Under Grace – Pastor Brian Cassell

Spring Meadows Church Service – May 24, 2025

Source: Excerpts from “2025-05-24 – Church Service”

Date: May 24, 2025

Overview: This document summarizes a church service at Spring Meadows Church. The service included announcements, a children’s story, worship music, prayer requests, recognition of veterans, and a sermon focusing on the covenant of God. Key themes included community, the nature of God’s love and covenant, the importance of prayer, and preparation for an upcoming Vacation Bible School (VBS).

Main Themes & Important Ideas:

1. Community and Fellowship:

• The service emphasized the importance of gathering and connecting with fellow church members.
• A dedicated time was set aside for congregants to greet each other, with recommendations for handshakes or warm hugs.
• The speaker highlighted the value of building community, particularly in the context of preparing for VBS.
• Quote: “Honestly the community that we build when we are here doing something when you can come in and see like I did that I helped with that kids are learning about Jesus because I came and give of my time and that time that we can grow and laugh and make mistakes and figure things out together is a time for our church to grow in community.”

1. Preparation for Vacation Bible School (VBS):

• A significant portion of the service was dedicated to promoting and preparing for VBS.
• The stage decorations for VBS were highlighted and appreciated, showcasing a cabin and mountain theme.
• Volunteers were thanked for their hard work and dedication in setting up the VBS environment.
• Appeals were made for continued help with VBS preparations, with specific dates and times for workdays mentioned (tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and next Sunday before VBS starts).
• The importance of VBS for both church children and those from the surrounding community was stressed.
• The children’s story incorporated a VBS-like element with a “Scout” character and introduced various animals.
• Attendees were encouraged to join VBS to see the presented animals again.

1. Nature of God’s Love and Covenant:

• A core message of the service, particularly in the sermon, revolved around God’s covenant with humanity, moving from the Old to the New Testament.
• The sermon traced the concept of covenant from Genesis 3:15 (the promise of the Messiah) through Jeremiah 31:31-34 (the New Covenant prophecy) and ultimately to Jesus’ declaration at the Last Supper.
• The unilateral and unconditional nature of God’s new covenant in Jesus’ blood was emphasized.
• The speaker used the analogy of Victorian wedding traditions (something old, new, borrowed, blue) to illustrate aspects of the covenant with Christ.
• The cross was presented as the fulfillment of the covenant, the fatal blow to Satan’s kingdom, and the means by which God draws all people to Himself.
• Quote (Hebrews 8:10-12): “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel and after that time declares the Lord I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts and I will be their God and they will be my people no longer will they teach their neighbor or say to one another ‘ Know the Lord because they will know me all know me for the the le from the least of them to the greatest for I will forgive their wickedness and I will remember their sins no more amen.”
• Quote (Jesus at the Last Supper): “This cup is the what? We see it the first time in 650 years jesus declares it he I declared it long ago but now he says “This is the reality this is the new covenant that I have promised in my blood which is shed for you which is shed for you.”
• Quote (Sermon): “He says ‘This is all for you but it’s all on me it is unilateral it is unconditional.'”

1. The Significance of Prayer:

• Prayer was highlighted as a vital ministry of the church.
• Leaders of the prayer ministry (Luis Batista, Michelle Benson, and David Labrador Senior) shared about their weekly prayer meetings.
• The prayer meeting format was described: sharing testimonies, gathering requests, interactive prayer, silent confession, Bible study, and closing prayer.
• The prayer meeting is held online via Zoom every Wednesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and is open to everyone.
• Prayer was referred to as the “key that unlocks heaven’s storehouse.”
• Quote (Michelle Benson): “I just want to make an appeal that prayer is the key that unlocks heaven’s storehouse and without a prayer without praying our church is dead so I invite you all to join us amen amen.”

1. Recognition of Military Veterans:

• In observance of Memorial Day weekend, the church took time to honor military veterans and service members.
• The sacrifice of soldiers and their families was acknowledged, drawing a parallel to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• Veterans present in the congregation were invited to stand or raise their hand and were prayed for.
• Quote: “This Memorial Day weekend we wish to recognize the soldiers and the service members who have sacrificed life and limb and family and future comfort to serve our country both in wartime and peace that you and I might experience freedom and prosperity in harmony with the Christian principles presented by the Apostle Paul in Romans 13 and:e 7 that we are to give honor to those whom honor Honor is due.”

1. Children’s Story and God’s Creation:

• A children’s story featured characters “Scout” and “Jane” preparing for an adventure “up north” and learning about different animals.
• Three specific animals were introduced: the crested gecko (from a tiny island), the leopard gecko (from desert areas in India, Pakistan, Middle East), and the axolotl (from one lake in the entire world).
• Interesting facts about the animals were shared (e.g., crested geckos lack eyelids and lick their eyes, leopard geckos store fat in their tails and can drop and regrow them, axolotls are water salamanders that stop metamorphosis halfway and can regrow body parts).
• The diversity of these animals, originating from different places but each unique, was used to illustrate God’s love for creating unique and special people with special gifts and talents.
• Quote (Children’s Story): “I brought these to show you guys because there are three different types of lizards coming from three different places all over the world and yet they’re still each really unique and really cool so we are all different types of people coming from all over the world and God still made us really unique and really cool with our own special gifts and talents.”

1. Response to God’s Covenant (Salvation and Baptism):

• The sermon concluded with an appeal for individuals to respond to God’s covenant of grace through Jesus.
• The response involves believing in Jesus as the Son of God and the promised Messiah.
• Repentance and surrender of one’s heart to God were encouraged as a result of being drawn by His love.
• Baptism was presented as the sign of the new covenant, symbolizing death to the old self and resurrection to a new life in Christ.
• An invitation was extended for those interested in baptism to fill out a card.
• Quote (John 3:16): “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
• Quote (Sermon): “Baptism is the sign of the new covenant in Jesus that he fulfilled symbolizing our death to the old person and a resurrection with Jesus to a newness of life forgiven and freed.”

Notable Facts/Events:

• Upcoming Tiny Tots, Kindergarten, and Primary 1 Sabbath School will meet at Spring Meadows next week.
• Monthly potluck scheduled for May 31st.
• Children’s story featured live animals (crested gecko, leopard gecko, axolotl).
• Prayer meeting is held online via Zoom on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM.
• Offerings this week go towards the Florida Advance, supporting church planting, school development, and evangelism within the local community.
• The service included learning and singing a new song based on Matthew 6:9-15 (The Lord’s Prayer) and singing “Holy Forever” and “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Overall Impression: The service was a blend of community focus, practical church announcements (VBS preparation, potluck, specific Sabbath School locations), educational content (children’s story), and a deep theological exploration of God’s covenant love and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, culminating in an appeal for personal commitment and response through baptism. The recognition of veterans provided a contemporary application of the theme of sacrifice and honor within a Christian framework.