Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

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Looking Back

This past week we were led through Matthew 27:27-44. It was striking that the crucifixion of Jesus was not what was highlighted in this passage, but it was the mocking/shaming of Jesus. We saw three different categories of the way Jesus was mocked: he was mocked as powerless, as foolish, and as Godless. Pastor Bret demonstrated that this is the way the world views the cross and the way the world views Jesus, both then and now. Although the world views Jesus as a fool and his death as a fool’s death, it was also shown that their own mockery was highlighting the power of the Savior. We were pointed to 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 that explains this reality: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Listen Again

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Thinking and Acting Ahead

Although behavioral change often demonstrates fruit of heart change, often times the intent of the biblical author is not to get us to simply not do an action, and do another one. This passage is a prime example. As Pastor Bret preached this text we weren’t being told what specifically what we needed to do/not do, but we were being told about the power of our magnificent Savior. As we think through and apply this passage our response should be to worship Jesus. We should marvel at his resolve to accomplish the work that his Father had given him. At any moment in so many ways he could have backed out, taken the easy way out, or given up, but he persevered. What a Savior we have! Live for him! Praise him! Take up your cross and follow him! Recognizing that doing so is absolute foolishness to the world. We shouldn’t expect the world to embrace our pursuit of Christ, we shouldn’t expect that a rational argument will win someone over. God has made foolish the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 1:20). “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”