Tomorrow night we have "Crossroads LIVE" featuring comedian Carlos Oscar! Two shows at 6:00pm and 7:45pm with the proceeds going to our Haiti fund to continue helping with relief efforts over there. If you didn't buy tickets shame on you! Maybe if you're really quiet you can sneak in the back for one of the shows. I have some buddies coming to help me open both shows with some rockin music to get the energy up. You don't want to miss it!
Then next week we celebrate the resurrection of our savior from the dead! A friend shared a quote from Phillip Yancey regarding the risen Jesus:
"In many respects I find an unresurrected Jesus easier to accept. Easter makes him dangerous. Because of Easter I have to listen to his extravagant claims and can no longer pick and choose from his sayings. Moreover, Easter means he must be loose out there somewhere."Wow! Convicting words to be sure! We're going to be having a total of FIVE services this Easter: two services around the big cross on Good Friday, and three services on Easter Sunday! I'm looking forward to some really great times reflecting on Christ's death and resurrection; especially as we sing some really great worship tunes that wrap these truths into song.
Good Friday services are at 6:00pm and 7:30pm, and then our Easter services are at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. Heck, you should just come to all five!
So this Sunday we want to gather again, as a group of ruined sinners who've been bought and cleaned by the blood of Christ. The gathered church is one of the most unique groups on the planet, and we need each and every part of the "body" to be there to worship as fully as we can!
Here's what you can do to prepare:
We're going to start with the new song we learned last week: "Let Your Kingdom Come," so make sure you've listened to it a few times, and are familiar with the words and the tune. Then we'll sing "The Father's Love" as a celebration of the truth that we have been brought into the glorious household of God, and we are now a part of his kingdom come here on earth. I think most of you know it by now, but click on the song title and let it's truth excite your heart to come and sing it with fellow heirs with Christ!
Then we have a few minutes to welcome visitors and greet each other, and we'll also get to see a cool recap video from our Mexico team that got back last week from building a house for a needy family down there. Use this time to get excited for what the Lord might call YOU to in a short term missions trip or something similar. Also use this time as an opportunity to give thanks for the IMMENSE blessings we have living in the United States, and in Valencia. We are a rich, rich, filthy rich people, and how often we find ourselves greedily wanting more!
Then we'll sing "Crown Him With Many Crowns," an old hymn of coronation honoring Jesus as the name above all names, and recounting his life, death, and resurrection for our salvation. Let it remind you of the Lord you serve, who is truly the King of all Kings, and as such, deserves our full adoration and praise!
We'll continue the theme of Christ as King by singing the song "You Are My King." Think through the unbelievable truth that the King of the universe became a humble man, and died a horrific death on a cross for our sins, and has sent his Spirit to reside in each and every one of us that has put our trust in Christ.
Then Pastor Todd will preach from God's Word; from the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesian church; continuing his series called "Sovereign Grace." His passage this week is Ephesians 5:18-21, and it's all about living a Spirit-filled life. It's the second half of his mini-series called "The Wise Walk" so don't miss it! Read the passage by CLICKING HERE so you know the terrain, and ask the Spirit to teach you, and direct you to how you can glorify God by living out these commands.
Then we'll finish up with a song that is all about living in the Spirit: "Breathe." This song compares the Spirit to the air we breathe and the daily bread that sustains us; basically saying that he is absolutely essential to our life as Christians! Think about how you can live a life that is even more surrendered to his leading and convicting every day. Let this song motivate your heart to gospel-centered emotions that will remind you of this desire.
That's what's going on, and I hope those tips are helpful in your preparation to gather and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Happy Prep!
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