So Christ emerges victoriously from the tomb. He has conquered sin and death and hell!
He is our Champion!
Revelation 1:18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. NLT
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A great day!
It was a beautiful day today here in Tennessee.
I called pastor friend-who is also a best friend-David, and asked him if he wanted to go with me and cut thorns.
I'm fashioning a crown of thorns for the cross on the altar for tomorrow night's service.
We ended up in a hollow with no cars, people, noise.
Just some crows and turkey buzzards flying above us.
Talking about Jesus, a clear blue sky, feeling surrounded by
a 'great cloud of witnesses'.
Sensing the Spirit at work in our lives.
It was a great day!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Good Friday Service
Here is a Good Friday service I put together for this year.
It is based on the Stations of the Cross.
Station numbers 1, 6 and 8 will be preached as short 5 minute meditations by myself and 2 other pastor friends of mine.
It will be the first time other pastors have agreed to participate.
Actually it is the first time I've asked.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Friday Service—2008
Hymn #193 Red Hymnal (Go to Dark Gethsemane)
I. Jesus Condemned To Death
People: Pilate brought Jesus outside and said to the people, "Look at your King!" At this they shouted, "Away with him! Crucify him!" Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
John 19:14,15
II. Jesus Is Made To Bear His Cross
People: Jesus was led away, and carrying the Cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, Golgotha.
Reader: With Jesus the soldiers did their jobs well. Weak from the beating He was made to enter the jeering crowd, stumbling along with the heavy timber. As Isaac carried the wood laid on his back so Jesus also carried the method of His sacrifice on his back. His state was divine, yet He did not cling to equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; humbling Himself to accept death, death on a cross.
All: You were led to Calvary, Lord. Carrying the cross by yourself. Yet was the cross only yours, or was it also mine you bore? By your cross, O Jesus, make me strong and able to take up the cross I must bear.
III. Jesus Meets His Mother
People: O mother of my Savior, you stand beside your Son. With love beyond all telling, you share his grief as one. How shall I know your sorrow, your tears beyond compare?
Song: Mary Did You Know?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new;
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy Has walked where Angels trod?
When you kiss your Little Baby, you kiss the Face of God!
Oh, Mary, did you know?
Oh, Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb!
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy Is Heaven's Perfect Lamb?
This sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am!
IV. The Cyrenian Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
People: A man named Simon of Cyrene, was coming in from the fields, and they forced him into service to carry the cross.
Reader: Simon, coming into Jerusalem for the Feast was pressed to carry your cross. Did he come to know you, Lord, walking by your side? By your meeting with this Cyrenian, Lord, may we find you in the stranger and in the needy we meet and help along the way. May I be willing, Lord, to bear daily my cross for thee; even Thy cup of grief to share, thou hast borne all for me.
V. A Woman Wipes The Face Of Jesus
People: He who welcomes you welcomes me; and he who welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me.
Reader: As Jesus, bleeding from the wounds from the Thorns on his brow, stumbles as He tries to wipe the blood and filth from His face , a woman steps out from the crowd. Tradition tells us a woman named Veronica kindly washed your face with a towel. She pressed it to your brow, wiping away some of the blood. The parade has never stopped and she is engulfed by the crowd. Such a simple thing! A towel, a cup of water, a loving word, help us value such small things, so great when given in your name. Lord, when those around us suffer and their eyes fill with tears, give us power to listen, comfort and wipe away those tears, so that we too can see the face of Christ in all we do because we do it out of love for you.
VI. Jesus Falls Under The Weight Of His Cross
People: Like water poured out, your strength is gone. Can God fall, a mighty God whose hands uphold all this?
Philippians 2:6-8
Unison reading—Dietrich Bonhoeffer said “When we think we can no longer walk the path with God because it is too difficult. There God’s closeness, God’s faithfulness, God’s strength becomes consolation and help, there only do we really recognize God and the meaning of our Christian life.”
