November 9, 2025

Pastor Brett Ehlke

Cause/Effect—In life, there's almost always a cause behind every effect — an agent driving each action. We live in a world shaped by cause and effect. Recognizing that pattern is essential to living wisely. If you want a healthy heart, you need to understand what leads to heart disease. If you're aiming for financial stability, you have to consider the long-term impact of your spending before making big purchases. And if you desire the peace that comes from a close walk with God, it's important to understand what fosters that kind of relationship. As we approach the end of the church year, our Scripture readings begin to draw our attention back to the central themes that have echoed throughout the year. In this final series, we’ll reflect on how God’s kingdom works through cause and effect — not in a mechanical or transactional way, but in a way that reveals His heart and His purposes.
 
Resurrection/Hope— People often think of hope as an optimistic desire. When someone says, “I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend,” they simply mean that’s what they want to happen. But that kind of hope doesn’t guarantee anything—it might still pour all weekend. That’s the best the world can offer: an uncertain enthusiasm, a cautious anticipation. This shaky kind of hope is born out of mere optimism. Yet in a world as hard as ours, we need more than a fragile optimism.
Jesus offers us something better. He gives us the unbreakable promise of resurrection—secured by His own resurrection. Even more, He promises us eternal life in a breathtakingly beautiful heavenly home.
What difference does this make? It gives us a better kind of hope—a certain hope. We watch and wait for the life to come, not with uncertainty, but with confidence that it will come. For Jesus has made a promise, and one thing Jesus never does is lie.
 
Cause/Effect—Resurrection/Hope