October 21, 2009
Today I am 65 years old. For many years I did not think I would ever live to be this old, as my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my father had all died before they were 40 years old. All of my life has been a gift from God, especially the last 25 years.
When I think about this the words from the song by Andre Crouch come to mind: “How can I say thanks for the things he has done for me?” I have so much for which to be thankful. I am thankful for the salvation I have in Jesus Christ, so thankful. I thank him for the purpose and meaning he has given me for my life. I have every reason to live.
I am infinitely thankful for my kids, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I have loved and enjoyed my kids since they came into the world, Hans, Peder and Heidi. There is no way to say how much joy and challenge they have given me in my years. Since they married wonderful people, even more joy has been added. I am proud of all of them. Then they gave me the fantastic joy of having grandchildren, five so far and one more on the way. I am so blessed.
I am thankful for Mary and the love she gives me day after day. She is extremely important to me in so many ways.
I am thankful for all of my friends who walk with me in this life that many times can be difficult. We walk together each supporting the other. Dave and Donna are especially important in so many ways. Thank you.
I enjoy the work God has given me to do in the Austin Church of Christ. I get to preach and teach the Word of God. God has given me the gift of reading and study, so I can share what I have learned. An essential attribute of my life is that I am a pastor and teacher.
Reading is essential to my life. I read about a book a week. I have enough books to last me for about a hundred years that I have not read yet. Each book opens up a new world for me. Many book challenges me to think or act differently. Then I take what I read and share it with others. Studying and writing about prayer are what I am doing at this time.
I enjoy the variety of experiences of my life. I am referee for football during the fall – tonight on my birthday I am working a varsity game at the age of 65. I love to walk – sometimes while lifting weights, while bouncing a ball, or while reading a book. In reading and walking, I combine two of my favorite things to do. I love to watch football and other programs on TV. I enjoy listening to Christian radio. I love mission trips and sharing the money God had given to me for the support of the church and missionaries. I am so blessed by the Lord.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
It has been a long time since I had an entry. I am going to try to be more regular.
This is my busy time of the year - in addition to my 3 jobs I am refing football for the next two months. I like the group of guys I work with and it is fun again to ref. I have 7 varsity games and 12-15 other games.
At church we are starting to study the book of Revelation in Wed. Bible study, Sunday school, and Dave and I are preaching through the book starting next Sunday. I have been doing a lot of reading to get ready for the study. That has been fun and challenging.
My cat, Missy, is doing fine. She wants attention all the time - even when I am trying to sleep. We get along well most of the time.
My leg is getting better and my blood thinner is working well I guess. I will be on it until the end of October.
I will write more soon.
Steve.
This is my busy time of the year - in addition to my 3 jobs I am refing football for the next two months. I like the group of guys I work with and it is fun again to ref. I have 7 varsity games and 12-15 other games.
At church we are starting to study the book of Revelation in Wed. Bible study, Sunday school, and Dave and I are preaching through the book starting next Sunday. I have been doing a lot of reading to get ready for the study. That has been fun and challenging.
My cat, Missy, is doing fine. She wants attention all the time - even when I am trying to sleep. We get along well most of the time.
My leg is getting better and my blood thinner is working well I guess. I will be on it until the end of October.
I will write more soon.
Steve.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
More storms
We are getting more storms through this evening. So far they are mostly west of Austin. Some were approaching Geneva when I left there. We are in a bad pattern.
The mess done to the area last Wed. is mostly cleaned up. A few businesses out by UBC were hit pretty had and a lot of trees in Todd Park, the Nature Center, and the golf course. Fortunately no people were really hurt.
If has been a nice Father's Day. Thanks.
Steve.
The mess done to the area last Wed. is mostly cleaned up. A few businesses out by UBC were hit pretty had and a lot of trees in Todd Park, the Nature Center, and the golf course. Fortunately no people were really hurt.
If has been a nice Father's Day. Thanks.
Steve.
