Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31

Acts 4:32-35

John 20:19-31

The Last Beatitude

April 23, 2006

Easter 2

A week has passed sense our glorious celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What kind of week has it been for you?

Has it been a week filled with glorious hope — filled with the glorious power of God and the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ?

Has it been a week that has been filled with bringing the good news of the new life and hope we have in Christ into the world with joy and enthusiasm?

Or –

Has it been a week that has been pretty much “business as usual” — some joy but mainly the mundane — work and whatever else usually occupies your time?

Has the promise of the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ changed your life — given you a joyous message to proclaim to the world – or has the reality of your life seemed to take the joy and enthusiasm of the risen Lord right out of you?

We are going to look at something today – something I call “The Last Beatitude” – or the last blessing Jesus gave His disciples.

We are also going to look at how the first community of believers lived out that blessing.

As we look at this blessing and how the first Christians lived it out, I pray we can all get a glimpse of this blessing – and how we can be blessed by the risen Christ.

Listen to God’s word:

READ BOTH PASSAGES

You know — I wish that I had known Jesus.

I mean –that I wish I had known Jesus in the flesh.

I wish that I had been able to walk beside Him as He traveled through Galilee.

I wish that I had been able to see Him heal a blind man.

Most especially, I wish that I had been able to there to see the resurrected Christ.

I wish that I had been able to be there to see the nail prints in His hands.

I wish I had been able to be there to see Him as He ascended into heaven.

Last month a friend of mine went on a trip to the Holy Land. It is great to hear him talk about visiting the sites — about the special feeling that he felt as he stood where Jesus had stood – as he walked where He had walked. We even got to share in that trip in a way last Sunday – for a friend of Amy Perdue also went on that trip – and brought back the water we baptized Nadia with last week that had been collected from the Jordan River – the very river in which Jesus was baptized.

I have been to the Holy Land myself – and have shared those sites and roads with my Dad. These are very special memories for me.

But however special these memories are for me or for others – they are not as special as it would have been to be there myself when Jesus was alive – being there with Jesus. There's a part of me that envies Peter and James and John –the disciples closest to Jesus.

I even envy Thomas — the one we know as Doubting Thomas.

We call him Doubting Thomas because he refused to believe when the other disciples said that they had seen Jesus risen from the dead.

Thomas said:

"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands,

and put my finger in the mark of the nails

and my hand in his side,

I will not believe."

That, of course, does not put Thomas in our pantheon of all-time heroes. We remember him, not for his faith, but for his doubt. There is some evidence that he later served as a missionary to India, but that isn't how we remember him. We remember him as a doubter.

But if his reputation is less than heroic, at least Thomas got to see the risen Christ. He wanted to see the nail prints in Jesus' hands, and he got the chance to do that.

You remember the story — Jesus had visited the disciples earlier, when Thomas was absent, but he came again when Thomas was present. He said to Thomas:

"Put your finger here and see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe."

Maybe Thomas was embarrassed that he hadn't believed.

Maybe he felt ashamed.

But then he said, "My Lord and my God" — acknowledging that he had changed from doubt to belief.

And then Jesus said something that we need to hear today.

He said:

"Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen

and yet have come to believe."

"Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe"

I call this Jesus' Last Beatitude — Jesus' last blessing.

You remember the beatitudes from Matthew:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit….

Blessed are those who mourn….

Blessed are the meek" (Matthew 5:3-5).

The New Testament was written originally in Greek, and the Greek word that we translate "Blessed" is makarios. The original manuscript has Jesus saying:

"Makarios are the poor in spirit….

Makarios are those who mourn….

Makarios are the meek" (Matthew 5:3-5).

Some people translate makarios as "Happy," but "happy" sounds frivolous — like a visit to the mall. I like the word "blessed," because a blessing is something that we receive as a gift.

When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe,"

He is talking about a gift — a blessing — that God gives.

You know — I am glad that Jesus said that, because it means that I have the same access to God's blessings as those who were closest to him while he was here on the earth — maybe even better access.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe."

