Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday
      The “Great Week” Begins – Luke 19

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

This “Great Week” in Jesus life begins with an account of astonishing Courage... 

Vs. 28-40       38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

… as He Committed to staying the Course!  

Vs. 41-44    “41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it”

…as He cries out with Compassion for the Contrary!  

Vs. 45-48   “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

…as He Combats lies about Him and His house!  

WHY? 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:      Luke 19:37-44
Tuesday:     Luke 22:39-46
Wednesday:   Luke 22:13-20
Thursday:    Luke 22:54-62
Friday:      Luke 23:32-46
Saturday:    Psalm 22:1-5

The Genius of Generosity Part 5

                                                          “Generosity’s Measure”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:
          - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-life!
          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His Kingdom. 
          - I get to trust Him, focusing on His Promises as I step out in faith to give generously.

“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Luke 21

Jesus-styled generosity is measured not by the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice!
It’s a heart thing!  He noticed what was left more than what was given!

“In severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Cor. 8

 Sacrifice – Human view?

 Sacrifice – Jesus view?

 What does this mean for me?      “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” Rom 12

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:        2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:           Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:       Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 4

                                   “The Generosity Key”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:

     - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!                                                          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-                 life!                                                                                                                          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His             Kingdom. 

The KEY to actually living Jesus-styled generosity is faith which always leads to action!  “without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6

Living generously is impossible unless my focus shifts from trusting me to trusting Him!

My Ability and Effort                                 God’s Promises and Resources

What do I need to believe about my God to do what He wants me to do?   “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”   2 Corinthians 8:9

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34                                                                           Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5                                                                         Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10                                                                            Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10                                                                     Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10                                                                               Saturday:        Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 3

Recap:   
 If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
 Jesus styled generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because it takes Faith!

 Getting Practical – First things First

Jesus:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…  Matthew 6
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”Luke 12:21

  Generosity begins with “bring”, “return,” “give” back to God and His Kingdom.  This is the foundation of a generous life!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on our own understanding… Honor the Lord with your wealth the first-fruits of all of your crops” Proverbs 3

“Bring the whole “tenth” into the storehouse….. test Me in this…!” Malachi 3

 What about bringing the “first tenth” (tithe)?

 It is a matter of Trust which always places us under the waterfall of blessing!

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10      
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:        Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 2

Recap:    If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!  

Generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because…

John15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

         … Generosity is lived “by Faith” in flow with the Holy Spirit!

Galatians 5 6 For in Christ Jesus …The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love….13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

           … Generosity helps Free us from small living and joy-robbing idols!

Matthew 6 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

          … Generosity helps us Invest in what matters!
Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:19-24
Tuesday:         John 15:9-13
Wednesday:   Luke 12:13-21      
Thursday:       Galatians 5:13-18; 22-25
Friday:            2 Corinthians 9:11-15
Saturday:        Psalm 84

Generosity! Is God Generous?

Is God Generous? 

 The meaningful life Christ intends for us depends on His generosity! 

God intends His generosity to flow “to us” AND “through us!”

We are created to be “rivers” not reservoirs”!   

 Rivers give ……. Reservoirs hoard! 

 Is God’s generosity enough!   

 Genesis 3 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

 Hearts of generosity are crippled by mindsets of scarcity!

  Hearts of Generosity flourish with mindsets of God’s Abundance!

 1 Samuel 17

32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

 Matthew 18 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

 2 Corinthians 9 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…..10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 

 We get to flow with 3T Generosity (time, talent, treasure)!

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Genesis 3:1-7
Tuesday:         Psalm 136
Wednesday:    1 Samuel 17:32-37      
Thursday:       Ephesians 3:14-21
Friday:            2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Saturday:        Psalm 19

Sacrawhat? The Lord's Supper - Celebrating Well!

Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred  Mystery  where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

The Lord’s Supper

How can we now celebrate the Lord’s Supper well?

1 Corinthians 10

 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 11

20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

As I come to Holy Communion I get to believe and act like...

1) Jesus brings His Presence! 

The Lord’s Supper is a very personal and gracious connection between a big, Holy God and a little sinful person like me!  Jesus is present in, with and under the bread and wine!

2) Jesus brings His Gifts! 

Where the risen Jesus is His personal grace, truth, love, hope, forgiveness … abound!

3) I bring a “real” Life and a “real” Faith!

 I believe I am a sinner and need what Jesus gives.  I come repenting of my sins and trusting He gave His body and blood for me!  

“...that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins’!”  M. Luther

4) I leave “restored and renewed” in relationship with Jesus and with Others in my church family because He is who We share.

“Because there is one loaf (Jesus) we are one body, although we are many individuals.  All of us share one loaf.” 1 Cor. 10:17    

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         1 Corinthians 11:17-22
Tuesday:         1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Wednesday:    1 Corinthians 11:27-34      
Thursday:       1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Friday:            John 6:35-40
Saturday:        Psalm 22:1-5

Sacrawhat? The Lord's Supper - What's the Story?

Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

The Lord’s Supper

How did this celebration begin?

Luke 22 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”…..  13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer……... 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 

Matthew 26 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus started the Lord’s Supper while celebrating the Passover the night before He would die!

What is the Passover?

Exodus 12 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it…..

11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

In the original Passover event all who are covered with the blood of the Lamb would be saved from the judgment of death!

The Old Celebration

In the ongoing Passover Celebration the people could have a “real physical” connection with the greatest “salvation event” in their history when God saved His people from the “angel of death” and the Egyptians.  When they had the Passover celebration every year it is like they were connecting with the same God that had  delivered their ancestors. 

The New Celebration

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples about 1300 years after the original Passover event.  He changes things.  He is God – He gets to do that.  He gives them a New Salvation Promise based on a New Salvation Event! 

 Jesus made use of the Passover celebration by changing it into a celebration and participation of His Presence and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins.  We still get to celebrate the Jesus’ Presence in our lives and the forgiveness of our sins as we receive the bread and wine which He called His body and blood!

Jesus changes the ceremony with the words “This is my body” and “This is my “blood”.

 Now people celebrating this supper “connect” with the salvation event of the Cross and Empty tomb!

1 Corinthians 10 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 26:17-28
Tuesday:         Exodus 12:6-14
Wednesday:    Acts 2:42-47      
Thursday:        John 15:1-5
Friday:            1 Corinthians 10:14-17
Saturday:        Psalm 51