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Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday together with Matthews Memorial Church. 

Pastors Ryan Reveley and Travis Jarrett co-preached on the events leading up to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, focusing on Judas, 
Peter & Jesus.
:: Heart Matters - Judas
Judas is an easy target when we want to pin a "bad guy" label on someone; let's face it, how much worse can you get than the guy who betrayed his Master to face trial at the hands of the religious leaders and crucifixion at the hands of the Roman government?
We love stories that tell us about "the good within" 
- but our "good" is meaningless if we are 
disconnected from the heart of Jesus.
What was really in the heart of Judas? Is there anything redeemable, restorable within his story? John 12:6 gives us some insight into the heart of Judas - "... [Judas] did not care about the poor, because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Judas had a hard heart; even though he was working with Jesus, the heart of Judas was far from the person and mission of Jesus, it was disconnected from the heart of Jesus.

:: 5 Ways a Heart Grows Hard
If Jesus had addressed Judas' heart and actions directly, I think he would have said this: "Judas, your heart is hard because..."

1. You have selfish motivations
-- nothing says, "I'm selfish" like the label "thief"
-- when we sit above the desires of God and the needs of others, then                   we know we have a "self" problem 

2. You have an unwillingness to be inconvenienced             
-- Judas watched as another washed Jesus' feet without any motivation                  to share in that service to bring honor to his Master 
-- Jesus' life and ministry modeled a willingness to be inconvenienced                  in order to minister to the needs of others

3. You are misusing the gifts & blessings you've been given
-- Judas' responsibility was stewardship over the moneybag 
-- He took advantage of that trust, using what was given to God for his                  own benefit             
-- Our heart hardens when we are poor stewards of God's blessings

4. You have misconceptions & false expectations about God's plan
-- Judas' heart-hardening was probably subtle and progressive             
-- The more Jesus spoke of his death, the more the truth of Jesus failed to line up with Judas' expectations & image of a Messiah, the more distant he became, until finally he plots against Jesus while still sitting with him

5. You think that your secret sins are unknown because you look "good"--- This was the final stage of Judas' heart-hardening; there is nothing more deceitful than the lie that says, "I'm fine" while living disconnected from the heart, life and mission of Jesus Christ
-- Judas had forgotten God's earlier warning to his people: "...your sin will find you out."
"A hard heart becomes completely disconnected from Christ; 
our solution, then, is to confess our sin, allowing the Holy Spirit 
to transform our hardened heart into hearts of soft, new flesh, 
and then to receive forgiveness and grace from Christ, 
that we may walk fully in new life with Him."
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Last Sunday, we continued our Lenten teaching series as Pastor Travis preached from John 3:1-17.

In this passage, Nicodemus - a prominent Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council - comes to Jesus in the night, and says, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

If you had a "one-on-one" with Jesus, 1) what would you say, and 2) what would you ask?

We can learn a lot from Nicodemus when we come to spend time with Christ:
1. Nicodemus recognized the importance of COMING, 
regardless of time and situation
Some debate why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night: was it fear of persecution? Was he worried about losing his prominent status? Was it simply a convenient time and place? Whatever the reason was, the important thing is that he came and spent time with the Lord.
2. Nicodemus came HUMBLY and 
acknowledged Jesus for who He was
Given his lofty status, his extensive doctrinal and theological background, his impressive career and accomplishments, it would have been expected that Nicodemus come to Jesus as a peer, not as a student at the feet of the Master. But that is exactly how Nicodemus came, and reminds us of how we should come as well; not as equals to Christ, but as disciples.
3. Nicodemus came LISTENING
This might be our greatest challenge yet: to come into the presence of Christ and leave everything - our thoughts, our questions, our debates, everything else spinning through our head - leave it to the side. Nicodemus acknowledges the Person of Jesus, then... waits. He says nothing more, asks nothing else. Just waits for the words of the One sent from God.
Jesus responds to him with the most fundamental, basic truth: there is a Gospel and there is a Kingdom, and you need 
to be part of them. Without them, you are not with God.

Listen here for the breakdown of what it means to be part of the Gospel and the Kingdom.
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CALL TO WORSHIP:
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Last Sunday, we continued our Lenten teaching series as Pastor Travis preached from Mark 9:2-9. 

In this passage we find Jesus leading Peter, James and John up a mountain. While on the mountain, Jesus is transfigured, his Divine glory visibly seen by his disciples. Peter, not knowing what to say,  shouts out, "Lord, let us build three tents - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah!"

Immediately, a cloud overshadows them and the voice of God the Father is heard saying, "This is my beloved Son - listen to Him!"
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Last Sunday we wrapped up our "Finding Your G.P.S." teaching series by asking, "What motivates you to give?" Pastor Nelson addressed these "matters of the heart" as he continued building on the Kingdom-based principle, "God owns it all" and challenged us to examine our motivations and heart when we give so that our offerings, tithes and sacrifices would be pleasing and acceptable to God.

If you missed last Sunday or a previous teaching from this series, visit our media archive where you can listen to the message online or download it and take it with you.
Music from Sunday was led by Travis Jarrett. Songs were: "Be Praised" (Michael Gungor), Faithful (Steve Fee), Mighty to Save (Hillsong United), Here I Am to Worship (Tim Hughes), Only the Blood (The Village Church) and 
"I Stand Amazed in the Presence" (The Village Church)
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What's guiding your life? Last Sunday, Pastor Nelson began a new teaching series called "Finding Your GPS" which lays out what life looks like when it is guided by a "God-Purposed System." 


This series offers practical and spiritual insight for managing your resources so that you can do great things for God and also reminds us that God's system for 
success is often different than our system.
You can learn more about the series here or listen to Sunday's teaching here.
Music from Sunday was led by Travis Jarrett and Chris Donahue. Songs were: "Ancient Skies" (Michael Gungor), "You are Here" (Steve Deal), "Glorious One" (Steve Fee), "Your Love, Oh Lord" (Third Day), "The Solid Rock" (Mars Hill), and "I Stand Amazed in the Presence" (Traditional). 
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Last Sunday we wrapped up our teaching series, "4 Ways to Live Like Jesus."
If you missed a week of the series or want to review a teaching, click here to listen to the podcast.

Over the past few weeks, we've shared that living like Jesus requires:
1. Courageous, faith-driven obedience with the resources you have
2. Existing for the mission of Jesus to seek and save those who are lost
3. Living in a sharing community where your life, faith and mission are relationally and spiritually connected to others

This week we examined our fourth area: the public ministry of Jesus.
Life in the public eye is stressful and oppressive - and those negative elements can create negative responses in us such as fear of people, paranoia and anxiety concerning other's agendas/interests, and even situations where those close to us fail us or betray us. How did Jesus deal with all that in his public ministry?

1. Jesus put his trust in the love and approval of the Father:
* He began his ministry hearing the Father's words, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased." When we begin to fear and panic, it is important to remember that God the Father is pleased with us and supports us.

2. Jesus knew that people were not the real enemy:
* Throughout the Gospels, Jesus encountered opposition - and He knew the hearts and motivations of those opposing him. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we do not fight against "flesh and blood" but against the "powers of the air."

3. