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...
(Delivered by Julie Piper, in Rom’s absence…) Only the Gospel of Matthew gives us a record of the visit of the Magi (Wise Guys). These ‘wise men’ traveled thousands of miles to see the King of the Jews. When they finally found him, they responded with JOY, worship and gifts. And I have to say this is so different from the approach many people take today. Some expect God to come looking after them, to explain himself or what he’s up to. Some want Jesus to prove who he is...
In a book called “Through the Windows of Heaven,” the authors tell us this: Science says if there is any such thing as infallible proof, it is the repetition of the same experiment. With that in mind, hear this: • Jesus rose from the dead, and Mary Magdalene encountered him—experiment one. • The women encountered him—experiment two. • The disciples encountered him—experiment three. • The apostles encountered him—experiment four. • Five hundred people saw him after the Resurrection—experiment five. Each one of these … is the repetition of the same...
As we begin today, I want to walk you through the very familiar story of Good Friday… Here’s my timeline for the day: Thursday, early evening … Jesus dined with his disciples for what has come to be known as The Last Supper… Thursday, after supper … Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, across the Kidron Valley over to the base of the Mount of Olives … and it was there he prayed so intently that sweat dropped off of him likes drops of blood… His disciples couldn’t stay...
