It is easy with all that has happened in the last two weeks to become cynical; cynical about humanity and even cynical about God.   The author of Hebrews wrote “Now in putting everything in subjection to Christ, the Father left nothing outside His control.  At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him.”   Sometimes this disconnect between the reality of Christ’s reign and the appearance of it makes us cynical about God’s promises.   The people of Malachi’s day were also cynical.  “Where is the God of justice?” they cried.   But God patiently deals with critics and cynics.   Join Pastor Wheeler as he examines Malachi’s prophecy of the coming of Christ as the only answer for the cynicism of Malachi’s day and of ours.

Get the 12-16-2012 Bulletin and listen to “Bah, Humbug,” Malachi 2:17-3:5. 

It seems that every year there is one particular toy or gadget that is the hottest, the most desired gift.   Stores are sold out, there are fights and confrontations between customers, wrestling to lay claim to the coveted prize — a battery operated fur-ball that taunts anyone who squeezes it.   Why do we attempt to move heaven and earth to acquire what will not last, yet spend so little effort laying hold of what will last forever?

The minor prophet Haggai preached to a discouraged people.  The prophet called them to quit chasing after temporary and fleeting desires and to cultivate and build on an eternal desire — the desired of all nations, the coming Lord Jesus Christ.   What is the object of your desire this season?  Is it truly the “desired of all nations?”  Join Pastor Wheeler as he examines this beautiful and timely word from the Lord call us to make Christ our most desired gift.

Get the 12-09-2012 Bulletin and listen to “The Most Desired Gift,” Haggai 2:1-9. 

During the Christmas Season, as we read the gospel narratives of the nativity, we often begin to wonder about things God has not revealed.  Was there an innkeeper and was he grumpy or compassionate?  Was the start of Bethlehem a real star?  Or was it a comet, Kepler’s conjunction or St. Elmo’s fire?   Were there three wise-men?  Were they kings?

It is not without reason that the Scripture warns us against vain prying and calls us to concentrate on what God has revealed.  Such questions tend to become a distraction and reduce the nativity passages in the New Testament to the level of myth.   As the prophet Micah indicates where Jesus would be born, he points us beyond the question of the place to the nature and purpose of the one who would be born there.   Listen as Pastor Wheeler examines the dangers of asking the “wrong question” when we come to the passages surrounding the incarnation of Christ.

Get the 12-02-12, Bulletin and listen to “The Wrong Question,” Micah 5:1-6. 

Matthew Henry once commented that “thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.”  How do we express our thankfulness by the way we live our lives.   The prophet Micah brings this out as he encourages the men of his day and of ours to live “doxologically,”   Listen as Pastor Wheeler examines what it means to Live Thanks.

Get the 11-25-2012 Bulletin and listen to “Thanksliving”, Micah 4:1-5. 

As Christians we are thankful for God’s provision for our daily bread, but in this passage, the prophet Micah reminds us let our thanksgiving be governed by God’s promises not merely his providences.  Despite the difficulty of our situation, God has promised to be gracious to us.  Join Pastor Wheeler as he examines how God’s Word instructs us in thanksgiving even in the midst of a “frowning providence.”

Get the 11-18-2012, Bulletin and listen to Harvest Thanks, Micah 4:1-5. 

Whoever wrote that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was self-deluded.   Nothing sinks into our souls and makes and impression like the words spoken to us by those we love.   And no words have the impact that God’s Words have.   In Micah 3:1-12, the prophet preaches a bold and difficult sermon.  Yet, from Jeremiah 26 we know that this sermon brought repentance to the people of the Old Testament Church that stayed the hand of God’s judgment for 100 years.  The church in Micah’s time was playing games with God, not unlike the church in our day. Listen as Pastor Wheeler examines the game that needed changing and the change the game needed.

Get the 11-11-2012, Bulletin and listen to Micah 3:1-12 “Game Changer” 

What brings about reformation and revival?   Romans 1:16-17 reminds us that it is the power of the gospel that brings reformation and revival.  According to Romans 10:17, the word of Christ preached is the ordinary means used by the Holy Spirit to work faith in men.   Yet in our day, as the day in which Micah preached, there are those that preach against preaching.   In “One Little Word,” Pastor Wheeler examines how the contemporary church has impeded reformation and revival by despising preaching.  Listen as Pastor Wheeler challenges us to delight in the preaching of the gospel.

Get the 10-28-2012 Bulletin and listen to “One Little Word”, Micah 2:6-11 

Historian, Henry Van Til once commented that “culture is religion externalized.”  Man’s worship and man’s lifestyle are inseparably connected.   Consequently when God confronts us, He confronts us about both our worship and our lifestyle.   Both the Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment remind us that our love for man is a consequence of our love for God.   Even Nietzsche, the recognized that morality was impossible without religion.   The God of Scripture is a God who confronts.  He confronts us about our worship and about our lifestyle.   Listen as Pastor Wheeler concludes the exposition of Micah 1 and 2 as Micah preaches to us of a God who calls us out.

Get the 10-07-2012 Bulletin and listen to Called Out, Micah 2:1-13. 

C. S. Lewis writes with great insight in the Chronicles of Narnia when he quips that “Aslan is no tame lion.”   A tame animal has had danger trained out.  A tame animal becomes a servant, a domestic, to man.   But God is not our servant, we are His.   Our God is a controversialist.   He is a God who confronts.  He confronts us as a loving Father or else He will confront us as an offended judge.   If you want a tame God or a God that will not confront you, then you are not looking for the God of the Bible.  The prophet Micah’s name means, “who is like the Lord.”  And this is the theme of his prophecy.   Micah reveals a God who confronts, who convicts and who comforts with the gospel.  Join Pastor Wheeler as he examines Micah’s prophecy of a Controversial God.

Get the 09-30-2012 Bulletin and listen to A Controversial God, Micah 2:1-13. 

Last year’s drought was so severe that many gardeners swore they would not plant again this year.  Yet, in the spring the ground was cleared, the soil prepared and the seeds sown.  Every gardener knows that to farm is to plant in hope — to do what is our part and to leave the increase to God.  Despite decades of spiritual drought, Micah continued to clear the ground, prepare the soil and sow the seed of God’s Word.  Micah planted in hope and the Lord granted a revival.   How can we keep planting when the spiritual landscape seems utterly drought-stricken?   Join Pastor Wheeler as he continues to examine how the prophet Micah answered the call of God to plant in hope.

Get the 09-23-2012, Bulletin and listen to Planting in Hope, Micah 1:1-16.