[Hear it here: Pressing On 1.1]

I’ve seemingly heard a lot about the “heart of Jesus” recently. Maybe it’s the political season we are in where each side is claiming that their side better represents Jesus’ heart. I’ll hear things like ‘the church doesn’t follow the heart of Christ,’ or we do something and ‘it breaks Jesus’ heart.’

These days, to employ the legendary heart of Jesus seems to be more of an emotional appeal used to justify or to promote a type of worldview that feels more akin to 21^st Century American progressivism or Western moral philosophies than the true biblical (first century Judean) Jesus we see detailed in Scripture. 

The issue is that people view and understand the love and life of Jesus through our current cultural lens of the West (both liberal and conservative) or worse, through our personal and relational prerogatives, rather than the contextual and historical realities from which Jesus lived and taught. 

The sum of the problem is this: We mythologize Jesus’ life until it becomes an embodiment of the type of culture we desire; on the one extreme – befriending sinners but never calling them to repentance (Luke 5:32) – and on the other, calling sinners to repentance, but never befriending them (Matthew 9:10-13). These extremes are also manifested when we see the rainbow-garbed Jesus or the Maga Hat wearing Christ, both of which are products of people of our time, rather than the biblical and historical Jesus. (*We do the same with “love.” We’ve defined love to mean what we want, rather than what God has revealed.)

Too often in our appeal to the heart of Jesus, we isolate his example from his teaching (what he believed, said, and commanded) and by doing so, we then intentionally or inadvertently mold Jesus’ life of compassion into our modern understanding of love and thus, we hijack the heart of Jesus to further our own cultural agendas.

To try and divorce Jesus’ true example from his actual teaching is something we should never do, for the reality is we cannot do this and then rightly understand and interpret either. 

Certainly, Jesus many times said, “follow me,” and so we should. To follow Jesus is not just to behave like him, but also to believe what he believed, and then do what he has commanded. Christ is not just our example of love, he is our savior from sin. He is our great love and our great Lord. To make distinction between Jesus’ theology and Jesus’ ethic is simply nonsense. 

To follow Jesus looks like picking up our cross, not raising whatever flag we think best represents our cause and then announcing how that symbol best represents Christ’s heart. Here is the truth: The Cross represents the heart of Jesus – not any flag we want to fly.

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31). Our behavior and our beliefs need to be informed and formed by both Jesus’ example as well as his “word.” That is, what he actually said, taught, commanded. 

Americans, listen up! For every “liberal verse” in the Bible there is a “conservative” counter – and vice versa, but(!) even in using those categories we expose ourselves of our cultural conditioning and biases, for none of Jesus’ teachings are at odds with another; none of his teachings are conservative or liberal, none are in need of being balanced by another for they all spring from our one Lord and his same vision of the Kingdom come. 

So, if you appeal to the heart of Jesus without conforming to the (whole) word of Jesus, then it’s not application, but exploitation which becomes the reality of the sentiment. And thus, you monopolize the heart of our Lord. If we cry out for people to follow a heart of Jesus that’s devoid or in opposition to his expressed word (teachings + commands), then we are weaponizing a caricature of Jesus to maintain our own moral superiority in order to defend our own, often heretical, beliefs while we simultaneously belittle those who don’t follow suit.  

Yes, love is the summation of the Law, but in our interpretation of this command (to love God and love others, Matthew 22:34-40), what we actually do is boil it down beyond its essence as we then seek to apply it in ways that stand opposed to the fuller revelation of Scripture. Truly, to love God and love others is the summation of the Law, but that’s not the entirety of what the Bible has to say about how we are to love God and love others.

There is no being a Christian, there is no following the example of Christ that does not embrace the commands of Jesus (Matthew 28:20). The Great Commission explicitly says that we are to obey/observe the commands of Jesus, not simply his “example” (which we obscure with our agendas).

For the heart of Jesus is found in what he believed – and what he believed was revealed in what he taught and commanded, and what he taught and commanded was embodied in the way he lived; culminating in his sacrifice on the Cross which led to his resurrection from the grave!

So, if someone points you to the “heart of Jesus,” but you are not led to the Gospel of the Cross, then beware because they are more than likely monopolizing the heart of Jesus for their own agendas rather than his mission (Luke 19:10).

6. LESS USE OF USHERS 

Sorry cousins, but I’m not seeing ushers as a formal part of the wedding ceremony anymore. This means less tuxes being rented, but it also means less bottlenecking as people arrive to be seated for the ceremony.  

