A Blog by Jason Salamun

The Statement of Faith for Project Church.

We believe in God’s Epic Story.

This epic is revealed within the grand narrative of Scripture in a collection of 66 books known as the Bible. Inspired by God yet written by human hands, the infallible words of Scripture are God-breathed,without error, and are the supreme and final authority for life and faith.

In eternity, this story was formed.  It begins with the Author and Creator of all things- the one, true, sovereign God. He exists in community with Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit yet remains one God. He is altogether good, holy, just, wise, powerful, and loving.

In love, the Author created a world of wonder, beauty, and harmony for his masterpiece creation, humanity. Created in His image, human beings walked in relationship with the Creator and enjoyed the paradise of His creation. This is the beginning.  All was as it should be.

Then the story took a dramatic turn. Something had gone terribly wrong.

Sin entered the story through the deception of the evil one and the rebellion of humanity. Creation had fallen, paradise was lost, and separation came between humanity’s relationship with God and each other. Life was broken and nothing was as it should be.

In the darkest moment in human history, sin bled into the story resulting in shame, suffering, pain,distrust, despair, and pride. Although still bearing the image of God, all of humanity would now live in a fallen state of sin unable to rescue ourselves.

In the midst of this horrific event, hope and restoration is promised by God as He reveals the climax of His story. God would become a man with a mission to rescue his beloved creation and crush the evil serpent. God would write clues of His arrival into the story through various messengers, laws, events, and promises. All of which would be fulfilled through the hero of God’s epic: Jesus Christ.

Jesus entered human history miraculously as he was conceived by the Spirit of God and born to a virgin mother. Fully God yet fully human, he did what humanity could not do. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life teaching us to love God and others as ourselves. But it was his exclusive claim to being the only way to God, as well as his claim of being God, that led to his arrest, torture, and execution on aRoman cross.

He would show his great love for us through his willful yet excruciating sacrifice on the cross.  There is no greater love.

It is on the cross where the hero redeemed and rescued his beloved creation.
It is on the cross where the hero became our sin, enduring the just wrath of God.
It is on the cross where the hero became our substitute and paid the penalty for our sins.
It is on the cross where those who believe in him have right standing before God.
It is on the cross where we are cleansed from the curse of sin- past, present, and future.
It is on the finished work of the cross where Jesus died for us so that we might live for him.

But the story doesn’t end there…He came back!

Three days after being buried in a tomb, he rose from death defeating hell, conquering sin, and crushing the sting of death. He appeared to hundreds of witnesses and then physically ascended into Heaven and is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Salvation is only found by God’s saving grace in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  God’s grace is not earned, it is freely given to all who truly believe. Those who believe will spend a life and eternity in relationship with Him. Those who don’t, get exactly what they want, a life and eternity apart from a relationship with God.

The story continues to be written through the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was promised by Jesus to supernaturally guide our stories, work in the hearts of humanity, and draw us near to Jesus. The Spirit resides within us and works to teach and transform us,  help us when we are in need, convict us of our sin, secure our salvation, and empower us with spiritual gifts to advance the Kingdom of God on earth today.

The mission of Jesus was, and is, crystal clear: to seek and save that which was lost.  And that’s exactly what He did…and what He’s doing.

Through the Church, followers of Jesus are united as one body made up of various expressions of church.  They gather in prayer, worship, teaching, community, and mission with baptism and the Lord’s Supper being visible expressions of the gospel story.

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus and join God in the renewal of all things by announcing the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven and telling the story of God’s amazing grace, the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the ends of the earth- starting in our local communities.

Today, Jesus Christ reigns supreme as King of kings and Lord of lords. This epic will end when the King returns to earth in all his power and glory to gather his people, judge the living and the dead, and usher in a new Creation, a new Paradise, a new Kingdom, where we will worship and enjoy Him forever.

In the end, Jesus wins.

This is God’s epic story.

This is what we believe!

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At Project Church, we also value the ancient roots of our faith as found in the orthodox creeds.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic [universal] Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Below is a transcript of a recent message I gave at Project Church. I hope it encourages you.

I love the television  show Deadliest Catch.

The allure of a show like this is the possibility, no probability, of danger and excitement.  If the show was about fishermen on quiet waters, trust me, there would be no show. Each episode features rugged crab fishermen who are battling a furious sea in the hopes of scoring a boatload of crabs. There’s drama, tension, humor, adventure, action, and heartache. It makes for good television because it reflects real life.

