Sterling Severns Lent, Life of the Community

An Invitation to Reflect: A Lenten Journey Together

As a pastor, I’m constantly aware of the weight people are carrying—both in what they share with me, in what I see, and in what I’m experiencing in the world. I feel it too. It’s rough out there. The pressure, the exhaustion, the constant noise of life—it’s a lot. And I know many of you are seeing it, feeling it, and carrying it in your own way. We’re all longing for peace.

Next week, Lent begins—a season that invites us to slow down, reflect, and make space for what matters. Not by trying harder, but by making room for something deeper.

So here’s what I’m wondering:

  • What if holiness isn’t about striving but about paying attention?
  • What if faith isn’t something to master but something to wake up to, right in the middle of our ordinary lives?
  • What if Lent isn’t about what we give up, but about what we make space to receive?

I wonder if you might consider joining me this Lent in exploring Room for Good Things to Run Wild: How Ordinary People Become Everyday Saints by Josh Nadeau. It’s 40 brief readings, just a few minutes a day. No book club, no required discussions. Just an open invitation to reflect.

We’ll begin next Wednesday, March 5—one brief reading a day, skipping Sundays, through Saturday, April 19. I’ll post a daily thread where you can share a thought if you want, or you can just sit with the words on your own. Or maybe you read along and never tell a soul—including me. That’s fine, too.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do, grab a copy in print, on Kindle, or on Audible so you’re ready to start next Wednesday.

Let’s see what happens when we make a little room for peace.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Sterling W. Severns, Pastor

_________________________________

Subscribe to calendar with readings.

Week 1

  • March 5 (Ash Wednesday): Chapter 1 – A Symphony of Hitting Rock Bottom (p. 1)
  • March 6 (Thursday): Chapter 2 – Hypocrisy Reaps No Rewards (p. 11)
  • March 7 (Friday): Chapter 3 – The Winds of Fate Blow Here and There (p. 18)
  • March 8 (Saturday): Chapter 4 – Remove the Organ, Demand the Function (p. 21)
    (March 9 – Sunday: No reading)

Week 2

  • March 10 (Monday): Chapter 5 – The Mechanics of Sainthood (p. 27)
  • March 11 (Tuesday): Chapter 6 – Relapses into Wonder (p. 33)
  • March 12 (Wednesday): Chapter 7 – Open Self-Surgery (p. 41)
  • March 13 (Thursday): Chapter 8 – Starved Hearts (p. 46)
  • March 14 (Friday): Chapter 9 – Wonder Is Food, Not Fact (p. 51)
  • March 15 (Saturday): Chapter 10 – I’ll Pray for You (p. 55)
    (March 16 – Sunday: No reading)

Week 3

  • March 17 (Monday): Chapter 11 – The Discarded Body (p. 59)
  • March 18 (Tuesday): Chapter 12 – Brains in a Vat (p. 73)
  • March 19 (Wednesday): Chapter 13 – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (p. 81)
  • March 20 (Thursday): Chapter 14 – The Logistics of Listening (p. 84)
  • March 21 (Friday): Chapter 15 – Talk is Cheap (p. 89)
  • March 22 (Saturday): Chapter 16 – Strong in Broken Places (p. 95)
    (March 23 – Sunday: No reading)

Week 4

  • March 24 (Monday): Chapter 17 – Divine Juxtapositions (p. 101)
  • March 25 (Tuesday): Chapter 18 – Knowing God, Knowing Self (p. 109)
  • March 26 (Wednesday): Chapter 19 – A Phenomenology of Sainthood (p. 113)
  • March 27 (Thursday): Chapter 20 – Following the Hidden Music (p. 125)
  • March 28 (Friday): Chapter 21 – The Long Obedience in the Same Direction (p. 130)
  • March 29 (Saturday): Chapter 22 – The Blueprint of a Saint (p. 137)
    (March 30 – Sunday: No reading)

Week 5

  • March 31 (Monday): Chapter 23 – “Now That You Don’t Have to Be Perfect, You Can Be Good” (p. 142)
  • April 1 (Tuesday): Chapter 24 – The Myth of Extraordinary (p. 146)
  • April 2 (Wednesday): Chapter 25 – You Will Be Forgotten (p. 152)
  • April 3 (Thursday): Chapter 26 – Bodies Are Sacramental (p. 158)
  • April 4 (Friday): Chapter 27 – Liturgies for Local Living (p. 164)
  • April 5 (Saturday): Chapter 28 – A Study in Desire (p. 179)
    (April 6 – Sunday: No reading)

Week 6

  • April 7 (Monday): Chapter 29 – Longings Fulfilled (p. 185)
  • April 8 (Tuesday): Chapter 30 – Truth is Not Mere Fact (p. 190)
  • April 9 (Wednesday): Chapter 31 – Rivers Run with Wine (p. 194)
  • April 10 (Thursday): Chapter 32 – All Three, Together (p. 201)
  • April 11 (Friday): Chapter 33 – Like Body, Like Soul (p. 205)
  • April 12 (Saturday): Chapter 34 – You Are What You Love (p. 210)
    (April 13 – Palm Sunday: No reading)

Holy Week

  • April 14 (Monday): Chapter 35 – An Archetype for Being (p. 217)
  • April 15 (Tuesday): Chapter 36 – The Heavenly Cadence (p. 229)
  • April 16 (Wednesday): Chapter 37 – Crafting a Holy Imagination (p. 235)
  • April 17 (Maundy Thursday): Chapter 38 – Working Backward from Heaven
  • April 18 (Good Friday): Chapter 39 – Selah
  • April 19 (Holy Saturday): Chapter 40 – There and Back Again
Sterling Severns Church Business

TBC working with Technology Consultants.

Let’s take a  moment to talk about why we hired IT4Causes, what we’ve been working on together, and how this work is positioning Tabernacle for the future. At Tabernacle, we’ve always placed a high value on people. We want everyone who comes into our physical and virtual spaces to feel seen, heard, welcomed, and cared for, while also making those spaces as safe as possible and protecting the private information they entrust to us.

To live out these values, the systems we rely on—our technology, infrastructure, and access to our physical and virtual spaces—must be equipped to support, protect, and mobilize people. Over time, however, these systems have become piecemealed together. They’re harder to navigate and outdated, making them incompatible with the tools we need today and increasing the risk of security vulnerabilities.

This strain is deeply felt by both staff and volunteers. Outdated systems make basic tasks frustrating, time-consuming, and inefficient. These challenges impact how we spend our time, with too much energy focused on navigating technology instead of the ministry we’re here to do. Without tools that are simple enough for others to step in and use, we also risk burnout and gaps when people can no longer fill their roles.

Why We Hired IT4Causes

Tabernacle has always been blessed with individuals willing to use their unique skills to build and support our technology systems. During the pandemic lockdown, volunteers and paid staff offered sacrificial availability, ensuring our technology supported ministry during a critical time. We’re deeply grateful for all they gave during that season.

As time has passed, life has naturally shifted for many of those individuals. Some have moved on to new opportunities, while others have needed to step back as their circumstances changed. At the same time, technology has continued to evolve, and the complexity of our systems has grown. We still have a few individuals with the skills and willingness to serve in this area, but no one can do it all. That’s why we partnered with IT4Causes: to stabilize our systems, address critical gaps, and ensure we’re no longer relying on a few individuals to shoulder such enormous responsibilities.