But one of the traditional aspects that is lost is that ushers helped emphasize the special, dare I say, royal aspect of the wedding ceremony; that this ceremony is something special, significant, and honorable. But… who needs formality by putting two awkward guys in an important position that they aren’t used to… just let people seat themselves; it keeps the ladies having to awkwardly lock arms with a guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing.  

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

7. MORE OUTSIDE WEDDINGS 

I get it. God’s creation is awesome and beautiful. The problem is the unpredictability of the weather. I’ve never done an outside wedding that went as smoothly as an inside wedding. Rain, wind, heat, sun… so, so, so many factors. Now, I live in West Michigan where we get the full extreme of all four seasons. Maybe you live in an area where the weather is more reliable… but here… not so much.  

One wedding it was so blasted hot with no wind, there was just a sense people wanted to the ceremony to ‘hurry up,’ and I felt bad for the couple as their special day was something people wanted to ‘just get through.’ Another time it was so windy, the bride’s hair kept flying in her face. I’ve had two weddings get rained out and have to moved inside. In a church, you don’t deal with any of that. Some of the old buildings may not have air conditioning, but the reasons to go inside far outweigh the outside… again, at least where I live. 

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

8. THE PROPOSAL IS NO LONGER A SURPRISE 

Granted, this isn’t part of the ceremony, but this is a change I’ve seen. Less and less do I see boyfriends “pop the question” in a perfectly planned, but unexpected way. These days, the couples often plan – not just the wedding date – but the engagement date. It’s a special and planned day where the soon-to-be-fiancé spends the day getting ready with the girls, and the other soon-to-be-fiancé does the same with the guys. Then, it all culminates in a dinner with friends and family, followed by the boyfriend getting down on his knee… in front of everyone, to see his girlfriend to become his fiancé.  I do value the fact that the family is involved to bless this special moment as it’s happening.

What is also nice is that it gives the special gal time to get prepared… verses when I proposed to my wife outside in a dried corn field at the end of a dreary fall day as she was wearing one of my old baggy sweatshirts… still, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.  

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.

9. MARRIAGE LICENSE LANGUAGE 

With the legalizing of gay marriage in 2015, marriage license’s no longer say “Bride” and “Groom” but now just have space for each “Spouse” to sign their signatures.  

This is not a polemic against gay marriage but changing bride/groom to the generic “spouse” further adds to the loss of traditional (and I’d say special) aspects of the wedding ceremony.

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.

This leads to the last change I’ll note in this series…  

10. SHORTER CEREMONIES 

It seems the ceremonies I’ve been performing are around only 20 minutes. Most couple’s these days opt for no corporate singing, or special music of any sort, and they ask to minimize any non-essential elements in favor of a briefer service.  

Add to that, most couples chose to remove the “declaration of intent.” This is that old part when the Reverend says, “Do you take this man/woman to be your lawfully wedding husband/wife,” and they respond with the iconic, “I do.” Most couples see this redundant in light of reciting their vows to each other.

Removing songs/singing and aspects like the ‘declaration of intent’ with no meaningful replacements results in simply shorter ceremonies. I have yet to perform a wedding where the couple doesn’t express in some form or fashion that they want to ‘keep the ceremony short.’

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.

IN SUMMARY 

In many ways, wedding ceremonies are being modernized. No one talks about “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” or the “penny in your shoe” anymore. In fact, most young couples have never heard those things.  

The formal and royal aspects of the wedding ceremonies are being tampered with these days. In the weddings I’ve been doing, no one is renting tuxes, and more and more I’ve been given permission to (if not outright asked) just to wear my cowboy boots.  

Not all change is bad. Not all change is good. But… just trying to be trendy is rarely something we look back on as a good decision.  

No wedding tradition is written in stone and in the end, I tell couples to make their ceremony a time to honor God as they make it their own. My wife and I did, we played Weezer at the end of our ceremony and I’m sure my great-grand-dad rolled over in his grave.  

But with each wedding, I am honored to be part of one of the most profoundly life-alternating days of their lives. While I’ve taken time to note some changes I’ve seen, the truth is, I’m less concerned with forgoing tradition, and more interested in helping couples to honor each other and the life-long commitment they are making.  

Who knows what the next 10 years of changes to wedding ceremonies will bring?

Preface: This is a letter that I sent as the lead pastor to the local church that I am blessed to serve. Nothing has been changed, this is what our congregation received via email the day after Dobbs v Jackson.

