04/18/2019
This week we will be remembering and re-enacting Jesus being led to be crucified. When they came to a place called “the Skull,” the Roman soldiers crucified Jesus, with one criminal on his left, and one on his right. When Jesus was hung on the cross, He was lowered to the level of a criminal. He was brought down to the same level as two criminals. Many people were mocking Christ, including the two criminals. Luke tells us what one of the criminals said: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!!” “If you’re the Messiah, the Son of God, like you say you are, why don’t you get out of this situation?
Why do we need to re-visit the Thursday and Friday events of Holy Week? Because we need to remember that we too mock Jesus and we too need to repent, ask for forgiveness and receive the grace that God intends through His Son Jesus Christ. We have more in common with the criminals than we would like to admit. In the eyes of God, all of us really are criminals. All of us have led lives of disobedience and rebellion against God.
“Do things this way,” God says. And we say, “No, I’ll do things my way instead.” We live lives that violate God’s will over and over again. We even blaspheme our Savior. When things don’t go our way, we say to Jesus, “I doubt that you are the Savior. I doubt that you are the Son of God. Prove it!” It is because of sin that Jesus suffered...sins of the Jews, sins of the Romans, and sins of you and me.
One man hanging beside Jesus changed his heart. Could our hearts be changed also?
Hope to see you at the Holy Weeks services before celebrating the resurrected Christ!
Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
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Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.
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I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry". I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification. Enjoy!
The Best Kind of Trouble-maker
While working on this last week’s sermon I was looking through Phillip Yancey’s excellent book—The Jesus I Never Knew—when I came across a section that I found profound. It didn’t quite fit my sermon, but it caught my eye enough that I copied it down.
Practical Tips To Avoid Judging Others
When I research a sermon, such as Sunday’s message on judgmentalism, I always try to think through some practical steps or tips in how to implement God’s desire for our lives. I rustled together a herd of ideas this week and I offer them to you.
The Shepherd, the King, and the Rescuer
God has got a long list of names, but some of those names are better than others. There is a small child who thought God’s name was Harold since the Lord’s Prayer includes the phrase “Hallowed be thy name.” When you think of all the scriptures that are most likely to be memorized you would have to include Psalm 23, The Lord’s Prayer, and John 3:16. The danger for us is our tendency to focus on the wrong thing.
Old Jokes Are The Best Jokes
Sunday morning, we took a look at Jesus’ command to make our enemies into neighbors and loving our neighbors as ourselves. One of the obstacles to doing this is our growing sense of tribalism—whether it’s a political, socio-economic, or even theological tribe.