What We’ve Accomplished and What’s in Progress

Since partnering with IT4Causes, we’ve made significant progress while laying the groundwork for what’s to come. Here’s a snapshot of some of our main projects: 

  • Enhanced security: We’ve implemented tools to protect our network and email from malware and phishing attacks. IT4Causes is monitoring our network for security breaches and can troubleshoot issues remotely, minimizing disruptions.
  • Reliable internet: Internet upgrades are nearly complete, supported by the purchase of brand-new hardware to replace outdated equipment. Our previous hardware was no longer supported, leaving it vulnerable to security breaches and limiting reliable connectivity. These upgrades ensure consistent and secure internet access across both buildings, even with challenges like thick walls.
  • Email migration: We successfully transitioned our email system to a supported, reliable server, ensuring better functionality and reliability.
  • Phone system design (in progress): IT4Causes is helping us explore and design a phone system and plan that meets the complex challenges of this moment, particularly in the context of inner-city ministry.
  • Copy machine collaboration (in progress): Just one month before the pandemic began, we signed a long-term lease for a copy machine, which was shared between the church, ExCell, and the Child Care Center Ministry. That lease wasn’t designed for the current level of sharing, and the congregation was producing much higher volumes of copies at the time. Now that the lease has ended, we’re working together to lease a new machine designed to meet all three groups’ needs while saving money through better resource sharing.
  • Historical record preservation (in progress): We’re working to securely store, back up, and manage access to 130+ years of church records. This includes ensuring sensitive information is only accessible to the appropriate leaders.
  • Collaborative tools (beginning stages): We’ve introduced Microsoft 365 to help us communicate, organize, and collaborate more effectively. The next step is to establish an official church calendar and begin using shared documents with leaders and staff.

An Invitation to Trust

This is hard work, and it takes time, focus, and resources. But we’ve done hard things together before. And we can do them again.

This investment is about more than fixing systems.
It’s about freeing up staff and volunteers to focus on the work they’re uniquely equipped to do. It’s about making sure that when new staff, volunteers, or leaders join us,
they can step in with confidence, using tools that are easy to learn and simple to navigate.

By equipping people well from the start, we can build continuity and keep ministry moving forward, even in times of transition. It’s also about positioning Tabernacle for the future, giving us the systems we need to be effective, to serve people well, and to live out the mission God has called us to.

Thank you for your time, trust, and prayers as we continue this journey together.

_________________________________________________

Sterling Severns Building and Grounds, Mission, Rule of Life Together

Building of Hope Cohort: Q&A

What is the Building of Hope Cohort?
The Building of Hope Cohort is a two-year program funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. It equips congregations to discern how their physical spaces and resources can reflect God’s hospitality and deepen their engagement in God’s Mission.

Why is Tabernacle Baptist Church Participating?
We believe God is calling us to listen more deeply for how the spaces entrusted to us can serve as places of connection, trust, and shared life with our neighbors and ministry partners. This program is an opportunity to grow in our understanding of what it means to embody God’s hospitality in tangible ways.

What does the process involve?

  • A three-person team, made up of Sterling Severns (pastor), Donna Soyars, and Ryan Corbitt, will represent TBC.
  • The team will attend three in-person retreats in Alexandria, VA:
    • February 20-22, 2025
    • May 15-17, 2025
    • October 16-18, 2025
  • Between retreats, we’ll use the Good Futures Accelerator, an interactive tool designed to help churches creatively and sustainably discern how their spaces and resources can join God’s Mission.

Who will guide us?
Building for Hope Staff, Rooted Good, Dr. Matt Cook, Director and Consultant at the Center for Healthy Churches and Pneumatrix, will serve as our coach. Dr. Cook will provide:

  • Up to five coaching sessions in the first year and four in the second.
  • Participation in three one-hour conversations with our cohort and mentor in year one.

What outcomes do we hope to see?
Through this journey, we hope to:

  • Grow in our understanding of stewardship and hospitality.
  • Discern creative and sustainable ways to use the spaces we’ve been entrusted with to reflect God’s Mission.
  • Deepen our relationships with neighbors and ministry partners, joining with them in God’s work of love and reconciliation.

