Paul Lindemulder 9/27/25 Paul Lindemulder 9/27/25

When is the Kingdom Coming? (LD 48; 1 Cor. 15:20-28)

In the Lord’s Prayer, the petition “Your kingdom come” expresses both recognition of Christ’s present reign and longing for its future fulfillment. While Christ already rules spiritually from heaven, the prayer calls believers to deeper submission, sanctification, and participation in advancing His kingdom through the growth of the Church and the defeat of evil. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 shows that Christ’s resurrection, as the “first fruits,” guarantees our own resurrection and consecrates us as God’s people, linking the present spiritual kingdom to its ultimate consummation. Ultimately, this prayer reflects hope for Christ’s final triumph, the full defeat of sin and death, and the enjoyment of God’s glory in a renewed creation.

Paul Lindemulder 9/26/25 Paul Lindemulder 9/26/25

Preparing the Passover Lamb (Luke 22:1-13)

Throughout Scripture, God’s sovereignty is clear: even amid human failure, sin, and betrayal, His redemptive plan unfolds perfectly. From Adam and Eve to Abraham, from Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to Christ’s passion, God works through unexpected circumstances to accomplish His purpose. Though Christ faced conspiracies, betrayal, and chaos, He fulfilled His role as the Passover Lamb, submitting to the cross at the appointed time and securing redemption for His people. In Him, our sins are covered, our lives consecrated, and our identity and strength found. We need to be reminded that nothing surprises God, and all His promises are faithfully fulfilled.

Paul Lindemulder 9/16/25 Paul Lindemulder 9/16/25

Watch the Fig Tree (Luke 22:5-38)

Life with Christ is not promised to be easy, but we always need to see that our redemption is secure. Jesus warns us about deception, suffering, and the fleeting nature of earthly things, yet He calls us to discernment, endurance, and hope in Him. In a world of turmoil and false promises, our strength is found not in institutions or human effort, but in the risen Christ who preserves His people to the end.

Paul Lindemulder 8/21/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/21/25

Speaking Love’s Language (LD 43; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

The Ninth Commandment reminds us that truth is central to Christian love and community life, warning against lying, gossip, slander, and twisting words for self-promotion. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 13 shows that true love is humble, not boastful or arrogant, but patient and forgiving, refusing to keep a record of wrongs. Love bears with others, seeks what honors Christ rather than self, and practices wise forgiveness that encourages genuine repentance. Ultimately, love and truth are inseparably linked. We see this because love rejoices in truth, not injustice, builds trust and hope within the community, and endures trials as a reflection of God Himself, who is both love and truth. This is the heart of Christian witness, possible only through the work and merits of Christ applied in the Spirit.

Paul Lindemulder 8/19/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/19/25

Does Baptism Have the Power to Save? (Romans 6:1-14)

Romans 6 is challenging to understand. It is in the context of contrasting Adam’s failure with Christ’s success, emphasizing our identity in one of their historic precedents. Baptism symbolizes Christ’s triumph over death and hell, signifying our new life in Christ and our community’s identity as God’s covenant people. As new creatures in Christ, we live out this reality, battling sin while empowered by God’s grace.

Paul Lindemulder 8/14/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/14/25

Thieving to Thriving (LD 42; Ephesians 4:28)

This post explores how the command not to steal goes beyond obvious theft to include greed, deceptive practices, and misuse of God’s gifts. We look at Ephesians 4:28 and Sinclair Ferguson’s insights, and contrast the old sinful self with the new life in Christ, emphasizing work as worship and the Spirit’s transforming patience. Living in community, generosity, and honesty honors God and reflects our identity as redeemed people.

Paul Lindemulder 8/12/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/12/25

The Redeemer’s Reaping (Luke 20:1-19)

In a tense confrontation at the temple, Jesus faces the religious leaders’ challenge: “By what authority do you do these things?” Through a powerful parable about a vineyard and its tenants, Jesus exposes their refusal to recognize His divine authority. This story warns of the dangers of relying on covenant identity, heritage, and tradition over true faith. Christ calls all to hear, receive, and live under Christ’s lordship which leads to bearing glorious fruit in God’s vineyard.

Paul Lindemulder 8/7/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/7/25

Empowered for Chastity (LD 41; 1 Thess. 4:3-8)

God’s law is not a checklist, but it’s a call to heart-deep transformation. When we define the law by our own standards, we may think we’ve kept it. But seen through God’s eyes, it exposes our desires and calls us to something higher: a life of holiness shaped by union with Christ. Adultery, for instance, is more than a physical act. It is a matter of faithfulness to the Lord. This perspective leads us to live not for appearances, but as those empowered by the Holy Spirit, set apart for God’s glory, and living by His standard. It is humbling to realize he must change us, empower us, and continue to shape us throughout our Christian lives.