I have not seen.

You have not seen.

But we have believed, and we are blessed.

"Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe."

A blessed life is a happy life, yes — but it is more — more substantial than the kind of happiness bestowed by a trip to the mall or a new car.

A blessed life is a "together" kind of life — a life built on a foundation of rock rather than sand — secure even in the face of the storms of life – as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24-27.

That is a blessed life.

We need that kind of blessed life, don't we?

We need a life built on rock — secure even in the storms of life.

I remember reading about such a life.

The person’s name was Arthur Ashe.

Ashe was a tennis champion.

Ashe was also black.

Ashe grew up in the South when segregation was strong, so he knew that side of life. But his tennis skills transported him to UCLA — and then to the Davis Cup — and then to Wimbledon, which he won. He became rich and famous. But then he had to have heart surgery. Those were the early days of the AIDS epidemic — before the blood supply was properly tested — and Ashe contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion. He could have become a bitter man, but he didn't. Listen to the words he wrote in his book Days of Grace:

"

“I have God to help me."

Did you hear that?

“I have God to help me."

Ashe had been writing about how his family and friends blessed him.

Then he said, "And beyond them, I have God to help me."

It is no coincidence that Ashe grew up in the church — that he was a man of deep faith. Could he have chosen to be a blessed man instead of an angry man without his faith in God? I doubt that he could have.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Ashe was one of the many who had not seen the risen Christ — had not had the opportunity to touch the wounds in Jesus' hands — but who believed. As a result, God blessed him — gave him a life founded on rock — secure even in the midst of storms.

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Arthur Ashe was indeed a testimony to this fact.

We can also learn something about being blessed by the early Church.

Acts 4 paints a picture of a community where everyone shared what they had – and therefore blessed everyone with what they had. They held to the belief that God had blessed them with what they had – and it was up to them to be a blessing to others by using what they had to help others.

This reminds me somewhat of what JRR Tolkien wrote about hobbits.

You know about hobbits – don’t you?

JRR Tolkien’s books – especially his book The Hobbit and his series of books The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – and now the movies — introduced hobbits to many people.

Hobbits are fictional creatures who inhabit Middle Earth.

One of the things that marks them is that they love to celebrate birthdays, but love giving rather than receiving gifts.

Tolkien wrote:

"Every day in the year was somebody's birthday,

so that every hobbit in those parts

had a fair chance of at least one present

at least once a week."

Tolkien was writing that hobbits loved GIVING presents, not receiving them. The hobbits had a fair chance of GIVING at least one present at least once a week — and they counted that as a blessing.

Life in the first Christian community was based on faith –- and sharing – giving. They saw the ability to give to others and share with others the blessed life God called them to live.

Every parent and grandparent knows that the hobbits had it right that the community of Christians Acts 4 describes had it right — and that Jesus had it right. It IS more blessed to give than to receive.

The joy of giving is one of the blessings that God gives to those who have NOT seen but have believed.

Someone once said:

"God doesn't bless us just to make us happy;

He blesses us to make us a blessing."

God blesses us to be givers, and promises that we will receive more than we give.

That is precisely what the Church as it is described in Acts 4 experienced.

Giving – sharing what God had blessed them with — was more important than receiving blessings from others.

“God doesn't bless us just to make us happy;

He blesses us to make us a blessing."

God does, indeed, bless those who have not seen but have believed — and one of the ways that he does that is to teach us to receive blessings through giving.

That was the blessing the early Church experienced.

That is the blessing we can experience.

We need to keep our eyes open so that we will see the blessings when they come. Oprah Winfrey has some good advice about recognizing blessings. She says:

"

Or, as the old Gospel song put it:

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

He was talking about me.

He was talking about you.

Believe him! Count your blessings – share your blessings — and you will find yourself blessed indeed.

Amen.

Isaiah 50:4-9(A), Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 11:1-11

Isaiah 50:4-9(A)

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 11:1-11

“What Was He Thinking?”

