"The Lord Among Us: A Sermon on Testing and Quarreling"

Oct 1, 2023  •  Rev. Charlie Holt

In this convicting and courageous message, Reverend Holt preaches from the wilderness narrative of Exodus, where the Israelites question God’s presence and test His patience at a place called Massah and Meribah—literally meaning testing and quarreling. As the Israelites push back against God’s direction and provision, Reverend Holt invites us to reflect on a difficult but timeless question: “Is the Lord among us or not?”


With pastoral clarity and personal illustration, including a story about a strong-willed Great Pyrenees, Holt explores what happens when we attempt to reverse roles with God—when we, like Israel, attempt to lead rather than follow, to demand signs rather than trust His Word. He warns of the subtle temptation to set our own terms for belief, posing tests for God while rejecting His sovereign authority.

Sermon Transcription

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