Announcements
THANK YOU: for all the prayers and cards I received during my three-week hospital and rehab stay. I also want to thank the person who purchased the new mesh bag for me to replace my other one. Elaine Carabell
LIVING CROSS MAKEUP: If you are a cast member, please be sure to pick up your assigned makeup bag by the final Dress Rehearsal on Monday, April 4th. Please see Cheryl Bowers if you have questions.
NURSERY WORKERS: We need your help for Living Cross! Please sign up at the Welcome Desk - even if it’s for only one night. Your part in this ministry is vital in helping us reach lost souls and making a difference in lives - for eternity.
USHERS & PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS: are needed for Living Cross. If you are interested in helping in one of these areas, please sign up at the Welcome Desk.
LIVE STREAM: The Living Cross presentations will be live-streamed on Sunday, April 10th and on Friday, April 15th.
From My Heart
It is finally upon us! Next Sunday evening we begin the Living Cross, and I am so excited about this year’s presentation. The drama is new this year, and Pastor Brian wrote the script around one of our Lord’s Disciples, Thomas. The title of our drama this year is, “Convincing Thomas.” Each time Thomas is presented in the Scriptures he is questioning and doubting - so he has been called for 2000 years now: Doubting Thomas.
However, when Thomas was finally convinced that Jesus was the promised Redeemer, he became a great missionary who took the Gospel to India. When I was over in India, several years ago, the Pastor took me to a city where there stood a statute dedicated to the Apostle Thomas. Thomas died a martyr’s death in that hostile country, for faithfully preaching the Gospel message of Christ.
We have promotional material on the tables in the foyer and hallway for you to use as little reminders to the folks you invite. You can invite your friends, family, co-workers, and give them one of the tickets as a reminder to come. Make sure you tell them they do not need a ticket to get in, but it is just to remind them to be here. Above everything else, I want to ask you to pray for the Lord to bless each performance. Pray for good weather, pray for good attendance, and pray for people to receive the Lord as their Savior.
I was reading the Gospel of John last week, just for devotions, and in chapter 1, we see Andrew coming to Christ. We then see in v. 41, a special trait about Andrew as he is dealt with in the Bible. Whenever the Holy Spirit tells us about Andrew, he is always bringing someone to the Lord. You will remember it was Andrew who brought the little boy with the sack lunch to Jesus, and that lunch was blessed and provided a filling meal for 5000 men, along with the women and children who were there. But it was Andrew who brought the boy to Jesus.
Here in John 1, Andrew spent the day with the Lord Jesus, and when he went home, we are told in v. 41, “He first findeth his own brother Simon.” This Simon was Simon Peter. In v. 42, we are told that “he brought him to Jesus.” What we see here is Andrew bringing his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus, and Jesus won Peter to Himself. You see, if you can just bring them, maybe we can win them to the Lord Jesus.
Then notice in v. 43-49, we see “friends reaching friends.” Philip found his friend, Nathaniel, and brought him to Jesus. This is a blueprint for how we can do our part to get folks to Christ. In v. 41-42, we see family reaching family. Then in 43-49, we see friends reaching friends. Let’s reach out and invite folks to Jesus - and one of the best ways to do that is to bring them to church with you!
Have a great day!
Pastor Norris