______

To My Peace Church Family,

During the days of ancient Rome, unwanted babies were thrown over the walls of the city or onto the dumps of human waste and garbage. This was seen as the right of the Romans. But it was the early Christians, because of their radical new perspective that every human life has equal value, who went to retrieve, save, and raise those unwanted children as their own.

In our day, babies are not thrown over the walls of the city, but rather they are dismembered within the womb and then discarded as a demonstration of the right of bodily autonomy and in the name of a progressive society. The rhetoric of the pro-choice movement is often garnished with empathetic language in an effort to mask the brutal reality of what takes place during an abortion procedure. Since Roe v Wade, we have seen 60 million little boys and girls aborted.

As we look back to the example laid before us, those early Christians welcomed in those who the world wanted to reject. Church, it’s time to do this again. Yes, for 2,000 years we have done this, but now, with Roe being overturned, we will prayerfully see the need increase like never before. It’s our time to respond. Let Christians in another 2,000 years be just as inspired by our actions now, as we have been by those first Christians.

With Friday’s ruling, our society is showing mixed reactions to this historic Supreme Court decision, and many are furiously pointing to Christians, Protestant and Catholic, as the root cause of this. The angry eyes of the world are on the Church, so let’s show them the might of our compassion, just as the early Christians did.

Shine, Rather Than Celebrate

Peace Church has always been an unashamedly pro-life church, not because of politics or culture, but because we are taught the value of life at all ages and stages. While there have been times that Christians have not acted in love with their pro-life stance (i.e., crass memes, or demeaning language), and for this we repent and apologize, ultimately our heart is to see families thrive, to see women supported in the highest regard as we plead with them to choose life.

Peace Church, as I am overjoyed that Roe has been overturned, I must also say to you that this is not a time to celebrate, but rather, our efforts should show that this is a time to shine. The world should see the Church not celebrating a cultural win but stepping up to answer a great need. I believe this approach brings God greater glory and has a better chance of changing hearts, which is the true end to which we labor. 

The aim we have been fighting for, and the focus of our prayers is not just to see the laws of abortion be undone, but for the act of abortion itself to cease because the heart of our culture recognizes the value of human life and is willing to strive to see it preserved when at all possible. The work is not done, not at all… it’s only just begun, and because of that fact, it’s time to shine brighter than ever before. This will be shown through our generosity, compassion, and selflessness.

Give, Rather Than Gloat

Church, I want to be able to declare to any woman in our community facing an unwanted pregnancy, that Peace Church will rise to find a good and honest family to raise her child.

The news of the Supreme Court ruling is being met with the full spectrum of emotions – from the highest levels of joy to the deepest levels of rage. With our goal of saving lives and changing hearts, this will not fully happen by our boasting. This is a time not to gloat, but rather a time to give. 

• Give thanks to God. Lives will be saved because of this ruling and for this, we give thanks to God. I would offer Psalm 139 as a passage to pray over as you give thanks to what God is doing in this world, and for the ways He sees you!

• Give to the Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC). Peace Church, as your Lead Pastor, I am asking for you to donate today to the PRC. Prayerfully, the work and the need of the PRC will only increase, so let’s supply the PRC with every means to meet those needs. Whether $5, $50, $500, or $5,000, please, everyone please donate right now. Let’s show the world we will put our money where our mouth is. Donate to the PRC at www.prcforlife.org/donate/

There is real fear and anger among many, many people now because their constitutional protection to terminate the life they are pregnant with has been removed – and so we must declare to the world and to those seeking abortion but who are now legally unable, “Do not fret or fear because, yes, the Church is here for you! We will walk alongside you, help you with your child and even find another set of parents to raise your child if you wish.”

Church, the laws are turning, and I am thankful, but changing hearts is what matters most. How we act in response to Dobbs v. Jackson will either hinder or help with this. Changing laws is a start but changing hearts is when this battle will end.

My church family, let what has happened this week be a clear testament to you that God answers prayers. And because He has shown this, we can be even more zealous in our labor to love our neighbor, even more generous in our giving to the cause of life, even more committed to our prayers for the world, and even more faithful to our faithful God.

Church, let’s continue to adopt, to open our homes and our wallets, to care for the single mothers, for the broken families, for the orphans and unwanted. As someone who has adopted, all I can say is that it was one of the hardest, but one of the best things my wife and I have ever done. So Church, adopt or if you can’t, then financially help someone adopt! In the coming weeks and months, we will discuss further how we can be a church that shines in light of this historic ruling.