Father's Day sermon
Father’s Day 2009
1 Thessalonians 2.10 – 12
I like Father’s Day of course. I get cards and calls from my kids and really enjoy that. I also take time to think about my dad – he died 50 years ago this year – that is a long time. I remember a lot of things about him, and the things I remember get better and better every year. He was a good man, but not a perfect man, of course. My dad almost never went to church until the last year or so of his life. I say he went to church on Christmas and Easter unless he could find some way to get out of going then. He liked to go golfing and fishing and for some reason he thought he caught more fish and played golf better on Sunday morning than any other time. He expected my mom to get us to church. Only after he came to Christ did he like to go to church. Unfortunately he had a stroke on the day our family was going to be baptized and was sick much of the time before he died. I believe he loved the Lord and would have served him if he could have.
This is a father’s day sermon aimed at fathers – those who are raising their kids right now and those whose kids are out of the house. We never stop being their dads and we never should.
What is a good and godly father? How do we learn what a father should be like? We turn to the word of God. We are studying the book of 1 Thessalonians for a while. In chapter 2 of this book, verses 10-12 we have one of the most wonderful short passages in the Bible about fathers. Listen for the two fundamental characteristics of a good father. Read verses 10-12.
The context of this passage is Paul’s defense of his ministry to the church – he is actually saying to them this is the way I ministered to you – in vss. 7 and 8 above he says he cared for them as a mother cares for her children and then in these verses he tell how in cared for them as a father. The passage is really for ministers telling us how they should care for the church. It is also for all of us saying that this is the way we should treat one another.
First, he says that they are witnesses and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless he was as he ministered to them. Fathers, all of us know how our kids follow our example in what we do and say. They imitate us in ways we do not even recognize sometimes. I was with a man and his son last week for a couple of hours. The man said his son got into trouble at school for swearing. He told he had punished his son but he keeps on swearing. I gently pointed out that the man swore way too much, but he did not even recognize what he was saying. Kids model after us, and it seems like they pick up on our negative characteristics more than our good ones.
As Chr men, and as Chrs, we need to be holy, righteous, and blameless as much as we can. Look at your life to see what needs to be changed so that you can be holy and blameless. I look at my life often to see what needs to be changed. I did not say if something needs to be changed. I said I look to see what needs to be changed. The God we worship and serve is holy and blameless and he wants us to be the same. By his power and help, we can be holy and blameless. We are all in a battle with satan – we win only with the power and help of the Lord.
The second part of this verse says we need to deal with our kids as fathers who is encouraging, comforting, and urging them to live lives worthy of God. This is not the image we have of fathers in our culture. In the movies and on TV fathers do not care about their kids serving God or even the fathers serving God. Paul was being a father to the Chrs by encouraging, comforting, and urging them to serve God.
As fathers with kids at home we need to be their finest encouragers. We need to be their constant cheerleaders, standing with them as go to school, participate in sports or drama, in the church, and every aspect of their lives. I was so proud of each of my kids and the things they did when they were growing up. I bragged about them to everyone who would listen and I told them often I was proud of them.
I still try to encourage them even though they live far away. In every phone call I try to say something that will encourage them in their lives today. I love them very much and am genuinely proud of them. Hans and Peder are very good dads, and Heidi is a good mother. They all enjoy their kids and work had at helping the kids grow. (Peder and Aurelia and the clothes thing.) I try to encourage them the work they do – jobs are not easy.
On of the other things I have discovered is that I need to try to encourage their spouses too. There is no question in my mind that the enjoyment and success in the lives of my kids is directly connected to their spouses. I love Hans’ wife Rachel, Peder’s wife Sarah, and Heidi’s husband Chad and I pray for them regularly. I could tell you about each of them and why I am proud of them, but we only have a certain amount of time for this sermon. I am not their father, but they are my kids.
I am committed to comforting my kids too. They have really not had situations where comforting has been needed, at least in big things, but they will come and I will do everything I can to comfort and strengthen them with the love of God.
Finally this passage says we as fathers need to urge our kids to live lives worthy of God, the God who call us and them into his kingdom. I want my kids to live for the Lord because that is the best possible life in all the world. There is no better way to live – the Chr life is a life of challenge, comfort, joy, peace, and growth. There is no more joyful life than the Chr life. I have learned over and over again that God loves me more than I can understand, and more than I will ever know, and of course more than I deserve. I need to show my kids that God loves them more than they can understand, more than they can know, and more than they deserve. But he loves them.
