Uplook - September 26, 2026
Happy Saturday,
I don't often write or preach about sports but it is approaching the end of the baseball season and close to the front of the American football season so I thought I might make a few observations. In both of the sports mentioned, there are both offence and defense. While the nature of the games is different, the object is the same...keep your opponent from scoring while trying to score for yourself.
Ultimately, it may seem that we are out matched by our enemy, Satan. Yet, we have a captain who never lost a battle. In reality, Satan is already a defeated foe because of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary's cross. James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem said:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but submitting ourselves and our wills to God is the very best spiritual offence a Christian can employ. Our resistance of Satan is dependent upon our submission to God. In the book of Hebrews, the writer declares we are surrounded by a stadium full of witnesses and that we must move on from training and keep our eyes on Jesus until we reach the finish line.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2
No matter if things are going well and we feel as if we are on "offense" or they are tough and we are playing "defense" may we keep our eyes on Jesus who has led the way. As we do our victory is secure. Both the Apostles John and Paul verify that fact for us.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
Housekeeping Notes:
Contact List: We are updating our church contact list. Please let me know if there have been any changes in your name, address, email, or phone contact information.
Ordinance: We will be celebrating the Lord's Supper and Washing of the Disciples Feet in tomorrow evening's service.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
I don't often write or preach about sports but it is approaching the end of the baseball season and close to the front of the American football season so I thought I might make a few observations. In both of the sports mentioned, there are both offence and defense. While the nature of the games is different, the object is the same...keep your opponent from scoring while trying to score for yourself.
Ultimately, it may seem that we are out matched by our enemy, Satan. Yet, we have a captain who never lost a battle. In reality, Satan is already a defeated foe because of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary's cross. James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem said:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but submitting ourselves and our wills to God is the very best spiritual offence a Christian can employ. Our resistance of Satan is dependent upon our submission to God. In the book of Hebrews, the writer declares we are surrounded by a stadium full of witnesses and that we must move on from training and keep our eyes on Jesus until we reach the finish line.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2
No matter if things are going well and we feel as if we are on "offense" or they are tough and we are playing "defense" may we keep our eyes on Jesus who has led the way. As we do our victory is secure. Both the Apostles John and Paul verify that fact for us.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
Housekeeping Notes:
Contact List: We are updating our church contact list. Please let me know if there have been any changes in your name, address, email, or phone contact information.
Ordinance: We will be celebrating the Lord's Supper and Washing of the Disciples Feet in tomorrow evening's service.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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