Election Reminder

Pastor Lance Shumake • November 3, 2020

I figured we all need at least one more reminder about the election, right? You know, just in case every single app on your phone hasn’t done the job. 


Hold up. Please don’t close this window. This is not a reminder to vote (although I hope you have or will). This is also not going to be instructions on how to vote disguised as a reminder. 


I’m taking on a different goal. I want to remind you of some things in a way that will help you survive this week. Some truths that can guide us all through the stress and craziness of an election in a year like this one. My hope is to encourage you, regardless of your preference for red or blue. 



Election Reminder #1 – There will be no surprises


Of course, we all know this. God is never surprised. But do we act like it? An even harder question is, do we react like it? 


Let’s go a little further into this idea. We know God won’t be falling off his throne on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, or whenever this election is decided. We know this because He is in control of it. 


“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1


God will not be startled because God appoints all leaders. Presidents, judges, kings, emperors, teachers, bosses, and mayors. They all hold their positions because God has allowed it, ordained it, and instituted it. 


There are so many facets of this truth. Too many for one blog post for sure. But consider that God raises up some leaders to bring blessings to the people, and some he raises up to bestow punishment on the people. He raises up some to deliver and some to discipline. He gives leaders that are desired and he gives leaders that are despised. 


Remember, Paul wrote these words to the church in Rome. The Romans were the leaders he was talking about. Yes, those Romans. 


No matter what happens with this election, remember this truth. These are the leaders God wants for us at this time. We may not understand his purposes or his ways (they are often beyond our reach), but we can trust His sovereignty over all things. Even an election in 2020. 



Election Reminder #2 – The mandates are still in place


The word mandate has left its own unique mark in 2020, and it might not be done yet. However, as followers of Jesus, our mandates are firmly established and will not be affected Tuesday’s results. Not even a little. 


Our mandate is to love God and love our neighbor. The ones that vote like you and the ones that are wrong. <<<Just put that in there to see if you were paying attention. 


“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” –Jesus (John 14:15)


The mandates to care for orphans and to minister to widows won’t change with the resident of the White House. Our calling to fight for the unborn, the mistreated, the marginalized, the discriminated, and the outcast is not dependent upon a court no matter how supreme it claims to be. 


Our assignment to be the salt and light will be the same when we wake up on Wednesday. 


Side note: the hope to end abortion may not ever be found in Washington. Instead, that hope can be found at your local pregnancy resource center where they minister to women, meet real needs, share the gospel, and save lives. Your support of their work and ministry could actually make a much bigger impact than your vote. 



Election Reminder #3 – The mission hasn’t been cancelled


A common mission brings people together. It reminds us that we are on the same team with the same goals. Jesus gave His followers (the church) a mission. 


“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20


That mission is our mission until Jesus returns. Period. And staying engaged in this mission will keep us united. It will remind us of the work in which we all have a part. It will cause us to sacrifice for the greater good. Alongside our brothers and sisters. 


As Pastor Ky Martin said this in his sermon this past Sunday: 


“No matter the sign in your yard, [as a Christ-follower] you have more in common with people who are a part of the church than you do your unbelieving neighbor, who maybe shares the same political beliefs. You fit in with the church because we are one in Christ. He has diminished and conquered any dividing lines between us.”


Making Him famous is the life goal we have in common. Staying engaged in this mission will help you live out this truth. 


Oh, and don’t miss that promise at the end of the Great Commission. Jesus promises to be with us. Always. Even to the end of the age. 


Even through this election. Don’t forget that.



Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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