So, it’s Thursday. Midnight. The Passover meal with his disciples is over. He’s washed each one’s feet, showing himself the servant that he wants them to be. He’s graciously shared in the bread and the wine with all of them, ushering in the celebration of Holy Communion to his followers everywhere. And he’s sent Judas, the turncoat, on his way to do what he was determined to do… Let’s now share in today’s part of the story (Matt. 26:36-46, NLT): Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called...
For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been in a worship series that celebrates the life of those who are committed to God and it’s called ‘Fully Engaged’. The first week, we talked about being fully engaged in our walk with God. That’s where it has to all begin. Then, last week, we talked about being fully engaged with our church—what it means to fully engage with God as the Body of Christ or the Bride of Christ (the church known as both)… And we began with a scripture that’s...
Jesus last two statements or phrases from the cross were “It is finished” and “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” Today, we’re going to explore both of these final statements and the Gospel’s record of what happened in the Temple in Jerusalem as Jesus was dying on the cross. It’s very important we understand the significance of that, if we really want to understand what Jesus’ final words were all about… Let’s get to them now as we go to today’s scripture verses—one from the Gospel of John (19:30a,...
Thousands of Dutch residents spent time digging through their garbage after they learned that they might have thrown away a diamond. A local jeweler sent 4,000 clients a mailing marking the tenth anniversary of his store. Two hundred of the envelopes contained a small diamond, while the others contained cubic zirconium, a cheap substitute used in costume jewelry. Many people who received the letter ignored it, thinking it was junk mail and threw it away without looking inside. When only a few people responded to the mailing the jeweler called...
At the end of this appointment year, I’ll be coming up on my 20th anniversary in ministry—20 years since my first appointment. And one important lesson I’ve learned over the past 20 years is this: There is absolutely nothing I can do to make you grow spiritually! Did you know that? I can’t make you grow! I can encourage you, I can try to inspire you, I can do my best to provide an environment in which you can grow … but, I can’t make you grow! You see, nobody...
I want to teach you a basic biblical principle today that’s one we’ll talk about throughout this time together. It’s called … THE GREATNESS PRINCIPLE. If you think about all of the great people you’ve known throughout your life, more than likely each one of them had a guiding principle that led their lives. Even Jesus did. But, let me give you some other examples first, so you’ll get a feel for this… Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Principle of Non-Violence… Mother Teresa – The Principle of Compassion...
If you’ve traveled overseas, especially to Europe, you know this to be true: Europe has some of the most beautiful, historic churches in the entire world. Yet they are also some of the emptiest! A pastor who went to London recently experienced this phenomenon. He tells that he was in a city there in England to do a Bible study, observed this occurrence, and said, “Churches are dying off so fast that they’re being sold off to bars and restaurants. London churches are desperate for the blessing of God.” And...
In order to understand scripture, it’s really important sometimes to have some background. What was going on at the time that this particular piece of scripture (a letter) was written? What was it that the original audience might have understood in their context … better than you and I understand it in our context? Again, the original recipients of this letter to the Hebrews were probably 2nd generation Christians, but not so far removed from Judaism that they would not remember some of the references here… Here’s your ‘background’ today...
Getting ready for what was ahead, Jesus retreats to His usual place of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. If you’ve seen this holy site in Jerusalem, it’s at the location (across the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount) of the “Church of All Nations,” built over the site where Jesus would have flung himself to the ground for those final prayers before his arrest… I want you to know today that the name Gethsemane is a sign in itself. The word ‘Gethsemane’ is synonymous...
I don’t know if some of you have ever thought about this or not, but even the Christian faith was born out of uncertainty, darkness, and despair. I’m talking about the CROSS of Christ. As Jurgen Moltmann describes it: “Our faith begins at the point where atheists suppose that it must be at the end. Our faith begins with the bleakness and power which is the night of the cross, abandonment, temptation, and doubt about everything that exists!” Do you see what he’s getting at here? For the past several...
