Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church WEPC

In our health-conscious world, we often look for labels that say, “Reduced Sodium.” But let's be honest; how many of us truly get excited when we see a bag of chips or a box of crackers that contains those words?



Most likely not too many of us! That’s because salt is delicious. It’s why chips, crackers, French fries, pizza, and many other things taste good. Salt exists to make food better. That is one of its God-given purposes.



In this passage we’ll be studying together this week, Jesus says we are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” He doesn’t say we “can be” or “should be” these things. He says we already are based on our identity in Him. Jesus calls us to bless people, to build them up, and to do what we can to help meet their needs. He calls us to use our words and our actions to stick out in this dark world, pointing people to the kingdom of God.



By the way, this isn’t limited to the church. The way in which we treat our spouses, talk to our coworkers,  use our resources, or engage with social media are all examples of how we are called to be salt and light. Every sphere of life presents us with salt and light opportunities. So let’s continue to walk in step with Christ, seasoning the world with salt and shining light in the darkness.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

Last week in church, we started to look at the Beatitudes. However, we didn’t finish them, meaning that we get to take a look at the second four. In where we left off, we were just beginning to talk about what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Many of us are hungry for approval. We want our parents to tell us they are proud of us. We want our employer’s stamp of approval on our work. We want our friends to think we are good enough for them. Deep down, we long for (and are hungry for) acceptance and approval.



Sadly, we often try to satisfy our hunger by gorging on junk food. What does that look like? We want approval from others so badly that we’re willing to compromise our convictions. We want to prove ourselves through our job so badly that we burn out on our career, sacrificing our family and our health. We want so badly to be morally acceptable that we build our lives on a system of rules, looking down on others and sinking into despair when even we don’t measure up. These foods cannot satisfy our hunger for true righteousness.

This is why we need to hunger and thirst for the righteousness that only Jesus Christ can bring. That’s why we need to ask Christ to change our hearts and desires, and to have a desire to obey God and to see God’s will be done here on earth. As we continue in our sermon series this week called The Master’s Guide to Greatness, we will learn about what it means to hunger and thirst for the things of God, and to be a people who participate in the mission of God in this world.



I look forward to seeing you in person or online. And keep up the good work of inviting friends & neighbors. As we welcome 17 new members this week, they consistently have commented on how welcoming and friendly we are as a church. Praise God!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

There have been many times over the years where we have gone out for a nice meal, but where I haven’t been able to finish it all. When that happens, I come home with a box of leftovers ready to be taken to church with me for lunch the next day. Yet on countless occasions, I open up the fridge the next morning only to discover that someone has eaten my lunch! When that happens, 9 times out of 10, I call out, “Nathaniel!!!!”

But I’ve noticed that even when we’re down to 2 kiddos in the house, there is still a well-worn spot in front of our refrigerator because of all the foot traffic! I’m exaggerating, but it certainly seems like trips to the grocery store have not decreased! If anything, our food budget is just as high (we’re all complaining about that now, right?!).

However, I’ve also been in places and countries where hunger is a daily problem. I have seen desperate parents begging for food, starving themselves so that they can feed their children, or feeding them with whatever scraps they can pull together. While not to that same extreme, perhaps you have had moments where you question if you will have enough to satisfy the grumbling in your stomach.



When Jesus sat on a hillside and began teaching the crowds around him, the people were also hungry. Though they may not have been hungry for physical food, they did have a spiritual hunger (whether they realized it or not). Jesus reminded them (and us) that true hunger for God would make them full. When we search for God, the righteousness of God will fill our hearts.



Are you hungry? Do you need to be filled? Are there others in your life who need to be filled that you need to invite? Then, I look forward to seeing you, either in person or online, as we learn where we find our true satisfaction.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:3,10



The Sermon on the Mount begins with a series of “blessing” statements. These are often called the Beatitudes. Each statement begins with the Greek word ­macarios, which can be translated as “blessed” or “happy.”



Some people wear #blessed t-Shirts. Some of us might say we are #blessed because we got a bonus or because we didn’t have to stop for a red light on the way to work. But being blessed is about more than just feeling good or making a gain on our bank account. True blessing is about living in line with God’s will, the way we are created to live. In the Bible, one who is blessed is described as whole and flourishing through a strong connection with God. Living in tune with God, or in step with the Spirit, may not bring us more money or an easier life, but it will lead to peace and wholeness as we walk with God.



As we begin a new sermon series together this week, we will see what a kingdom lifestyle looks like; one that is truly “blessed.” However, what we will also see is how difficult this lifestyle pursuit is. Jesus makes some puzzling and provocative statements, and we may not always feel so happy about putting His commands into practice. Yet what we will also see is that the Sermon on the Mount is a picture of what it means to flourish in relationship with God and our relationships on earth. As we await the coming kingdom, we can seek to be kingdom builders here.  



Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron

For a couple of hours on Monday, April 8th, we will be transfixed by the movement of heavenly bodies as much of North America is plunged into blackness. A dark celestial glory will be on display as the moon blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the earth. During that brief window, we will be impressed, gobsmacked, mesmerized, and in awe. Perhaps we will marvel at how little we control in our own lives and in the world at large. Nevertheless, at some point following this glorious display, we will recover and return to our daily routines.



The Apostle Paul recognized that glory comes in many forms. His reference to the mystery of bodily resurrection testifies to this diversity: “There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another” (1 Cor. 15:40).



In 2 Cor. 3, Paul contrasts the fading glory of the covenant administered by Moses with the unfading glory of the covenant administered by Christ. The Sinai covenant could be thought of as our pending solar eclipse; both feature an overwhelming glory that reigns for a time but ultimately fades. Meanwhile, the covenant anchored in Christ’s redemptive work is altogether set apart; its glory is heavenly, spiritual, and unfading.



Equally marvelous, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they have been made competent ministers of this greater covenant. Yes, the very same of whom he would observe “…not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (1 Cor 1:26). How about you? Do you identify as a minister of this covenant of unfading glory? Join us as we explore the biblical concept of glory and this highest of callings together.



Grace and peace,

Matthew Liethen

On the first Easter Sunday morning, a couple of women were in for the surprise of their lives. Instead of finding a closed tomb, they found an open grave, and an angel greeting them with the words, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” For them and for every follower of the Lord Jesus, life would never be the same. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead changed the course of history.



The resurrection is God's way of announcing that our life does not have to be a one-way journey to the cemetery. God is saying we don't have to be stuck in our past. The risen Savior broke the chains that bind us, that cause us to live in fear, and that cause us to question what is ahead. Because Jesus is alive, “Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39).



It is the greatest news in all of human history; and so as we gather together this weekend, may we join in celebration. May we sing aloud, “Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!” And may we be able to believe and profess that Jesus breaks the chains of sin and death. “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”



I look forward to seeing you either in person or online. And let’s not forget, this is the time of year when people are open to invitations. Let’s be thinking and praying for the people we can invite to join us this Easter Sunday! And then let’s make those invitations! 



He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!



Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron