Message:
John 11:1-46 “Believe: Mary & Martha”
When
Lazarus is seriously ill, Mary & Martha call on Jesus, but he doesn’t show
up to fix everything. During their darkest hour, when Lazarus dies, they wonder
where he is. He has not forgotten or forsaken them. In fact, they come to a
much deeper realization of who he is on the other side of this darkness.
Message:
Matthew 27 & John 18-20 “Believe: Pontius Pilate”
Each
of us is faced with a decision about who Jesus is and what kind of claim he has
on our lives. There are so many forces at work that work against our acceptance
of the Lordship and divinity if Jesus. We often forfeit everlasting peace for
fleeting comfort or ambitions. In this message we will highlight Pontius
Pilate’s encounter with Jesus and his wrestling between what he saw in Christ
and his compromises with the world around him. We’ll also take a look at how
these decisions face each and every one of us.
Message:
Mark 15:8-39 “Believe: The Soldier”
Last
week we began an Easter season series called “Believe.” In this series,
starting with Thomas, we’re looking at the testimony of six different New
Testament people and the stories of how they came to “Believe.” This week,
we’ll look at the story of a soldier, a Roman Centurion, who was skilled in
breaking people. Unfortunately, we all have experience in breaking people. But
the Centurion saw something in Jesus that contrasted so vividly with his own
life, he became a broken man who recognized his need for healing. He saw the
divinity of Jesus hidden within his humanity. What if our recognizing our own brokenness
helps us see God’s goodness all the more clearly?
Message: “Believe: Thomas” John 20:19-20, 24-29
This
Sunday we will begin a new, five week, Easter Series called “Believe” that will
look at the lives of six NT biblical characters, beginning this week with
Thomas. Thomas is often known for ‘doubting’ the resurrection of Jesus. In this
message we’ll look at what fosters ‘belief’ in people; what causes doubt; and
the amazing, patient love of God toward those who doubt, which is the same kind
of patient love we’re called to have toward others.
