Join me for services this Holy Week

 Palm Sunday services this weekend

(John 12:12-13)"On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, {13} Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord"

Maundy Services- 7 pm Thursday April 5th

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 ESV    

     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, 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.” 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.”

Friday Evening Services 7 pm April 6th

 -Isaiah 53:5-6     “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Join our services on Easter Weekend!

John 20:1-31 ESV   "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ...

Let us Celebrate our Risen Jesus!

He gave His life that we might be free!

The most precious text of John 3:16 declares that "whosoever" believes in Jesus will be saved. So the invitation is to all who are willing to accept the truth. But the sad fact is that not all are interested in salvation. So only those who are genuinely interested and meet the simple conditions will reap the benefits. Therefore though "all" have the provision only "many" or a "few" will benefit from it, as they seek for it.

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 9

 Philippians 3:4b-14 QUESTIONS

 

1) Who has God put in your life who serves as a good example of what it means to follow Jesus? (You can also refer to some of the examples listed in chapter 9 of Crazy Love). Why do you admire these people?

2) What character qualities, activities, and attitudes do these people possess that you would like to imitate in your own life? What would it take to make that a reality?

3) What legacy do you want to leave behind? What do you want to be known for?

4) Do you have any fears about what it would mean if you truly followed God’s leading regardless of where God might take you? If so, take a minute to articulate those fears.

5) What do you think God would say to those fears? (If you can think of any Scripture that applies here, write them down.)

6) What did it cost Paul to shift the basis of his confidence before God from his performance and status to Christ’s grace? What did he gain? (see Phil 3)

7) Describe one or two tangible steps that could help you overcome these fears.

8) What other people has God placed in your life who may be able to partner with you in this? How might they be able to help? If you can’t think of anybody, how can you find some people like this?

9) Close this session in prayer. Now that you’re so close to the end of this series, ask God to begin cementing your resolve and moving you down the path that you need to take. Ask that God would continue to increase your love for Him. Ask God to make your life overflow with that love. Ask God to help you overcome all of the obstacles and excuses you will encounter.

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 9

 Philippians 3:4 b-14 -Questions

 

1) Who has God put in your life who serves as a good example of what it means to follow Jesus? (You can also refer to some of the examples listed in chapter 9 of Crazy Love). Why do you admire these people?

2) What character qualities, activities, and attitudes do these people possess that you would like to imitate in your own life? What would it take to make that a reality?

3) What legacy do you want to leave behind? What do you want to be known for?

4) Do you have any fears about what it would mean if you truly followed God’s leading regardless of where God might take you? If so, take a minute to articulate those fears.

5) What do you think God would say to those fears? (If you can think of any Scripture that applies here, write them down.)

6) What did it cost Paul to shift the basis of his confidence before God from his performance and status to Christ’s grace? What did he gain? (see Phil 3)

7) Describe one or two tangible steps that could help you overcome these fears.

8) What other people has God placed in your life who may be able to partner with you in this? How might they be able to help? If you can’t think of anybody, how can you find some people like this?

9) Close this session in prayer. Now that you’re so close to the end of this series, ask God to begin cementing your resolve and moving you down the path that you need to take. Ask that God would continue to increase your love for Him. Ask God to make your life overflow with that love. Ask God to help you overcome all of the obstacles and excuses you will encounter.

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 8

Join us at 9:30 in the Chapel

as Pastor Lane leads a discussion

 on the following questions

Hebrew 13:

¹Let brotherly love continue. ²Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

³Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

⁴Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 

⁵Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ⁶So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

  ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
¹⁸Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Questions 

1) Would you say that you place personal comfort and safety above what God may want to do in you and through you? How so?

2) What risks might God be calling you to take?

3) Have you ever tried to do something risky or crazy for God, only to be discouraged from doing so by another Christian? Have you ever been that person who tries to discourage other Christians from doing crazy or risky things for God? Describe your experience and how you think God would want you to respond in those situations.

4) What would it look like to do incredible things for God, but in a way where God gets all the glory and attention, rather than you.

5) Are there people in your life who might fit Jesus’ description in Luke 14:12-14? If so, who are they, and what needs do they have?

6) What blessings has God given you that you can use to bless these people? How can you go about doing this?

7) Describe what your gathering of Christians would look like if you began to live the type of obsessed Christian life that characterized the early church. Try to be both practical (be specific) and imaginative (think outside the box).

8) How can you join together with and commit to the other Christians in your life so that you can help one another live this type of devoted life?

9) What are the personal qualities that should characterize Christians? (see Heb. 13:1-6)

10) You’ve been thinking through some pretty audacious concepts. Spend some time praying that God would move this beyond wishful thinking. Passion, obsession, and love can only come from God. Pray that He would work in your heart and in the other Christians around you to create a community that is characterized by obsession with Jesus. Ask Him to do amazing things through you in such a way that He receives all of the glory.

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 7

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 QUESTIONS


1) Is your life shaped in any way by the hope of eternal life? If so, how? If not, why do you think this is the case?
2) Have you ever come to a point where you realized the foolishness of seeking fulfillment outside of Christ? If so, what prompted that realization and what was it like?
3) Have you ever done anything that wouldn’t make any sense if all we have is this life, but makes perfect sense in light of eternity? If so, describe what you did and why you did it. If not, why do you think you’ve never done anything like this?
4) What are you doing right now that requires faith?

5) Describe the way you tend to interact with people. Would you characterize this as sacrificial love? Why or why not?
6) Think very practically here: How should your love for God flow out in sacrifice for the sake of others?
7) Assess your earning, saving, and spending habits in terms of wholehearted devotion to God. Which of these habits might be foolish in light of eternity? How so?
8) Do you have any possessions or resources that God might be calling you to give away to someone who is in need? What and why?
9) In the definition of faith in Hebrews verse 1, what two verbs describe faith?
10) How has your faith changed as a result of your faith in God?

11) End by praying that God would work in your heart. The concept of wholehearted devotion to God can quickly degenerate into a legalistic denial of all of God’s gifts. Instead, ask God to show you distractions in your life and expose things that you desire more than you desire God. Ask Him to decrease your desire for these things and increase your desire for Him. Ask Him to multiple your love for Him to such an extent that it spills out into every area of your life and into the lives of the people He has placed in your life.