All Through Jesus - Part 2
by: Pastor David Wood

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Great verses today. We are told four major things here. 1 - Offer our bodies as living sacrifices. 2 - Do not conform to the pattern of the world. 3 - Transform our mind by renewing it. 4 - If you do these things, you will be able to see God’s will more clearly. Wow, that’s big.

Last week we looked into #1 - Offering our bodies as living sacrifices. Today, let’s dig into 2 & 3. Conforming and transforming.

The Bible tells us that we are not of this world. We are certainly in the world but we are to stand out as different, set apart, because we have been made new when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. This world is not our home and Philippians 3:20 states plainly that our citizenship is in heaven. That ought to show up in how we live life and be visible.

Consider if you were taken to court for being a Christian. Would you be released for lack of evidence? Hopefully the verdict would be guilty as charged.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and are literally being transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus. We renew our minds by reading God’s word and letting the Spirit of God work in us, teach us and guide us.

Carry On,
David Wood - WBC Worship Pastor

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Don’t know what to do?!
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 27:1, “And David said in his heart, ‘Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.’”

David reasoned that if he could make it into Philistine territory, then all of his problems would be over because Saul wouldn’t seek him there.

What was David thinking? He was going to leave the people of God and go live among the ungodly? David’s heart gave him false counsel and advice!

When we don’t talk to Jesus through prayer, we will talk to our heart and end up saying and doing things that makes matters worse.

Proverbs 19:2 says, “He sins who hastens with his feet.”

Proverbs 21:5 says, “Everyone who is hasty surely comes to poverty.”

Throughout the Bible, it warns us about doing things hastily. The only time the Bible encourages us to do things in haste is when it comes to the things of God like repenting or making a wrong right with someone but when we are depressed and we talk to our hearts instead of talking to God we make hasty decisions, and we go off speedily doing crazy, sinful things.

The enemy will always make you think that you need to act now and not wait on the Lord. It’s always good to wait on the Lord and pray it through.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Don’t know what to do?!
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

James 1:5 says, “If any of us lack wisdom Ask of God who gives to all liberally.”
All we have to do is ask God for help! Why do we not ask God for help? Well, it ultimately boils down to our pride thinking that we’re smart and strong enough to deal with it on our own!

We must factor God in the equation no matter what we are facing. God is the almighty councilor! Ask Him first for help and guidance!

Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Don’t Follow Your Heart
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 27:1, “And David said in his heart, ‘Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.’”

David started talking to himself in his heart which is not a good idea because he came to the wrong conclusions, answers and he fell into depression.

The first sign that we, as a believer, are depressed is prayerlessness. You stop talking to God and you start talking in your heart. Now why is its so bad to talk in your heart?
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it.”

Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart perceives evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies!”

When we talk in our hearts and not to God, our hearts will encourage us to do evil things. You have to monitor self-talk carefully because you can tell yourself things that aren’t true.
We need to compare our feelings with the truth of scripture.

The mistake he made was he didn’t turn to the Lord and talk to God for help, answers and guidance! And it’s always a mistake when we think we’re going to figure it out on our own.
By the way, what’s interesting about this chapter is God is not mentioned in it at all because He’s really absent from David’s thoughts. From David’s life. David is not seeking the Lord.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Strength For Your Heart
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

Psalms 31:24, “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”

We have all experienced trials that never seem to end as it goes on and on and on. That’s how David felt on the run in the wilderness. Extended trials can lead us into discouragement and depression if we’re not careful. He made some really bad mistakes because he doesn’t pray! The general definition of depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest which stops you from doing your normal activities.

Sometimes, even as children of God, we go through times of depression and discouragement like David did and the devil loves to discourage us, get us depressed and to keep us there because discouragement is the opposite of courage!

Biblical courage is the ability to face uncertainty, adversity, danger or suffering with faith-fueled hope that God will keep His Word to us! God wants us to be courageous and brave!
One of Satan’s biggest goals is to discourage Christians because discouragement paralysis’s us from advancing Gods kingdom, diffuses and silences us from sharing the gospel and it gets us fearful and not being contagious and on fire as spirit-filled Christian evangelist!