How can I be involved?
We invite you to:

  • Pray for our team as they embark on this journey.
  • Join church-wide conversations as we remember, reflect, learn, and dream together.
  • Participate in meaningful conversations between the church and the larger community as we listen together for God’s direction.
  • Reflect on how God might be calling all of us to listen, grow, and share in this Mission.
Sterling Severns Life of the Community, Mission, Rule of Life, Rule of Life Together, Taste & See

Will We Have the Courage to Receive What God Is Giving (again)?

So many of us remember those early days when families who came as refugees from Burma began worshiping with us at Tabernacle. These were families with no place to call home—dehumanized by those in power and forced to leave everything behind in the place they once belonged. Many of them were grieving the traumatic loss of “home” and loved ones, the unspeakable atrocities of war etched into their stories. And yet, every Sunday, they joined us in the pews, filling the sanctuary with their presence.

2025.01.28-Being-Church-Together-Download

It was a time of economic recession. All around us, a multitude of voices—both outside and within the church—expressed genuine concern about not having enough. Scarcity dominated the conversation, and the uncertainty of the moment weighed heavily on so many. And yet, there God was, providing in abundance.

When the offering plates were passed from hand to hand during the doxology, those same families—families struggling to feed their children—placed small bills into the plates. By the time the plates were carried forward, they were filled. What we thought we saw clearly at first grew richer and more profound as God’s hospitality continued to unfold before us, inviting us to grow in our understanding and trust.

We began to realize that what we were witnessing was far more than “us” hosting “them.” Between Sundays, we were invited into their temporary homes—apartments where rent was owed regardless of employment status. They welcomed us with open arms. They didn’t just share their stories; they shared their lives. They modeled faith.

It became clearer over time that this was not about “us” and “them” at all. God, the giver of life, was hosting all of us together. We brought the fish. They brought the loaves. We feasted at the family table together, and in God’s abundance, there were baskets of leftovers to share with others on the way.

I remember those days with deep longing. As we conclude the first month of 2025, we see division everywhere—in society, in our neighborhoods, and, yet again, within our own congregation. The “us” and “them” narrative has returned. There is so much talk of protecting borders, protecting institutions, protecting way of life, protecting legacy, protecting principle, protecting what’s ours.

But the only balm for the predictability of human behavior is the steadfast love of a God who sends strangers into our lives to show us the way home again.

From Abraham welcoming strangers into his tent to Jesus receiving the care of others during his ministry, God has always revealed divine hospitality through neighbors who extend trust and generosity. Again and again, we are reminded that God is the giver of all good things.

Even as the tension mounts, I find myself grateful that a growing number of us are coming to see the gift of God’s hospitality in our midst. On first and third Saturdays, there are droves of neighbors gathering in “our” building—each carrying different stories, perspectives, and needs—and yet the richness of God’s hospitality is being revealed through shared connection. In these spaces, God is changing and maturing our seeing, each at a different pace. For those with eyes to see, there is a growing awareness: we are becoming less and less the “helpers” and more and more people being hosted in the goodness of God.

And then there are more and more of us experiencing surprising life in growing relationships—with the staff, coaches, and community connected to ExCell, our Child Care Center Ministry, Alcoholics Anonymous, Lisu Grace Church, the Richmond Concert Band, ReEstablish Richmond, Akulana, Habitat for Humanity, diverse faith communities, neighbors living in houses surrounding “us,” and so many others whose lives and ministries are intertwined with our own.

Is it possible that the very thing we’ve been praying for—across generations—is unfolding right in front of us?

Could it be that we are becoming a neighborhood church again—not by reclaiming what was, but by having the courage to receive what God is giving now? That God is sending us neighbors to help us find our way back to our true selves…..to help us find “home” (again)….together (again)?

Do you suppose we still have it in us to embrace the truth that God’s hospitality isn’t something we offer, but something we are invited into (again)?

And if that’s true, will we have the courage to receive it (again)?

