Whispering Pines Church

As we wait in expectation, asking God to do what only God can do – we are not removed or separate from what God is doing at Christmas. God desires us, draws us, to change. Those who witnessed the birth of Christ, the shepherds, the wise men – they were never the same again. As witnesses of God in this world – we see His great love, His forgiveness, His mercy – we also, can never be the same again. Those who are forgiven will also forgive. Those who have been shown mercy will also show mercy. This is not accomplished through intellectual enlightenment, or the “magic of Christmas” – it’s accomplished by God. Join us this Sunday as we explore how the coming of Emmanuel changes us as we explore Psalm 51 and the book of Malachi together. Come and prepare Him room! -Pastor Nate Roschen

As we prepare room for God in our lives, we move from expectation to request. Scripture is full of instances where people cried out to God because of their great needs. This week we’ll explore several texts where people voiced their requests to God as they awaited a Messiah. When do we ask of God? In the worst of times? When we’ve exhausted all other options? Or do we live in relationship with God to the point where our communion with Him is full of divine push and pull, request and deliverance? Join us this Sunday as we look to Isaiah and the Psalmist in preparation for Christmas. -Pastor Nate Roschen

This year our theme for advent will be, “Prepare Him Room.” Of course, this line is taken from the ever-popular song, “Joy to the World!” “Joy to the world the Lord is come Let earth receive her king Let every heart prepare Him room…“ What does it mean to prepare Him room? This concept comes to us from Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, where he was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there simply was not room enough for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at the inn. But this concept has been taken to describe the necessary preparations and decisions involved with making room for Christ in our lives. What will this look like? Each week of advent we will be looking at one aspect of this. We must expect, ask, change, and give. Join us this first week as we see what Scripture has to say about expectation and what it means to look to God in expectant hope – desiring His intimate presence among us. -Pastor Nate Roschen

Here in this concluding section of his letter to the Philippians, Paul does all that he can to propel this little church forward. By his talk and by his walk, Paul has shown that we can have joy in the midst of suffering and trials. For those who have been compelled by Christ, it is our pleasure, our most sincere desire – to follow after Christ in joy. As we wrap up this letter and spend some time summarizing what we ought to take away from this four-chapter book, we will reflect on the picture that Paul has painted for us. Paul envisions a Christ follower who is not merely comforted by being non-anxious, but who is missional in their non-anxiousness. The life we are called to lead is certainly a blessing for us – it is the best possible life! But it is also a blessing for others – a witness to Christ and His goodness! Join us this Sunday for the conclusion of Philippians! -Pastor Nate Roschen

Please join us this Sunday for our Community Thanksgiving Service! We will begin with a time of worship, prayer, and reflection on God’s Word, and then enjoy a time of food and fellowship together. This Sunday, we will be taking a look at what Scripture tells us about choosing to have a grateful heart. What is at the core of thankfulness? What allows for joy and growth in difficult seasons? Join us as we see a consistent message throughout Scripture of how God uses restlessness, frustration, disappointment and doubt to grow us in compassion and grace. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:12-13

In this passage of Philippians from the middle of chapter three to the middle of chapter four, Paul describes in plain language the motivation and behavior of those who claim citizenship in heaven, and those who “live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul speaks boldly about what we need to look out for, but then turns to address our own behavior. What we are called to in this passage is, in a word, attractive. With the Spirit of God’s help – we can live a life defined by some vital words: safe, glorious, thankful, gentle, free from anxiety, peaceful, mindful. I am confident that we would all agree that more people, defined by these terms, are needed in our world. Join us this Sunday as Paul describes what a life following after Christ ought to look like, and how to get there! -Pastor Nate Roschen

The first half of Philippians chapter 3 highlights a couple of important ideas. The first is that nothing that nothing about us – what we have, what we do, and what other people say about us – is worth having confidence in. Paul, of all the Jews of his time, had reason to be confident in who he was. He was highly educated, well-respected, from the best tribe and family. But none of that counted for anything eternally. The second thought shared in this passage is that Paul – wise, educated, experienced Paul – still wanted to know God more. His desire to know God truly and intimately never waned. He wanted more of God. And if that is true of Paul, what does it say of us? Join us as we continue making our way through Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi! -Pastor Nate Roschen

