Shepherd Notes July 2026
Shepherd Notes July 2026
Martin Luther may well have been thinking of Isaiah 7:9 when He made his stand at the Diet of Worms ““Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils,” he said, “for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God.”
We live in a changing world—or perhaps it’s better to say the world is always changing. Things that were cultural norms 50 years ago are now seen as old-fashioned, out-of-date, tacky, or even offensive. In the years I’ve been alive, even my small hometown has changed significantly in its culture. But throughout all of that change, through the rise and fall of trends, and the shifting of values, Christ remains the same. Hebrews 13:8 says it best: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This verse reminds us that Jesus does not change. The same Jesus who died on Calvary and
rose again on Easter is the same Jesus who reigns today. In an ever-changing culture, He
remains our fixed point.
But that doesn’t stop the world from trying to make us conform to it. Cultural pressure is real, and it comes from every direction—friends, family, coworkers, media, and more. Maybe you’ve heard things like, “Get with the times,” or “Stop being so close-minded.” I know I have. I’ve even lost friends because of my beliefs. It’s not easy. As Christians, it’s important to know where you stand—and what you
stand on. That foundation is Scripture. That may sound obvious, but we live in a time when even Scripture can be twisted against us. That’s why we must be rooted in the Word. And if you're unsure about something, it’s okay to step away from a conversation or disagreement to pray, study, or talk to
your pastor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions—that’s how we grow in faith.
Ephesians 4:14 warns us to not be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.” We are also reminded in the next verse to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). That can be hard when people mock or attack your beliefs, but our calling is not to win arguments—it is to be faithful witnesses of Christ.
So, stand firm. Stand with grace. And stand on the unchanging Word of God. No
matter how much the world shifts around us, we know our Savior never will. Let His
unshakable truth be your anchor. And remember, you do not stand alone—you stand with Christ and with His Church.
Your fellow servant in Christ
Pastor Brian
Martin Luther may well have been thinking of Isaiah 7:9 when He made his stand at the Diet of Worms ““Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils,” he said, “for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God.”
We live in a changing world—or perhaps it’s better to say the world is always changing. Things that were cultural norms 50 years ago are now seen as old-fashioned, out-of-date, tacky, or even offensive. In the years I’ve been alive, even my small hometown has changed significantly in its culture. But throughout all of that change, through the rise and fall of trends, and the shifting of values, Christ remains the same. Hebrews 13:8 says it best: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This verse reminds us that Jesus does not change. The same Jesus who died on Calvary and
rose again on Easter is the same Jesus who reigns today. In an ever-changing culture, He
remains our fixed point.
But that doesn’t stop the world from trying to make us conform to it. Cultural pressure is real, and it comes from every direction—friends, family, coworkers, media, and more. Maybe you’ve heard things like, “Get with the times,” or “Stop being so close-minded.” I know I have. I’ve even lost friends because of my beliefs. It’s not easy. As Christians, it’s important to know where you stand—and what you
stand on. That foundation is Scripture. That may sound obvious, but we live in a time when even Scripture can be twisted against us. That’s why we must be rooted in the Word. And if you're unsure about something, it’s okay to step away from a conversation or disagreement to pray, study, or talk to
your pastor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions—that’s how we grow in faith.
Ephesians 4:14 warns us to not be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.” We are also reminded in the next verse to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). That can be hard when people mock or attack your beliefs, but our calling is not to win arguments—it is to be faithful witnesses of Christ.
So, stand firm. Stand with grace. And stand on the unchanging Word of God. No
matter how much the world shifts around us, we know our Savior never will. Let His
unshakable truth be your anchor. And remember, you do not stand alone—you stand with Christ and with His Church.
Your fellow servant in Christ
Pastor Brian