Sterling Presbyterian Church, 21453 Epicerie Plaza, Sterling, VA (2026)

04/05/2026

Happy Easter.

Death outside of Christ is separation — from God, from neighbor, from life itself.

Death in Christ is separation from sin — and learning each day how to draw ever closer to God and neighbor.

02/17/2026

The V***r of Toil – Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

All that you are working to gain is never really yours.

The world we live in loves to promote the idea of ownership and of working hard to gain assets. Those who have the most assets run the show. And while that may be true in a sense, what Solomon is trying to get at here goes so much deeper than that.

Humanity has worked hard avoiding the fact that we are dead in our transgressions and sins, and nothing we do in all our working out the very gifts that God has given us can change the fact that we are dead. Ever since the fall, we generally have two ways of facing the reality of death. We can work hard at avoiding it by running from responsibility, or we can work hard at running toward our responsibility and pretend we are beyond death itself. Life under the sun is messy, and often we have a mix of both. Yet the point is that both are v***r and end in the grave.

What do we have in the end that can transcend death itself?

This past week, a famous TV star passed away due to cancer, and he made his journey through his condition public on Instagram. In his last post about what he had learned through his journey, he noted that he had moved away from Hollywood because he wanted to define himself beyond his vocation as an “actor” and found that being a husband and father was the vocation that transcended that. But now cancer had stripped him of being a good husband and father because he could no longer fulfill those roles. He recognized that cancer had stripped him of the very titles he held most dear. What then defines our humanity? He simply said, “I am worthy of God’s love because I exist.”

What if there is a better way?...

The greatest Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, once said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Beyond working our way from or toward the responsibility that comes with being an image bearer of God in life under the sun, there is one way that truly solves the problem of death and separation from God: The Lord Jesus himself. In his body broken for us, in his sufferings for our sin, in his resurrection from the dead, and in his ascension into the most intimate setting at the right hand of God the Father. He promises that all those who believe in him are seated with him in the heavenly places.

I hope that the gentleman who recently passed trusted in the Lord Jesus for his salvation and recognized that He was the only one truly worthy of anything. What about you—have you trusted in the Lord Jesus for your salvation?

02/03/2026

The V***r of Living Wisely – Ecclesiastes 2:12-17

What is the benefit of living wisely if both the wise and the foolish ultimately face the same end: death?

The Teacher goes straight to the point here. Regardless of who you are or what you believe to be true—everyone has some form of belief system, whether they recognize it or not—you cannot escape the reality of death. Whether you strive to live your best life by making wise choices or choose to indulge every impulse without care, we will all be consumed by death in the end.

The concept of death is closely tied to the Old Testament's idea of "Sheol." This place is often depicted as a dark, chaotic abyss beneath the earth, where the imagery of being "swallowed" is particularly striking. A vivid example of this is found in the story of the prophet Jonah, who is "swallowed" by a great sea creature. In the Old Testament, the sea and its creatures represent the most chaotic aspects of creation, which is one reason I personally refuse to go on cruise ships— but that's a different story.

The greatest Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizes the theme of death, particularly through the story of Jonah being "swallowed" by a sea creature, as a focal point of His ministry. Jesus came to defeat all our enemies, with death being the last and greatest hurdle to overcome. This is the ultimate takeaway that Solomon teaches us: everything we experience in life is temporary and ultimately ends in death.

Consider this: the topic of death is like the elephant in the room—everybody acknowledges its presence, yet society often distracts itself from this inevitable end with fleeting pleasures that fail to provide true satisfaction.

The reality of the resurrection serves as the central hope that has propelled Christianity forward for centuries. It remains the firm foundation that motivates us all on our journey.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, or are you delaying in pursuit of the best life now?

01/27/2026

The V***r of Self-Indulgence – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Solomon strides purposefully, as if embarking on a grand royal experiment under the sun. The Teacher navigates the familiar pathways of our postmodern world, those well-trodden dead ends of self-indulgence that all of us fall into. The age-old mantra of “satisfy yourself” echoes through time, perched on the throne of the human heart since the days of the fall. Now, our Teacher sets out to delve into the myriad endeavors we pursue, those works born from our hands and the fleeting rewards they offer to convince us that “Yes, we can!” Yet, with all this effort, the ultimate truth remains clear: in the end, it’s all but v***r.