VII. Jesus Speaks To The Women Of Jerusalem
People: A great crowd of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Reader: Luke 23:27-31
Reader: Jesus was a good friend to women. It was a characteristic of His ministry that women were treated more fairly than in the surrounding culture. Once again Jesus spoke as an equal to women. He refused to be an object of pity for He was the subject of salvation. He told them “weep not for me but for your children”. The tears of the women were nothing compared with what was yet to come. Yet here on the way to Golgotha they are a symbol of suffering. Lord, keep the grace of this moment, this meeting, alive in our hearts. Keep us concerned for humanity’s children. Amen
VIII. Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments And Mocked
People: They stripped off his clothes and began to mock him saying: “All hail, king of the Jews!”
Matthew 27:27-31
IX .Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
People: After carrying his Cross, Jesus came to the Place of the Skull. There they crucified him along with two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
Song: When He Was On The Cross…
I'm not on an ego trip, I'm nothing on my own
I make mistakes I often slip, just common flesh and bone
But I'll prove someday, just why I say, I'm of a special kind
For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
Chorus: For He knew me yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine.
So unworthy of such mercy.
Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
The look of love was on His face and thorns were on His head
The blood was on His scarlet robe and stained a crimson red
Though His eyes were on the crowd that day, He looked ahead in time
For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
Chorus: For He knew me yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine.
So unworthy of such mercy.
Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
X. Jesus Dies On The Cross
Reader: Mark 15:33-41
People: Jesus said, “I thirst!” and they gave him wine. “It is finished !” he cried, and gave up his spirit. Out of this hour will come a new hope for the creation. The cross, the symbol of shame, will become a sign of glory. From these few friends watching this event will grow a great fellowship which will last through the centuries. For our brother Jesus the lonely agony ended on that hill. Let us join with those who watched and prayed. Shall we not stand watching Lord, mourning the sins you bore, rejoicing in the pardon you bestow?
XI. Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
Reader: When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and blood and water flowed out. The crowd that watched Jesus suffer has dispersed, mostly for fear of the forces of nature that the death of this man has released. Our Lord’s body is hastily taken down from the cross in time for the Sabbath. Resting in the arms of those whom you loved when taken from the cross, you died trusting in your Father’s care. Faithful unto death, O Lord, give us an unfailing trust in God, commend us to your Father’s hands and care.
XII. Jesus Is Placed In The Tomb
People: Joseph of Arimethea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in perfumed oils. Then he buried Jesus in a tomb close at hand.
Hymn #194 Red Hymnal (O Sacred Head Now Wounded)
Unison Reading-Luke 1:68-79 excerpts:
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
It is based on the Stations of the Cross.
Station numbers 1, 6 and 8 will be preached as short 5 minute meditations by myself and 2 other pastor friends of mine.
It will be the first time other pastors have agreed to participate.
Actually it is the first time I've asked.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Friday Service—2008
Hymn #193 Red Hymnal (Go to Dark Gethsemane)
I. Jesus Condemned To Death
People: Pilate brought Jesus outside and said to the people, "Look at your King!" At this they shouted, "Away with him! Crucify him!" Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
John 19:14,15
II. Jesus Is Made To Bear His Cross
People: Jesus was led away, and carrying the Cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, Golgotha.
Reader: With Jesus the soldiers did their jobs well. Weak from the beating He was made to enter the jeering crowd, stumbling along with the heavy timber. As Isaac carried the wood laid on his back so Jesus also carried the method of His sacrifice on his back. His state was divine, yet He did not cling to equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; humbling Himself to accept death, death on a cross.
All: You were led to Calvary, Lord. Carrying the cross by yourself. Yet was the cross only yours, or was it also mine you bore? By your cross, O Jesus, make me strong and able to take up the cross I must bear.
III. Jesus Meets His Mother
People: O mother of my Savior, you stand beside your Son. With love beyond all telling, you share his grief as one. How shall I know your sorrow, your tears beyond compare?
