Berea Update for June 5, 2026
Hello, Berea! It's been just over a month since the last Berea Update went out through the blog. I've missed all of you, yet, am so thankful for the time away that allowed an opportunity to pray, rest, and be with family. I appreciate your support, and encouragement.
As I look ahead, I know that there is much work to do, but yet, our Lord is so kind and gracious. I continue to reflect on my favorite Hebrew word, "hesed." For those of you who are not "word nerds" like me, "hesed" is a unique word, that's only found in the Hebrew language. No other culture, or people group knew the word, or used it. So, with it being uniquely "Jewish" it's interesting to ponder it's origin. "Hesed" is found most often in the Psalms, as David is reflecting on who God is, and what He has done. What's interesting, is that as you read through the Old Testament, and encounter the word, it's used in so many different contexts that it's impossible to come up with a simple translation for it. Often our English bibles translate it as "steadfast love," "loyal love," or "lovingkindness." From what I, and others who have studied the word, can tell, "hesed" describes an active, enduring, and generous commitment rooted in a deep relationship, going far beyond mere duty or obligation.
The concept operates on several distinct levels:
Love in Action: It is never just an emotion or feeling; it is love demonstrated through tangible actions and deeds on behalf of someone in need.
Covenantal Loyalty: "Hesed" is tied to promises and agreements. It represents a steadfast commitment to stand by someone—even when they fail to uphold their end of the relationship.
Grace beyond Measure: It implies showing amazing grace and unmerited favor to someone, particularly when they are in a vulnerable or weaker position. While it is frequently used to describe God’s unwavering love and mercy toward humanity throughout the Hebrew Bible, "hesed" also describes the ideal way human beings are expected to treat one another—with radical, selfless kindness, love, and loyalty.
In my belief, the reason that "hesed" is only in the Hebrew language is that it's one of the best words to describe God (YAHWEH). In fact, the origin of the word comes from God Himself in Exodus 34. God, when speaking with Moses, names Himself, and then describes Himself. It's an autobiography of sorts, and He says in verses 6-7: "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love (hesed) for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." "Hesed" is both who God is and what He does. And because is far beyond our what our human minds can comprehend, simple words are unable to fully describe who He really is.
And yet, we are to be God's image bearers on earth. Yes, we are marred by a sin nature, which makes comprehending Him all the more difficult, but in our fallenness, we are still supposed to bear forth those attributes of God for the world to see. So, even though we don't understand it, we are supposed to obediently do it. This becomes the challenge of so much of the Christian life, but as I've started to understand in a different way lately, as we experience the different attributes of love through trials and joys in life, we are then better able to understand who He is and then bear that forth to others. So, we, like James, should count it as joy to face any type of trial, knowing that in it, if we are abiding in the vine, we will better know who God is. The less we think about us, and the more we think about Him the better.
So, as we walk forward, may be reflect on the "hesed" of God, and make we look for it in action. No doubt, there are countless examples of it each day. And may we wonder not in what we might be able to accomplish, but instead, trust solely in our "hesed" God.
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday, I'll be back to preaching. Prior to my being voted in as Senior Pastor, I laid out a vision for the church moving forward. In that plan, I expressed a desire to go through a series on the church, discussing what the Bible says about it's foundation, it's role, and the roles within it. I've decided that because so many families travel over the summer, I'll be launching that series in the fall, with hopes that it can be a real unifying set of messages for all of us. Because of that, I'll be picking up where I left off in the book of Mark this Sunday, preaching from Mark 2:1-12 with a message called "We Never Saw Anything Like This!" We'll also be partaking of the Lord's Supper together.
2. A new quarter of Sunday School begins this Sunday. For the summer quarter (June-August), we'll only have one adult class, which will meet in the Family Life Center. The study will be called "Who I AM: God's Self-Revelation." We'll be looking at the different attributes of God, as He reveals Himself in the Old Testament. This Sunday, we'll start with His sovereignty, by looking at His plan through the life of Moses.
We also have some changes for the summer for our kids' Sunday School ministry. We'll be combining classes, which will hopefully allow for more interaction between kiddos, but also allow teachers to do more varied activities that require a few more students in the group. So, we'll be combining 1st Grade-6th Grade together (meeting in the current 5th/6th grade class) in a class taught by Jessica Kitchen, and we'll combine 2 year olds-kindergarten in one class (held in the current 4s/5s room) taught by Beth Kitchen. As we approach the Fall quarter, we'll evaluate our numbers, and will make adjustments to our groupings.
For Junior Church, Kayla Finnegan will be teaching during the month of June.
A big thank you to these three ladies for being willing to teach during the Summer quarter!
3. Prayer is so important in the life of the church! As we seek the Lord's direction for what's next for our church, I'm considering doing a weekly prayer gathering during the summer months, that may continue into the fall. My hope is that this might be unifying to our church family as we gather together with a particular focus to come before the Lord in relationship to Him. To gauge interest, and get insight on which evening might work best for the majority, I've created a quick survey. Please click the link to submit your response:
Berea Prayer Gathering Interest Survey Please try to complete the survey by Monday, June 8.
