REV. Zachery Sarrault, Associate PASTOR
Pastor’s Corner for March 9-15, 2025
Lenten Discipline?
(Romans 10:8b-13)
Have you decided on a Lenten discipline? Is there something you are taking on or giving up as we journey with Jesus toward the cross? Whether you have or haven’t (and I encourage you to try something!) it’s always good to ask the question “why?”. Why practice a Lenten discipline? Sometimes we simply try again at whatever New Year’s resolution we failed at a couple months ago. Maybe you finally decide to do what your doctor has been begging you to do for a while now. Maybe you dust off your Bible, working your way into a habit of reading the Word.
No matter what you may choose, the question of “why?” drives us to wonder who we are doing it for? Are these disciplines for me or for God? Or, to ask the question another way, does God need this discipline or do I? God doesn’t need anything. He doesn’t need our disciplines or works. He is Lord of all creation, the One who has a name for every single star in the galaxy, He doesn’t need anything. And that’s a good thing.
These Lenten disciplines are not to benefit God, nor are they to bring God closer to us (Romans 10:6-7). Instead, they can be used to narrow our focus, a reminder of our need for God and what He has done. There may be a time of day set aside for a quiet moment with God. In those times, we may feel closer to Him, but His presence doesn’t change. The presence of God comes through His desire to be close to us. The apostle Paul, echoing what God first spoke to the Israelites as they were entering the Promised Land, said, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8b, see Deuteronomy 30:14).
The word of faith that is God’s presence is in your mouth and heart PERIOD. There is nothing we can do to bring God’s presence closer; He is already there. Paul continues, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That’s it! All it takes to be saved by the blood of Christ is simple belief and confession. That’s exactly what we do every time we recite the Creed in worship.
Then why do Lenten disciplines? As a participation with our close Savior in the life He has won for us. It’s us learning how to live well with Jesus, not the other way around. It’s an awesome privilege to grow in our journey with Jesus. First, He saves us by faith alone, then we walk with Him. As we walk with Him, He holds nothing back. Our Savior showers all “His riches on all who call on Him” (Romans 10:12). Whatever God has to give, it’s already yours, in your mouth and in your heart. What a beautiful gift that is!
Your believing brother in Christ,
Pastor Zach Sarrault
Ordination and Installation of Pastor Zachery Sarrault (July 18, 2021):
Sunday was a great day at RLC! We celebrated the Ordination and Installation of our new Associate Pastor Zachery Sarrault. It was a beautiful service with a heartfelt sermon by his father, Pastor Joel Sarrault. Congratulations and welcome, Pastor Zach! Thank you to all who participated in this special day.
Pastor Sarrault Ordination and Installation
Pastor Zachery Sarrault Ordination and Installation Bulletin
From Pastor Zach (July 16, 2021):
Hey Resurrection Family!
Kelsey and I are finally here! We have finished up at St. Louis, seen family in Michigan, and moved into our new home. After all of that traveling and living out of suitcases, we couldn’t be happier to finally be back to something comfortable. Comfort is always something nice to hold on to. All of us have something that makes us comfortable, whether it be a family member or friend, a good book or fishing pole, a quilting machine or a wood shed, we all have our go-to comfort places. This is part of being human! We love comfort!
The thing with comfort is that sometimes we get too comfortable. We can settle in and tell ourselves that we never wish to see any change. “Life would be perfect if I could just stay in my recliner with Tom Sawyer all day.” Or whatever your comfort may be. Sadly, we know that this isn’t how life works. No matter how much we enjoy our comforts, ‘real life’ happens and it disrupts those little joys. But, is it ‘real life’ or is it God, calling us into His mission to do more than just the comfortable?
Jesus never led a life of comfort. From the manger to the cross and even the empty tomb, Jesus’ life was one of challenge and the uncomfortable. When one of the scribes declared that he would follow Jesus, all Jesus had to say was, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). Kind of an odd response, one that rightly scared away the scribe. Probably would have scared me too!
So, what does this mean for us? Are we supposed to throw away all of our earthly comforts and live lives of asceticism? Not at all! But we are called to know where these comforts come from and who our ultimate comfort is. In all things, comfort or challenge, our Lord and Savior stands before us, behind us, and beside us. As Jesus prepared His disciples for life after His death and resurrection, Jesus told His followers, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
There is our ultimate comfort! Not in our little hide-a-ways or indulgences, but in the One who has overcome all sin and who has promised us peace. Our comfort is in the faith that we have through Christ’s death and resurrection. Our comfort is in the kingdom of God that has already been given to us! That is a comfort that is never changing and never ending. No matter what God has in store the Sarraults in North Carolina, we know that the comfort of our Lord will always prevail!
In the comfortable and the uncomfortable, but always in Christ,
Pastor Zach Sarrault
From Pastor Jonathan (July 15, 2021):
There's a new face at Resurrection! Seminarian Zach Sarrault and wife Kelsey made it down to Cary last Monday, and soon-to-be "Pastor Zach" is already taking part in leadership team activities here at RLC. He will serve as Associate Pastor at Resurrection... meaning he will be working full-time in all aspects of ministry: preaching and teaching, visiting the homebound, discipling others, showing up at youth events, leading school and preschool chapel services, making friends in his neighborhood, evangelizing... and doing it all as one who is privileged to be an Under-Shepherd of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We are very blessed to have him and Kelsey in our midst!
Though the Sarraults hail from Michigan they know a little bit about our area already since Zach served as Vicar at Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest from 2019 to 2020. At church you can find Pastor Zach in the Associate Pastor's office, next door to the main office on the left side. I look forward to working with Pastor Zach and seeing him welcomed as warmly by all of you as Juli and I were not so long ago! May God bless and further your ministry among us, Pastor!