Peace Church, as my heart is full of rejoicing, my soul is heavy with the response needed by the Church in this moment. As we look to a world post Roe, again, we are given a chance to shine even brighter in this dark world. Church, Jesus told us that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), so let’s shine!

For the Glory of God, the Joy of the Church, and the Good of our Neighbor,

Ryan Kimmel
Lead Pastor, Peace Church
June 25, 2022

Weddings and marriages are important cultural markers for any society. What they symbolize and how they are conducted say a lot about what people value. And after over a decade of performing wedding ceremonies, I’ve seen some changes. Here are 10 changes I’ve seen over the last 10 years… 

1. INTRODUCTION OF THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE INCLUDES BOTH FIRST NAMES 

Let’s start this post by talking about the end of the ceremony. One of my most favorite lines of the wedding ceremony is that very last thing that I, as the pastor/officiant, get to say. I say, “It is now my great privilege and honor to be the first to introduce to you…” and then traditionally I’d say, “Mr. and Mrs. ‘Husband’s First Name’ and ‘Husband’s Last Name.’” Like, “Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Kimmel!”

But now, more and more couples are moving towards are more egalitarian approach that includes both the bride’s and groom’s first names in the pronouncement, such as “Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Doe.” I know this stems from a progressive mindset that doesn’t want the bride to lose her identity, but I’m traditional at heart, and so while I honor the couple’s wishes and introduce them as they want, I honestly feel something is lost in this approach. While announcing both names points to the importance of both people, declaring just one name also announces a unity that can only be had in marriage. Also, declaring just the husband’s first name is a pronouncement that he is to be the provider and protector, the head of the household who is to lead in a lovingly sacrificial way.  

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

2. FATHER AND MOTHER BOTH GIVE AWAY THE BRIDE 

Normally the father walks the bride down the aisle and then typically he’s the one who “gives away the bride.” A father walking his daughter down the aisle is a bold and beautiful symbol that is the last time he’ll be the one to escort her. That the ceremony begins with the father handing his daughter’s hand over to her new husband is a symbolic act that her new husband is now to be the one to care and provide for her, as her father has done her whole life up until this moment. It’s a powerful culmination of all that father has done for his daughter.

Now, more and more, I am still seeing just the father walk the bride down the aisle and when they approach the awaiting husband, the mother will stand up and join in the “giving away” of the daughter. I fully understand the desire of the mother to be part of this, after all – she helped raise her daughter at least just as much.

The misfire of all of this is that this is to be a symbol of her (the bride’s) hand going from one man to another man’s hand; two men whose love for her should be marked by support, kindness, providing, protecting, and sacrificial leadership. There is no harm when a mother joins in the “giving away of the bride,” and of course I’ve seen this done is very meaningful ways. I just think there is something profoundly special when a father hands his daughter’s hand to another man that he trusts to take over his place as the number one man in her life.  

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

3. A NEW UNITY CEREMONY 

So, traditionally the unity of the marriage was symbolized in the candle-lighting ceremony. Two smaller candles stand beside a larger candle in the middle. The two smaller candles represent the bride and groom, respectively. The unity is when they each take their flame and blend it together as they light the larger candle, and then extinguish their own candles. At which point, I would then say, “As the two flames become one, may you be one in name and destiny…” or something like that.  

I’ve been seeing this tradition exchanged for something else: the marriage license being signed during the ceremony. While we miss the visual symbolism of “two becoming one” that the candles represent, what we can see is an elevation of the legal aspect of the marriage, when the wedding ceremony is often more focused on the spiritual.  It’s an interesting switch, but I will say that the legal focus still demonstrates unity.

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

4. GROOM AND BRIDE SEEING EACH OTHER BEFORE THE CEREMONY 

These days, I’m seeing wedding pictures being taken before the wedding ceremony. Yes, pictures were always taken before the ceremony, but what has changed is this now includes ‘couple shots,’ and so the bride and groom see each other before the ceremony to take pictures. While taking all the pictures before the wedding shortens that often painfully-awkwardly-long time between the ceremony and the reception (the time when when pictures traditionally happen), what is lost is that moment when the groom is standing ready at the front of the church, next to me (the pastor) and all his groomsmen, and I see the look in his eyes when the doors open at the back of the sanctuary and for the first time that day he sees his bride and she is in her wedding dress, sparkling like he’s never seen before…and then he cries!