4. On Sunday after the service, it was announced that both Andy Kitselman and Phil Berrien have resigned as deacons. Thank you to both of them for their service to Berea! The current deacons will be revising care teams, and will be sending out the new lists soon!
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Please pray for our church, as we continue to look ahead to the future that God has planned for Berea! Pray for the leadership, and for everyone in the body as we work to bring the Lord honor and glory!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1: The God Who Abounds in Hesed
Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV): "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...'"
When God chose to reveal Himself to Moses, He could have highlighted any of His attributes. He could have emphasized His power, wisdom, holiness, or sovereignty. Instead, one of the first characteristics He proclaimed was His abundant hesed—His steadfast, covenant-keeping love.This is not merely something God possesses; it is who He is. His love is not fickle. It does not rise and fall with our performance. His hesed remains constant because it flows from His unchanging character. When life becomes difficult, we are tempted to measure God's love by our circumstances. Exodus 34 reminds us to do the opposite. We measure our circumstances by the unchanging character of God. The same God who revealed Himself to Moses still abounds in hesed today.
Reflection Question: How would your perspective on current circumstances change if you focused first on who God is rather than on what you are experiencing?
Day 2: Love That Acts
Psalm 136:1–3 (ESV): "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
Psalm 136 repeats the phrase, "for his steadfast love endures forever," twenty-six times. The psalmist connects God's hesed to His actions throughout history. God created. God delivered. God guided. God provided. God rescued. Biblical love is never merely sentimental. God's hesed is love in action. Think back over the past week. Where have you seen evidence of God's active care? Perhaps it was an answered prayer, an encouraging word from a friend, strength for a difficult day, or a provision you did not expect. God's hesed often appears in ordinary moments that become extraordinary when viewed through eyes of faith.
Reflection Question: What specific evidence of God's active love can you identify from the past few days?
Day 3: Hesed for the Undeserving
Romans 5:8 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
One of the most remarkable aspects of hesed is that it is often shown to those who do not deserve it. God's covenant love is not earned. It is given. The cross is the ultimate expression of hesed. Jesus did not wait for humanity to become worthy. He came while we were still rebels and sinners. Through His death and resurrection, He demonstrated a love beyond measure. This truth humbles us. Every blessing we enjoy in Christ comes not because we deserve it, but because God is rich in mercy and abundant in steadfast love.
Reflection Question: How does remembering God's undeserved grace change the way you approach Him today?
Day 4: Hesed in the Trial
James 1:2–4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Trials are often the place where we struggle most to see God's hesed. Yet James teaches that God uses hardships to mature and strengthen His people. A child may not understand why a loving father allows a difficult lesson, but maturity often comes through challenges. Likewise, God's steadfast love is not absent during trials; it is often working most deeply within them. Many believers can testify that they learned more about God's faithfulness in valleys than on mountaintops. Looking back, they can see how God was shaping them, teaching them, and drawing them closer to Himself.
Reflection Question: Can you identify a past trial through which God revealed His faithfulness in a deeper way?
Day 5: Abiding in the Vine
John 15:4–5 (ESV) "Abide in me, and I in you..."
We cannot reflect God's hesed through our own strength. Fruit grows naturally only when a branch remains connected to the vine. The Christian life is not primarily about trying harder; it is about remaining close to Christ. As we spend time in His Word, seek Him in prayer, and walk in obedience, His character begins to shape ours. The more we know Him, the more we resemble Him. The more we experience His steadfast love, the more readily we extend it to others.
Reflection Question: What practical step can you take today to deepen your fellowship with Christ?
Day 6: Showing Hesed to Others
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good... to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
God never intended for His hesed to stop with us. Those who receive His steadfast love are called to reflect it. Showing hesed may mean forgiving someone who has wronged you. It may mean serving someone who cannot repay you. It may mean remaining faithful when it would be easier to walk away. The world often operates on the principle of reciprocity: "I'll help you if you help me." God's people are called to something higher—loving others because God first loved us.
Reflection Question: Who in your life could benefit from an act of unexpected kindness or grace this week?
Day 7: Trusting the God of Hesed
Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning..."
These words were written during one of the darkest periods in Israel's history. Yet even amid devastation, Jeremiah found hope in God's steadfast love. Our confidence is not found in our abilities, plans, or accomplishments. It rests in the God whose hesed never fails. As we look toward the future, there will be challenges we cannot anticipate and opportunities we cannot yet see. But the God who has faithfully carried His people throughout history will remain faithful tomorrow. His hesed never runs dry. His mercies never expire. His faithfulness never wavers. Therefore, we can move forward with confidence—not in ourselves, but in Him.
Reflection Question: What concern or burden do you need to entrust to God's faithful hands today?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Two different people in the church either sent me, or told me this joke this week, so I'm passing it along to you!
Q: How do termites travel?
A: By chew-chew train!
Have a great weekend! See you Sunday!
Mark