Thy Rod & Thy Staff
Nondenominational Church
A place to serve, not sit.
What We Do
Church Purpose
Our purpose at our Bible base church is to get people to be like Christ and turn from that which is contrary to Him. We would like very much to lead others to make Christ the foundation of their lives. We would like to show Jesus as a faithful friend, a loyal companion, as someone who will stand by our side when no one else will.
As a body of Bible based Christian believers, we see our whole purpose as doing the will of God so that His Spirit might be manifested in our midst. With His hand we hope to convince others that Christ is our Lord and Savior. We want to show that if we trust in Him, He will very clearly show us that He is who He claims to be.– a Provider who can supply whatever we need whenever we need it under any and all circumstances, a Physician with no limitations in His healing power, a Counselor with infinite understanding and wisdom. We would very much like to reflect Christ in our midst as the Good Shepherd (Psalms 23 and John 10:1:18), as the one and only way to God, our Father in heaven.
Consequently, our Bible based churches goal is to get others to see the love of God and act accordingly. Undoubtedly God wants us to do His will but He wants it to be done out of love. God wants us to serve Him not because we have too but because we want too. God wants us to serve Him because we see Him as He is. He wants us to do His will because we see that doing His will is for out good. This is the purpose of our church and the platform on which it stands. We want to weld together a body of believers who love Jesus Christ so much that they want to be just like Him.
What Jesus Did
‘Why Not in the Temple?’ – Mark 14:49
[To the armed mob that came to arrest him, Jesus said,] “Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”
Key Thought
Just as Jesus used a question in the previous verse to confront his accusers about their injustice, [1] he confronted their fear and treachery in this verse. They came to arrest him at night in his place of prayer away from the crowds. They feared the crowds who were loyal to Jesus. They feared the people because they believed in him. So rather than conducting their “arrest” of Jesus of Nazareth in the daytime, the mob snaked their way through the darkened streets to a place they could arrest him without being seen by the crowds. However, Jesus wanted to make clear that their treacherous schemes worked only because he allowed them to work: He was determined to honor his Father’s will and fulfill what the Scriptures had said about him. Jesus was about to be arrested, brutalized, and murdered by these people. However, their evil deeds happened only because he offered himself for our sins, not because they had power over him.
Today’s Prayer
Father, for your Son’s faith, obedience, and sacrifice, I give you thanks. May his example motivate me to be faithful no matter what circumstances I find myself facing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.