March, 2023

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#ItIsFinished!

Thursday, March 30th, 2023

I suspect all of us from time to time have heard or even used the expression, “Famous last words.” We use them to sorta say, “Yeah. So you say.”  “I’ll clean my room” or “I’ll take out the garbage” or “I’ll clean the garage.” And we say? “Yeah, yeah, yeah, famous last words.  As I prepared for this message and was thinking about Jesus’ last words, I decided to do a little research, aka Google it, on famous last words.  🙂 I found some irreverent ones. I found some thoughtful ones. I found some ironic ones. And I found some sad ones.  (I would encourage you to look them up yourself).  I’m actually going to give some examples during the introduction part of my sermon.

Jesus’ words “It is Finished” are loaded with meaning, often misconstrued. Each of Jesus’ last words tell a story, a truth, to know and remember. My desire this Sunday is to explain what that phrase means and why it is so important for us to get it right.

I just want to say this: In His dying moments, the mind of Jesus was filled, not with hopeless despair, but with a sense of accomplishment. His imminent death was not something inflicted upon Him by others, but something He Himself had achieved! That is why He could say, “It is Finished.”

Please tune in if possible. In person or via live stream.  Our services are at 9:00 and 10:45. They are live streamed on the church’s FB page and also YouTube. You can find those links at the church’s website.  I’m looking forward to preaching on these last words of Jesus.

 

#DarknesstoLight

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023

We have all been there I’m sure. Darkness covers a room. We are sound asleep, cocooned in a warm, soft bed, wrapped in blankets that keep in the warmth. Suddenly our bliss is grossly interrupted by someone doing the unthinkable-turning the light on!  A-a-a-a-a-a-h! All peace and tranquility is shattered by the sudden interference to our “sound sleep pattern.”  An intruder (light) has entered our world.

The story of the cross is a story of two views.  It is the story of darkness where one of the ugliest, if not the ugliest of confrontations, took place. It is also a story of light where the ultimate victory was won.  To see the complete story is eye-opening and powerful.

My purpose this Sunday is to show the darkness and the light of the cross. I want to show the contrast which is so evident as we take a closer look at the bad (darkness) and the good (light).  My main Scripture will be Mark 15:33-39. I’ll bring others in as well.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45 in person or via live stream. You can find the links at the church’s website.

#InsultsandParadise

Thursday, March 16th, 2023

There are many folks who have read the narrative of the cross so often that the reality of the pain and suffering Jesus went through “goes in one ear and out the other.” It is also true that life is a mixed bag. There are moments of pure, unadulterated exhilaration combined with moments of sheer agony.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (I Cor. 1:23) The Jews wanted supernatural signs and the Greeks sought wisdom. But as we look at the cross, we see more.  We see a combination of both the simple and the profound. The Jews weren’t going to find their sign of the miraculous on the cross, and the Gentiles weren’t going to find their wisdom in it. 

What I plan to bring to light are four scenes full of meaning. As I said, many who read the account of the cross sort of just take these four scenes for granted. They are filled with meaning for us.

Scene #1- The weeping women.  Luke 23:26-31

Scene #2- The heartless soldiers. 23:32-34

Scene #3- The mocking bystanders. 23:35-39

Scene #4- The thief on the cross. 23:39-43

After introducing the four scenes, my primary focus will be on the latter. I will making these three points:

  1. No one is ever too far gone to become a Christ-follower.
  2. All God wants from any individual is simple faith.
  3. Never doubt that God accepts you.

Please join us at 9:00 and 10:45 either in person or via live stream. Check out the church’s website for the ways and means to connect.

 

#TheStingofFailure

Thursday, March 9th, 2023

Quick: Word association. Disciple of Jesus. Failure:

PETER

It is hard to disassociate Peter’s name from failure.  But the fact remains: all of them failed. All of them ran. Peter gets notoriety because his was so public. Brash. Bold. Boisterous. Braggart.

Peter is not alone though. We all have failed. We all have made promises to be faithful and to stand tall, only to see ourselves do a face plant.  History is marred with failures. So is Biblical history.

But failure is not the end. You have heard it said in some way, I’m sure: “Falling is not failure; not getting back up is.”  But the great part about Peter’s failure and what he realized is that there is forgiveness in spite of failure. 

I’m guessing that no one’s failure is more highlighted than Peter’s.  I’m preaching on The Sting of Failure this Sunday. But I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of leaving Peter flapping in the breeze. Jesus didn’t and I certainly won’t. Nope…Jesus restored him and made him the leader of the ragtag band of disciple/apostles.

Please join us at 9:00 and 10:45 either in person or online as we live stream our services. I know many will be traveling this week due to Spring Break in our school system, but I hope you will join us via the live stream.

ONE MORE THING! REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD THIS SATURDAY NIGHT FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

 

 

#Don’tForgettoRemember!

Thursday, March 2nd, 2023

Communion has been part of the church’s experience since shortly after Jesus’ meal with the disciples in the Upper Room. Down through the years there have been different ways to celebrate it:

  • There have been arguments and debates over its frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, twice a year).
  • There have been arguments over who can partake.
  • There have been arguments over the elements themselves (wine or grape juice for example). During the pandemic I had one person tell me they had crackers and pop as a substitute.
  • There have been different names give to it (Lord’s Supper,  Last Supper, Holy Communion, or Eucharist).

If you are looking for a doctrinal treatise from me on those arguments you have come to the wrong place. My focus in this Sunday’s sermon is on the meal itself and why we have been told, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Long story short: me must not forget to remember.

This Sunday starts a two-month series on To and From the Cross. I’m taking this break from my series on Revelation to focus on the season of the Cross and the Resurrection.  I plan to resume the Revelation series the first Sunday of May. Please join us in person or via live stream at 9:00 and 10:45.