Song: Mary Did You Know?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new;
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy Has walked where Angels trod?
When you kiss your Little Baby, you kiss the Face of God!
Oh, Mary, did you know?
Oh, Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb!
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy Is Heaven's Perfect Lamb?
This sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am!
IV. The Cyrenian Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
People: A man named Simon of Cyrene, was coming in from the fields, and they forced him into service to carry the cross.
Reader: Simon, coming into Jerusalem for the Feast was pressed to carry your cross. Did he come to know you, Lord, walking by your side? By your meeting with this Cyrenian, Lord, may we find you in the stranger and in the needy we meet and help along the way. May I be willing, Lord, to bear daily my cross for thee; even Thy cup of grief to share, thou hast borne all for me.
V. A Woman Wipes The Face Of Jesus
People: He who welcomes you welcomes me; and he who welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me.
Reader: As Jesus, bleeding from the wounds from the Thorns on his brow, stumbles as He tries to wipe the blood and filth from His face , a woman steps out from the crowd. Tradition tells us a woman named Veronica kindly washed your face with a towel. She pressed it to your brow, wiping away some of the blood. The parade has never stopped and she is engulfed by the crowd. Such a simple thing! A towel, a cup of water, a loving word, help us value such small things, so great when given in your name. Lord, when those around us suffer and their eyes fill with tears, give us power to listen, comfort and wipe away those tears, so that we too can see the face of Christ in all we do because we do it out of love for you.
VI. Jesus Falls Under The Weight Of His Cross
People: Like water poured out, your strength is gone. Can God fall, a mighty God whose hands uphold all this?
Philippians 2:6-8
Unison reading—Dietrich Bonhoeffer said “When we think we can no longer walk the path with God because it is too difficult. There God’s closeness, God’s faithfulness, God’s strength becomes consolation and help, there only do we really recognize God and the meaning of our Christian life.”
VII. Jesus Speaks To The Women Of Jerusalem
People: A great crowd of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Reader: Luke 23:27-31
Reader: Jesus was a good friend to women. It was a characteristic of His ministry that women were treated more fairly than in the surrounding culture. Once again Jesus spoke as an equal to women. He refused to be an object of pity for He was the subject of salvation. He told them “weep not for me but for your children”. The tears of the women were nothing compared with what was yet to come. Yet here on the way to Golgotha they are a symbol of suffering. Lord, keep the grace of this moment, this meeting, alive in our hearts. Keep us concerned for humanity’s children. Amen
VIII. Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments And Mocked
People: They stripped off his clothes and began to mock him saying: “All hail, king of the Jews!”
Matthew 27:27-31
IX .Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
People: After carrying his Cross, Jesus came to the Place of the Skull. There they crucified him along with two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
Song: When He Was On The Cross…
I'm not on an ego trip, I'm nothing on my own
I make mistakes I often slip, just common flesh and bone
But I'll prove someday, just why I say, I'm of a special kind
For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
Chorus: For He knew me yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine.
So unworthy of such mercy.
Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
The look of love was on His face and thorns were on His head
The blood was on His scarlet robe and stained a crimson red
Though His eyes were on the crowd that day, He looked ahead in time
For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
Chorus: For He knew me yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine.
So unworthy of such mercy.
Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
X. Jesus Dies On The Cross
Reader: Mark 15:33-41
People: Jesus said, “I thirst!” and they gave him wine. “It is finished !” he cried, and gave up his spirit. Out of this hour will come a new hope for the creation. The cross, the symbol of shame, will become a sign of glory. From these few friends watching this event will grow a great fellowship which will last through the centuries. For our brother Jesus the lonely agony ended on that hill. Let us join with those who watched and prayed. Shall we not stand watching Lord, mourning the sins you bore, rejoicing in the pardon you bestow?
