Did Jesus Teach Karma?
This is not what Jesus is teaching. Karma says that evil can never be defeated, but Jesus came to defeat evil once and for all on the cross. Jesus consistently taught us to live in such a way that others “see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Jesus did not assume that somewhere, somehow, in this life or the next, that good and evil need to be balanced. Instead, Jesus knew that we could join him in overcoming evil with good (see also Romans 12:21). He knew that a potentially infinite amount of good would come about because of the evil perpetrated on Himself on the cross. Jesus was assured that there would be a day when evil would be no more. I long for that day!
Josh Rose
Family Pastor
Silencing The Critic Within
Series: The Curriculum
Text: Matthew 7:1-12
Speakers: Pastors Ryan Paulson & Esteban Tapia
November 17, 2024: On Sunday, Lead Pastor Ryan Paulson and Teaching Pastor Esteban Tapia continued our series on the Sermon on the Mount, The Curriculum. The title of our sermon message is "Silencing The Critic Within." We hope you've been enjoying our current study.
Shining Christ’s Love in Our Neighborhoods
When Jesus tells us to be “salt” and “light,” He isn’t commanding us to preach from rooftops or force conversions. Rather, He’s calling us to shine by reflecting His love and goodness in our actions. Just as salt brings out the best in food, our genuine care and service can bring out the best in our communities. Just as light dispels darkness, our kindness can brighten the lives of those around us, revealing the presence of Jesus through acts of love.
In ministry, we’ve witnessed this countless times. Through Love Esco in Escondido, we roll up our sleeves and work side by side with our neighbors, doing projects like cleaning parks and creating spaces for the community. In El Cajon, after hours spent helping Middle Eastern refugee families move, we sit together on the floor, sharing meals and building connections. In these moments, people often ask, “Why do you do this?” Our actions shine Christ’s light without words, revealing a love that is deep, genuine, and unmistakably different.
This kind of love - a love without conditions, agendas, or expectations - points people to Jesus. We may never know how our actions impact others’ hearts, but as we continue to love our neighbors, we offer a glimpse of His grace and goodness. In doing so, we live out Jesus’ words: to be salt and light, guiding others toward the hope we have in Him.
Karina
Outreach Team
There is No Better Day than Today
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” - Romans 10:14-15
I remember clearly when I was called to missions in a third-world country. I immediately said yes because I knew the Lord was calling me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared. As we rode the bus to Ethiopia's first village, I was nervous. I feared I’d say the wrong words or make a cultural faux pas. My oldest son, who was eight then, was with me on the trip, and he boldly shared the gospel in the first home we visited. Everyone in that house put their faith in Jesus!
Was it because my eight-year-old eloquently delivered the words we had practiced? Of course not! He did a phenomenal job, but the power of the gospel isn’t in the words we say or dependent on our delivery. The power of the gospel is in the gospel itself!
When people put their faith in Christ we immediately teach them to share the story of Jesus, then we encourage them to tell a neighbor or family member. There is nothing more exciting than going back the next day and meeting a loved one who prayed to receive Christ with a brand new believer.
So often we hesitate to share the gospel because we’re afraid we might say the wrong thing or we wonder if we are equipped. If you believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection and trust Him as your Savior, you are not only equipped but commanded to share! The Great Commission is for all believers, and we are called to share with all people: the ones who live next door and the ones who live on the other side of the world!
On a subsequent trip, an 83-year-old team member beamed with joy when she announced, “I led someone to the Lord for the first time today!”
Whether you’re 8 or 83, a brand new believer, or someone who has known the Lord for years, there is no better day than today to share the love of Jesus.
Who will you share it with?
Alli Sonnier
The Outreach Team
Authentic Light
“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
Years ago, one of my best friends moved to Missouri. I flew out for a quick visit soon after she got settled. It was spring and we decided to open all the windows in her new home to let in fresh air. That night we flipped on the lights and hundreds of tiny bugs immediately flew up to the ceiling and attached themselves to the canned lights. We’d never seen anything like it! Missouri bugs are small enough to get through screens. Who knew? And why are bugs drawn to light anyway? Scientists suggest that natural light- the moon and the stars act as a guide to point insects up to the sky. However, artificial light- like canned lights- confuses their navigational system causing them to get stuck.
Jesus calls those who follow him “the light of the world.” Authentic light. True light. Light that guides in the dark, overwhelming circumstances. As followers of Jesus, we have a great calling and privilege to reflect His light- His love, His truth, His grace- to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers.
