Our journey with Jesus picks up today not at the Eastern Gate—though it is Palm Sunday, but after his time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he was arrested. Listen to this part of our story for today (Matthew 26:47-50, 55-57, NLT)… And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal:...
Folks, I want to begin today with the DARE TO BE GREAT CHALLENGE that we started with last week. Are you ready? A GREAT COMMITMENT TO THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AND THE GREAT COMMISSION DONE WITH GREAT COMPASSION WILL GROW A GREAT CHURCH! Did you get that? Do you remember this from last week? A great commitment to the great commandments and the great commission done with great compassion will grow a great church! And you know what else? It’ll grow a great Christian, too! How many of you want to...
It’s one of those times when I feel like apologizing for the sermon title before I even begin … and I do! There are many wonderful churches out there who are filled with faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who are getting these things right (what we’re going to be talking about the next two weekends). But that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are still untold thousands of churches who still exist primarily for themselves. In other words, they have no vision outside their doors … and no...