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Read Luke 23:55-56

What must have been going through their minds as they mourned Jesus’ death and the disciples feared for their lives?  I also must ask you to imagine how the criminal must have felt!  WOW!!  Did they think of Jesus’ words to the criminal or were they too overwhelmed with grief to remember anything they had heard or been taught by Jesus?

Pray that in our deepest grief, sorrow, and fear, that Jesus’ words will always fill our minds, and we will know His peace.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 23:39-43

I am in awe of this criminal. He was the first to understand what was really going on here.  Somehow, he had heard Jesus’ teachings and knew that even though his life had led him to a cross (which he confessed he deserved), Jesus could save him.  The past does not matter when it comes to Jesus as Jesus can overcome any sin we commit and any sin anyone commits.  Every single person we encounter can be saved in Christ, even the one on death row, the one who is addicted, the one who is the enemy of God.  All can be saved and we need to share God’s grace with them and pray for them.  Remember, Jesus, through His Amazing Grace, saved a once wretched person like me and you.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Matthew 26:26-29

Today, we worship and celebrate the Lord’s Supper much as Jesus did with His Disciples.  We will do so knowing the entire journey that Jesus went through, unlike the disciples who were about to experience both unspeakable tragedy and disappointment only to experience joy like they could not have imagined.  Come to the Lord’s Table hungry for His Mercy and thirsting for His Joy!

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read John 14:1-6

After predicting His betrayal and death, Jesus seeks to comfort His disciples with the words of this passage.  He lets us all know that He has gone to prepare a place for us.  When Thomas raises the question, Jesus reminds Thomas and us that all we must do is follow Him.  For Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  Don’t be deceived by those who would have you believe that there is another way to our Father in Heaven.  As Jesus said, “Trust in God, trust also in me…” 

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read John 12:20-26

This metaphor reminds us of what is required of us if we want to live like Jesus.  Jesus had to die for the kingdom to multiply.  The disciples in turn had to give up their lives to share Jesus with others for the Kingdom to multiply. Likewise, our life will not produce fruit unless we give it over to the Lord.  A seed can sit on a shelf for years, dry, dusty, and seemingly useless, but at the same time, full of potential.  Take that seed, place it in the soil and water it and it can produce a crop 30-fold or more.  In faithfulness to God, Jesus gave up His life and by faith we are called to do the same.  Share the seed, share the Good News of Jesus with others, and pray for it to grow and produce fruit.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read John 12:12-19

Today Jesus rides into Jerusalem to the cries of Psalm 118:26; “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  The people see Jesus coming into Jerusalem and want to make Him their King.  Jesus will be their King and our King, but not in the manner they expected.  I go back to the passage we read on March 22^nd (Mark 9:35), “if one wants to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, one must be servant to all.”  I’m humbled when I think about what must have been going through Jesus’ mind as He rode into Jerusalem knowing He would be crucified in a few days and many who shouted Hosanna would soon shout Crucify Him…

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Ephesians 2:1-6

“It is by grace we have been saved.”  Paul reminds us that we don’t work for new life in Jesus Christ.  On our own, we can do nothing to earn this new life anymore that those who Jesus chose to raise from the dead earned their new life.  Like them, we are given new life through His grace.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the lives of those who have not committed their lives to Jesus Christ.   Our passage tells us the Holy Spirit proclaimed that work in us and seeks now to work in others.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Romans 6:1-5

Today’s passage is yet another example of new life in Jesus Christ.  When we were baptized, we were buried with Him and then raised to new life.  Jesus died on the cross and was raised to from the dead to new life.  Know that through our baptism and belief in Jesus Christ that when we die, we will be raised to new life as well.  This is the promise of the Gospel; this is the foundation of our faith!

Brett Spalding, Pastor