Good News Weekly Message

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. This week we examine the idea that God’s number one goal is for us to be happy. That assumption can lead us to doubt God’s love or power when hardship hits. That same assumption can lead us to clearly ignore God’s word in pursuit of the desires of our sinful flesh. Rather than short-term happiness, God wants us to cling to his word so that we enjoy eternal paradise.

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. This week we take a look at the common expression that death is a natural part of life. We try to console ourselves as we face death’s inevitability. However, today we see that the solution to death is not to pretend that it’s normal, natural, or good. Rather, it’s to look to the one who holds power over death and the grave: Jesus Christ our Lord.

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. This week we unwrap the lie that God's favor toward us is impacted by our behavior toward him. It's easy to think that our efforts to do good will lead God to give good to us. Instead we are reminded that, although we are unworthy of any good gift from God, he graciously carries out his ultimate purpose in our lives: to bring us to eternal life. Whether he sends good days or bad, our eternal salvation is his ultimate desire.

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. This week we unwrap the lie that all religions worship the same God. Many believe that every religion has one portion of the truth and that many paths will lead to heaven. As a result, when Christians claim that there is one God and one way to heaven, the reaction is often unpleasant. Thankfully, God's word not only reveals to us the truth. That truth leads us to share it with the world in the same way that God deals with us - with patience, gentleness, respect, and love.

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. This week we unwrap the lie that doctrine doesn't matter. Many would have us believe that, rather than getting all worked up over the finer points of doctrine, we should just focus on what we have in common and agree to disagree on the rest. God sends a different message. He not only commands us to hold to the truth. He assures us that the truth - and only the truth - is what brings spiritual life to hearts that are by nature dead.

It has been said, "Tell a big enough lie, repeat it enough times, and people will eventually believe it." From the beginning, Satan, has been spreading some pretty big lies about God. And yet, some of them have been repeated so often that we are tempted to believe them. Today we unwrap the lie that what churches teach is nothing more than their interpretation of what the Bible says. In his Word, God aims to communicate clearly with mankind. On the day of Pentecost, he sent his Spirit to lead people in that truth. Any differences in teaching or confusion about God is caused by mankind's sin, not by God's inability to communicate effectively. His word is clear. We pray the Holy Spirit would keep us in it.

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus'empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that Jesus' ascension into heaven assures us that every promise he makes will be kept. His ascension signals the end of his work on earth, the successful completion of his mission and the fulfillment of every promise made about him. As we ponder the promises he's made to us, we can be completely confident that each one will be kept.

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that Jesus' resurrection means that we are not alone. Yes, he withdrew his visible presence from this world. But he still lives to give us his Holy Spirit, just as he promised. Do not be troubled. We are not alone. Our living Savior now makes his home in our hearts through his Holy Spirit.

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that the empty tomb also means our lives have purpose. Before he left, he gave his followers a new command: Love as I have loved you. Jesus' resurrection proves that love always endures. Because he lives, our lives have lasting purpose.

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that the empty tomb guarantees our eternity. As a shepherd would say to his sheep, so Jesus says to us, "Follow me." However, this isn't just another claim made by another religious leader. By his resurrection, he proved his ability to promise his sheep, "They shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand."

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week, we see that the empty tomb clearly proves Jesus identity. It not only shows us who he is, the Son of God. It also shows us why he came. His death on the cross was no accident or unfortunate tragedy. He came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His resurrection from the dead proves that his mission was accomplished.

We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we remember that the empty tomb changes our status before God. The war with God is over. Peace with God has been won. That peace is assured both in the words Jesus' speaks to us and the words he gives us to speak to others.

Does it ever seem as though you're doing a lot of running around without really getting anywhere? It's easy for life to seem like a frantic chase after something you never quite catch. If so, there's good news. The first Easter morning was full of running as well. Mary and the disciples were running all over the place trying to find their teacher with no success. But by the end of the day, they had not only seen him alive, but had found more than they were ever looking for: peace, joy, and the hope of eternal life. This Easter we remember that the race to a full life starts at an empty tomb.

Tonight the church remembers the crucifixion of our Lord. Our remembrance, while solemn, is not a message of gloom, but the awe-filled adoration of the Son of God as he offers up his life as the Lamb of God. Worship on Good Friday is not a funeral service for Jesus, but an austere time of reflection and adoration of the Lamb of God. We gather to celebrate the sacrifice of the cross.We worship tonight using the custom of tenebrae, which is Latin for “darkness.” Throughout the course of worship the sun sets, lights are dimmed, and candles snuffed out. These all represent Christ’s life ebbing away. As worship nears an end this evening, a remaining candle, a symbol of the Lord himself, is carried out of the chancel. The final candle is not snuffed out, for even on Good Friday, our worship honors a living Christ. The service is closed by a loud noise called the strepitus, that foreshadows Christ rending his tomb in triumph at his resurrection. The final candle, which is still burning, is returned to its place at t

During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week, Jesus confronts all who would oppose him. On Palm Sunday he rode into the heart of enemy territory, knowing the opposition in front of him. Whether we welcome him as the people did or rebuke him as the Pharisees did, all opposition will be overcome and all will eventually worship him as king. Therefore, let us yield to him in every area of our life and joyfully acknowledge him as our King.

So often the impression is given that our relationship with God is mainly about all the ways in which we need to change and that salvation is dependent upon self-improvement. Thankfully, God has provided a substitute for self-improvement. Rather than change, he offers an exchange: our sin, guilt, and death for his holiness, innocence, and life. On Holy Thursday, we remember the exchange Jesus made with regards to the most important meal his people gathered for. He replaced a meal that was merely a symbol pointing ahead to his work with a meal that delivered the real thing: his body and blood, the price he paid for our salvation.

During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus attacks the arrogant attitude that bases its confidence on a superficial connection to God. This sin showed itself prominently among the people of Israel, who believed that their ancestry made them right with God. We too can easily put our confidence in our ancestry, our church affiliation, or our traditions. Instead, we remain right with God by staying currently connected to our Savior Jesus.

During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus attacks the type of self-righteousness that causes us to turn up our noses at “sinners.” We are easily tempted to believe that we are all saved by God’s grace until that grace reaches someone we think doesn't deserve it. Then self-righteousness rears its ugly head. Humbling ourselves before God will lead us to celebrate every time a lost sinner is found.

During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus confronts a misplaced sense of security. No sooner are we assured of God's love than we are tempted to think that we have done something to earn or deserve it. We must always remember the importance of repentance. If we think we are standing firm because of our character or merit, we are in danger of falling. Thankfully, God graciously gives us time to turn to him and trust in his mercy.

During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus confronts our misplaced expectations that a life following him should be characterized by happiness and ease. He calls us to be willing, as he was, to give up anything and everything for the sake of God and his kingdom. He lovingly warns us that, if we spend our lives serving our stomachs, our house will eventually lie desolate.