Passion / Palm Sunday

April 12, 2006

We have made our way to Jerusalem.

Today is what we call Passion / Palm Sunday – that special day when we celebrate Jesus coming into Jerusalem with all the palms and parade – riding in on the donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna!”

But we know why Jesus has come to Jerusalem.

We know the purpose of this journey He has taken – this journey we have followed Him on.

The cries of “Hosanna” will be replaced by cries of “Crucify Him!” – and Jesus will be crucified. He will die – for our sins.

The grand celebration of Palm Sunday is quickly replaced by the passion of the events of Holy Week – but a much grander celebration at Easter is coming, also.

So – we have reached Jerusalem – but we still have a lot to think about as we move through this Holy Week – and we pray that our commitment will continue to be made stronger as we follow Christ all the way to the cross.

Our scripture passages for today give us glimpses of Jesus’ commitment to what it means to follow God’s will. As we see Jesus’ commitment, may our commitment be made stronger.

Listen to God’s word.

READ ALL 3 PASSAGES

My name is Ezekial — but you can call me Zeke.

I live in the village of Bethphage — some 11 miles from Jerusalem.

You don’t remember my name — but you remember my donkey.

It was my donkey Jesus used to enter Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday.

What a shock it was when some of Jesus’ disciples appeared

outside my door — untying my donkey. I asked them what they were doing — and they gave what I thought was the strangest answer I had heard in a long time.

“The Lord has need of it.”

“O!” I thought to myself.

“The Lord has need of it.

Well — that’s OK then.”

But — then I got to thinking —

“The Lord?”

“What Lord?”

“Whose Lord?”

“Who are they talking about?”

I began to protest — but before I could — they were gone.

“O well” I thought.

“That little donkey isn’t worth much, anyway”

But then I decided to follow them.

I wanted to see who this “Lord” was they were talking about.

I followed them to the outskirts of town — and found a group of people standing around this one man.

The man they stood around welcomed the ones who had my donkey — and then they made Him sit on my donkey.

They began walking towards Jerusalem — and I followed.

The closer they got to Jerusalem – - the more of a crowd this entourage attracted.

People began shouting:

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven”

Now my curiosity was really up.

Who was this man?

I asked one of the crowd — and they said

“He’s Jesus of Nazareth.

But we know he’s the Messiah.”

Jesus!

Yes — I’ve heard of Him!

I decide that I should follow Him into Jerusalem — and see what was going to happen next.

The parade entered Jerusalem — and a great crowd shouted:

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven”

But — I could see that not everyone was happy.

The Pharisees were not happy at all.

They wanted the people silenced.

They seemed to be willing to go to any length to rid themselves of this Jesus.

And all I could do was wonder just who this Jesus was — just who this man was who was riding my donkey — attracting so much devotion from some — and so much hatred from others.

What would happen next?

I was not sure — but I knew that something of major proportions was about to happen.

Well — we all know what was about to happen — don’t we?

Even though Zeke may not have been too sure of who was riding his donkey — we know.

We know that it was Jesus — the Son of God — the Messiah — that entered Jerusalem that day — and we know what happened.

He was not coming to Jerusalem to be praised — even though that happened.

He was coming for something completely different.

Something far away from the praise of the crowd.

But — something that occurred — just the same.

The people were ready to make Jesus their King.

Maybe He’s the one who will save them from Roman rule. Many are probably ready for Jesus to give the word — and they will fight the Romans — and follow Him to victory.

To them — Jesus is the Messiah — the Savior — the King.

And — of course – - they are right.

He is all these things.

But — He is not the kind of Messiah — Savior — or King the people were expecting.

Before the week is over, His crown will be one of thorns — His throne — a cross.

A different kind of King than the people were expecting — He indeed was thinking some deep thoughts.

As He rode humbly into Jerusalem on a humble donkey — He indeed had something on His mind — but what?

What we He thinking?

