March 31, 2024
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Romans 6:4-11
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cross, easter
Of all the symbols that Christians might have chosen as an emblem of the faith, why the cross? The answer is that the cross points to Christ’s death as payment for our sins and the fact that the cross is empty points to Christ’s resurrection as the power that gives us new life in Him. The empty cross points to the empty tomb!
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he told them that it was being united with Christ in His death and resurrection that made it possible for them to live a new life. We can experience this new life in union with Christ’s death and resurrection.
March 21, 2024
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Bible readings, easter, palm Sunday, Passion Week, Passion week reading plan
“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:15 ESV). This coming Sunday begins what many Christians call Holy Week or Passion Week. It is called “Passion” week because of its connection to the Greek word πάσχω (pas’-kho), which means to feel heavy emotion or passion,
April 9, 2023
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1 Peter 1:3-5
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easter
For many, their hopes are like wishes, and their hopes are often broken. So that they begin to say to one another, as if it were true wisdom, “Don’t get your hopes up.” Many people today are living without hope.
But when the Bible speaks of hope, it speaks of much stronger stuff! It’s a living hope anchored in Christ’s resurrection and extending through our present and into Christ’s future return. In the apostle Peter’s first letter, he told believers that they had been given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We can have this living hope in Christ!
April 17, 2022
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Matthew 28:1-10
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easter
Have you really looked at the implications of the empty tomb? Because the empty tomb means that the resurrected Jesus has overcome sin, death and the grave! Are overcome by shame and guilt because of some sin, or habit, or addiction? In Christ, you are forgiven and empowered to overcome it! Are you grieving the loss of a relationship or the death of a loved one? In Christ, we grieve, but not as those who have no hope. In Christ, the dead live again! Are you anxious and filled with fear? In Christ, we can overcome fear with faith in Him.
In the gospel according to Matthew, he recorded the instructions given to those who rightly beheld Christ’s empty tomb. When we rightly behold Christ’s empty tomb, we can obey these instructions.
April 4, 2021
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Romans 6:4-11
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easter
Everyone wants to live the good life. Isn’t that the American dream? To live the good life? There’s only one problem. Once people achieve the so-called “good life,” they find it isn’t good enough.
Do you ever feel emptiness, exhaustion, or enslavement? Then, I’ve got good news for you today. There’s something better than the good life. There’s a better life, a new life found only in Jesus Christ! In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul wrote that those who identify with Christ’s death and resurrection might live in newness of life. We can experience this new life by identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
April 17, 2020
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1 Peter 1:3-5
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easter, hope
What is hope? For many of us, hope is made of flimsy, fragile stuff. Kind of like a thread. For many, their hopes are like wishes, and their hopes are often broken. Their “thread” of hope is easily broken.
But when the Bible speaks of hope, it speaks of much stronger stuff! For biblical hope is more like a rope! It’s a living hope anchored in Christ’s resurrection and extending through our present and into Christ’s future return.
April 5, 2020
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easter, gospel, Holy Week, jesus, palm Sunday, Passion Week, resurrection
Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19 Monday – Clearing the Temple Matthew 21:10-19, Mark 11:12-18, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-22 Tuesday – Teaching in the Temple Matthew 21:23-24:51, Mark 11:27-13:37, and Luke 20:1-21:36 Wednesday – Anointed in Bethany Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, and Luke 22:1-6 Thursday
April 2, 2020
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Christ, easter, Holy Week, jesus, palm Sunday, Passion Week, resurrection
“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:15 ESV). This coming Sunday begins what many Christians call Holy Week or Passion Week. It is called “Passion” week because of its connection to the Greek word πάσχω (pas’-kho), which means to feel heavy emotion or passion,
April 21, 2019
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Luke 24:1-12, 36-43
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easter, resurrection
How can we tell what’s true? What’s real? Should we just deny our doubts and take a blind leap of faith?
In the gospel according to Luke, he wrote an orderly account of Jesus’ resurrection, so that his readers might be certain of the truth that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. We can be certain that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
March 30, 2018
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easter, empty tomb, gordon's calvary, resurrection, the garden tomb
“On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men