Church Family,

As we continued our advent series this past Sunday, we landed on a passage that may not be at the forefront of everyone’s minds around Christmas, though it undoubtedly speaks to the importance of what Christmas celebrates. 1 John 4:1-6 tells us that the incarnation is the center of God’s revelation to us. It is so central to God’s word that we can confidently say that any teaching that contradicts the biblical teaching of the incarnation cannot be true and must be rejected. And not only does the incarnation give us certainty about the message of the Gospel, it gives us certainty about the victory of the Gospel over all the false gospels that come from the world around us, for “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Church, as we continue to think about all the claims and implications of the Christmas story, let us remember the confidence we have thanks to the incarnation.

Winter Schedule

We just wanted to give you a few quick reminders about a few upcoming schedule items that are out of the ordinary. First, we will have a short service on Christmas Eve at 4:00 in the afternoon. Note that this is different than the time you may have initially read in the blog post last week. That was a miscommunication that has since been corrected; the actual time is 4:00. Second, we will not have our usual Sunday Studies at 9:00 on the morning of the 29th. Instead, you are welcome to join us at that same time for a fellowship hour and enjoy treats and hot drinks with us.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our anticipation of Christmas, we spent our time in the first eighteen verses of the Gospel of John. While this book does eventually get into the ground-level narrative details of Jesus’ life on earth, these first eighteen verses give us a sort of 30,00 foot view of the theology of the incarnation. John steps back and tells us what it means that Jesus became a human and why we should be amazed and overjoyed by that fact. At one point during the sermon, Pastor Bryan drew our attention to verse five and encouraged us to linger on it for a minute, to let it sink in, so I figured it was worth doing exactly that here in the blog post. Verse five tells us “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This statement is so powerful because it is irrefutable based on the very natures of light and darkness. We can’t turn on a dark switch to take the light out of a room. We don’t worry that darkness is going to spill out of a cave and overtake the daylight. Light always wins. If Jesus is the light, how could we ever fear that he might not be victorious?

This verse also does something striking with its use of tenses. Given everything we just thought about, the verse certainly could have said “and the darkness will not overcome it.” This is objectively true; there is no sensible future in which darkness overtakes light. This would also fit with the lofty nature of the surrounding passage since it would speak to eternity instead of just to a moment. But I think John very intentionally writes “and the darkness has not overcome it” to speak to the hearts of his readers. He is saying that even in this moment the light is winning. We might not always feel like this is true. We might feel like the darkness of a fallen creation is winning, that disease and natural disaster cannot be overcome. We might feel that the darkness of human corruption is winning, that the powers-that-be have seized such influence that they can ensure their own position forever. Certainly we may sometimes feel that the darkness of our own sin is winning, that despite hours of reading, prayer, and repentance, we cannot help but fall short in the same ways over and over again. Still, Christian, we can rest assured that even in this very moment, the darkness has not overcome the light. While it is absolutely true that Jesus will be victorious, it is just as true that Jesus presently is victorious, and that ought to bring us immeasurable hope and joy.

Winter Schedule

With the Christmas season in full swing, Light in the Desert’s regular schedule is looking a little irregular, so we wanted to keep you in the loop on everything going on around here. First of all, we have finished our Wednesday night activities for the year. Hopefully you’re not reading this blog post while standing outside the locked church doors. All our Wednesday night activities will resume on January 15th. Second, we will be having a short service on Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m.Third and finally, on December 29th, our usual 9:00 Sunday Studies time will be replaced with a fellowship hour. I don’t have direct confirmation on this, but I suspect there will be various pastries and large amounts of coffee available, perhaps with other goodies as well. And if that’s not enough reason to get you out the door that Sunday morning, quality time with church family certainly ought to be.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday we stepped away from Acts for just a few weeks to start our series on advent –  looking forward to the celebration of Christ’s coming on Christmas. Turning to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth we find a recurring theme: God blesses and works through the humble and lowly. Elizabeth, a woman who has every expectation of remaining childless, is blessed with carrying John who will go out and prepare the way for Jesus. Mary, a woman of no particular influence or esteem, is blessed with carrying Jesus himself. Nameless shepherds serve as the first witnesses to the coming of the newborn king. And in all of these occurrences the overwhelming response is joy. Even John in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with excitement in the presence of the yet unborn Jesus. God has come to save the lowly; what could anyone do but rejoice? Church, as we consider the Christmas story this season, let us remember that Jesus came for us. In our desperation, He came for us. In our wandering, He came for us. In the depths of our sin, He came for us. Let us remember the birth of Jesus and let us rejoice.