Paul gives us an interesting — moving — and compelling interpretation of what was on Jesus’ mind — an interesting — moving — and compelling picture of what He calls “the mind of Christ.”

Paul writes that

Christ was in the form of God

and yet did not exploit His position

but gave of Himself

becoming like us in every way

humbling Himself — even to death on the cross.

That’s what He was thinking!

As He entered Jerusalem — even as the crowds praised Him — it was not the praise of the crowd that was on His mind. His mind was turned to giving of Himself — giving of His Heavenly glory — and dying — dying on the cross — for us — for all people.

Can you imagine someone who has all the power in the world — but willingly giving it up?

Someone who is God — but willingly becomes a slave — and willingly dies on a cross?

It is almost impossible to imagine such love — such a mind for giving of oneself for others.

What must Jesus have thought as He rode into Jerusalem — hearing the praises of the crowd — and yet knowing what He was going into Jerusalem to do?

What was on His mind?

Maybe He thought:

“Yes — I am a King –

but not as you understand power.

I am more powerful than any of you can imagine —

and yet I am not going to show my power as you

might expect.

I am coming to die — not rule in power.”

What courageous love it took to ride into Jerusalem that day —

to give of Himself and die for us — for all people.

What love it took to give of Himself and die.

But — you know — we can imagine what the owner of the donkey may have thought — and can look at what Jesus might have been thinking —

But — is this only a day for us to think about what Jesus did — what Jesus may have had on His mind as He rode into Jerusalem — what He may have had on His mind as He died for us — as He gave Himself for us?

Or — is there a way we can take Palm Sunday out of history and find something there for our lives today?

Paul writes that we are to have the same mind as Christ.

Let the same mind be in you

that was in Christ Jesus

he writes – - or — as Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message:

Think of yourselves

the way Christ thought of Himself

What does this mean – but that we are called to have the mind of Christ — to think of ourselves as Christ thought of Himself — to be thinking the same things Jesus was thinking – thinking of giving of ourselves — just as Christ gave of Himself?

As we move into Holy Week, let’s examine our lives — our thoughts — our attitudes. Let’s examine what we are thinking — and see if we have the same thoughts — the same attitudes — the same mind that Christ had.

What was He thinking?

Jesus was thinking of giving of Himself for the world.

Jesus was thinking of giving — to serving — even to dieing.

Is that what we are thinking?

Is that what you are thinking?

Do you think of giving of yourself for Christ — for others?

Jesus’ whole life was built around service — giving of Himself — making a sacrifice for the good of others.

Is ours?

Is yours?

Is giving of ourselves for the work of God and Christ in the world our main purpose in life?

Is giving of yourself for the work of God and Christ in the world your main purpose in life?

Is this our prevailing attitude — the main objective of life for us?

Is this your prevailing attitude — your main objective in life?

This was Jesus’ purpose in life.

Is it ours?

Is it yours?

This is what Jesus was thinking.

Is it what we are thinking?

Is this what you are thinking?

Mohandes Gandhi once said:

“Freely accepted servanthood is the greatest force

the world has ever known.”

One of the hardest things for us to do is to give of ourselves — to sacrifice ourselves — to commit to God’s work and to give our all for it — to give of ourselves for the work of God in the world. It is hard for us to accept service — sacrifice — and giving.

We would much rather have things our way than do things God’s way. We make up excuses to not do anything that requires us to give or ourselves — of our time — to go out of our way to take part in God’s work in the world. We don’t want to make sacrifices — whether it’s sacrificing our time — or giving of something we have — or sacrificing a part of ourselves for God and for others.

Too many times we think of ways others can serve us – or nit pick the ways others do not serve us – instead of thinking of ways we can serve others.

And the church suffers —

and the work of God in the world suffers —

and we suffer.

But — as followers of Christ — we can be different.

We can think different things.

You can be different.

You can think different things.

We can have what Paul called that “mind of Christ.”

We can — as Peterson translates it —

“Think of ourselves as Christ thought of Himself”

We can have the mind of Christ.

