This week is a very special week, and I won't spill the beans just yet as to why, but let's just say we've got a "big" surprise waiting for you this Sunday. It should be a unique experience, and one that helps us treasure the work of Christ on the cross just a little bit more.
That being said, all of our worship songs this week will focus on the cross, and rejoice in the fact that all God's wrath was poured out there onto Christ and not onto us!
We'll start the service with "How Deep The Father's Love For Us" and go right into "The Wonderful Cross." Pastor Todd will come and lead us in prayer for the morning, and we'll go right into "It Is Well" and "At The Cross."
After this, Pastor Todd will teach us from the Sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. His sermon is called "You Can Fail With an A-" and he will preach the words of Jesus which say that unless our righteousness is greater than the scribes and pharisees, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Those scribes and pharisees were pretty righteous, or at least they thought they were, so how in the world are we supposed to surpass their righteousness??? Answer: The Cross. We have received Christ's perfect righteousness, and no longer have to worry about trying to meet God's standard on our own.
The idea of achieving righteousness on our own is such a pervading thought in our culture and society today. In a time of pluralism, and "tolerance," many people feel that as long as one tries to be good, and believes whatever they believe sincerely, and are devoted to it, they have a shot at heaven. Having a shot seems like a pretty big risk to take when almighty God is involved, and in view of his standard of perfection, a "shot" sounds weak and frail. Christ is no shot. He is a sure thing, and because of that, our righteousness is a sure thing, and "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" (Romans 8:1)
We'll respond to the message by taking communion together, and singing "The Power Of The Cross" as we do so. As we close our time together, we'll sing "Once Again" and go out into the world with the phrase "thank you for the cross my Friend" echoing through our minds.
Happy preparation!
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