Easter – From A Pastor's Heart

Let’s Do It Again Next Sunday!

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022 by Dale, posted in Church, Easter, Jesus Christ, Joy, Uncategorized

Easter is always a special day! Certainly, the fact that we celebrate the preeminent truth of Christianity, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, is enough to make much of the day!!!

There are many other elements leading up to and a part of this day of rejoicing:

Good Friday Services
Choir rehearsals
Preparation for guests / many invitations made
Easter programs
Music ministry
Joy-filled congregational singing
Resurrection themed sermons
The gospel is proclaimed
Lives changed
Partaking of communion
Reading of Scripture and prayer
Entering the Sunday morning gathering with a spirit of expectancy and joy
Family gatherings and hundreds of pictures
Buffet meals and desserts
Wearing new spring clothes

Why not? After all, This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Craig Keener gives us some good insight on this “day.” Psalm 118:22-23 was fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry as He claimed (Mark 12:10-11), so also was Psalm 118:24: the great and momentous day the Lord had made, the day the Psalmist calls his hearers to celebrate, is the prophetic day when God exalted Jesus, rejected by the chief priests, as the cornerstone of His new temple (cf. Eph. 2:20). The verse points to a truth far more significant than merely the common biblical truth that God is with us daily; it points to the greatest act of God on our behalf, when Jesus our Lord died and rose again for us.

Next Sunday, we will corporately gather again and . . . our hearts, minds, bodies, and ministries should be as engaged and intentional as we were yesterday! We will not have all the “pageantry” of Easter, but we’ll still be celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ because He was raised on the first day of the week! We will proclaim the name of our living Savior in song, conversation, testimony, preaching, and prayer that in all things He will have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).

So, let’s do it again next Sunday . . . and the next . . . and the next until He calls us Home!!

Blessed Redeemer

April 15, 2022 by Dale, posted in Easter, Forgiveness, Gospel, Grace, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Uncategorized

1 Up Calv’ry’s mountain one dreadful morn
Walked Christ, my Savior, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss. [Chorus]

2 “Father, forgive them!” thus did He pray,
E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe–
No one but Jesus ever loved so. [Chorus]

3 O how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end?
Thro’ years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise Him forevermore. [Chorus]

Chorus:
Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading—
Blind and unheeding— dying for me!

In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)

Good Friday – The Crucifixion (Mark 14:53-15:41; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Luke 22:47-53; 23:39-43; John 19:1-37)

[“Blessed Redeemer” written by Avis B. Christiansen]

Helping Children Understand Easter

March 29, 2018 by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Death, Discipleship, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, Family, Gospel, Israel, Parenting, Salvation, The Gospel, Uncategorized

This is an awesome time of the year! The apex of history is the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ and His bodily resurrection from the tomb (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Matthew 26:57-28:10; 1 Corinthians 15). This event sets Jesus Christ and Christianity apart from ALL other religions around the world.

Outside the Empty Tomb, January 19, 2017

How important that our children understand the truth about Christ and Easter. There is no problem with enjoying eggs, candy, bunnies, and baskets, but our younger generation must know the truth, and Christ, Who is Truth.

My wife’s blog will help you accomplish this. Be sure to take take to read and watch, Helping Children Understand Easter

The Message of Good Friday

April 14, 2017April 14, 2017 by Dale, posted in Death, Easter, Salvation, The Gospel, Uncategorized

skull-hill-golgotha (2) — Golgotha, the Place of the Skull

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:6-11)

It’s About the Cross

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Want to know more about Christ’s death for you?

The Day After Easter

March 28, 2016March 27, 2016 by Dale, posted in Easter

original

Resurrection Sunday!! What anticipation! What joy! What singing! What hope! What preparation! Sunday best at church. Well-planned out congregational music. Special music ministry. New clothes. Family gatherings. This is always a big day, and of course, the very reason is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb! I love Jesus’ one word to Mary and Mary Magdalene, And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:9).

But what about today? The truth is, we should live this day, yes a Monday, with as much anticipation, joy, singing, hope, confidence and preparation as yesterday. Jesus Christ has not changed. He is still alive. All that He is which produced our response yesterday, He is today and will be tomorrow! You have God’s Word on it–I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Also, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

We share in all that Jesus is in His Person; we share in what He did; we share in what He will do in the future. Enjoy living in Christ today because He is alive in you!!

As He died unto sin, so we too have died unto sin.

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death?

As He rose from the dead, so have we.

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.

As He is seated at God’s right hand, so are we.

Ephesians 2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

As He is the Son, so we are now sons.

Galatians 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

As He is eternal life, so we have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As He is perfect righteousness, so we have His righteousness.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. (bible.org)

Walking With Christ This Week – Friday

April 18, 2014April 18, 2014 by Dale, posted in Easter

Once again, we continue our journey this week with Christ to the cross having the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit as our perfect guide.

Jesus is betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11)

Could have occurred after midnight, early on Friday morning

Jewish Trial, Phase 1: Jesus has a hearing before Annas [former high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law] (John 18:13-14, 19-24)

Jewish Trial, Phase 2: Jesus stands trial before Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65)

Peter denies Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27)

Jewish Trial, Phase 3: Final consultation before the full Sanhedrin; sent to Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)
Judas hangs himself (Matthew 27:3-10)

6 a.m.

Roman Trial Phase 1: Jesus’ first appearance before Pontius Pilate; sent to Herod Antipas (Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-7)

7 a.m.

Roman Trial Phase 2: Jesus appears before Herod Antipas; sent back to Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:6-12)
Roman Trial Phase 3: Jesus’ second appearance before Pilate; sentenced to die (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:28-19:16)

8 a.m.

Jesus is led away to Calvary (Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

The Crucifixion

9 a.m. – “The Third Hour”

Jesus is crucified on the cross(Mark 15:25; Luke 23:34)
The soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing (Mark 15:24)

10 a.m.

Jesus is insulted and mocked (Matthew 27:39-40; Mark 15:31; Luke 23:36-37, 39)

11 a.m.

Jesus and the criminal (Luke 23:40-43)
Jesus speaks to Mary and John (John 19:26-27)

Noon – “The Sixth Hour”

Darkness covers the land (Mark 15:33)

1 p.m.

Jesus cries out to the Father (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus is thirsty (John 19:28-29)

2 p.m.

“It is finished” (John 19:30a; Luke 23:46)

3 p.m. – “The Ninth Hour”

Events Following Jesus’ Death

The earthquake (Matthew 27:51-52)
The centurion (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:47)
The soldiers break the thieves’ legs (John 19:31-33)
The soldier pierces Jesus’ side (John 19:34)
Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)