We can think the things Christ thought.

We can let what was on His mind be what is on our mind.

You can have the mind of Christ.

You can think the things Christ thought.

You can let what was on His mind be on your mind.

We are to be different – - and we can be different.

We are to think differently – and we can think differently.

We are to have different things on our minds – and we can have different things on our minds.

You are to be different — and you can be different.

You are to think differently – and you can think differently.

You are to have different things on your mind – and you can have different things on your mind.

We can be people who give — who serve — who are willing to make personal sacrifices to benefit others.

You can be a person who gives — who serves — who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of others.

We can be active in helping others — as a church and as individuals. We can look for ways to help others — and we can do things to help others.

We can all be on the lookout for specific things we can do as individuals and as a Church to reach out to our community and the world with the love of God.

We can be different.

We can have the mind of Christ.

We can think as Jesus thought.

We can have a mind to serve others.

Are you different?

Do you live differently?

Do you act differently?

Do you think differently?

Do you think as Jesus thought?

Do you have the mind of Christ?

Commitment — giving — sacrifice — should be our distinguishing characteristics as Christians.

These should be the mark that Christ puts upon you.

These should be the things you think about.

Are these your characteristics?

Are these the things you think about?

This is attitude of Christ.

This is the mind of Christ.

This is what Jesus was thinking.

Is it our attitude?

Is it our mind?

Is it what we are thinking?

Is it your attitude?

Is it your mind?

Is it what you are thinking?

On this Passion Sunday as we begin Holy Week, remember what Jesus did for you.

Commit yourself to a life of serving others — a life of giving of yourself for God’s work in the world and supporting it with all you have — a life of seeing needs and meeting them.

God wants to bless you with the mind of Christ.

Let Him.

God wants to bless you so you can think as Jesus thought.

Let Him.

Let the same mind be in you

that was in Christ Jesus

Let Jesus was thinking – the humility — the service — the love of Christ — be what you are thinking.

AMEN

Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33

JEREMIAH 31:31-34

JOHN 12:20-33

“IT’S TIME!”

LENT 5 APRIL 1, 2006

READ SCRIPTURE

We are 5 weeks into our season of Lent – 5 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem – where Jesus will be crucified for our sins. As we journey with Christ on that road to Jerusalem, we see His commitment to His task. As we journey with Him it is our prayer that we will become more committed to Him.

This is a time for reflection upon our relationship with Christ — our relationship with God.

This is a time for us to recommit our lives to God and to Christ — to living in His ways.

This is a time for us to turn to Christ — and recommit our lives

to following Him — to being the person He calls us to be.

It is a time for us to see the new life God offers us through Christ — and accept it — and live in God’s new ways.

New life.

This is the message of Lent.

New life because of the death of Christ.

New life through a new commitment to Christ.

That’s the message of our texts for today.

Our Old Testament text almost shouts the promise of new life as Jeremiah envisions the renewal of the covenant — the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save the people — if the people would follow God.

Our New Testament lesson has Jesus saying that it’s time to have that covenant renewed within us.

Listen to God’s word.

READ BOTH PASSAGES

The poet Ann Weems writes:

GOING THROUGH LENT

IS A LISTENING.

WHEN WE LISTEN

TO THE WORD,

WE HEAR

WHERE WE ARE SO

BLATANTLY

UNLIVING.

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNDANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Weems. “A Listening.” Kneeling In Jerusalem. p. 33

Jeremiah wrote:

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

Jeremiah 31:33

Jesus said:

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

John 12:26

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNDANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Our Old Testament text almost shouts the promise of new life as Jeremiah envisions the renewal of the covenant — the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save the people — if the people would follow God.

But — that’s where the covenant — the promise — broke down.

If God promised to love — guide — bless — and save the people if they would follow Him — what would happen if they would not follow God?

Would the world be destroyed — as in the days of Noah?

Would all die because of the poison of sin — as many had died in the wilderness when they were bitten by the poisonous snakes?

What would happen if the people did not follow God?