I pray we will. In fact, I see glimpses of it already.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Sterling W. Severns, Senior Pastor

_______________________________

Going Deeper: We are excited to explore how God is calling us to use the facilities entrusted to us more fully in this Mission. To learn more about how the cohort and grant opportunity can guide us in this next chapter of faithful stewardship, click here to read the Q&A and join the conversation.

Sterling Severns Abundant Community, Life of the Community, Sunday Bulletin

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Sterling Severns Life of the Community

Lifting up Cochrane Family…

We lift up the Cochrane Family and all those who loved and shared life with Jimmy. In this time of sorrow, let us find meaningful ways to be the heart and hands of Christ, bringing comfort and compassion to those who are grieving. As we honor his life, let’s also express our gratitude for the many ways Jimmy touched our lives and the life he continues to share with God. Let’s commit to pray, for comfort and thanksgiving!

James “Jimmy” H. Cochrane, Jr departed Newport, the Hokie Nation and his SCV camp unexpectedly on October 24. He was born in Richmond, spent much of his childhood and adult years in Rockville. Jim graduated from the Collegiate Schools, Virginia Tech (Architecture) and the University of Richmond (Transportation Management). He was the ultimate Tech fan, rarely missing a Hokie football or basketball game. When he was not wearing orange or maroon, he might be found in Civil War battalion attire or a Scottish kilt. He was pre-deceased by his parents J. Harwood Cochrane and Louise “Lulu” Blanks Cochrane, and his sister Suzanne Austell Martin. He is survived by his sister Judith Cochrane Hines, seven nieces and nephews, twelve great nieces and nephews and fiance’ Dale Hawthorne Harper. Jim worked at Overnite Transportation, Highway Express, then owned and operated a TourTime America motorcoach franchise.

He served on the boards of the Richmond Ski Club, the Museum & White House of the Confederacy, Huguenot Springs Cemetery and the American Frontier Culture Museum. Jim was fiercely proud of his Cochrane Scottish heritage and his brotherhood in the Kappa Alpha Order. He was well versed in American and military history. He was a long time member and Commander of the J.E.B. Stuart camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, coordinating and commanding numerous reenactments throughout Virginia and the south. He dedicated his life to civil war history and the battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley will forever be a part of his legacy. He retired to Wintergreen and subsequently Newport to be near his beloved Blacksburg.

He was larger than life and will be greatly missed by his family and friends in the Richmond Ski Club, the Knibbs Battery cannon battalion, Kappa Alpha and at Virginia Tech. There will be a memorial service at 11am Wednesday 11/6/24 at Woody Funeral Home at 1771 North Parham Rd Richmond, Va 23229. A private interment will follow. A Celebration of Life will follow a cannon salute at Huguenot Springs Cemetery on a later date.

Sterling Severns Abundant Community, Community Ministry, Life of the Community, Rule of Life Together

See You at the Corner of Emmaus and Grove

Learning to See: Join us this Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6-8 p.m.

Just days earlier, they had witnessed Jesus’ brutal death in Jerusalem, leaving them overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty. Two of His followers, one named Cleopas and the other unnamed, now walk the road to Emmaus, their minds swirling with questions. How could this have happened? What if everything they believed was wrong? What next? Along the way, they find themselves hosting a stranger, and as they walk, they speak repeatedly of the burden of failure. As the sun begins to set, stillness—the great amplifier of anxiety—settles in. Broken hearts break bread together, and then it happens—the stillness is broken with the miraculous. Eyes are opened, the presence of the risen Christ is made known, and the presumed hosts find themselves invited yet again into a future wide open.

The Emmaus Road is long, and while you won’t see it on any map, it intersects at every corner in the city we call home. Just after the pandemic, Alcoholics Anonymous began meeting weekly in the “Blue Room” of the little church at the corner of Emmaus and Grove. There, each week, just after the sun goes down, the brokenhearted gather together and inevitably find themselves less alone than they thought they were. Stories of brokenness, despair, healing, and transformation are shared in that space. It’s on the road to Emmaus the future is resurrected, one broken heart at a time, one step at a time.