In reality, the best thing we can do for our kids is help them to know my Father, God the Father. He is the Father to the fatherless. God is the perfect Father, disciplining us when that is needed, comforting us when that is needed, and loving us all the time. He is the eternal God so he does not die and leave us. He is with us all of the time to give us the counsel we need. I am so thankful to God that he is my Father and always will be.
Do you need a Father, the perfect Father, come to him.
1 Thessalonians 2.10 – 12
I like Father’s Day of course. I get cards and calls from my kids and really enjoy that. I also take time to think about my dad – he died 50 years ago this year – that is a long time. I remember a lot of things about him, and the things I remember get better and better every year. He was a good man, but not a perfect man, of course. My dad almost never went to church until the last year or so of his life. I say he went to church on Christmas and Easter unless he could find some way to get out of going then. He liked to go golfing and fishing and for some reason he thought he caught more fish and played golf better on Sunday morning than any other time. He expected my mom to get us to church. Only after he came to Christ did he like to go to church. Unfortunately he had a stroke on the day our family was going to be baptized and was sick much of the time before he died. I believe he loved the Lord and would have served him if he could have.
This is a father’s day sermon aimed at fathers – those who are raising their kids right now and those whose kids are out of the house. We never stop being their dads and we never should.
What is a good and godly father? How do we learn what a father should be like? We turn to the word of God. We are studying the book of 1 Thessalonians for a while. In chapter 2 of this book, verses 10-12 we have one of the most wonderful short passages in the Bible about fathers. Listen for the two fundamental characteristics of a good father. Read verses 10-12.
The context of this passage is Paul’s defense of his ministry to the church – he is actually saying to them this is the way I ministered to you – in vss. 7 and 8 above he says he cared for them as a mother cares for her children and then in these verses he tell how in cared for them as a father. The passage is really for ministers telling us how they should care for the church. It is also for all of us saying that this is the way we should treat one another.
First, he says that they are witnesses and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless he was as he ministered to them. Fathers, all of us know how our kids follow our example in what we do and say. They imitate us in ways we do not even recognize sometimes. I was with a man and his son last week for a couple of hours. The man said his son got into trouble at school for swearing. He told he had punished his son but he keeps on swearing. I gently pointed out that the man swore way too much, but he did not even recognize what he was saying. Kids model after us, and it seems like they pick up on our negative characteristics more than our good ones.
As Chr men, and as Chrs, we need to be holy, righteous, and blameless as much as we can. Look at your life to see what needs to be changed so that you can be holy and blameless. I look at my life often to see what needs to be changed. I did not say if something needs to be changed. I said I look to see what needs to be changed. The God we worship and serve is holy and blameless and he wants us to be the same. By his power and help, we can be holy and blameless. We are all in a battle with satan – we win only with the power and help of the Lord.
The second part of this verse says we need to deal with our kids as fathers who is encouraging, comforting, and urging them to live lives worthy of God. This is not the image we have of fathers in our culture. In the movies and on TV fathers do not care about their kids serving God or even the fathers serving God. Paul was being a father to the Chrs by encouraging, comforting, and urging them to serve God.
As fathers with kids at home we need to be their finest encouragers. We need to be their constant cheerleaders, standing with them as go to school, participate in sports or drama, in the church, and every aspect of their lives. I was so proud of each of my kids and the things they did when they were growing up. I bragged about them to everyone who would listen and I told them often I was proud of them.
I still try to encourage them even though they live far away. In every phone call I try to say something that will encourage them in their lives today. I love them very much and am genuinely proud of them. Hans and Peder are very good dads, and Heidi is a good mother. They all enjoy their kids and work had at helping the kids grow. (Peder and Aurelia and the clothes thing.) I try to encourage them the work they do – jobs are not easy.
