Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we pause to celebrate with gratitude. We do not give thanks because our country is perfect, nor because our history is without sorrow, or sin, or struggle. We give thanks because, by God’s mercy, we have received blessings that many throughout the world have longed for: freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the opportunity to l...

I am mindful of the times I have spent over a lump of clay (whether on a wheel, or shaping or molding or manipulating it into whatever you desire). There is something about being mindful and dreaming about what it could be in terms of its form and function. At the same time, there is also something beautiful in the hard work and craftsmanship that brings it about. In the end, the piece may be exac...

As we began last week, Romans 9:6–18 continues in this difficult section of Scripture unpacking the relationship of Israel to Christ. This is not an easy passage, but one that contains deep comfort. Paul is wrestling with a painful question: if many Israelites have rejected Christ, has God’s Word failed? Yet his answer is clear: “It is not as though God’s word had failed”(Romans 9:6). God has alwa...

Do you know your purpose in life? Do you really believe you are also sent? Has God called you to his mission? Throughout Scripture, we certainly see the way in which Jesus understood his purpose and calling. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus and had dinner with him, his purpose was laser-focused: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Paul knew it as well. After scaling the hei...

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”-Romans 8:31 Have you ever paid attention to “bumper sticker theology”? They are the short quips that people put on their car indicating their beliefs. They’re the kinds of phrases that get stitched onto pillows or make it into graduation cards. It’s not necessarily bad or wrong; but lacking context, it can be taken to mean something that might not have be...

Romans 8:28-30  (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those who...

Romans 8:18-27 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope   that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay ...

Over the years, what have your children called you? Mommy? Daddy? Mother? Father? Mom-mom? Pop-pop? Grandma? Grandpa? Mimi? Pappy? Your first name? According to Paul, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” There is something so special about the fact that we get to call God “Abba.” "Abba" is the Aramaic word for “father;” and...

It doesn’t take much time around the television or internet to know that we are being bombarded with advertisements about improving the self. (Is anyone else’s Facebook feed mostly ads?) We know that the multibillion-dollar self-improvement industry consists of a seemingly endless supply of cosmetics, strategies to boost self-esteem, fitness equipment, and weight-loss programs. To be sure, there’s...

Have you ever been on the road when you’re in a hurry and lost track of how fast you were going? You know that sinking feeling when you suddenly notice a car quickly catching up to you with flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Unfortunately, you didn’t see that “reduced speed zone” a mile back, and now you’re up against the law. As much as you might try to explain that you didn’t mean to break...

As we continue in our sermon series this week, Paul moves on from the imagery of slavery to the imagery of marriage in order to talk about the law. Now, as someone who is married, I know a few things about marriage and how it’s supposed to work. I have preached sermons about marriage, I have helped couples prepare for it, and for nearly 28 years I have experienced it. However, none of that means I...

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” - Romans 6:16 Have you ever had a conversation with someone that made you think, “What? How do they not get this?” as you bang your head on the table. I wonder if Paul was like that as h...

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newnes...

As I reflect on the events of last week, I am in awe of what God is doing in the life of our church. It was a joy to be able to worship together as one body, to see the sanctuary packed and in need of extra chairs, and to see the connections taking place during the “carry-in” luncheon. Since people often fall into one service or the other, it’s good for everyone to see the new faces and get to kno...

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1 In Romans 4, as Paul reminded us of the story of Abraham, he emphasized Abraham’s faith. Yet even Abraham (who was considered a God-fearing and good man) was praiseworthy – not because he was good – but because he believed God. As any person who reads Genesis knows, Abraham m...

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” - Romans 4:20-21 I’m the type of person who tries to fix most things on my own. Car maintenance? Changing oil, changing brakes, and general “wrenching” doesn’t scare me so long as I have the time. General...

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” - Romans 3:19 This may seem like an odd illustration, but consider this: Let’s say that you are under water and you can’t breathe. Is there any reason to boast that you are drowning in only two feet of water as opposed to ten feet? Does...

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” - Romans 2:4 Having just put before us some very hard truths in Romans 1, we might think that Paul would take his foot off the gas. Instead, he drives headlong into reminding us that we all fall short of the glory of God by way of passing judgmen...

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” - Romans 1:22-23 Last week, we ended by hearing the wonderful news that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus is justified by faith. But instead of continuing in that theme, Paul takes a moment to remind u...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Paul’s words in Romans 1:16-17 are not merely a burst of “rah-rah” enthusiasm;...

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have r...

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs _________ in his ways.” If you had to choose a word, what might fill in the blank? How about “the humble”? How about “the upright”? “The righteous” would also fill in the blank nicely. All of these would qualify as students who listen and are teachable. But what does David say? “He instructs sinners in his ways.” That is an amazing statement co...

When was the last time you slowed down to look at the world around you? Each starry constellation, every birdsong, each chirping squirrel, and every biological breakthrough displays the wonder and awesomeness of God. Psalm 19 begins with the beautiful statement, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” and then continues to preach a sermon about the Creator...

When you think about God, what comes to mind? Creator or sustainer? Joyful or angry/wrathful? Close or distant? A rescuer? A listener? As we turn our attention to Psalm 18, David says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” What’s interesting to note is that David wrote this at a time whe...

Over 20 years ago, Casting Crowns released a song that became a hit that spent 6 weeks as the #1 song on Billboard. The song’s title is “Who Am I”, and the lyrics say: “Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name? Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart?   Not because of who I am,  But...