We can relate because our life is like a ship a sea. Some of us stay close to the marina and others of us crank it up and head full blast into the unknown waters.  There are days where the sun shines bright, the breeze kisses our skin, and the waters are gentle.  Then there are times when the storms hit causing colossal waves to crash into our ship and often wrecking our lives.

I know for a fact that right now, many of you are here feeling the sting of the storm. Some of you feel lost at sea.  You sense that all hope is lost.  You’re out of work, your relationships are strained or falling apart at the seams, there’s more bills than money, you or a loved ones health has taken a turn for the worse, or your own messiness has finally caught up with you and now you’re dealing with the consequences.

Others of you are picking up the pieces after the storm with one eye on the reconstruction of your lives and one eyes on the clouds.  But for now, you’re enjoying life and everything is cool.

Then there are the rest of you who never left the shore.  (We’ll get to you in a bit).

Your life is like a ship.
Some days are smooth sailing.
But inevitably, a storm will hit.
What will you do then?
How will you make it through?

Jesus is no stranger to the storms of life as we will discover in this scene from Matthew 14.

Let’s enter the story in Matthew 14.

Prior to this scene Jesus and his disciples had experienced two dramatic events.  One was the beheading of John the Baptizer.  He was a cousin of Jesus and a prophet who had a unique role in preparing the way for Jesus.

Shortly after Jesus heard the news he got in a boat (it seems) to have some time alone. Remember, Jesus at this time was fully human and fully God.  Meaning, he experienced the pain of loss and the storms of life.  Eventually, the crowds (a size of a sports stadium) caught up to him and we’re told he had compassion on them and healed them.  It’s during this moment that he turned the fives loaves of bread and two fish and fed over 5,000 men plus the women and children. It was a miracle of biblical proportions.   The disciples and the crowd just witnessed something unexplainable- unless of course, Jesus was the Son of God.

The scene then cuts to the perhaps the most infamous moment in the life of Jesus outside his crucifixion and resurrection. Let’s pick it up in verse 22 and look at the whole passage and then walk back through it together.

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Wow! That’s a powerful story. Yes, Jesus walked on water! But there’s so much more for us. Let’s look at the beginning of this scene.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

Notice who put the disciples into the boat.  It was Jesus! He sent them into danger. It’s early evening and Jesus goes with the disciples and puts them in a boat doesn’t get in with them. I wonder what they were thinking?  “So, are we just supposed to hang out in the boat?”  “Anyone bring a deck of cards?”

Jesus went to pray until their ship was about 3-4 miles away.  This was not by accident and something we can learn from.

First, this is a picture of what Jesus does for his people in Heaven.  He is our mediator with God (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus knows the best teacher is experience and these 12 young men are about to experience something dramatic.

What Jesus wanted to teach them wasn’t on the safety of the shore but in the danger of the unknown waters.

He does the same with you and I. Have you ever felt like you were a ship a long way off from shore.  Ever wondered if God was there?  Ever felt alone?  Hopeless?  Confused?  Ever think that perhaps God wants you to feel like that?  To get to the end of yourself? To find yourself in situations that are uncomfortable and unsure?

Like the wind which was against the disciples, so it seems like everything is against you. Can you feel it?  Fear creeps into the bottom of your gut and worry and anxiety fill your mind.  WHERE IS JESUS NOW?!!!

I’ve been here.  I’ve been here so many times in my life and I’ve shed angry tears wondering where God was.  Whether it was the death of good friends or the heartbreak of love lost or the helpless feeling of being out of work. I have been there!

Storms are a great teacher and God uses them to teach us and to grow us.  He’s like a parent who seeks to develop us into the people we’re meant to be.  Sometimes, the storms are discipline, consequences of our actions.  Other times, they are teachable moments in life that shape us.  We often pray for God to get us around the storms but really he wants to get us through them. Growth comes by going through the storm, not by avoiding it.

Have you been there? Are you there right now?  Do you feel like a small ship overwhelmed by a giant raging sea?

In moments like this, our view of Jesus is critical.  If he is merely a good teacher or a prophet of old, then what good is he right now?  The teacher and prophet is up in the safety of a mountain, probably under shelter, away from the fury of the storm.

