First Reformed Church - Lynden, WA

05/31/2026

05/24/2026

Good Morning FRC! Unfortunately we are having some issues with our livestream! We are so sorry for the inconvenience! Have a wonderful day!

05/21/2026

Sin is not a minor inconvenience—it's a deadly reality that separates us from a holy God. Yet we often minimize our transgressions, categorizing some sins as "respectable" while condemning others. Today's reading reminds us that all sin required the death of Jesus Christ. The gossip, the pride, the lack of self-control—each one nailed Him to the cross. But here's the beautiful truth: Jesus paid it all. We no longer live under condemnation but under grace. This doesn't give us license to sin freely; rather, it should break our hearts over the sin that cost God everything. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin you've minimized and respond with genuine repentance.

05/19/2026

Church discipline's ultimate goal is never permanent separation but hopeful restoration. When someone is removed from fellowship due to unrepentant sin, it's done with the prayer that they'll return to Christ. Our response should be persistent, faithful prayer for their soul. We've all wandered at times; we all need grace. The same mercy that saved us can restore them. Like the mother who never stopped praying for her wayward son, we intercede for those who've strayed. We trust that God's love is more powerful than their sin, that His Spirit can break through the hardest heart. Restoration is always possible with God. Keep praying, keep hoping, keep believing that the One who began a good work will complete it.

05/14/2026

Church discipline sounds uncomfortable because it is. Paul offered the Corinthians a choice: correction with a whip or love with a gentle spirit. He preferred gentleness, but wouldn't compromise truth.

God disciplines those He loves—not to harm but to heal, not to punish but to purify. When correction comes through Scripture, circumstances, or godly counsel, receive it humbly. It's evidence you belong to Him.

Are you teachable? Can others speak truth into your life? Pray for humility to receive admonishment as the gift it is.

05/12/2026

We speak 15,000-20,000 words daily. But Paul confronts us: "The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power." The Corinthians had eloquent speakers but lacked transformed lives. Sound familiar?

We can discuss prayer without praying. Teach evangelism without evangelizing. Debate theology without demonstrating love. But God's Word is "alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword"—it penetrates, convicts, transforms, and restores.

The gospel isn't merely discussed; it's demonstrated. What fruit evidences the gospel's power in your life? Are you growing in patience, kindness, self-control? Is anyone coming to Christ through your witness?

Stop talking about spiritual disciplines and start practicing them. The world needs fewer Christian speakers and more Christian livers.

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

Jesus doesn't call us to casual discipleship—He calls us to daily crucifixion. "Take up your cross daily" isn't metaphorical language; it's a call to die to our old selves every single day. Paul understood this deeply: "I have been crucified with Christ." Your old self—with its pride, self-reliance, and comfort-seeking—must be nailed to the cross repeatedly. This isn't a one-time decision but a daily surrender. The life you now live isn't powered by your strength but by faith in Christ who lives in you. Today, identify one area where your "old self" wants control. What would it look like to crucify that desire and trust Christ instead? True freedom comes not from self-assertion but from self-denial.

05/05/2026

Pride whispers seductive lies: "You've arrived. You're spiritually rich. You need nothing." The Corinthians believed they were reigning while their spiritual father suffered. Pride always distorts reality, giving us an inflated view of ourselves and a diminished view of others. It leads to complacency, making us spiritually lazy and self-satisfied. Paul's sarcasm cuts deep: "Already you have all you want!" But do we? When we stop hungering for God, stop thirsting for righteousness, stop recognizing our daily dependence on grace—we've embraced pride's comfort over the cross's cost. Examine your heart today. Are you spiritually hungry or satisfied? Do you see yourself as needing daily grace or having "arrived"? God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

04/30/2026

Stop bringing yourself back into the courtroom. The verdict is already in: no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Paul's radical statement—"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court"—isn't arrogance but freedom. He knows the only opinion that matters is God's. How much energy do you waste tallying your spiritual scorecard? Minus points for failures, plus points for successes? The Father sees you clothed in Christ's righteousness and declares, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased." Yes, pursue holiness. Yes, examine your heart. But rest in this truth: you don't have to be perfect. You are already accepted, already loved, already His.