The structure of this passage masterfully highlights the circular nature of our pursuits. Take a moment to appreciate the inclusio in verses 1 and 11, where the narrative bookends itself with the same powerful message: the relentless pursuit of lasting gain through self-indulgent possessions ultimately leads to emptiness and futility.

Now, let’s look at the intriguing chiastic A-B-C-C1-B1-A1 rhythm. In verse 1 (A), we see Solomon kicking things off by proclaiming the inevitable v***r that defines this journey. Then, in verses 2-3 (B), the Teacher dives into a foray of laughter, wine, and folly, exploring various elements of the human experience.

This exploration sets the stage for the core of the matter in verses 4-8 (C), where Solomon engages in the act of accumulating possessions. The Teacher includes houses, vineyards, gardens, parks, slaves, silver, gold, and all the delights of the sons of man.
It’s striking to note how he repeats the phrase “I”, “myself”, and “for myself” in the Hebrew (לִ֜י) eleven times, underscoring a self-centered approach to building and planting. While it may echo the dominion found in Eden, an ironic twist reveals that in the end, it all amounts to nothing more than “hevel” – a fleeting mist. In an era of 'manifest your best life' influencers, Solomon's 'I' obsession mirrors our own Instagram-fueled pursuits.

Verse 9 acts as a mirror to the C section, summarizing the remarkable greatness of Solomon's position and resonating with the “making great” concept introduced earlier. Following that, verse 10 reflects the B section, bringing us back to the pursuit of pleasure. Finally, we arrive at verse 11, which echoes the A section, wrapping up with the sobering realization that all the fruits of the Teacher’s labor amount to little more than v***r.

Solomon challenges us with a timeless truth: the belief that a person's worth is determined by their possessions has been around as long as humanity's struggle with sin. We often trick ourselves into thinking that pleasure and material wealth can somehow erase the haunting reality of mortality. But the truth remains: if our hearts chase after anything but God himself, all our treasures will ultimately leave us unfulfilled. True fulfillment comes not from what we own, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The greatest Teacher said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

01/25/2026

Service this morning is cancelled due to the weather conditions. We look forward to worship, Lord willing, next week.

01/24/2026

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:3-4)

In the fleeting cycles of life, everything withers—except the everlasting life found in communion with God. We walk toward the day when the heavenly city, whose maker and builder is God, comes down to dwell on a renewed earth.

01/21/2026

The V***r of Wisdom - Ecclesiastes 1:13-18

The Teacher offers a thought-provoking observation, characterizing the pursuit of wisdom as akin to chasing v***r—intangible and elusive. This might seem contradictory, particularly when we reflect on Solomon's Proverbs, which passionately encourage the quest for wisdom as essential for enriching our lives. How can such a noble pursuit also be regarded as a futile endeavor?

Proverbs encourages the pursuit of wisdom, but it emphasizes that the starting point is the fear of the Lord. The book presents wisdom as a divine gift granted to those who place their trust in the Lord rather than in their own understanding. In contrast, Ecclesiastes explores the pursuit of wisdom “under the sun,” focusing on the enjoyment of things in this fallen world for their own sake, rather than seeking fulfillment in God himself.

Solomon begins the book by exploring the theme of the V***r of Wisdom. In verses 12-18, he introduces two repetitive cycles to illustrate how the pursuit and acquisition of wisdom can be elusive, akin to mist. He establishes his authority as a king, which lends weight to his assertions. Following this, he outlines a pattern of ambition leading to action and ultimately resulting in futility.

In verses 13 through 15, Solomon grapples with a profound quest for knowledge about everything under Heaven, all while yearning for something enduring. Yet, this pursuit ultimately leads him to the stark realization of futility. Why? Because embedded within our very nature lies a crookedness that undermines our efforts, turning them into mere wisps of smoke. The Hebrew term for “crooked” carries a negative connotation, signaling a significant departure from the straight path laid out by God.