Members’ Meeting

Just a quick reminder that we have a members’ meeting this upcoming Sunday, December 8th, immediately following the Sunday service. These quarterly meetings are not just essential to the function of the church, they are joyous and encouraging in a way that few things with the word “meeting” in the title tend to be. If you are a member of Light in the Desert, please be sure to set aside a little time that afternoon to participate in that meeting.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday we tackled a rather large portion of the narrative of Acts in which we saw Paul’s powerful sermon in Antioch and the response of the locals who heard him. Paul’s sermon laid out the history of Israel, how that whole history points to Jesus as the savior of God’s people, and how the only right response is belief in Jesus. While many heard this sermon and believed, others responded only with jealousy. Many Jewish authorities who envied Paul’s influence spoke out against him, yet their rejection only served to give the Gospel a greater hearing among the Gentiles who received it and rejoiced. Church, let us not be like these authorities, caught up in our pride and in the twisted salvation narratives we have written for ourselves. Rather, let us humbly submit to the word of God and rejoice as it transforms our lives.

Thanksgiving Potluck

We will be having our annual Thanksgiving potluck this upcoming Sunday, November 24th at 4:00 p.m. This meal has been a regular source of encouragement at Light in the Desert for years now as we are able to share a wonderful meal and share the ways we have seen God’s faithful providence at work in our lives. If you are bringing food and need a headcount to figure out how much to make, we are currently expecting about 50 people based on the sign-up sheet.

Women’s Christmas Dinner

We will be hosting a women’s Christmas dinner on Saturday, December 7th. If you are planning on attending please make sure to let Terri know by this upcoming Sunday so she can make sure there is enough food for everybody.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday in our series in Acts we came to the start of Paul’s first missionary journey. The Holy Spirit spoke in the midst of prayer and worship and, seemingly with no hesitation, both Paul and Barnabas set out in obedience to the Spirit. Upon reaching Cyprus, they met a false prophet who opposed them and sought to use his influence to turn people away from the Gospel. Paul wasted no time in calling this false prophet out as an enemy of righteousness. The false prophet was struck with a temporary blindness, much like Paul had been at his conversion, so that he might need others to lead him instead of him continuing to lead others astray. Church, let us pray that we would have Paul’s boldness in refuting false teaching and that as we speak in truth people would be blinded to the crooked ways of unrighteousness and see only the straight path of the Gospel.

Road Rally

This upcoming Sunday, November 17th, is our church-wide Road Rally. If you have been part of one of these in the past you surely know how much fun they are. If you have not done one before, well there’s only one way to find out just what they’re like. Either way, be sure to set aside the time that afternoon to participate in this thrilling event.

Thanksgiving Potluck

We will be having our annual Thanksgiving potluck  on Sunday, November 24th at 4:00 p.m. This meal has been a regular source of encouragement at Light in the Desert for years now as we are able to share a wonderful meal and share the ways we have seen God’s faithful providence at work in our lives. If you plan on attending please sign up on the sheet in the foyer. Also, as you sign up to bring food, we would encourage you to check what other people have signed up to bring as man does not live on pumpkin pie alone.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday in our series through Acts we encountered a tremendous outburst of persecution against the early church. King Herod (of the lineage of other infamous King Herods) had a handful of Christians killed. When he found it increased his popularity with his Jewish subjects he sought to further his public image by arresting Peter. The night before Peter was to be killed, God sent an angel to rescue him and he made his way back to the other believers. This was a (literally) unbelievable display of God’s provision for his people. Still, it came in the context of all the suffering Peter already endured in prison, the ongoing threat of persecution, and the death of other believers. Church, we simply cannot know what we will be asked to endure for the sake of our faith. We may give up financial stability. We may be perpetual social outsiders. We may dive headlong into perilous circumstances for the sake of bringing the light of the Gospel to dark places. Certainly we will be ridiculed by the unbelieving world for choosing to live in ways that are plainly impractical. Still, we have a purpose and a hope that far outshines anything this world has to offer.

