Worship 10 am & 6 pm
Belgrade United Reformed Church
17333 Frontage Road
Belgrade, MT 59714
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.
Can Faith Both Unite and Divide? (Luke 12:49-59)
Jesus’ mission is paradoxical because He unifies His people in faith and brings division at the same time. Christ is celebrated because he brings heavenly peace, but Christ declares, “I have not come to bring peace, but division,” because true peace is not the absence of conflict but submission to Christ as King. Families may be divided over their allegiance to Him, but His baptism of suffering and judgment secures His disciples who hear his word. Just as the Spirit’s fire empowered the disciples rather than consuming them in Luke’s second volume, Christ’s sacrifice enables us to stand in the final judgment as we already taste its cleansing power. He warns that while people can discern the weather, many fail to recognize the urgency of the gospel. Real faith is not about religious rituals or cultural Christianity but about embracing Jesus as Messiah, Savior, and King. By faith, we are transformed, aligning our hearts and lives with Him, not as perfect people but as redeemed ones who live for God’s glory. Let us judge for ourselves what is right as we discern the true words of our savior.
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.