That’s the question of the Israelites in captivity in Babylon.

Years after they had reached — taken — and settled in the Promised Land they found themselves enslaved again — this time in Babylon.

Why?

What happened?

Could it be that they had forgotten the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save them if they would follow Him?

Yes — it could be that indeed.

The people of God had forgotten to be God’s people.

They had forgotten their part of the covenant — and now — once again — they were captives.

What now?

What would happen now?

What could happen now?

Would God do something?

Could God do something?

What would God do?

What could God do?

Apparently something new was needed. The covenant wasn’t working. It had to be changed. It had to be made new. But — could it be made new? Could there be a new way for God to guide — love — bless — and save them — and for the people to follow God?

Jeremiah envisioned a renewal of the covenant with God.

A way for the covenant to be “keepable.”

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

God was going to renew the covenant — not because the people deserved it — but because God loved the people — and deeply wanted to love — guide — bless — and save them — and deeply wanted them to follow Him.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TIME

What an exciting — beautiful promise God makes to God’s people in captivity. When they had looked at God’s covenant — God’s promises to them — all they could see was how badly they had failed. But now God gives them a way to see new life. The renewal of the covenant wasn’t going to come by some new laws — or even some new promises — it was going to come when the people let the promises of God — the uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change their lives.

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

JESUS ANSWERED THEM:

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

In the death of Christ, the time has come.

In the resurrection of Christ, the time has come.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

That’s the message of Lent —

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Friends – it’s time for each of us to hear God’s promise of new life — a life where God changes our hearts and we know God.

It’s time for you to hear God’s promise of new life — a life where God changes your heart — and you know God.

Too many times we are all like the Israelites — forgetting how to be the people God has called us to be — forgetting to be God’s people — forgetting to act in God’s ways. And we have become captives — not to a government of foreign people as the Israelites were to the Babylonians — but we have become captives to sin — to the things of the world — the things that keep us away from God — the things that keep us from living in God’s ways. We have become captives to sin — and find it hard to become free.

It’s time for freedom.

It’s time to let God’s will begin to truly make a difference in your life.

Through Christ on the cross — you can be free from sin — and God’s new covenant can be written upon your heart.

Through Christ on the cross, you can be the person God has called you to be all along.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

It’s time for you to see Christ on the cross — and the new life God promises because of the death and resurrection of Christ.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

It’s time for you to let God touch you in a new way — to let that uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change your heart and change your life.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Will you let it happen?

Will you let yourself be renewed — made into a new person — by God?

Will you let God do away with that part of you that is not all that interested in the things of God — the things that make for a Christian life — and renew your heart so that the things of God are the most important things in your life?

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Will you let God — in His uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love change your heart and change your life?

Will you let God change you so that His will is the most important thing in your life — and the things that make for the Christian life become the most important things for your life?

Will you start letting the things of God be the important things in your life?

Will you?

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

You can’t put it off any more.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Letting God change your life — letting the uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change you is the most important decision you can ever make. Making that decision can give you eternal life in heaven. Failing to make that decision only leads to eternal life in sin — and in hell.

Let God write His law upon your heart.

Let God change you.

Do it now.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME.

Maybe you’ve never really let God make a difference in your life.

If not — do it.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Maybe you turned to God a long time ago — but it never really meant a lot to you — and never changed your life. If that’s the case — turn to God — and let Him change your life.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Maybe you turned to God a long time ago — but like the Israelites you have forgotten what it means to truly be the person God has called you to be.

If that’s the case — use this as the opportunity to turn back to Christ.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME.

Lent is indeed a time for us to reconsider our relationship with Christ — and recommit ourselves to Christ.

Indeed —

GOING THROUGH LENT

IS A LISTENING.

WHEN WE LISTEN

TO THE WORD,

WE HEAR

WHERE WE ARE SO

BLATANTLY

UNLIVING.

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNTANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Weems. “A Listening.” Kneeling In Jerusalem. p. 33

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

AMEN