"Something happened with the actual world of space, time, and matter, as a result of which everything is different. By six o’clock on the Friday evening Jesus died, something had changed, and changed radically. God was reconciling the world to himself in the Messiah (2 Cor. 5:19).
During Lent this year we will explore “The Power of the Cross” that radically changes us and through us seeks to radically change the world in which we live.
February 18th: Born Again. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth … And God saw everything he had made and it was very good” (Genesis 1:1-31). God’s good and perfect creation including humanity became subject to death and decay when we turned away from our creator to look for life in all the wrong places. By the power of the cross Jesus opens the way for us to be born again and to live as new creations worshiping our Creator and bearing witness to the power of life in Christ to the world.
February 25: Satisfied. The new “born again” life given to us at the cross must be nourished with the bread of heaven and filled with living water. Without the ongoing sustenance of our faith, we will starve and dehydrate. The power of the cross is not a one and done event but the ongoing satisfaction of all that it means to be fully human. Jesus is the Bread that nourishes and the Living Water that quenches our thirst for life.
March 3: RANSOMED. While we may think first of a kidnapping when we hear the word “ransom” in the ancient world it was the price paid to set someone free from “slavery.” It was not uncommon in that day for a person to become an indentured servant or a “slave” in order to pay off a debt that he or she had incurred. Born into the slavery of sin Jesus paid the price for our freedom. And it was not gold or silver but his own holy, precious blood.
March 10: HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM Through faith in Jesus we are adopted into God’s family as his dearly loved sons and daughters. With adoption comes an inheritance that begins now and continues forever. As heirs of the kingdom of God we receive the Holy Spirit and access to riches of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Now we wait for Jesus to come again, for the world to be put right, where we will reign with him in the new heaven and new earth forever.
March 17th: RECONCILED. When a relationship has been damaged or broken we experience alienation, division, and hostility. Such is the human condition in our relationship with God and more often than not with one another. The power of the cross reconciles us with God and he welcomes us home for Jesus’ sake. Reconciled with God we are empowered to be reconciled with each other, bearing with one another, forgiving one another just as in Christ God has forgiven us.
March 24th: SERVANT KING. The words “servant” and “king” rarely go together. Today we witness again Jesus entering Jerusalem hailed as the King! And yet there has never been a human king like this one. King Jesus will humble himself unto death, even death on a cross, the lowest and most shameful death known. The power of the cross defeats evil once and for all. The power of the cross destroys death. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is King Jesus who dies to rescue all creation.
Prepare for worship with these scriptures:
Prepare for worship with these scriptures:
Weekly Awakening Question: How does life as an heir enable you to live a life of freedom, joy, sacrifice, & renewal?
Use the following scriptures to prepare for next weekend’s worship:
Weekly Awakening Question: How might you sacrifice to reconcile with someone this week?
Use the following scriptures to prepare for next weekend’s worship:
Weekly Awakening Question: How does Jesus entry into your life change your attitude this week?