Satan wants to prevent us from actively sharing our faith and being the hands and feet of Jesus! Satan uses discouragement and depression to weaken and deactivate us but God has the ability to strengthen your heart if you go to Him!

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

All Through Jesus
by: Pastor David Wood

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Great verses today. We are told four major things here. 1 - Offer our bodies as living sacrifices. 2 - Do not conform to the pattern of the world. 3 - Transform our mind by renewing it. 4 - If you do these things, you will be able to see God’s will more clearly. Wow, that’s big. Let’s dig into the first one today.

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. That means turning our backs on “our plans” and joining His plans for our lives. They rarely match up. In fact, if they do, more than likely, you are still doing yours and pretended that it’s Gods. And this happens a lot.

It is a lot easier for people to have Jesus join their plan instead of dropping theirs and following His. Often, Jesus is just something else we do. I go to the gym, I am a brain surgeon, I play pickleball, surf big waves and roller blade. Oh, and I am a Christian.

But that is not the plan and you will never find peace there or live life to the fullest, like the Word talks about in John 10:10. Simply, Jesus wants everything we do to filter through Him. All of it. So, I ask, which plan are you on?

Carry On,
David Wood - WBC Worship Pastor

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Gods Love Letter
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Our Bibles are like Gods valentine love letter to us! It is full of writings about how much God loves us!

Song of Solomon 2:4 says, “His banner over me is love!”

I believe Valentines Day should point us to Jesus! God is the most romantic who has walked this earth. Jesus did His first miracle at a wedding! We are called the bride of Christ in the Bible! He draws us as His beloved to Himself. God’s love pursues us because we’re valuable to Him. He wants to live happily ever after with us in eternity in Heaven!

Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

His love gives everything and goes the greatest distance to the point of sacrificing His very own Son at the cross to save us! God proved we are valuable to Him and that He loves us by sending Jesus to save us!

1 John 3:16. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.”

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Isaiah 62:5 says, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So does God rejoice over you.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Valued More Than Diamonds!
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:24, “And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
I love how this verse talks about how David valued Sauls life and how his life was valued in the eyes of the Lord.

Did you know that you are loved and extremely valuable to God!

There is nothing more valuable than a human soul. The fact of the matter is the reason that we love God is because He first loved you and we are valuable to Him.

Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Measured Back To You
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:24, “And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
I love how it says let the Lord deliver me out of all tribulation.

The Bible says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

David gives the reason why he spared Saul’s life and it’s because he wanted God to treat him that way. He wanted the Lord to be as merciful and as kind to him as he was to Saul. He was treating others the way he wanted to be treated.

Jesus said in Luke 6:31, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
Jesus said in Matthew 7:2, “For with what a judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

David knew this principle. David said Saul I want God to be merciful to me so i’m going to be merciful to you.

How are you measuring mercy, compassion, love and forgiveness out to other people? Are you using a teaspoon or a dump truck? How do you want God to measure out His love, grace and forgiveness to you? If you want it from the Lord in a big way, then you give it to other people in a big way.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Don’t Waste Your Life
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:21, "Then Saul said, 'I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.'"

Saul admits the truth acknowledging his sin but he never repented or turned from it. It's one thing to admit sin, it's another thing to actually repent of it to turn from it to not continue in it.

Here we see a nine-word autobiography of Saul's life. Indeed, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. It's a banner statement that could be put over every person who wastes their life and has many regrets.

What a sad place to be when you come to the end of your life and you look back and say I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. Saul wasted his life on earthly, temporary pursuits and aired exceedingly in disobedient to God.

Are we erring exceedingly each day, pursuing empty pursuits and things that won't matter when it comes to eternity?

The way we can try to prevent this is by living each day for the Lord by the power of His Spirit, following Jesus.

Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord."