On of the other things I have discovered is that I need to try to encourage their spouses too. There is no question in my mind that the enjoyment and success in the lives of my kids is directly connected to their spouses. I love Hans’ wife Rachel, Peder’s wife Sarah, and Heidi’s husband Chad and I pray for them regularly. I could tell you about each of them and why I am proud of them, but we only have a certain amount of time for this sermon. I am not their father, but they are my kids.
I am committed to comforting my kids too. They have really not had situations where comforting has been needed, at least in big things, but they will come and I will do everything I can to comfort and strengthen them with the love of God.
Finally this passage says we as fathers need to urge our kids to live lives worthy of God, the God who call us and them into his kingdom. I want my kids to live for the Lord because that is the best possible life in all the world. There is no better way to live – the Chr life is a life of challenge, comfort, joy, peace, and growth. There is no more joyful life than the Chr life. I have learned over and over again that God loves me more than I can understand, and more than I will ever know, and of course more than I deserve. I need to show my kids that God loves them more than they can understand, more than they can know, and more than they deserve. But he loves them.
In reality, the best thing we can do for our kids is help them to know my Father, God the Father. He is the Father to the fatherless. God is the perfect Father, disciplining us when that is needed, comforting us when that is needed, and loving us all the time. He is the eternal God so he does not die and leave us. He is with us all of the time to give us the counsel we need. I am so thankful to God that he is my Father and always will be.
Do you need a Father, the perfect Father, come to him.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bad leg and picuture of Mom's stone
Hi Guys,
I went to the hospital last night and learned I have a blood clot in my left leg. I have to have shots for a few days and commidin for 20 days to desolve the clot and thin my blood.
I have to sit around a lot until things start to happen. Hopefully in a couple of days.
It was Mom's birthday on Thursday and they have her stone on her grave. I will try to put on a couple of pictures.
Pray for me.
Steve.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sermon - 3/29
Jesus Watched the Offering Boxes
Mark 12.41-44
I am going to talk about money and giving this morning – that is a warning. We as a church do not talk about it a lot. There is one of the radio preachers, who uses the month of January each year as the time to talk about tithing, giving and offerings – every Sunday for a month. This is just one sermon, but I hope it is one that will help to see the importance that Jesus puts on giving. This teaching came near the end of the ministry and life of Jesus. He has been debating with the teachers of the law all day and this is the last of his teachings for the day.
Read Mark 12.41-44. The scene is the temple in Jerusalem in the court of the women where the offering boxes were set up – they were trumpet shaped boxes – 13 in all according to one source. We pass the offering plate, but they came be the boxes and put in their offering. I can imagine, since I know human nature, some people would just come by and slip in their offering. Others would make a lot of fanfare about their giving letting everyone know that they had given and how much. (Big bag of money or maybe stand there and count out the amount so all could see.
In this scene Jesus is watching all of the people, when a widow lady walked up and quietly put in two small copper coins – the smallest coin as far as value. (This woman is not named – I want to give her the name – Esther.) They were worth less than a penny. Others might have just laughed at what she gave or thought little of it, but Jesus called his disciples to himself and pointed out what she had done so they would notice it and so they would learn from her example. (Does the Lord watch what we put into the offering plate?)
This widow was a poor lady – widows were in those days. They had no Social Security. They had to beg sometimes or depend on their children for money. I think Esther had very little, but she was praised by Jesus because she gave out of her poverty, not out of her wealth. She put in all she had to live on. This is sacrificial giving, the kind of giving few people give. Why would she give like this? It certainly was not out of duty – the law did not require her to give like this. She did not give out of guilt – no one would check on her to see how much she gave.
I am not sure why she gave so much, but here are some possible reasons. 1) The giving was an expression of Esther’s love and trust in God. She would not have given what she did it she did not love God. She obviously loved God more than she loved money. In the verses just before the ones we are looking at is this statement – read Mark 12.38-40. The phrase I see is “they devour widow’s houses.” They thought the money they could get by stealing it from widows was more important than being honest, helping widows, and serving God with their money. These were the best of the Jewish religious men of the day. They probably taught the people that they should tithe and give as much as they could. But they were then stealing all that widows had. I can tell you, they received their reward from doing that, I think in this life and the life to come. Esther loved and trusted God to supply what she needed. Does he supply what we need? Have you seen that? This is the real issue for so many – if I give this amount, I will not have enough in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. God supplies what we need today and he will give us what we need all of our lives.
