding of divine justice. We are called to self-examination and faithful submission to God’s will rather than be piety police proclaiming why catastrophe strikes everyone else.
Our Confidence, Our Calling, and Our Coming King (LD 19; Matthew 25:31-46)
Christ’s return isn’t just a future event—it’s a reality that shapes how we live today. While some ignore it and others fear judgment, Scripture assures us that He is both Judge and Redeemer, securing our place in His kingdom. True faith isn’t about religious performance but a heart transformed by grace, reflected in everyday acts of love and service. Our hope isn’t in escaping this world but in knowing that every act of faithfulness is part of His redemption story. Let’s live with confidence, seeking our King because He first sought us.
Our Advocate and New Mind (LD 18; Colossians 3:1-4)
Colossians 3:1-4 highlights Christ’s supreme position as the glorified God-Man, ascended to the right hand of the Father. Christ is seated as the glorified God-man. Contrasting heresies like Eutychianism and Nestorianism, which misunderstand the union of Christ’s divine and human natures, the text emphasizes the hypostatic union as essential to our redemption. Christ’s heavenly ministry as our advocate and intercessor ensures our sanctification and ultimate glorification, empowering believers to live victoriously in their union because Christ has guaranteed our triumph over sin and death.
Joyful Slaves under Sovereign Scrutiny (Luke 12:35-48)
The Christian life is based on the assurance in Christ’s finished work and a call to active, faithful service. Christ not only secures our righteousness, but he also transforms our hearts, empowering us to live as responsive, vigilant servants awaiting our Master’s return. Jesus presents these parables to challenge us to serve Him diligently, trust in God’s provision, and glorify Him in all things as we anticipate the fullness of His kingdom.
We Are Risen and Resurrected? (1 Cor. 15:45; LD 17
The resurrection of Christ guarantees and assures believers of redemption and transformation. While Christ’s resurrection has secured our victory over sin and death, Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 15 that we are still awaiting the final fulfillment of that victory in the full physical blessings. The resurrection declares Christ as the Son of God and grants us righteousness, new life, and the hope of eternal glory. However, we continue to experience the struggles of a fallen world, living in the tension of the “already (taste redemption) but not yet (waiting for fully glory).” Christ, as the last Adam, reverses the effects of sin and death, offering us true life and a future physical resurrection. Even in the first century, doubts about the resurrection arose, but Paul emphasizes that without it, our faith and hope are meaningless. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ’s resurrection power is at work in us now, progressively transforming us as we faithfully anticipate the final triumph when Christ’s returns to bring in the new heavens and new earth. We will be raised in our resurrection bodies because Christ has been raised.
Be Happy: Sell Everything? (Luke 12:13-34)
The passage examines Christ’s teaching on wealth and priorities through a parable about inheritance and a rich man’s desire to secure his future through self-reliance. Christ rebukes his mindset that prioritizes earthly kingdom security in the place of the heavenly kingdom, making explicit that true provision comes from God. The parable of the rich fool highlights the danger of self-centered planning without seeking God’s wisdom to order one’s steps. While wise stewardship is encouraged, Christ warns against placing ultimate trust in earthly security. Instead, believers are called to seek God’s kingdom first, trusting that he will provide for their needs, just as he cares for creation. The reason for this is if God cares for the fading flower and the unclean bird how much more his children he has redeemed in Christ.