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Through Thick and Thin
by: Pastor David Wood

Romans 8:35-39 NIV
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[Psalm 44:22]
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let’s face it, this life we live, though it has good times, also has many hard times as well. Then all the rest fall into places in between. It is quite a rollercoaster ride if you ask me. I know you didn’t but still, it is.

These verses cover a large swath of the bad side for us. Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword. Luckily, I have not experienced all of these things or I might not be writing this right now. I have had quite a nasty hangnail though. That didn’t even make the list.

I think the overall theme in all this is that we should expect life to be all over the place. We should expect easy times and times that stretch us so thin, you could hold us up to a light and see right through us. But it’s all with a purpose and a plan and no matter what happens, God goes through it with us. Right there through thick and thin! Thanks, God!

Carry On,
David Wood - WBC Worship Pastor

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Grace Abounded Much More!
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:16, “This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

Why did David take the spear and the jug of water? That spear was his scepter, so to take the spear was symbolic of the right to rule. Leadership. Taking the water jug was symbolic also.  Water is needed to sustain life in the wilderness. You carry your own water source.  David felt he had the right to rule and the power to take his life. It was a very symbolic move, David had the capability to kill Saul, but he didn’t.

We see the forgiveness and mercy of God shown from David. David was a man of God who showed the mercy and forgiveness of God to others. I think David is such a picture of Jesus who gives us second and third chances. It reminds me of when God gave Jonah a second chance.

God is the God of 2nd chances, 3rd chances and 4th chances and that is good news for us all that God gives us fresh starts and new beginnings even when we fail, mess up and are rebellious sometimes! It’s like those echo sketches.

Lamentations 3:22-23, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Romans 5:20, “Where sin abounded, Grace abounded much more!”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

What does God want?
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:8, “Then Abishai said to David, ‘God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!’”

Davids’ soldier says, just give me one shot, David, I’ll make sure he gets the point. I’ll pin him to the ground! Abi told David this is what we’ve been waiting and praying for. This the opportunity to get out of this cycle of running from Saul! David, you don’t have to do a thing.  Just let me do it now and all our problems are over. That’s not what God wanted him to do.

I think the point for us is simple. A lot of people give us different advice about different things. What we should do, what we shouldn’t do... and they mean well, they want to see us have our pain alleviated, they want to see us come out of a destructive or dangerous situation and oftentimes their motive is pure. Their heart is wanting to help and give us that advice but as rational and reasonable as that council may seem, we really need to ask ourselves what God wants. We need to seek the Lord and find out what God wants us to do rather than what man wants us to do. God wanted to take care of Saul, not have David and his guys do it.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Fear verses Faith
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:7, “So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.”

David sneaks into the camp where 3000 IDF soldiers were camped all around King Saul. David and Abi snuck in and are standing over Saul. David and Abi went in like navy seal team six special forces and went right up to the place where Saul was sleeping. The Bible says that the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall on them and God allowed them to sneak into the camp. Saul was completely vulnerable. David saw a spear stuck in the ground by Saul’s head. Last time David got a good look at that spear was when it went zipping by his head because Saul had thrown it at him on several occasions before this Saul had tried to kill David with that very spear.

Saul was a very fearful man. He was afraid of Goliath and David wasn’t afraid, he killed Goliath and all the men who followed David became giant killers! All the men who followed Saul were fearful and afraid. This shows us a courageous person stirs up courage in other people.

Psalm 121:7, “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Bold and Courageous!
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 26:6, “Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, ‘Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?’ And Abishai said, ‘I will go down with you.’”

I really like David’s bravery. He’s unafraid and fearless!

David had holy courage and boldness. David could have sent another man on this errand. There were 600 men with David. You don’t normally send the commander of your army on such a suicidal mission, but David led by example!

You are who you hang out with and David was courageous and the men around him were courageous too.

If we are fearful and afraid, parents, our children will be fearful and afraid too. If we lack faith in God so will our family! However, if you show our children that you trust God they will grow up trusting God for the impossible and this is what we see in the life of David.

Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

The Confrontation
by: Pastor David Wood

Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Recently, I read an interview about Russell Brand, who accepted Jesus in 2024. In this interview, he described Jesus as a confrontation. I found his view spot on.
As Christians, we are confronted and invited to die to self and follow Jesus in all aspects of our lives. This confrontation will continue until we take our last breath and close our eyes on this side of eternity and open them on the other. Only then, will our sanctification finally be complete.

As we are confronted and choose to give more to Jesus, we are shown more and more areas that need to change. Areas that need to die so we can follow Jesus and look more and more like Him. That is called spiritual growth and it needs to be happening.
 
If you had a baby and when looking back over years of pictures, you saw that your baby stayed exactly the same, something would be obviously wrong. The same reasoning applies with our spiritual growth as well. If we are not growing, something is wrong and we need to find out why.

Jesus will meet us right where we are when we surrender and give our lives to Him. But He does not leave us there. He will not leave us in our sin. He will walk us out of it as we surrender everything He shines a light on. Our transformation awaits!

Carry On,
David Wood - WBC Worship Pastor

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Tumbleweed or Oak Tree?
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

Psalms 1, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Galen Anderson said “A man’s life is either like a tumbleweed or an oak tree. Some people just grow like a weed. They’re of no value in their youth, and as the years of life come, they break loose and become a blotch on society. They have no useful purpose in life just drifters. Then there are those whose lives are like the oak. They have invested in things that have genuine worth. Their influence for good will live on in the lives of others after they are gone. Their death is noticed because their lives were spent bettering the nation and the community. They will be missed.”

I hope you chose to be like the mighty tree! You have a purpose as you live your life for Jesus. No one wants to be a tumbleweed.

The Bible tells us if you are in the Word of God, you are like this mighty oak tree! If you are not in the Word of God, your like the tumbleweed.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Multiple Wives?
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:39, 43, “David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.”

David shouldn’t have taken these ladies as his wives’ because he was already married to Michal Saul’s daughter.

So now David has three wives which shows us again the fact that David was not perfect.
Marriage was always intended to be one man and one woman for life.

Genesis 2:24, “God said that a man shall leave his father or mother and cling to his wife.” The word wife is singular: one wife.

Deuteronomy 17:17 outlines the qualifications for a king, there are three things they were not to multiply: horses, gold, and wives.

This was a compromising sin in David’s life that would catch up with him years down the road. What he was sewing caused big problems in David’s life.

Multiply wives might have been right in the eyes of culture back then but it was wrong in the eyes of God.

It’s a good reminder to take inventory of what we are you doing that is right with the world but it’s not okay with God and to turn from that and do it Gods way. It’s like right now it’s no big deal for two people to just live together like husband and wife and sleep together and they’re not married according to the world. That’s common today and its ok with culture but it’s not okay in the eyes of God.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Bar of Soap
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we are in trouble and sinning, it’s important to remember the Christian bar of soap verse to cleanse us from all of our sin often and frequently. Jesus encourages us to run into His arms for forgiveness as He is the only one who can forgive us. Turn from practicing sin and turn to Jesus and practice how He wants you to live.

2 Timothy 2:26 says, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Vengeance is Mine
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:37-39, “So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.  Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.”

When he sobered up, his wife had told him these things. It’s interesting that he became like a stone when God took him out because when David fought Goliath with Gods help, it was a rock that took him out.

Here we see God was so merciful to Nabal. He even gave him ten more days to repent but those ten days in the bed didn’t draw Nabal’s heart to repentance, it just made his heart harder and he died.

The Lord protected David from this evil man Nabal.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

A God Send
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:33-35, “Then David said to Abigail: ‘Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!’ So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, ‘Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.’”

David received what she brought to him, the counsel and the blessing of the provision. David was still teachable. The Lord used Abagail to soften his heart, bring him back to reality and diffuse the situation.

Here you have a great example of Proverbs 18:21 that says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

Her words brought life to a situation that would have ended in death.
She used the right words at the right time and kept this man from doing something dumb. She kept David from regret, her servants from harm and kept her husband alive.
Abigail reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman!

