Sermon: The State of the Church 2025

The State of the Church 2025 Sunday, January 5th, 2025 Christ Covenant Church – Centralia, WA

John 21:15–25 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Prayer

O Father, from the rising of the sun unto its going down, your name is to be praised. Make our prayers to ascend to you as incense, as a pure offering, so that your name shall be great among the heathen. Show forth the power of your Word, as we receive it now into ourselves, for we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

On August 24th, 2012, the idea of planting a reformed church in Lewis County was being contemplated by a certain Joe Stout, and that idea was also expressed (via email) to a certain Dave Hatcher, pastor of Trinity Church (CREC) in Kirkland.

• However, seven years would go by before that idea would start to take shape, and that idea become a gathering of men, called Reformation Roundtable, which met for the first time in January of 2020.
  • Another year went by and then in January of 2021, those men and their families began to worship together, practicing the liturgy on Sunday evenings.
  • And then finally, five months later, on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, 2021, Christ Covenant Church was born. There were 59 people in attendance, many of whom are still here today, some who are not.
• Fast forward to January of 2025 (today) and we are a 3.5-year-old toddler of a church. And yet we have a building we can now call our own. We have a young and growing classical Christian school (also known as our children’s church and youth ministry, for those wondering). And last week we had 199 people who came here to “rise and worship the Triune God.” Who are we but those who have received grace upon grace upon grace?
  • God’s mercy and provision has been so abundant towards us, that while Joe planted, and Dave watered, and many of you have given of yourselves, your time, your prayers, and your resources to build up this body, we all say with one voice, the words of