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

5. FAMILY/FRIENDS ARE INTERMINGLED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE  

Another change I’ve noticed is that there is no longer the designated side of the aisle which friends and family sit. You know what I mean; the family and friends of the bride sit on “her side” and the family and friends of the groom sit on “his side.”  

Immediate family still sits on their respective sides, but these days, I am seeing guests and friends ‘just sit wherever.’ While a level of tradition is lost, what I can appreciate is that there is mutual support being given to both couples on their big day. 

But times change and this is just a change I’ve noticed.  

Read Part 2 Here

If even the Son of God can be tempted, and tempted in every way, what does this mean for us? How do we face temptation – from innocent temptations like ice cream while on a diet…to something much more dark, like following the wide road over the narrow path?

As we look at Jesus’ encounter with Satan from Matthew chapter 4, we’ll see why each of these temptations was extremely challenging for Jesus, how he overcame – and what this means for how we face temptation.

Part 1 of 3: Challenging Jesus’ Identity

Part 2 of 3: Prove the Scriptures are True…

Part 3 of 3: A Deal with the Devil

These sermons and more can be found at

youtube.come/ryandbkimmel or at peacechurch.cc

Preaching this sermon was fairly special to me. It’s a sermon preached from the Scripture passage that God really used to break my heart for Jesus, Luke 23:34. And it’s a sermon preached at the church where I accepted Christ in 1997.

Sermon is entitled, “Father, forgive them…” and was preached at Thornapple Valley Church. It was the 10th sermon in their series called, Red Letter Days; Reading the Red.

Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

This sermon is based on the 8th Commandment: Thou Shall Not Steal (Exodus 20:15). More than a prohibition, this commandment, like all of the 10 Commandments, is a call to love.

The sermon is from the Peace Church sermon series, Real Love; How the 10 Commandments Teach Us to Love.

Watch for the key phrase, “The world is terrible….thanks for the phone.”

To hear more sermons, please visit my youtube channel. 

Here are the descriptions and sermons of a Christmas sermon series I outlined, wrote, and preached, which was a walkthrough of Matthew Chapter 1. The approach was a more light-hearted take on a series issue: Families at Christmas!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: How Your Family Can Survive Thrive This Christmas!

SERIES DESCRIPTION: “For unto you a child is born” has become “for unto you a season is busy.” How did it come to this? Why is “the most wonderful time of the year” packed with stress-filled families and households? This Christmas at Peace Church, we’ll use Matthew Chapter One to examine how Christmas is the Good News for God’s people…and for their families. This Christmas we’ll be home for the holidays as we see how your family can not just survive, but thrive as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  

Each sermon followed this same pattern:

• Tension&Hope: What tension is found in the text, and how does hope shine through
• Thriving@Home: Seeing how tension and hope can be applied to family life

YULE LOG TEASER VIDEO
SERMON SERIES PROMO VIDEO

REMEMBER GOD’S PLAN
Matthew 1:1 – 17
Pastor Ryan Kimmel, December 15, 2019
FOCUS: Families can thrive this Christmas when we remember God’s plan in our Christmas plans.  

• Remember God’s Plan: Sermon Snapshot
• Remember God’s Plan: Full Sermon

RECEIVE GOD’S SON
Matthew 1:18 – 21
Pastor Ryan Kimmel, December 22, 2019
FOCUS: Families can thrive this Christmas when we receive God’s Son as our Savior – and as the central focus and filter of Christmas!  

• Receive God’s Son: Sermon Snapshot
• Receive God’s Son: Full Sermon

RECOGNIZE GOD’S PRESENCE
Matthew 1:22 – 25
Pastor Ryan Kimmel, December 29, 2019
FOCUS: Families can thrive this Christmas when we recognize God’s presence in our lives and in our homes. 

• Recognize God’s Presence: Sermon Snapshot
• Recognize God’s Presence: Full Sermon

This is a sermon I preached on Sunday, July 16, 2019. Father’s Day. In this message from 1 Kings 2:1 – 4, we take a look at King David’s deathbed message to his son, Solomon.

The Message for Fathers…

1. David determines the standard for his son (verse 1 – 2)
2. David drives the faith of his family (verse 3)
3. David declares the promises of his God (verse 4)

The Message for All…

1. David doesn’t let his past define him
2. David doesn’t let his sins discredit him 
3. David doesn’t let his death defeat him

Fathers, don’t wait for your deathbed to give your final wish, words of love,
or vision for your family. You may not have the chance. Do it now. Please.