Proverbs 31:28, “Her children will rise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her.”

The best way for us to live is to make right, God honoring choices now so that we won’t regret it later.

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

New Year, New Me!
by: Pastor David Wood

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

This is the time of the year people make all kinds of New Year resolutions. I am going to stop doing this, I am going to do more of that. I am going to get rid of this, I am going to get more of that. I am going to lose all of this or I am going to gain all of that. It’s a time of expectation and hope for a new change. A very popular saying is, “New Year, New Me!”
Here are some statistics on New Year resolutions. 23% quit in one week. On the second Friday, which is also known as, quitters Friday, a larger wave of people have quit. By one month, 75% have quit. By mid February, 80% have quit. By year end, only 9% will have stuck with their goal.

In accepting Christ, we are told that WE are a new creation. We get to renew our minds and put on a new self that’s created to be like God, in true righteousness and holiness. How awesome-sauce is that? A brand new life, or new spiritual growth in Christ is the best New Year goal we can have. This goal is a “New Year, New Me” that you can count on.
Let’s forget and leave behind the shortcomings of this year. Let us use them as lessons learned and lean into who God is growing us into. Do you not perceive it? Is God not doing very new things even now in your life? Can you not wait to see them spring forth as you move and grow in 2026? Me too!!! Let’s get going and give them Jesus!

Carry On,
David Wood - WBC Worship Pastor

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Words Fitly Spoken
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:27-28, “And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.”

Her words are a good example of words fitly spoken.

Proverbs 25:11, “Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold and settings of silver.”

This is a woman who mended a royal mess. She came very humbly, calling David “my lord” and to herself as a “maid servant”. Abigail, in her brilliant speech, was going to teach us how to turn evil into good. Abigail apologized for her scoundrel of a husband. She encouraged David to leave his enemy in God’s hands as He will deal with her husband.
Ask God to give you the words to share with others. Think before you speak and make sure they are words God would approve.

T= Is it TRUE?
H= Is it HELPFUL?
I= Is it INSPIRING?
N= Is it NECESSARY?
K= Is it KIND?

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

Be Humble
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:23, “Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.”

If you picture this, David’s red hot, he’s angry, and they turn a corner and what do they see? David sees a caravan loaded with donkeys full of supplies, food and all these great things that Nabal should have been giving to David for watching and protecting his flocks. They saw all of this and then at the front of this caravan they saw a woman leading this caravan. When Abigail saw David, she dismounted from the donkey, fell on her face before David and bowed down to the ground showing humility which saved her life and the life of her family.

This stopped David dead in his tracks as she is totally and completely humbling herself before David and trying to make the wrong her husband did to David and his men right.

James 4:10, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.”

James 4:6, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.

The Flesh
by: Pastor Ryan Scheibel

1 Samuel 25:21-22, “Now David had said, ‘Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.’”

Isn’t it interesting how one day you’re just walking in the Spirit, the Lord’s just working, nobody can trip you up, you’re good and the next day you’re in the flesh. Don’t you hate that when you see that in yourself?

This story tells me that however long I may have been on the Christian path, however often I may have overcome one temptation or another, however many times I defeated sin in one area, it can come back and take me down and crush me in a moment.

That’s what David was faced with. That’s why it is so important that we trust in God and look to Him moment by moment so we can walk in the victory and the power that He wants to give us.

David was on his way to destroy but thankfully Abigail showed up to diffuse the situation. You know Abigail reminds me a lot of the Holy Spirit in the way that she delt with David and stopped him in his tracks and reasoned with him.

John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”

Pastor Ryan Scheibel
Water Brooks Church

Your support and generosity helps reach the lost with the good news of Jesus! I would like to thank all of you who have supported the work of the ministry at Water Brooks Church! You have been generous with your offerings and for that we are grateful!

Church at the Water Brooks is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are used to further our mission. Church at the Water Brooks tax identification number is 85-1283920.