In The World, Not Of The World

June 10, 2026

Leadership Notes

     Do not worry, fret, or despair. Is our culture messed up? Of course it is. I’m not being cynical or negative to point out the obvious. At least I don’t think I am. We live in a fallen world. The Bible makes that abundantly clear. June especially highlights the sin-sickness. Whether it’s your local ice cream place or favorite professional sports franchise, June reminds us that we are strangers living in a strange land.

     Pastor and author Scott Roberts writes:

“A nation can be built upon Christian principles, and that is a good

thing. God’s design for society and families will cause a culture to

flourish. But no government can make people Christians. Every

man and woman must personally repent of their sin and trust in

Jesus Christ alone for salvation.”

     That’s a much more eloquent way than I could ever put it. A culture seasoned with wickedness is going to do wicked stuff. We can’t escape it, deny it, or make it go away. What we can do is worship God in truth and light…love Jesus…love each other…and love our community by showing and telling of the love of Jesus. The culture is gonna culture. Doesn’t mean we have to. We simply tell people about Jesus. We call sin sin, and point to the remedy, who is Jesus Christ the Lord. We are in the world, not of the world.

     Culture is going to do what culture does. Won’t affect how we live, or the choices we make, or the trajectory of our lives in Christ. Let the misfits, miscreants, and malcontents go to the latest “No Kings” rally or mutter inanities about oligarchs or making the wealthy pay their fair share or sloganeer about whatever else is the life-de-jour that matters. I’m going to do the best I can to honor God’s Word and treasure Jesus Christ above all others. No rabble or rousing for me.

     I love Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not

be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is

with you wherever you go.”

How great is that? What a wonderful promise. Let the heathen roar. We hear the quiet whisper of Joshua 1:9. We’re busy with the work of the Lord…doing what Jesus calls strong men and women to do.

     Make no mistake. We’re not trying to do anything clever or fun or entertaining here at Covenant Church. You’re not going to hear anything close to the prosperity gospel here. Or a summer sermon series built around secular movies. No fog machines or highwire acts. We’re simply fresh, simple, and honest. Worship honoring what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Loving each other through expressions of Galatians 5:22-23. And helping people in our community. That’s about it. Some might call it winsomeness.

     Another pithy observation from Scott Roberts:

“The further a society moves from God, the more confused it

becomes about the most basic realities of life:

> What is a man?

> What is a woman?

> What is marriage?

> What is truth?

> What is evil?

Sin does not enlighten us. Sin blinds us.”

Culture’s gonna culture. As the British say, we keep calm and carry on.

There’s no place on earth I’d rather be than right here, right now. Amen?

     Finally, this affirmation:

“Jesus is not fretfully pacing the corridors of heaven. Jesus

accomplished redemption and then SAT DOWN - But when Christ

had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at

the right hand of God {Hebrews 10:12}. Jesus is not stressed

about the church’s future. Jesus is building his church, and hell

cannot stop him {Matthew 16:18}.

All hail Jesus.”

-      Owen Strachan

     And now, your Moment{s} of Spurgeon:

"The more manifestly distinct the Church is from the world,

the more true is her testimony for Christ, and the more potent is her

witness against sin."

“That very church which the world likes best is sure to be that

which God abhors."

With Much Love and Affection,

               Richard