09/02/2026
We're headed into Week 9 of our sermon series based on The Story — the greatest story! Come Sunday to hear about the faith of Ruth.
RECAP: "What It's All For"
This week we followed Moses from the mountaintop back down into crisis. While he was receiving the Ten Commandments, written by the very finger of God, the people at the bottom got tired of waiting and melted their gold into a calf. Our own golden calves rarely look like statues — they look like a career, a relationship, a bank account, or a body image quietly promoted to the place only God should hold.
But the heart of the message was this: God doesn't walk away from a people who fail Him. Moses stood in the gap, pleading for the nation, and God answered by revealing His own character as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Failure wasn't the end of the story — it was the middle of it.
We traced that same pattern all the way to the cross. Jesus' forty days in the wilderness mirror Moses' forty days on Sinai — except where Israel reached for gold, Jesus reached for nothing but the Father's will. And at Calvary, one thief mocked Jesus, using Him for rescue without surrender. The other leaned in with nothing but faith and heard: "Today you will be with me in paradise."
The invitation is the same one given to that thief: you don't have to clean yourself up first. Come as you are. Lean in, not away. And when you fall, remember the mountain is still there, and God is still willing to write the covenant again.
As Exodus 33:11 puts it, God spoke to Moses "as a man speaks to his friend." That's what it was all pointing to — not religious performance, but friendship with God.
SPECIAL NOTE: McKendree History
A special thank you to Ms. Townsend for her presentation on the history of our church's name this past Sunday — what a gift to be reminded of the story behind McKendree and the legacy we carry forward. Next week, Gene continues sharing more of that history. Looking forward to it!
LOOKING AHEAD: The Story, Chapter 6 — Wandering in the Wilderness
Next week we turn to Israel's wilderness years. A few questions to sit with before we gather:
- What was the root cause of most of the Israelites' problems in the wilderness?
- How did God respond to their lack of faith and longing for Egypt?
- Why is daily dependence, like manna from heaven, so hard to maintain over time?
- What do you learn from Moses' leadership through hard seasons?
- Have you ever felt spiritually or emotionally wandering? How did you handle it?
- How can remembering God's past provision build trust for today's challenges?
Can't wait to see you Sunday! Crosby is watching too.