As human beings we are often drawn to formulas. What is the best recipe for a good chili? What is the formula for the perfect day off? What is the best way to raise a child? How many books have been sold: recipe books, self-help books, etc. that are meant to teach us these formulas? But life is often more complex than that. There is not often one formula that will solve the problem for us. And the same thing is true of the church. There is no one, singular, formula. Every church needs to navigate their given cultural context. You can’t copy and paste a church model that works in one geographic area to another and expect the same results. This is part of why Paul writes his epistles uniquely each time. Different churches have had different struggles, and different gifts. But at the end of Philippians chapter 2, we find some guidance that is useful anywhere and everywhere. Paul wants the church to “shine…like stars in the sky.” Join us this week as we explore both the “how” and the “why” of this encouragemen

This week, in one of the most familiar passages of the book of Philippians, Paul makes a further plea for the Christians of Philippi to concern themselves with their witness to the world. The beginning of Philippians two is one of the strongest arguments for humility and a gospel-centered life found within Scripture, and this week we’ll dive into the context of this passage. Paul does not base his plea on a good business strategy or the latest research. He bases his ask on the person of Jesus Christ. This might sound like a big commitment, an impossible task… But if our target must be Christ. As Christians we commit ourselves to follow after Christ, not Paul or Apollos, or any other human figure. Join us as we examine Paul’s words here, and apply them to our lives. -Pastor Nate Roschen

This week, as we move beyond Paul’s introduction to the Philippians, we come to the main portion of his letter. The first century, while certainly different from our own time, left Christians facing many of the same challenges that we do today. There were so many potential battles to be fought, causes to stand for or against, issues to be raised among people who genuinely wanted to follow Christ as nearly as they could. But for Paul, as we’ll see, it was all about witness. Everything was an opportunity. Every challenge was another chance for the Christian to respond in such a way that Christ would be made known. The important thing was to ensure that “In every way… Christ is preached”! Join us this Sunday as we explore this letter together! -Pastor Nate Roschen

This week we begin our new study of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. We will spend some time this week digging into the historical context of this letter. Why was it written? What was happening in Philippi at the time? What we’ll find is a thoughtful and caring letter sent to a church that was suffering - from an author who was also going through his own struggles. This week, as we explore the context and introduction to this letter, we’ll be encouraged by an early church that seemed to emphasize the right things, put their faith in action, and found joy even in the midst of the suffering they were experiencing. The message of Philippians is needed today. You and I need to be reminded to hold fast to the gospel – and embody it! Join us this Sunday as we journey through this letter together! -Pastor Nate Roschen

What is it that Jesus is inviting you to not lose heart over in your life, as you trust God for His timing, especially in anticipation of His return? Join us as we explore Jesus' words to us from Luke 18:1-8 this Sunday. - Barry Vegter

What does it look like to trust God? Is it just saying the words? I believe that one of the complicating factors to the act of trusting in God is that we hear of it so often, ourselves declare it so often, that we can believe it is actually happening when little evidence exists that it actually is. To trust God is a holistic act. It would be foolish to say that one entrusts God with their soul, but not their finances. But as ridiculous as that sounds, is it not commonplace? In Luke 12, Jesus speaks out against greed and arrogance concerning the future with a very direct parable. What is so compelling here is that we find our own words, the way we speak so freely about life – coming out of the mouth of Jesus. He cuts us to the quick. He takes us to task. We live with an arrogance about tomorrow. Our trust in God must become more holistic, more vibrant, more honest about the concerns of our lives. Join us this Sunday as we look into this final parable. – Pastor Nate Roschen

The goal of Women’s Bean Project is Supporting and Inspiring women through Social Enterprise. The Women’s Bean Project provides job training and employment to women facing significant barriers to work, selling high-quality food products made by these women to support their mission. Women’s Bean Project is a nonprofit social enterprise. We have a food manufacturing business tied directly to our transitional employment program. One cannot exist without the other. We believe all women have the power to transform their lives through employment. So we hire women who are chronically unemployed and we teach them to work making nourishing products that we sell across the U.S. Through their work at Women’s Bean Project, women learn to stand tall, find their purpose and break the cycle of poverty. Because when you change a woman’s life, you change her family’s life. VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.womensbeanproject.com/stories/