Thanksgiving Potluck

We will be having our annual Thanksgiving potluck  on Sunday, November 24th at 4:00 p.m. This meal has been a regular source of encouragement at Light in the Desert for years now as we are able to share a wonderful meal and share the ways we have seen God’s faithful providence at work in our lives. If you plan on attending please sign up on the sheet in the foyer. Also, as you sign up to bring food, we would encourage you to check what other people have signed up to bring as man does not live on pumpkin pie alone.

Sunday Studies

This past Sunday we started a new series in our Sunday Studies class. We are looking to have an extended conversation around famously comfortable topics like government and authority. Our aim is not to prescribe a particular voting pattern but rather to uncover a biblical framework for thinking about these topics in a way that is not limited to the voting booth but speaks more broadly to issues like how to live as faithful Christians under government authority and where to put our greatest hope. These conversations are extremely important to our life together as a church, so please be sure to join us over the next several Sundays at 9 a.m.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday in our series in Acts, we read of Peters return to Jerusalem where he was accosted by the Jewish believers. These believers criticized him for joining in fellowship with Gentiles who were unclean according to the law of the Old Testament. But Peter told these believers of his vision in which he was commanded to partake of unclean foods by the voice of God declaring, “what God has made clean, do not call common.” What’s more, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Gentile believers just as He had descended upon the Jewish believers. These Gentiles had been changed by the work of Jesus; Jesus had made them clean. It did not matter that the Jewish believers had not expected the salvation of Gentiles. All that mattered was that God had called them to salvation. Let us not be as the Jewish believers initially were, denying the possibility of salvation to those we deem unworthy. Rather, let us gladly share the Gospel with all and respond as the Jewish believers eventually responded, rejoicing as the kingdom of God grows beyond our expectations.

Elder Vote

This upcoming Sunday we will be voting on whether or not to affirm Brian Murphy as a new elder of Light in the Desert Church. If you have not taken the opportunity to get to know him and settle any questions you have about him being an elder, be sure to reach out to him in these next few days. Also, members, be especially sure to show up this Sunday to take part in this important decision for our church. This is an important opportunity to practice biblical church membership by taking part in ensuring the health of Light in the Desert Church.

Wednesday Nights

We are resuming our regular Wednesday night activities after our brief fall break. As I am writing this our women’s study, men’s study, and disciple makers classes start in just over an hour, so hopefully this post finds you in time. If not, it is at least a valuable reminder to be ready for next week. Let this also be an encouragement to start attending these activities even if you have not done so before. Everyone is welcome to jump in at any point; these classes are sure to be fruitful even if you can only make it to as little as one of them.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy,

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday in Acts we once again encountered the theme of signs and wonders as we worked through the stories of two miracles. The first was the healing of a paralyzed man named Aeneas. The second was the resurrection of a woman named Tabitha who had died of an illness. The details of these miracles make it clear that their primary purpose was to point to the authority and supremacy of Christ over all creation. Aeneas was specifically told “Jesus Christ heals you” and the resurrection of Tabitha mirrored details from when Jesus resurrected a young girl as recorded in Matthew 9, such as sending the crowd out from the house and taking the deceased by the hand. While we may not find ourselves performing many miracles, we can certainly live out each day such that our very lives point to the supremacy and authority of Christ in much the same way. If we give due credit to Jesus for the spiritual fruit we bear and continually seek to imitate Him it will be a strong witness to the world around us and give tremendous glory to God.

Elder Candidacy

Just as a reminder, we will be voting on Brian Murphy as an elder candidate on Sunday, October 20th. We continue to encourage you to seek him out and get to know him well in the meanwhile, especially if you have any concerns about his candidacy. We also encourage you to pray and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit on this matter. This vote is important to our church so it is important that our members are able to approach this vote with a high degree of confidence.

