Post Easter Thoughts

Easter has come and gone with all of the egg hunts, church celebrations, family gatherings, and ham dinners. Now what?

Do we just say to ourselves … that was meaningful Easter service and a heartwarming message? Or … has the message of the Risen Lord changed our heart and the focus of our life? Do we view Easter Sunday as the end of a time of reflection and dedication, or the new beginning of a refocused walk with Jesus every day of our life?

If we believe that Christ has risen from the dead and that he is not dead, then shouldn’t his presence make a real difference in our lives? One of the first witnesses of the resurrection, the Apostle John, wrote the following: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6 NLT). Some Bible versions read “walk in the same way in which he walked.”

During this upcoming month of May, we are going to refocus as a church on “Walking with Jesus.” Let’s keep our eyes focused on Jesus and keep walking!

Celebrate Easter!

This Sunday, people all over the world are going to celebrate the most important event in world history … the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The Bible records the following description of this historic event:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Luke 24:1-7 NIV

Do you believe this incredible report that Jesus is still alive? Are you like these first witnesses of the empty tomb overwhelmed with the message of this report? Are you like these women drawn to worshipping the One who not only was raised from the dead, but had previously predicted it? Are you willing to share this good news message to others?

Make plans to celebrate and be in awe of the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Sunday at Southwest Church (9:00 am or 10:35 am)! Also, be inviting others to come and hear the good news … “He has risen!”

Have You Heard the News?

Have you heard the news recently? We are constantly bombarded by the media with bad news! Whether it is raising gas prices, another bad accident on the local interstate, disputes in Washington D.C., or more trouble in the Middle East, there is always an abundance of bad news to catch our ears and trouble our hearts!

Are you like me and do you find yourself sometimes avoiding listening to the nightly news? Isn’t that what sports channels are for? Wouldn’t it be encouraging to have an entire news broadcast with nothing but good news? Wouldn’t it be great if there were an entire book that contained nothing but good news? What if I told you there was?

There are four books of the Bible that are described as the Gospels. The word “Gospel” literally means “Good News” and these four books describe the life, relationships, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. One of them the “Good News According to Mark” begins with the following introduction: This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God … Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. (Mark 1:1, 14 NLT)

No wonder Jesus drew the crowds, they like us were starving for some good news!! Jesus came to earth to tell us that God loves us and wants to have a personal relationship with us. He wants to have an eternal relationship with you and with everyone you know. Now that is good news!

Have you embraced that good news? If not, then why not read the Gospel of Mark this month to learn more about the good news that is waiting for you? If you like me believe in this Good News then let’s look for ways to spread this news to others!! Who can you tell this week?

The Power of Jesus

During the month of April, we are refocusing on the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ. This past Sunday, we issued a challenge for everyone to read the Gospel of Mark in the weeks leading up to Easter. For those who have already accepted that challenge, I am sure you have already grown in your appreciation of Jesus through those Bible readings. If you have not yet heard or accepted this challenge, then we want to invite you to join others in this exciting reading of the historical record of the life of Christ. Author Timothy Keller makes the following comments regarding this particular book of the Bible: “Each part of the story Mark reveals a little more of who Jesus is – his power, his purpose, and his self-understanding. Mark is revealing Jesus gradually, like an expert storyteller” (Keller; King’s Cross; 2011).

In the fourth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we observe Jesus and his closest friends crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat. During their crossing of the lake, Jesus takes a nap in the boat. While he is sleeping a “fierce storm” develops and begins to fill the boat with water. Jesus’ followers who consisted of some experienced fisherman were extremely frightened by the severity of the storm. Jesus on the other hand is peacefully sleeping and in that context Mark records the following:
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:39-41 NLT)

Are you impressed with Jesus power? Are you facing a particular storm in life that has led to your heart being fearful? Is Jesus calling you along with his first followers to examine your faith? I love the following commentary of Timothy Keller on this Bible passage: “Jesus is prompting them to see that the critical factor in their faith is not its strength, but its object” (Keller; King’s Cross, 2011).

Do you have your faith focused on the power, purpose and promises of Jesus Christ?