This Thursday, I’d like to invite you to the corner of Emmaus and Grove. We’ll gather together with one of the leaders of the AA meeting that takes place every Wednesday in the Blue Room. We’ll hear stories, and perhaps some of us will even feel called to share some of our own. Perhaps, in the sharing of stories and also in the stillness—the great amplifiers of God’s presence—we’ll all catch a glimpse of a resurrected future?  Perhaps we, each and every one of us as guests, might leave that place more resolved to keep walking, one step at a time, toward that future together?

I hope to see you there.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Sterling W. Severns
Pastor

Details for Thursday, October 24, 2024:

  • Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Location: Blue Room, Tabernacle Church
  • Dinner: Pizza and salad provided
  • RSVP: Please e-mail communications@tbcrichmond.org
Sterling Severns Devotionals, Romans, Paul's letter to

Reflection Guide: Romans 6 and the Pattern of Dying to Self

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11, Sermon by Rev. Sterling W. Severns









Romans 6:1-11, Special Music, and Sermon










Reflection Questions





1. The Continuous Nature of Spiritual Growth





The sermon emphasized that spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. Baptism represents the ongoing pattern of dying to our false selves and rising with Christ, over and over. Paul calls us into a lifelong relationship with God that demands daily surrender to grace.





Quotes:





    

  • “Grace isn’t just for our past sins, but for the ongoing process of transformation in our lives.” — From the sermon
    • 




  • “Spiritual growth is a journey, not a moment. It’s an ongoing invitation to trust in grace.” — From the sermon
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • Where in your life do you feel called to surrender more fully to ongoing spiritual growth?
    • 




  • How might viewing your faith as a continuous journey change the way you approach daily challenges?
    • 











2. Baptism: A Continuous Journey, Not a One-Time Event





Baptism symbolizes more than a one-time moment of salvation. It’s an invitation to participate repeatedly in the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul teaches that we don’t leave behind sin in a single act, but we live in a daily pattern of surrender and renewal.





Quotes:





    

  • “Baptism isn’t a ritual of finality. It’s the starting point of an ongoing journey with God’s grace.” — From the sermon
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • How does your baptism (or your understanding of baptism) inform your current spiritual practices?
    • 




  • In what ways can you more intentionally participate in the “death and resurrection” pattern of spiritual growth in your everyday life?
    • 











3. Sin as Disconnection from God





Sin is not just a list of wrong behaviors, but an expression of our disconnection from God. It’s a failure to trust in God’s love and provision. Paul invites us to go deeper than surface-level morality and look at the spiritual root of sin—our distance from God.





Quotes:





    

  • “Sin is not about being bad; it is about being disconnected from God, and grace is the connection that heals and restores us.” — Greg Boyle
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • How do you typically understand sin in your own life? Do you tend to focus more on behaviors or the deeper issues of trust and disconnection from God?
    • 




  • What steps can you take to reconnect with God in areas where you feel distant or mistrustful?
    • 











4. Idolatry and Fear-Based Living





The root of sin is a failure to trust in God’s sufficiency, leading us to live out of fear. We create idols—control, success, or security—when we feel uncertain. Living in fear keeps us from relying on God’s provision and invites us to hold onto false securities.





Quotes:





    

  • “The root of sin is our failure to trust in God’s sufficiency. Instead of trusting God’s provision, we rely ultimately on ourselves.” — Mark Biddle, Missing the Mark
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • What idols (e.g., control, success, security) do you find yourself clinging to in times of uncertainty?
    • 




  • How can you shift from a fear-based way of living to a life more rooted in trust and surrender to God’s provision?
    • 











5. The Tug of Grace: A Moment-to-Moment Decision





We are continually pulled by fear, the root of all sin. The tug of grace is what gets our attention, but it’s not enough to keep us from being pulled under. It’s the invitation to decide: will we allow fear to drown our true selves, or will we let go of the rope, die to self, and let God’s grace drown our false selves?





