Text: Selections from Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-43; John 20:1-23, 1 Corinthians 15:5 Almost 2000 years ago Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on Friday, dead on Saturday, and alive again on Sunday. By looking at the accounts from all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) we get a more comprehensive understanding of the day of…
Text: Matthew 21:1-11, Revelation 7:9-17 Palm Sunday marks the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. For the first time in his ministry Jesus allowed people to openly express their hopes that he was indeed Israel’s Messiah. The entry was celebrated but very unlike the entrance of other kings into royal cities. In fact, if the…
The law was never a means of salvation for Israel. It was always meant to humble the people and make them understand they needed to be forgiven by God’s grace. The law is like a mirror that shows us the depth of our sin. We will examine several of the Ten Commandments to demonstrate exactly…
Easter Sunday Message The early apostles knew if Jesus did not actually rise from the dead, their hope was greatly misplaced. The resurrection was central to their preaching and the reason they endured suffering. This has been the core of the gospel for 2,000 years. Today we discover how the truth of Christ’s death and…
Today the worldwide Church commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. There was vast Messianic expectation surrounding Jesus on this day. But less than a week later his kingship was mocked and rejected by the religious leaders, and he was put to death by the Romans. Today we contrast the role of modern presidents,…
Having considered the seven statements of Jesus from the cross, we now turn to what it means when Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus could never be accused of not being honest about what his followers would…
In perhaps the most well known passage of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaims a series of blessings. These blessings are filled with amazing promises, but each one requires something of us we cannot actually fulfill ourselves. In fact, the Beatitudes call us out from expectations of safety and comfort into places of surrender,…
A noble young man asks Jesus the most important question in life, “How do I gain eternal life?” Jesus’ answer stunned him. What this man was asked to do is also asked of us. We must at times be willing to relinquish our hold on our own self-determination, plans, things, loved ones and eventually our…
Jesus was at the height of popularity in John 6. But this chapter represents a turning point in his ministry. He begins to challenge people regarding their motives and speaks more plainly about who he is and where he came from. He tells them that they will not believe in him unless it is granted…