This verb resonates deeply in the book of Job, where intense debates unfold as Job seeks to make sense of his suffering. Caught in the struggle between appearances and the deeper truths of God’s providence, Elihu declares in Job 34:12, “Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert (same verb) justice.” Here, God’s unwavering straightness shines as a beacon of trustworthiness, starkly contrasting with humanity's inherent crookedness. It's a powerful reminder of the fundamental truth that our efforts, when disconnected from divine purpose, often lead us astray.

The second pattern in verses 16-18 depicts Solomon's quest for wisdom. However, this pursuit is accompanied by madness and folly, which ultimately leads to futility. While both outcomes emphasize the idea of futility, the distinction in this second pattern lies in the fact that wisdom is often accompanied by vexation. The noun in Hebrew denotes an inner heat expressed as anger or grief. The term is applied to describe the righteous anger of God and the sinful irritation in humanity. In all cases, it describes a deep distress. Why does wisdom come with such vexation? Matthew Henry says, “There must be a great deal of pains taken to get wisdom, and a great deal of care not to forget it; the more we know the more we see there is to be known, and consequently we perceive with greater clearness that our work is without end, and the more we see of our former mistakes and blunders, which occasions much grief. The more we see of men’s different sentiments and opinions (and it is that which a great deal of our learning is conversant about), the more at a loss we are, it may be, which is in the right.”

Henry powerfully illustrates a crucial truth: our relentless pursuit of knowledge was never intended to be the ultimate purpose of our lives. Rather, we were created to trust in the Lord, who possesses wisdom far beyond our understanding. While seeking wisdom is certainly important, it often comes hand in hand with a sense of sorrow—a poignant reminder that true reliance should be on divine wisdom rather than our own insatiable quest for knowledge. Ultimately, no amount of striving for knowledge can shield us from the reality of death.

If there is no hope in our pursuit of wisdom under the sun, then a wisdom from above the sun, from the Heavens, must come down to teach us the way.

01/18/2026

In John 13:13, Jesus declares, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am."

The title of the book of Ecclesiastes in Hebrew is Qoheleth / Kohelet (קֹהֶלֶת). The word "Qoheleth" comes from the Hebrew root qahal, meaning "to assemble" or "to gather." It points to the book's core purpose: assembling God's people to teach hard truths about "life under the sun"—our fleeting existence in a broken world. The Teacher here is Solomon, who grimly exposes how everything is hebel (a v***r, a breath): wisdom, pleasure, wealth, and toil all chase satisfaction but end in futility because death levels us all. No matter the comforts we hoard, it's all smoke vanishing in the wind.

Yet the greatest Teacher furthers Solomon. His focus is beyond earthly goods to confront the very reality Solomon concludes with, the reality of death. The Lord Jesus teaches us that nothing in this world can truly satisfy our souls' deepest longings. That true satisfaction comes when we love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength... and love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30-31). It is only when the eyes of faith are truly set on God that every good created thing is set in its proper place, not in the eyes of flesh that desires many things besides God himself. There is only one man in history who ever did that, The Lord Jesus Christ, and only in Him lies eternal life, the well that never runs dry.

Come join us Next Lord's Day!

01/14/2026

We're diving deep into the book of Ecclesiastes! Here's verse 1:2 in the Admin's own translation: 'Mist of mists, says the Teacher, mist of mists; all is a fleeting mist.' How is it that life is a fleeting mist? Come join us and find out!

08/24/2025

Happy 60th Birthday Philip T. Proctor

We praise the Lord for blessing us with your life, your unwavering faith, and your tireless dedication to SPC. May this milestone year bring you abundant joy, renewed strength, and countless more opportunities to continue the work in God’s kingdom.🎉🙏

12/02/2024

Flat top, beanie, cowboy, (we don’t know what Tom is doin there 😂) hat day at SPC!

Sterling Presbyterian Church

04/05/2026

02/17/2026

02/03/2026

01/27/2026

01/25/2026

01/24/2026

01/21/2026

01/18/2026

01/14/2026

08/24/2025

12/02/2024

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Place Of Worship

Shortcuts

Share

Category