2) Esther gave because she was also a thankful woman. Being thankful is one of the best reasons to give. God gives so much to us – so much. We show our thankfulness by giving to him and his work. I had printed a page from my prayer booklets – the one that encourages us to: Thank the God who is Generous. These are some of the things I thank God for every time I pray through this section of the booklet. Look at some of them with me.
A) I thank you God for eternal salvation because of the death of Christ. As Chrs we are saved by Christ. Our sins are forgiven completely and eternally. All of us are sinners, but through Jesus Christ, God forgives us of all our sins. B) I thank you God for purpose in life, reasons to live and serve. A few years ago we went though the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. As Chrs we all have a very definite purpose and reason to live for the Lord – a purpose that only we can accomplish. C) I thank you God for my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I could take a 100 sermons to tell you how thankful I am for my kids, their spouses and my 4 grandkids, soon to be 5. What a blessing God has given. D) I thank God for a husband or wife who is loving and faithful. I do not have a wife, but I have my friend Mary, who loves me and I can love. God has truly blessed me with her. E) I thank God for my parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Again, I do not have parents or grandparents any more, but I have relatives who love God and serve him. F) I am thankful God for my Chr friends who walk with me in the Chr life. That is all of you – you encourage me to live for the Lord as I encourage you to live for him. I am not going to go through the whole list but I challenge you to take this list home and slowly pray through it, thanking God for all he has given you.
Since I am thankful for all of these people and things God so generously gives me, I love to give to him and his causes.
3) I believe that we are motivated to give to God and his causes because the needs are so great. You know I am committed to missions of all kinds, especially foreign missions. I give because the need is so great. In our world today there are missions in every country in the world – even ones than tell Chr missionaries they can not come into their countries. There are billions – billions with a B – who still need to hear about our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation that come only through him. There are millions of children who need food and clean water just to live. Missions are working to dig wells and plant crops and give food for them to eat. There are people who need to just the minimal amounts of medical care and do not get it unless we do something about it. There are AIDS victims and orphans of AIDS victims who need help. There are missionaries that need to be sent to replace ones that are retiring – young couples who want to give their lives to preach the gospel of the Lord. I could go on all day with this list too, but just to say, we need to give so the causes of God can be funded.
We have been blessed by God – Chrs and non-Chrs. I am talking about nearly all Americans – maybe blessed too much. With the blessing of God comes the responsibility to help others. We as a nation are extremely generous to others. As Chrs we need to give even sacrificially because of our love and trust in God, out of our thankfulness to God, and because we see the needs in our world that God wants fulfill.
Mark 12.41-44
I am going to talk about money and giving this morning – that is a warning. We as a church do not talk about it a lot. There is one of the radio preachers, who uses the month of January each year as the time to talk about tithing, giving and offerings – every Sunday for a month. This is just one sermon, but I hope it is one that will help to see the importance that Jesus puts on giving. This teaching came near the end of the ministry and life of Jesus. He has been debating with the teachers of the law all day and this is the last of his teachings for the day.
Read Mark 12.41-44. The scene is the temple in Jerusalem in the court of the women where the offering boxes were set up – they were trumpet shaped boxes – 13 in all according to one source. We pass the offering plate, but they came be the boxes and put in their offering. I can imagine, since I know human nature, some people would just come by and slip in their offering. Others would make a lot of fanfare about their giving letting everyone know that they had given and how much. (Big bag of money or maybe stand there and count out the amount so all could see.
In this scene Jesus is watching all of the people, when a widow lady walked up and quietly put in two small copper coins – the smallest coin as far as value. (This woman is not named – I want to give her the name – Esther.) They were worth less than a penny. Others might have just laughed at what she gave or thought little of it, but Jesus called his disciples to himself and pointed out what she had done so they would notice it and so they would learn from her example. (Does the Lord watch what we put into the offering plate?)