But if you believe Jesus is who says he is.  God become man who loves you and promises to never leave you.  If you can hear his voice in Isaiah 43:1-2 where he says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, YOU ARE MINE. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Is this your Jesus? Only this Jesus, the real Jesus, can rescue you and I.  Not just from the circumstances of our life but from the depravity of our own soul.  Jesus cares about both your life and eternity.  Without Jesus, your heart is a ship at sea and it will tip over and wreck unless you believe that Jesus indeed is God who came to rescue you from your sins.  The good news is Jesus has come like a rescue-diver to save us.  He never lets go.  Check out this clip from the film, “The Guardian.”

Can you see Jesus in that? I hope so.

Jesus has left the comfort of heaven to the messiness of earth to save you.  He is the Great Rescuer.

Let’s continue.

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

The fourth watch is between 3am-6am.  This storm has come at the darkest time of the night and the disciples have spent about 9 hours battling this storm. At sea, that feels like forever. But Jesus walks on water to them and he rose from death for us.  He does the impossible and THIS IS FREAKY to the disciples in the boat!

The disciples try to use their limited human description to describe the indescribable.  How would you feel if you saw what they’re seeing?  Their fear has kicked into high gear and Jesus calms the sea of their heart by saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

As the storms rage in our lives, he says the same thing to us. “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  He’s calling you to a furious faith.

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Don’t you think Peter is being foolish here? Jesus is calling him to a furious faith. A faith so explosive it sees not the storms, but Jesus.  Peter is walking on water! The same dude who will later deny Jesus three times when it mattered most.  God has a habit of calling unlikely people to do unlikely things. This is one of them. Imagine the thrill.

For a moment in time, Peter experience something none of us will. He walked on water.  To do that, he had to leave the boat of safety.  What’s your boat?  What’s your source for safety and security besides God?  If you don’t know just look at what you’re afraid of. Your fears will tell you what your boat is.

The story takes a turn.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter saw the wind.  To see the wind he had to take his eyes off Jesus. Peter doesn’t sink and become afraid.  He becomes afraid and then sinks. There’s a big difference.

We could focus on Peter’s failure but perhaps there are 11 bigger failures sitting in the boat. Peter’s the only one with the guts to get out of the boat.

Some of you are sitting in the boat but Jesus is calling you outto him.  Peter didn’t ask for a guarantee, just a chance.  A chance to come after Jesus and get a taste for the life in full.  God’s calling is not to survive- it’s to be faithful.

This is why some of us don’t even leave the shore.  We’re scared.

Fear prevents many of us from doing what God has called us to do. I’ve heard it said that fear and faith cannot reside in the same heart.  it’s true. We must choose to trust God or see the wind.

Is there anything in your life that you’re doing that you could not do without God?  If not, dream bigger. God calls his people out of the boat.

Faith calls us into some crazy places I know.  The Spirit of God leads us beyond what is normal. A raging storm in the middle of the night.  Living on less so you can give more to those in need. Taking a new job. Staying where you’re at. Teaching in a dangerous place. Beginning a new business. Going back to school.  Starting a church.

Why not put your faith in the one who can make the winds cease.  The one who is not only above all, but in all.  He’s right there with us calling us to a better story.  Hope got Peter out of the boat and hope is calling you out too.

This is why he gave us the church. We need each other because together we’re called to do something far greater than any one of us can do alone. To bring good news and be good news to this world.

Churches are not called to safety, they are called to be far from shore. For churches, storms are not unusual, but expected. Jesus commands his church to leave the boat of safety and walk on water to him. He’s on a rescue mission in this world and has called us to join him in a journey of faith, hope, and love.

Are you a part of a church community? If not, let encourage you to connect with one that’s centered on Jesus, guided by scripture, driven by the gospel, and rooted in love.

Finally, if you’re in the midst of a storm, let me leave you with this: God’s love for you is more furious than the storm. He has promised to be with you.  Nothing is beyond him.  He is greater than we can ever imagine, better than we realize, and bigger than your storms.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Your life is like a ship.

Some days are smooth sailing.

But inevitably, a storm hits.

What will you do then?

How will you make it through?

That’s what we’re exploring this week at Project Church

“The Storms of Life & the Fury of Faith”

A message of hope from Matthew 14:22-33

Join us for The Jesus Sessions.

Sunday. 10am. Alternative Fuel Coffee House. Downtown Rapid City.