Mark 4 Oct 29, 2025

Mark 4: 38-40 “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

  This scripture was my first thought when I was reading about Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 monster that is doing terrible damage to the Caribbean. I have read this account of Jesus calming the sea a thousand times, but as has so often been the case in the scriptures I thought I knew, I had not rightly divided the Word of Truth. I had always read these scriptures as the disciples freaking out in a crisis, asking Jesus to fix the problem. It is only now that I realize the disciples did not ask for Jesus to calm the storm, they asked if he even cared that they were all going to die. There was no prayer in this question and even less faith. After all the disciples had seen and heard they still questioned if Jesus really loved them. The crisis in front of their eyes caused them to forget who was present in the boat. What was Jesus' response? “Hush be still” was directed with authority at the storm (and I’m pretty sure He was telling the disciples to hush as well). An individual that KNOWS their authority doesn’t have to be loud or long-winded, they just need to say the Word. Jesus knew His authority and in spite of being in a boat filled with fear, He was not going to let the devil or anything of this world take Him or His disciples out of the picture before their mission was complete. It is a clique, but a true one that there are storms in this life that are so strong we often just want to hide, but unlike the disciples' situation, our Savior is not asleep. With His Holy Spirit living inside us and Jesus interceding for us the question becomes if God’s people are finally, in quiet confidence, going to “speak to the storm”. As believers, we should be speaking in boldness to every storm. Why?, because we come in the NAME OF THE KING…. JESUS! May we back down and cower no longer. It is finished on His end, but we have wonderful work to do.

Thoughts by Pastor Steve at Sugar Grove Bible Church

1 Peter 2 Oct 22, 2025

1 Peter 2: 1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

     “If you have tasted of the kindness of the Lord”. That is always the first question is it not? Have we tasted of the Lord, and if we have, what will be our next step? After being introduced to this great salvation in Jesus, there are decisions to make. Does the “taste” of His mercy and grace make us hungry for more(a lot more), or do I treat it as an appetizer that can be thrown in with the rest of my diet? If you are serious enough in your relationship with Jesus to be spending time reading this then I believe you have a heart to continually grow as a Christian.

       With that in mind, back up with me and look at the first verse “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander”. Did you catch those first two words: RID YOURSELVES? When I got saved people told me that all my evil desires would just go away. Imagine my disappointment when I found myself still tempted by so many things. It was only after I found scriptures like this that I realized that I had to cooperate with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit within me if I was going to walk out my salvation in a way that blessed my Father, family, friends, and could even be light to a dark world. Once I realized my own “hard-headed will” had to agree with the Word then I had a chance. One of the great gifts of my salvation was the right to decide everyday to get rid of any malice (doing harm to another physically, mentally, or spiritually). I had to rid myself of thoughts to deceive (tricking people into what I wanted). I had to follow through on decisions to not be a hypocrite(saying one thing and doing another). And my inclination to envy had to be kicked to the side of the road every time it tried to speak.

       It was no secret the answer to successfully saying no to the flesh and being more consistent walking out my salvation was in verse two: “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”. I pray for each of us today and everyday we will “renew our minds with the Word” and “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”. We will always be our Father’s children, but let’s make sure we grow up in Him and make Him proud.

Thoughts from Pastor Steve

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

I don’t even want to even think about October 7, 2023, when 1,200 Jews were killed and 251 kidnapped. Christians, Jews, and all decent humans are still struggling to understand evil of this magnitude. I find those that participated in the attack to be completely depraved, and I find those that believe it was justified to be even more depraved. People this sick will never fight fair, they fight with fear. Fear is a natural reaction to hate at a level we cannot comprehend, but while fear is natural, it is not a lifestyle we can afford to choose.  The presence of God, the God who is love, defeats fear because “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18). When fear tries to affect our thoughts and actions we are required to remember the One who lives in us. This is why we are commanded to pray when we fear. Philippians 4:6,7 says:  Do not]be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I don’t know what you’re walking through right now –Maybe it’s a scary illness, problems at work, loneliness, or loved ones not walking with Jesus. Whatever it is, if you have trusted in Jesus for salvation, then you are His child, and He has made the same promise to you He has made to so many others. In Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Jesus' sacrifice and promises are MORE than enough in every situation. We will continue to pray for Israel, and for persecuted Christians around the world, but we will not fear.

Thoughts by Pastor Steve of Sugar Grove Bible Church Greenfield