Holiness is not about willpower or self-help; it’s about walking in the Spirit as redeemed people. We are called to resist sin not by our strength, but through the resurrection power of Christ at work in us. Chastity becomes a way of life. It is a continual walking in integrity, modesty, and love for God. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we live in daily repentance, joyful obedience, and growing conformity to Christ, not to earn His favor, but because we already belong to Him.

Paul Lindemulder 8/5/25 Paul Lindemulder 8/5/25

The Dirty Temple (Luke 19:45-48)

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem marks a profound and divided moment. Though welcomed by pilgrims as the Messiah, Christ knows his mission: suffering, death, and ultimately resurrection. The city meant to embody peace and God’s presence ironically fails to recognize its King’s true mission that is not one of earthly conquest but of humble submission and redemptive sacrifice. This tension calls us to reflect on how we receive Christ today: with open hearts or hardened resistance.

This moment also reflects Israel’s long history of faltering leadership and unfulfilled covenant promises. Even the greatest leaders, like Joshua and David, failed to secure lasting peace or faithfulness. Christ enters history to heal this broken and sinful world, not as another flawed king, but as the true Redeemer who confronts false security. HIs cleansing the temple exposes the problem of religiosity that goes all the way back to Jeremiah. His call: to truly seek Him with humility and surrender, embracing the peace He offers through His Word and Spirit, rather than resisting from a place of superficial safety.

Paul Lindemulder 7/29/25 Paul Lindemulder 7/29/25

The Weeping King (Luke 19:28-44)

As Christ approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, he embodies both fulfillment of prophecy and a radical redefinition of kingship. Rather than entering as a triumphant earthly ruler, he rides a colt that symbolizes humility and peace, which is in direct contrast to common expectations of a messianic conqueror. This act not only highlights Jesus’ divine foreknowledge and connection to the promises of Genesis and Zechariah, but also deeply echoes Psalm 118 and Psalm 148 as the crowds praise him, recalling God’s pattern of deliverance even as the city's fate of judgment is delayed. The Mount of Olives itself amplifies these themes, standing as a key prophetic site where Zechariah envisioned both judgment and deliverance, much like the Red Sea parted in Israel’s history.

The reactions of the Pharisees further reveal the heart of the moment: their insistence that Jesus rebuke the crowds exposes their rejection of him as Messiah. Jesus responds that if the people were silent, even the stones would cry out, referencing John the Baptist’s warning that true children of Abraham are not defined by lineage or covenant status alone, but by embracing Christ in faith. Amid outward jubilation, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, expressing deep compassion for its spiritual blindness and the peace it fails to receive. This narrative calls for personal reflection—urging each hearer to recognize Christ’s unique mission and kingdom, which are established not by power, but by humility, sacrificial love, and a cross-shaped posture before God.

Paul Lindemulder 7/18/25 Paul Lindemulder 7/18/25

Striving to Enter His Rest (LD 38; Hebrews 3:7-4:13)

The hope of God's Sabbath rest has always pointed beyond physical rest to something much greater: the fullness of life in God’s glorified kingdom. From creation, God's rest was never about recovering through sleep. It points to His true shalom. This "shalom" was meant for Adam, lost in sin, and held out again as a model to Israel after the Exodus. Yet like Adam, Israel fell in the wilderness, grumbling despite witnessing God’s mighty acts of deliverance.

Hebrews draws on Israel’s story to call us to perseverance in Christ. We see that the promise of entering God's rest still stands because Joshua, though faithful, did not bring ultimate rest. True rest is found only in Christ. Therefore, to turn away from Him is to risk missing the shalom God offers eternally. Now tasted in the Spirit, but we are assured of its full physical glory.

Striving to enter this rest is about living with a Spirit-driven eagerness to see our Lord. True faith is not indifferent, but hungers for Christ and longs for our physical reunion with Him. Every Lord’s Day as we gather in worship, we get a foretaste of the rest to come, and our Lord resets our affections.

Let us be a people who strive in the Spirit, longing to glorify Christ, resting in His finished work, and pressing on in faith toward His eternal promise.

Paul Lindemulder 7/16/25 Paul Lindemulder 7/16/25

Gaining Stature by Losing Status (Luke 18:18-19:10)

As Jesus approaches Jericho, which is an iconic city of judgment, He is revealed as the greater Joshua, leading not a campaign of physical conquest, but one of redemption in two phases. In Luke’s account, we meet two individuals: a blind beggar and a wealthy tax collector. Though physically blind, the beggar sees Jesus, rightly identifying him as the Son of David, the Messiah. Zacchaeus, the rich man whose name means “righteous,” is short in stature, a symbol pointing to his moral and spiritual insufficiency.

Despite their social disparity, both men encounter Christ and recognize Him as the true life-giver and equalizer. Their faith, not their status, identifies them as sons of Abraham. As the old mission of Israel ends in exile due to human failure, Jesus begins a new mission, fulfilling the promise through His suffering and the power of the cross.

In Him, we too are called to live as Spirit-led pilgrims, emptying ourselves of worldly significance and finding our identity, hope, and peace in Christ alone. He is not contaminated by sinners, but He sanctifies them as the perfect righteous priest king.

Paul Lindemulder 7/8/25 Paul Lindemulder 7/8/25

When Being Good is not Good Enough (Luke 18:18-34)

One might wonder if Jesus is the Son of Man or Eeyore, always bringing people down right when his mission gains potential momentum. We see an example of this when a rich ruler seeks eternal life, affirming Christ as God. He leaves sad, but why? Because Jesus exposed the one thing the man couldn’t surrender: his status. Though he claimed obedience, his identity was rooted in his accomplishments. It might be his wealthy status or his righteousness, but it was not in Christ. Jesus, who never denies His divinity, challenges this man and us to move beyond performance and status. We are called to be humble, empty ourselves, and embrace humility and daily dependence on Christ who is the sole source of life and eternal status.

Paul Lindemulder 7/5/25 Paul Lindemulder 7/5/25

What's With the Church? (Ephesians 1:15-23; LD 21)

Rev. Austin Britton encourages us to think about the church and the significance of the church.

Paul Lindemulder 6/26/25 Paul Lindemulder 6/26/25

Built or Broken by the Name (Lev. 24:10-16; LD 36)

God’s law reveals His holiness and lays out the holy standard of growing in Christlikeness. The first three commandments teach us to worship God exclusively, rightly, and with reverence for His name. Misusing God’s name, as seen in Leviticus 24, is a grave offense because it dishonors God’s very identity. While Old Testament penalties were the severe pedagogue, the New Testament church practices discipline through excommunication and calls for repentance, reflecting our status as spiritual exiles awaiting Christ’s kingdom. Ultimately, Jesus is the true Joshua who secures, confirms, and leads us to the glorified land in his Spirit. Currently, we honor God’s name by living to glorify Christ by living out of gratitude and using his name with reverence.

Paul Lindemulder 6/24/25 Paul Lindemulder 6/24/25

Rejected and Respected (Luke 18:9-17)

True spiritual life is found not in self-reliance or moral superiority, but in humble submission and appreciation of God’s mercy. Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector shows that it is the repentant, not the self-assured, who are righteous before God. Like little children, we are called to receive God’s kingdom with humility and trust, recognizing our daily need for His grace.

Paul Lindemulder 6/19/25 Paul Lindemulder 6/19/25

Breath of Fresh Air (2 Tim. 3:16-4:2. LD 35)

The law of God shapes believers to be like Christ, with the second commandment introducing the Regulative Principle of Worship—meaning only elements explicitly commanded by God belong in worship. This principle contrasts with the Regulative Principle for Life, which grants freedom in daily matters not forbidden by Scripture, reflecting Christian liberty. We have the liberty to work out our salvation as we discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Scripture is central as God’s inspired Word and the foundation for the church’s life. The preaching of the Gospel is an ongoing means of grace, Spirit-empowered to nourish faith and promote spiritual growth. Worship focuses on honoring God through His appointed ministers, emphasizing communion with Him rather than self, trusting in God’s promise to work effectively through His Word. This is why Gospel preaching is not optional, but not only necessary, but commanded for Christians to continue to sit under this means of grace. It is one of the chief means that God uses to bring us to maturity.

Paul Lindemulder 6/17/25 Paul Lindemulder 6/17/25

Gospel Submission (Acts 6:1-7)

In Acts 6, the early church encounters a critical challenge when a complaint arises that Hellenistic Jewish widows are being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Rather than dismiss the concern, the apostles recognize the need, and they act. They do not set aside their priority to preach and pray, but they appoint seven men—deacons/servants—whose qualifications are not based merely on availability but on their character: they are to be Spirit-filled, wise, and well-regarded within the community. This passage quietly affirms the value of church membership and being deeply known by the body because these men are well-known.

This moment in Acts reveals a holistic vision for church life and mission. The apostles emulate Christ’s ministry, which is holistic. Christ is concerned about our spiritual health and our physical health. Preaching and prayer are not abandoned, but complemented by ordained men showing acts of mercy that reflect God's heart for the vulnerable. Acts 6 reminds us that Christian life is not isolated or passive—it is lived out within a community, shaped by grace, and expressed in ongoing service, care, and witness.

Paul Lindemulder 6/12/25 Paul Lindemulder 6/12/25

What’s With the Holy Spirit?

Rev. Austin Britton lays out the significance of the Holy Spirit for the life of the church.

Paul Lindemulder 5/31/25 Paul Lindemulder 5/31/25

What's With the Lord's Table? (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

We welcome Rev. Austin Britton to our pulpit as Pastor Lindemulder enjoys a week off.

Worship 10 am & 6 pm