This widow was a poor lady – widows were in those days. They had no Social Security. They had to beg sometimes or depend on their children for money. I think Esther had very little, but she was praised by Jesus because she gave out of her poverty, not out of her wealth. She put in all she had to live on. This is sacrificial giving, the kind of giving few people give. Why would she give like this? It certainly was not out of duty – the law did not require her to give like this. She did not give out of guilt – no one would check on her to see how much she gave.
I am not sure why she gave so much, but here are some possible reasons. 1) The giving was an expression of Esther’s love and trust in God. She would not have given what she did it she did not love God. She obviously loved God more than she loved money. In the verses just before the ones we are looking at is this statement – read Mark 12.38-40. The phrase I see is “they devour widow’s houses.” They thought the money they could get by stealing it from widows was more important than being honest, helping widows, and serving God with their money. These were the best of the Jewish religious men of the day. They probably taught the people that they should tithe and give as much as they could. But they were then stealing all that widows had. I can tell you, they received their reward from doing that, I think in this life and the life to come. Esther loved and trusted God to supply what she needed. Does he supply what we need? Have you seen that? This is the real issue for so many – if I give this amount, I will not have enough in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. God supplies what we need today and he will give us what we need all of our lives.
2) Esther gave because she was also a thankful woman. Being thankful is one of the best reasons to give. God gives so much to us – so much. We show our thankfulness by giving to him and his work. I had printed a page from my prayer booklets – the one that encourages us to: Thank the God who is Generous. These are some of the things I thank God for every time I pray through this section of the booklet. Look at some of them with me.
A) I thank you God for eternal salvation because of the death of Christ. As Chrs we are saved by Christ. Our sins are forgiven completely and eternally. All of us are sinners, but through Jesus Christ, God forgives us of all our sins. B) I thank you God for purpose in life, reasons to live and serve. A few years ago we went though the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. As Chrs we all have a very definite purpose and reason to live for the Lord – a purpose that only we can accomplish. C) I thank you God for my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I could take a 100 sermons to tell you how thankful I am for my kids, their spouses and my 4 grandkids, soon to be 5. What a blessing God has given. D) I thank God for a husband or wife who is loving and faithful. I do not have a wife, but I have my friend Mary, who loves me and I can love. God has truly blessed me with her. E) I thank God for my parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Again, I do not have parents or grandparents any more, but I have relatives who love God and serve him. F) I am thankful God for my Chr friends who walk with me in the Chr life. That is all of you – you encourage me to live for the Lord as I encourage you to live for him. I am not going to go through the whole list but I challenge you to take this list home and slowly pray through it, thanking God for all he has given you.
Since I am thankful for all of these people and things God so generously gives me, I love to give to him and his causes.
3) I believe that we are motivated to give to God and his causes because the needs are so great. You know I am committed to missions of all kinds, especially foreign missions. I give because the need is so great. In our world today there are missions in every country in the world – even ones than tell Chr missionaries they can not come into their countries. There are billions – billions with a B – who still need to hear about our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation that come only through him. There are millions of children who need food and clean water just to live. Missions are working to dig wells and plant crops and give food for them to eat. There are people who need to just the minimal amounts of medical care and do not get it unless we do something about it. There are AIDS victims and orphans of AIDS victims who need help. There are missionaries that need to be sent to replace ones that are retiring – young couples who want to give their lives to preach the gospel of the Lord. I could go on all day with this list too, but just to say, we need to give so the causes of God can be funded.
We have been blessed by God – Chrs and non-Chrs. I am talking about nearly all Americans – maybe blessed too much. With the blessing of God comes the responsibility to help others. We as a nation are extremely generous to others. As Chrs we need to give even sacrificially because of our love and trust in God, out of our thankfulness to God, and because we see the needs in our world that God wants fulfill.