Scripture gives us a guide on how to go about this. We have to start by tapping into the source of genuine light by spending regular time praying and meditating on God’s truths. In John 8, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Regularly connecting with the source of light, fuels our ability to be light. As our connection to God deepens and Jesus’ light impacts us, we naturally begin to reflect it to those around us. As a result, our connection to each other grows too. 1 John 1:7 states: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
How is God asking you to reflect His light? Maybe it’s slowing down a bit, taking a deep breath, and asking Him to help you to see those around you as He does. Maybe it’s setting aside time to reconnect with an old friend. Perhaps it’s finding opportunities to love those with needs in our community. LoveEsco is a great place to get some ideas!
So today, let’s make it a priority to be intentional about reflecting the authentic light of Jesus.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Megan Donovan
The Outreach Team
Jesus' Salty Crew
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
When I was in 6th grade, my overly enthusiastic history teacher decided to make the unit on Ancient Egypt something we would never forget: we mummified fryer chickens and then held an Egyptian burial behind our classroom. My chicken, King Cluck, received the royal burial treatment of being rubbed down in table salt and packed into a plastic bin. We performed this ritual once a week for a month, preserving the (raw) chicken. I remember being kind of grossed out, kind of intrigued, but I also remember that our raw chicken did not rot or mold. The salt preserved them remarkably well!
In Jesus’ time, salt was used for this same purpose- and was essential for preserving food. Salt was so associated with preservation that it is mentioned back in the Old Testament as an indicator of God’s enduring, covenantal promises. Salt was a symbol for God’s covenant with Israel- an indicator of Israel’s partnership with God to preserve life on the earth. When Israel violated that covenant, God allowed other nations to conquer and oppress them.
So in Matthew 5, Jesus is announcing a renewal of saltiness! “You are the salt of the earth”- through Jesus, we can experience the blessings God intended for us. Being the salt of the earth is not just about what we do, but who we are.
I asked my kids if they thought salt could ever lose its saltiness as this passage suggests. “NO!” they insisted. “Salt is salty- it’s what makes it salt.” So, in a line of comedic rhetoric, as Bible scholar Tim Mackie suggests, salt can’t lose its saltiness, light can’t be dark, and a city on a hill can’t be hidden. We are either salty or we’re not. This sets up the rest of Matthew 5 so perfectly- where Jesus tells us what it means to be part of his Kingdom. He’s declaring that He is making a new thing and He is restoring an old promise. This healed and whole community of disciples is Jesus’ ‘salty crew,’ through which God’s enduring promises will move forward.
Gosh- isn’t the Bible fun? We can meditate on salt and see how living as part of Jesus’ Kingdom as renewed and redeemed people is part of God’s great plan.
Anna Nielsen
Outreach Team
Your life is a story that points people to God
Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)
This week's passage includes two beautiful and timeless metaphors from the famous Sermon on the Mount - the manifesto of Jesus and His Kingdom.
You are the salt of the earth . . .You are the light of the world...
I’m pretty sure the crowds of his followers gathered on the hilly shores of Lake Galilee loved the metaphors as much as we do, but they probably gasped with surprise and a good deal of skepticism at the fact that Jesus was directing these words at them. Wait, I am the salt of the earth? I am the light of the world. Have you met me?!
I can relate.
The fact remains that Jesus directed these words at a rather random collection of ordinary people in the rural backwaters of the Roman Empire. He wasn’t addressing powerful senators in Rome or educated religious leaders in Jerusalem. His message is both clear and revolutionary - my Kingdom is different. Everyone who is a part of my Kingdom will be salt and light. Or to put it in more contemporary language - in my Kingdom, everyday people are the influencers.
This includes you and me.
It’s an identity. You are to be different. In this world but not of it. Bringing Kingdom-flavored qualities to the world around you without losing your saltiness or hiding your light.
It gives us purpose. You are to make a difference. Making things right. Bringing the reality of the Kingdom to the world around you.
It’s part of God’s mission. Your life is a story that points people to God. When they see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven.
So, before you start your day, take a minute to remember who you are and what you are here for. Then with that Kingdom mindset, pray through your schedule today… all the places you will be, all the people you will see…
YOU are the salt God spread in those places
YOU are the light he positioned for these people to see.
YOU are the influencer.
How will your life point them to God today?
Luke B.
Outreach
Salt and Light (Global Sunday 2024)
Series: The Curriculum
Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Speakers: Shodankeh Johnson & Pastor Esteban Tapia
November 10, 2024: On Sunday, guest speaker Shodankeh Johnson and Teaching Pastor Esteban Tapia continued our series on the Sermon on the Mount, The Curriculum. This Sunday was also our annual Global Sunday weekend. The title of our sermon message was "Salt and Light."
Please note: The English content for this sermon message is no longer available. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Practices to Counteract Anxiety
This last Sunday Pastor Ryan shared about the impact of both situational and trauma-induced anxiety. If you are experiencing what feels like uncontrollable or potentially trauma-induced anxiety, please reach out to our Care & Counseling Department at 760-781-2108. We will connect you with professional care.
