Announcements
SYMPATHY: to the family and friends of Merle Keel who passed away on Saturday, March 23. A service was held on Friday, March 29, in Sykesville.
THANK YOU: to all those who willingly volunteered their time to take part in the Living Cross! Whether you were in the play, choir, orchestra, or working behind the scenes in some capacity… your dedication and support of this ministry have played a vital part in seeing souls saved this year.
SOUL-WINNERS TRAINING: The next 12-week session begins on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. downstairs in the Music Room. Come learn a simple 12-point plan on how to win souls to the Lord. Sign up online through the church website or at the Welcome Desk.
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: will be held on Saturday, April 20, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Great Room/Gym for six years old through 6th grade. Registration forms are available at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to sign up is April 17. See Pastor Josh for any questions.
From My Heart
In the Book of I Corinthians 15:1-9, the Apostle Paul tells us of the Bible's doctrine of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the foundation stone of the Gospel message. Many times, the Lord Jesus said in His 3 ½ years of earthly ministry that He would die at the hands of the Scribes and Priests and would be raised again on the third day. So, when Paul defines the Gospel in vs. 3-4, he makes sure he added the words, “according to the Scriptures.”
He tells us the Lord Jesus “died for our sins,” but notice His death was “according to the Scriptures.” You see, the Lord Jesus could not have died by being burned in a house fire, or by drowning in the Sea of Galilee! You will remember one day a big crowd of people pressed towards Jesus, and some of them tried to push Jesus over the edge of the precipice to His death, but the Lord passed right through them! He was not to die by being pushed over a cliff! He was to die according to the Scriptures and that was by being placed on the Cross of Calvary. In Deuteronomy 21:23 and then again in Galatians 3:13 it is said, “…Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” So, the Lord Jesus died on the Cross, according to the Scriptures.
The Apostle Paul then tells us that our Crucified Savior was buried, and then “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (v. 4). Now, if Jesus had not risen from the grave, that would mean He is still dead, and His body would have turned to dust in the grave. But the Apostle Paul tells us He resurrected from death and the grave.
In v. 5, Paul gives a number of people who were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Lord Jesus. In v. 5, he mentions Cephas who was the Apostle Peter! He mentioned the 12, and then a crowd of over 500 - all at one time! Five hundred witnesses to any event are clearly enough to validate that event. Then the Lord Jesus was seen of James and then of all of the Apostles. And then Paul said, “And last of all, He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (v. 8).
Imagine you were one of Christ’s Apostles, and for 3 ½ years you heard Him speak of dying on a Cross, being buried in a borrowed tomb, and then resurrected on the third day! After you watched Him die, then watched them bury His body - you wait! Day one, day two, then day three - but no resurrection! The stone is still in front of the tomb, and He is still inside the grave, in His graveclothes, and there is no resurrection! Question: How do you feel? But Jesus did resurrect from the grave - “Why seek ye the living among the dead, He is not here for He has risen.”
Praise the Eternal God of Heaven - our Savior is a Living Savior!
Pastor Norris