Sermon - his eyes were on the Cross
His Eyes were on the cross
Mark 15.21 – 39
The last week of the life of Jesus Christ was a busy, dramatic week. It started with what we call Palm Sunday where Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey and was received with shouts of Hosanna and Praise God. The common people of Jerusalem received him like a king. As the week went on he cleansed the temple again, driving out the money changers. He celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room – what we call the Last Supper. Then he went to the garden of Gethsemane where he prayed all night – struggling with what he would have to go through on the cross. At the end of the struggle, Jesus knew what he needed to do, and his eyes were on the cross. The conclusion of the night was Jesus declaring absolutely – not my will be your will, O God. I will do whatever it takes for your glory. Then Jesus went through the mockery of the Jewish trials and even the Roman trials where he was declared not guilty. He was denied by his close friend, Peter, three times.
After the trials, Jesus was taken and beaten terribly by the Romans. Finally he was lead away to Golgotha to be crucified. On the way he struggled carrying the cross and Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry his cross. Read Mark 15. 21-32. Lets look for a few minutes at what happened on the cross. (At the cross)
The condemned man probably carried the cross piece.
Laid on this cross piece – hands nailed and tied to the wood. Think about the pain of the nails.
The cross piece was attached to the upright piece, his feet nailed to the bottom of the cross and then the whole thing was raised up and put into a hole with a thud.
All of the weight of Jesus was on the nails through his hands and the nails in his feet. In order to breathe he had to push down on his feet which would lift up his body. There was a constant struggle for him to just breathe. (back from the cross)
While he was on the cross the people and the leaders mocked him – you saved others, save yourself. Come down form the cross and we will believe in you.
Even though Jesus was in terrible pain and torture, he spoke seven times according to the various gospels. In Gospel of John he told the Apostle John to take care of Mary his mother. John also recorded that he said, “I am thirsty.” In Luke it is recorded that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Can you imagine forgiving others while they were in the process of killing him?) In that Gospel he told on of the other men being crucified that this day you will be with me in paradise. The Gospel of Matthew records the difficult saying, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”( I will never understand completely what that means.) Finally he said, “It is finished. Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
With this Jesus died on the cross. He gave up his life. He was dead. At that point a number of things happened. Read Mark 15.38-39. In the beautiful temple the heavy clothe which divided the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two showing that the way to God was open to all.
Jesus died on the cross – that is the message of the morning. There are two questions we need to look at now. The first is what does his death on the cross mean? Why do we remember it all these centuries later? Millions of other men and women had died before Jesus. Hundreds and maybe thousands of Jews had been crucified by the Romans. Even on the day that Jesus was crucified, two others Jesus were crucified and died. What make the death of Jesus so important?
Jesus was and is the sinless Son Of God in human flesh. He came to the earth to teach us how to live for God completely. He also came to earth to die for us, so we can have forgiveness of sins. In Colossians 1.19-23 we read this. The fullness of God was in Jesus Christ the Lord. He was fully God. Jesus died on the cross and through the shedding of the blood of Jesus; God reconciled all things to himself. God is holy and demands payment for sin. On the cross, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of God. When he died, the payment for all the sins ever done in the world, was made. I do not understand what happened. I do not understand why the payment had to be made and why it had to be made in this way, but the price was paid in full and forever.
According to this passage, God reconciled the world to himself by the death of Christ to present all people holy and acceptable to himself, without blemish and free from accusation. Preaching this is the good news, the Gospel, which is to be preached to all people. All of this was made possible because our Lord was obedient to God, was willing to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, and he died for us. Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died for the salvation of all people.
I said there were two questions we needed to ask. The first was what does the death of Christ mean? The second is what does the death of Jesus Christ mean to you and to me? There is no question that Jesus died for all, but every person needs to believe and accept the death of Christ for himself or herself. There is nothing automatic about it. You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ for yourself. I am asking all of you, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Answer me by saying I believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is not just some ancient history. It is the event in the whole world that changed everything in the world forever for all people, at least potentially. By believing in the death of Christ, by accepting him as your Lord and savior, by being baptized into his death and raising to walk in the newness of life, you can have the hope of eternal life. I can have the hope of eternal life.
Isaac Watts – 1707 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore,Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.
Mark 15.21 – 39
The last week of the life of Jesus Christ was a busy, dramatic week. It started with what we call Palm Sunday where Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey and was received with shouts of Hosanna and Praise God. The common people of Jerusalem received him like a king. As the week went on he cleansed the temple again, driving out the money changers. He celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room – what we call the Last Supper. Then he went to the garden of Gethsemane where he prayed all night – struggling with what he would have to go through on the cross. At the end of the struggle, Jesus knew what he needed to do, and his eyes were on the cross. The conclusion of the night was Jesus declaring absolutely – not my will be your will, O God. I will do whatever it takes for your glory. Then Jesus went through the mockery of the Jewish trials and even the Roman trials where he was declared not guilty. He was denied by his close friend, Peter, three times.
After the trials, Jesus was taken and beaten terribly by the Romans. Finally he was lead away to Golgotha to be crucified. On the way he struggled carrying the cross and Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry his cross. Read Mark 15. 21-32. Lets look for a few minutes at what happened on the cross. (At the cross)
The condemned man probably carried the cross piece.
Laid on this cross piece – hands nailed and tied to the wood. Think about the pain of the nails.
The cross piece was attached to the upright piece, his feet nailed to the bottom of the cross and then the whole thing was raised up and put into a hole with a thud.
All of the weight of Jesus was on the nails through his hands and the nails in his feet. In order to breathe he had to push down on his feet which would lift up his body. There was a constant struggle for him to just breathe. (back from the cross)
While he was on the cross the people and the leaders mocked him – you saved others, save yourself. Come down form the cross and we will believe in you.
Even though Jesus was in terrible pain and torture, he spoke seven times according to the various gospels. In Gospel of John he told the Apostle John to take care of Mary his mother. John also recorded that he said, “I am thirsty.” In Luke it is recorded that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Can you imagine forgiving others while they were in the process of killing him?) In that Gospel he told on of the other men being crucified that this day you will be with me in paradise. The Gospel of Matthew records the difficult saying, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”( I will never understand completely what that means.) Finally he said, “It is finished. Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
With this Jesus died on the cross. He gave up his life. He was dead. At that point a number of things happened. Read Mark 15.38-39. In the beautiful temple the heavy clothe which divided the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two showing that the way to God was open to all.
Jesus died on the cross – that is the message of the morning. There are two questions we need to look at now. The first is what does his death on the cross mean? Why do we remember it all these centuries later? Millions of other men and women had died before Jesus. Hundreds and maybe thousands of Jews had been crucified by the Romans. Even on the day that Jesus was crucified, two others Jesus were crucified and died. What make the death of Jesus so important?
Jesus was and is the sinless Son Of God in human flesh. He came to the earth to teach us how to live for God completely. He also came to earth to die for us, so we can have forgiveness of sins. In Colossians 1.19-23 we read this. The fullness of God was in Jesus Christ the Lord. He was fully God. Jesus died on the cross and through the shedding of the blood of Jesus; God reconciled all things to himself. God is holy and demands payment for sin. On the cross, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of God. When he died, the payment for all the sins ever done in the world, was made. I do not understand what happened. I do not understand why the payment had to be made and why it had to be made in this way, but the price was paid in full and forever.
According to this passage, God reconciled the world to himself by the death of Christ to present all people holy and acceptable to himself, without blemish and free from accusation. Preaching this is the good news, the Gospel, which is to be preached to all people. All of this was made possible because our Lord was obedient to God, was willing to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, and he died for us. Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died for the salvation of all people.
I said there were two questions we needed to ask. The first was what does the death of Christ mean? The second is what does the death of Jesus Christ mean to you and to me? There is no question that Jesus died for all, but every person needs to believe and accept the death of Christ for himself or herself. There is nothing automatic about it. You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ for yourself. I am asking all of you, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Answer me by saying I believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is not just some ancient history. It is the event in the whole world that changed everything in the world forever for all people, at least potentially. By believing in the death of Christ, by accepting him as your Lord and savior, by being baptized into his death and raising to walk in the newness of life, you can have the hope of eternal life. I can have the hope of eternal life.
Isaac Watts – 1707 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore,Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.
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