Fall Break

Being that most schools are on fall break next week and we will likely have a number of families out of town, we will not be having our usual Wednesday night activities on October 9th. If you are around, consider using that evening to share a meal with someone else from church.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

This past Sunday, as we continued our journey through the book of Acts, our attention was once again directed towards Saul. Given the fervor with which he began preaching the Gospel, it did not take long after Saul’s conversion for him to become the target of persecution and even an attempt on his life. He was forced to flee both Damascus and Jerusalem, eventually going to Tarsus. Despite this kind of dogged persecution, the Church experienced three things: peace, comfort, and growth. What could possibly be more counter-intuitive? Christians were chased from city to city, yet they found peace. They were the target of disputes and threats, yet they found comfort. They were being actively killed off, yet their numbers grew. Church, are we confident enough in the Gospel that we would faithfully endure what Saul endured? Are we confident enough in the Gospel to trust that in spite of any persecution we face we will experience peace, comfort, and growth through the work of the Holy Spirit? Let us be both convicted and encouraged as we dwell on this passage this week.

Prospective Members Class

We will be hosting a prospective members class on Saturday, September 28 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attending this class is not a firm commitment to anything; it is simply an opportunity to learn about Light in the Desert Church and what it means to be a member. If you are interested in attending please email Bryan (Bryan@lightinthedesert.church) or sign up on the sheet in the foyer.

Elder Candidacy

One of our convictions as a church is that the biblical model for the church involves being led by a plurality of elders, multiple godly men who can provide diverse perspectives and insights necessary for the overseeing of the church. In pursuit of that ideal we have had a few men in the process of prospective eldership. Our current elders formally announced one of those men, Brian Murphy, as an elder candidate to be voted on by the church members on October 20th. While our bylaws only require a two week notice before a vote, we are taking a much longer lead into this vote so we have time to do two things. First, of course, be praying about this vote. It would be a tremendous mistake to not make sure that such a decision is informed by lots of prayer. Second, pursue Brian in the time leading up to this decision. If you have concerns about his qualifications to be an elder, questions about his beliefs, or even just don’t feel like you know him well enough to make a decision then this is your time to talk to him and figure these kinds of things out. Catch him after service on a Sunday, find a time to call him, or even meet up with him for coffee or a meal. It’s not a bother; this is part of what he has volunteered himself for in pursuing eldership.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern

Church Family,

As we continued our series in Acts this past Sunday the story opened on a figure we have already encountered in this book, Saul. Saul had given his approval for the execution of Stephen, and now he was seeking authority from the synagogues to persecute Christians far and wide. While setting out to enact further persecution, Saul encounters Jesus himself in the form of a blinding light and a voice calling out to Saul and asking Saul to follow his command. Saul is humbled by this encounter and he remains in blindness and fasts for three days, yet in his humbling he is utterly transformed for all he can see in that moment is the truth of who Jesus is. Upon regaining his sight Saul was baptized and immediately moved from persecuting followers of Jesus to proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. Church, let us ask ourselves if we are so caught up in our perception of the world and of ourselves that we are blind to Jesus and his calling upon our lives. And if we are, let us ask God that he would blind us to our own selves and open our eyes to him.

Church Game Night

We will be having a church-wide game night this upcoming Friday, September 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your own dinner and your favorite game or two and come enjoy a couple wonderful hours of fellowship.

Prospective Members Class

We will be hosting a prospective members class on Saturday, September 28 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attending this class is not a firm commitment to anything; it is simply an opportunity to learn about Light in the Desert Church and what it means to be a member. If you are interested in attending please email Bryan (Bryan@lightinthedesert.church) or sign up on the sheet in the foyer.

Elder Candidacy

One of our convictions as a church is that the biblical model for the church involves being led by a plurality of elders, multiple godly men who can provide diverse perspectives and insights necessary for the overseeing of the church. In pursuit of that ideal we have had a few men in the process of prospective eldership. Our current elders formally announced one of those men, Brian Murphy, as an elder candidate to be voted on by the church members on October 20th. While our bylaws only require a two week notice before a vote, we are taking a much longer lead into this vote so we have time to do two things. First, of course, be praying about this vote. It would be a tremendous mistake to not make sure that such a decision is informed by lots of prayer. Second, pursue Brian in the time leading up to this decision. If you have concerns about his qualifications to be an elder, questions about his beliefs, or even just don’t feel like you know him well enough to make a decision then this is your time to talk to him and figure these kinds of things out. Catch him after service on a Sunday, find a time to call him, or even meet up with him for coffee or a meal. It’s not a bother; this is part of what he has volunteered himself for in pursuing eldership.

Grace be with you,

Logan Murphy

Pastoral Intern