If you are experiencing what could be called “situational anxiety”, then you are very normal. Life throws challenges at us every day and while they can overwhelm us, our God reminds us that he is in control. Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” So how do we counteract these worries that grab our attention and can lead us down an unhealthy path of despair?
Following are some “in the moment” practices that can help keep you from spiraling into the debilitating impact of anxiety:
Put down the phone - Statistically, anxiety was on the rise long before COVID. FOMO (fear of missing out) is one of this generation's most impactful “diseases” and was largely created through Social Media. Many have lost the ability to simply enjoy God’s creation and the relationships he provides without needing to take the perfect photo and then post it. If enough or the right “likes” are not then received, depression and/or anxiety immediately set in. Try going on a Social Media fast or call rather than text. Then pay attention to the difference it makes.
Breathe - Take in a long, deep breath to the count of 4. Hold the breath for a second or two then let it out counting to 4… then repeat. The number of seconds is not as important as simply slowing down your body and your heart rate and allowing more oxygen to get to your brain.
Practice Breath Prayers - These are short predetermined prayers of 8 or so words or less that acknowledge your God and his truth. An example may be: “God, you are my peace.” or “Jesus, you give me strength.” Creating your breath prayer ahead of time allows you to access it whenever needed rather than “anxiously” trying to come up with it in the moment of need.
Practice the Examen - this is the practice of looking back at your day and noticing God’s presence. It’s paying attention to your emotions - both the highs and the lows, and committing yourself and your life to your good God. You can find the practice here on our website: https://www.efcc.org/resources/
Practice Gratitude - One step of the Examen is practicing gratitude. Ask God to help you recall something you are grateful for, then write it down, say it out loud and share it with others.
Dr. Dan Baker says, “During active appreciation (gratitude), the threatening messages from your amygdala (the fear/emotions center of the brain) and the anxious instincts of your brainstem are cut off, suddenly and surely, from access to your brains’ neocortex, where they can fester, replicate themselves, and turn your stream of thoughts into a cold river of dread. It is a fact of neurology that the brain cannot be in a state of appreciation and a state of fear at the same time. The two states may alternate, but are mutually exclusive.”
Gratitude is one of the best antidotes to anxiety!
Paul got this! Philippians 4:5-6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Having gratitude is both following Scripture AND it is scientifically proven to protect your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus!
As you encounter whatever today brings, may you experience the God of Peace journeying with you.
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director
Look, Consider, Seek
“Look at the birds of the air…. Consider the lilies of the field…. But seek first the kingdom of God….” - Matthew 6:26, 28, 33
I still remember one of Pastor Dennis’ encouragement to me as a young pastor, learning how to study a passage of scripture: “Look at the verbs.” The verbs are where the action of the passage is. To this day, one of the first things I do when approaching the text is to look at the verbs. As we come to our passage this week, there are several verbs, but because Jesus is teaching us something, it is most important to look at the commands. The first command is a negative one, which sets up the topic that Jesus is teaching, “do not be anxious…” As we all know, this is not an easy thing to do. No one has been cured of anxiety from someone yelling “Stop it!” For that reason, Jesus gives us 3 other commands: “look,” “consider,” and “seek.”
Let’s begin by observing the first two: “look” and “consider.” Have you ever considered these as commands from our Savior? “Look at the birds of the air.” I wonder if Jesus would have a strong word for us who are so often stuck inside looking at screens we can put in our pockets. Would he say, “No wonder you are so anxious! Go outside and look at the birds. I mean it. Get out there. Now!” Then to those who are overwhelmed with life, he might say, “Just go sit down in a field and contemplate the flowers. Admire their beauty. Oh, and by the way, this is a command, so treat it as such!” What would happen if we listened to Jesus and chose to get out into nature as a regular part of a healthy spiritual rhythm? Could it be that he might have some answers for why we deal with so much anxiety?
While birds and flowers are beautiful, the piece of nature that can calm down my stress is the ocean. I love the first site of the ocean, even if it is in my car as I am pulling up to the beach. A wave of peace washes over me. To me, the ocean is like this big void that absorbs my stress and reminds me that God is much bigger than my problems. This is what Jesus is getting at. He is suggesting we all need something to remind us that our little problems are not as important as we think they are. And it is only when we can get to that place, we can begin to follow the final command: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” When I am worried about everything else, it is really difficult to have the perspective to live with a kingdom mindset. However, when we can learn from Jesus, and enjoy the birds, the lilies, the ocean, sunsets, mountains, a tree, or a trail, then we might be able to turn our gaze outward toward what God might have for us.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor