Whispering Pines Church PodPoint

This week we launch our new sermon series on the parables of Jesus. In the gospels are recorded 46 parables that Jesus told to His disciples and anyone who was there to listen. He most likely told many more. This is how He communicated much of the truth that He came to share with the world.

These parables were spoken to the ordinary, using everyday situations that anyone could understand. Jesus shared them along the highways and byways of life. He told stories that surprised, with unexpected heroes and villains. He told of characters that defied expectations. Masters and fathers that surprised Jesus’ listeners with their mercy or wisdom.

Jesus was throwing these stories down alongside their everyday lives as they traveled the road together. His audience had no idea what they were in for. Because like little time bombs, these stories would ruminate in their minds. Unexpectedly, they realized who they were in the story. They came to understand that the story was for them, confronting them, challenging them, and in other instances, offering a taste of grace. Join us as we explore the preferred teaching method of the Messiah!

-Pastor Nate Roschen

Join us this Mother’s Day as we celebrate mothers! As a community of believers, we are so grateful for the mothers in our lives who have led a life of faith, inspired us, motivated us, and have demonstrated passionate loving kindness to each of us. Join us as we pause to acknowledge and appreciate mothers in our community!

This week we will also be wrapping up our journey through the book of Romans, which will tie in very nicely with our Mother’s Day celebration! Romans 16 is a collection of Paul’s final greetings to individuals in the Roman church that he has known. Paul commends Phoebe to the Roman church as the messenger of the letter and a benefactor of Paul (16:2). Paul uses this chapter as an opportunity to show connections that he has with Christians in Rome as a way to gain credibility. Of the 28 names that Paul mentions, 10 are women. This fact should change the way that modern readers understand the impact, role, and place of women in the early church. Paul closes his letter by speaking again of the revealed Christ who has established the church. He also mentions his hope that all the Gentiles would come to obedience that comes through faith (16:26). Please join us this Mother’s Day as we celebrate together!

-Pastor Nate Roschen

In Romans 15, Paul concludes his commands for the weak and the strong in the Roman church. Paul urges us to be inclusive and to edify one another with our actions. He strengthens his argument by appealing to the attitude of Christ. The Christians of Rome could not glorify or love God without finding unity and love for one another. Paul refers again to the promises made to the patriarchs, connecting to Romans 4. Paul also connects back to Romans 5 by encouraging the Christians in Rome with the hope given to them by God. Paul says that God has given him the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles, bringing them into an acceptable standing before God, sanctified by the Spirit. Paul then expresses his hopeful desire to visit the church in Rome.

Join us this Sunday as we continue to apply this letter to our lives!

– Pastor Nate Roschen

Romans 14 begins the longest single discourse in all of the Pauline letters. It is Paul’s final instruction to the Roman church. Here Paul speaks of the weak and the strong. Paul identifies himself among the “strong”, which means that the “strong” are not exclusively Gentile believers. Paul is being subtle in his language as a way to encourage both the weak and strong to welcome each other without identifying them by their ethnicity. In this way, he undermines the hierarchy shrewdly. The strong are to welcome and keep from quarreling with the weak, making sure to keep them from stumbling. Paul calls on the strong to sacrifice more than the weak. The Jews and Gentiles glorify God with what they do and are received by God with equal mercy. Neither the weak nor the strong are to be prideful or feel superior because of their beliefs. Their acceptance is to flow from the hope they have found in God.

Join us this Sunday as we continue to apply this letter to our lives!

– Pastor Nate Roschen

This week we come to Romans 13, where Paul continues his instruction on how Christians ought to live out a faith in Christ. Here, Paul writes the most lengthy passage in Scripture on how Christians should be involved with their secular government. Throughout this chapter, and into chapter 14 and 15, Paul makes it abundantly clear that his primary desire is for followers of Christ to have a strong witness in the world.

Paul speaks of submitting to authority, living at peace with others, giving to others what is owed, and being known for love. He gives this message to churches in Rome that have been experiencing (and would soon to a much greater degree) oppression by their government and ostracization from their society. Join us this week for a deep dive into Christian involvement with government and politics.

-Pastor Nate Roschen

John us this Sunday as Daniel Martinez leads us through the remainder of Romans, Chapter 12. Here, Paul offers practical thoughts on Christian living as it pertains to life within the church. Paul begins to list off a number of imperatives – commands to follow. Many of these commands are difficult to put into practice, and remind us of Christ’s teachings from His Sermon on the Mount. More is expected of those who follow Christ, because much has been given to us by God. Christ’s love compels us to live lives of radical faith and love.