This week we turn to the only parable ever offered by Jesus that names any of its characters. We find in Luke 16, a named beggar – poor and desperate, and an unnamed (and therefore representative) rich man. This story is interesting, even captivating as Jesus does not tell another story quite like this one. This parable has been used to draw conclusions about the afterlife, and salvation itself. But as we’ll see, this parable mostly has things to tell us about God and what He desires. So, what is this parable about? It defines compassion. It tells us what compassion ought to look like and indeed, feel like. Our God is a God of compassion, and as we see His heart, and remember what He has done, we will grow hearts of compassion as naturally as a plant growing new leaves. Join us this Sunday as we reflect on and remember our God of compassion! -Pastor Nate Roschen

The three main points of the sermon are: 1. This promise applies to believers in Christ, those that have trusted in His redemptive act on the cross, that rely on His sacrifice to pay for their sins. 2. This promise is fully available to those of us that meet the conditions of the first point, to those of us that are believers. 3. We willingly give up this promise on a regular basis. The basic premise is that Abundant Life looks like Galatians 5:22-25 and that we allow ourselves to be robbed of Abundant Life when we allow Galatians 5:19-21 to rob us of it. Benediction from Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Most things have a cost to them – burgers, gym memberships, a new car. We know that salvation does not have a price tag attached to it. Romans 6:23 tells us that eternal life with Jesus Christ is “the gift of God.” But what is the cost, is there a cost, to follow Christ? What should our expectations be? In Luke 14 – placed thoughtfully between a number of other parables that tell us of God’s kindness and compassion, is a section about the cost of discipleship. It’s here that we find two parables where Jesus is upfront with His disciples about the cost that comes with following His way. Join us this Sunday as we gather around these words of Christ, and appreciate together Jesus’ willingness to share what is required for those who choose to follow after Him. -Pastor Nate Roschen

If you’ve ever been to the zoo, then you’ve probably met a strange creature that I would call a “mopey zoo lion.” Mopey zoo lions are strange creatures because they are at the same time, the king of the jungle and a lazy and disinterested creature - an animal having an existential crisis. Mopey Zoo Lion Christianity ™ - a term I’m attempting to coin and get into widespread use, is a very real concern – so concerning that Christ addressed it 2,000 years ago. The parable we’ll be looking at this week, is called the parable of the shrewd manager. It is one of the most perplexing stories that Jesus ever tells – at least at first glance. But Jesus was concerned about His followers slipping into a sort of mopey zoo lion existence. Instead of being shrewd, cunning, and wise stewards – there is a real danger that followers of Christ can spend their time in complacency, sitting on fences, leading a lackadaisical life of “faith.” Join us this week as we look at what is perhaps Jesus’ most perplexing parable that is me

Have you ever wondered why Jesus does what He does? Join us this Sunday as we explore the common thread in all that Jesus does. Jesus’ intention in acts of kindness, in forgiveness, in his confrontations with various people, always seems to be the same. Come and join us as we look at passages from John 8, Luke 9, and Luke 19 to see the heart of Jesus and what it was that consistently led him to be “moved with compassion” toward people. This Sunday is Community Sunday, so please remember to reach out to someone that would benefit from being a part of our community, sharing in Christian fellowship, and learning about the heart of Jesus. -Pastor Nate Roschen

This week we turn to another parable that at first glance seems to be a critique of you and I. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, we find a grumbling and complaining workforce – representing us. They are upset about what is in their view, unfair treatment of the workers. Like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, they feel slighted – they’ve been working hard all day and deserve certain things from the landowner. But the main thrust of this passage is not our attitudes or our doing. The main point is about the landowner. Who is He? What is He like? What does He value most? When we learn the true heart of the landowner, we’ll understand why He does what seems at first glance to be unfair. Join us this Sunday as we take a look at one of my favorite parables! -Pastor Nate Roschen