Quotes:





    

  • “The tug of grace is God’s invitation. It’s not about resisting fear through our strength but about letting go and trusting in grace.” — From the sermon
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • Can you identify moments in your life where fear has pulled you away from trust in God? How did the tug of grace invite you to respond?
    • 




  • What would it look like to let go of the rope and fully surrender to grace in a specific area of your life?
    • 











6. Dying to Self and Living in Christ





Paul teaches that true spiritual life comes through repeated death to self. We are called to continually surrender our false selves—our fears, pride, and need for control—and trust in God’s resurrection power. This ongoing death and resurrection is what allows us to live fully in Christ.





Quotes:





    

  • “We are called to ‘just keep drowning.’ It is in dying to our false selves that we can truly live.” — From the sermon
    • 






Reflection Questions:





    

  • What aspects of your false self (e.g., pride, control, fear) are you being called to surrender in this season of life?
    • 




  • How have you experienced spiritual resurrection after moments of dying to self? What new life emerged from those experiences?
    • 











Quotes for Further Reflection





    

  1. “Grace isn’t just for our past sins, but for the ongoing process of transformation in our lives.” — From the sermon
    2. 




  2. “Sin is not about being bad; it is about being disconnected from God, and grace is the connection that heals and restores us.” — Greg Boyle
    3. 




  3. “We are called to ‘just keep drowning.’ It is in dying to our false selves that we can truly live.” — From the sermon
    4. 




  4. “The root of sin is our failure to trust in God’s sufficiency. Instead of trusting God’s provision, we rely ultimately on ourselves.” — Mark Biddle, Missing the Mark
    5. 




  5. “When we live out of fear, we are essentially choosing self-reliance over grace, and in the end, that will always pull us under.” — From the sermon
    6. 







	

		

			

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Reflection Guide: Romans 6 and the Pattern of Dying to Self

				

				

					

						
						
						
					

					

						
						

							
						

						

							

								
								
								
								
							

							

								
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			 Sterling Severns Devotionals, Life of the Community, Romans, Paul's letter to					


Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares
		

		

			

We were the only two in line, strangers waiting for the pharmacy to reopen. It took her little or no time to begin to openly share her story with me. As she spoke about her journey through illness and healing, her hands told the story as much as her words.





She gently touched her head, right where the tumor had been, explaining how peace first entered her life—something she grasped intellectually after the surgery, as she processed what she had been through. 





Then, she placed her hand over her heart, describing how that peace deepened, becoming something she could feel more fully. 





But it was when she placed both hands on her stomach that her voice softened, and she said, “But now, I know it here.” This was peace she carried in her gut, a knowing that had grown through suffering, endurance, and the long journey now behind her. And she couldn’t keep it to herself—the peace had become too real, too profound, not to share.





Her testimony brought to life the very words of Paul in Romans 5. He speaks of suffering producing endurance, endurance shaping character, and character leading to a hope that does not disappoint. There are no platitudes here—no quick fix for pain. Paul is sharing the journey that he, and so many others, have walked: through suffering, into endurance, and into a hope that transforms us from the inside out. This is not about earning anything—it’s about receiving the grace of God, who walks with us and delivers us through every trial. God is with us every step of the way.





As we sang together at the end of last Sunday’s sermon,





“Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”





The suffering we endure becomes the very path through which God leads us into hope. This journey isn’t about mere survival—it’s about discovering a peace so deep, a hope so life-altering, that we are never the same.





I invite you to take some time this week to reflect on these powerful truths. If you feel called to explore further, our reflection guide is available on the website as a helpful tool to guide your prayers and thoughts. It offers an opportunity to dive deeper into how God may be transforming your experiences of suffering into endurance and hope. 





Thanks be to God for the gift of grace……leading us home.





Yours in Christ, 





Rev. Sterling W. Severns