XI. Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
Reader: When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and blood and water flowed out. The crowd that watched Jesus suffer has dispersed, mostly for fear of the forces of nature that the death of this man has released. Our Lord’s body is hastily taken down from the cross in time for the Sabbath. Resting in the arms of those whom you loved when taken from the cross, you died trusting in your Father’s care. Faithful unto death, O Lord, give us an unfailing trust in God, commend us to your Father’s hands and care.
XII. Jesus Is Placed In The Tomb
People: Joseph of Arimethea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in perfumed oils. Then he buried Jesus in a tomb close at hand.
Hymn #194 Red Hymnal (O Sacred Head Now Wounded)
Unison Reading-Luke 1:68-79 excerpts:
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
NO SOUP FOR YOU!!
******************************************
Parable of the Great Feast
Luke 14:16 Jesus replied with this story: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
21 "The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’" New Living Translation
It is found in the context of becoming a Christ-follower, in the context of the call to discipleship.
What I find especially interesting albeit disturbing is verse 24--"For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet."
Frankly the excuses given by those who were invited are pretty lame--who buys something without first inspecting it? or who will allow family and/or friends from keeping them from the Kingdom? They basically say to the Lord 'thanks but no thanks'.
I wonder how many people who fill the pews in our churches each time we gather and hear the Word proclaimed and the invitation given to come and follow Christ really have taken this verse into account.
How many invitations by the Spirit of God have been shunned by the hearer. How many times have we told God--'not right now, maybe at a more opportune time'?
Are we guilty of putting Jesus off?
peace
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Sin of Sodom
Ezekiel 16:48 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. NKJV
Isn't it interesting that the LORD defines the sin of Sodom much differently than most churches do today.
Just an observation.
peace
Isn't it interesting that the LORD defines the sin of Sodom much differently than most churches do today.
Just an observation.
peace
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Malachi 3:3
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered,' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered,' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
First Works
"No one who knows today’s church will want to complain that the church doesn’t do anything. No, the church does immeasurably much, and also with much sacrifice and seriousness; but we all do precisely too many second, third, and fourth works, and not the first works. "And exactly because of this, the church is not doing what is crucial.
We celebrate, we represent, we strive for influence, we start a Protestant movement, we do Protestant youth work, we perform charitable service and care, we make propaganda against godlessness -– but do we do the first works which are the basis of absolutely everything?
"Do we love God and our brother with that first, passionate, burning love that risks everything -– except God? "Do we really allow God to be God? Do we leave ourselves and our church to Him completely?
If that were the case, things would have to look different, there would surely be a breakthrough."
[Bonhoeffer’s sermon preached on Reformation Day, November 6, 1932 as quoted in Georg Huntemann’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: An Evangelical Reassessment (Baker), p. 285].
I'm going to be preaching this idea on Sunday a week at Gum Springs Baptist Church. My text will be from Revelation 2:2-7 and John 6:26-29.
I meet with a group of Baptist preachers/pastors every Monday morning at 9am. They have received me quite warmly and my message of grace/righteousness. At least Brother Winfred has as he asked me to preach a Sunday nite at his church.
We celebrate, we represent, we strive for influence, we start a Protestant movement, we do Protestant youth work, we perform charitable service and care, we make propaganda against godlessness -– but do we do the first works which are the basis of absolutely everything?
"Do we love God and our brother with that first, passionate, burning love that risks everything -– except God? "Do we really allow God to be God? Do we leave ourselves and our church to Him completely?
If that were the case, things would have to look different, there would surely be a breakthrough."
[Bonhoeffer’s sermon preached on Reformation Day, November 6, 1932 as quoted in Georg Huntemann’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: An Evangelical Reassessment (Baker), p. 285].
I'm going to be preaching this idea on Sunday a week at Gum Springs Baptist Church. My text will be from Revelation 2:2-7 and John 6:26-29.
I meet with a group of Baptist preachers/pastors every Monday morning at 9am. They have received me quite warmly and my message of grace/righteousness. At least Brother Winfred has as he asked me to preach a Sunday nite at his church.
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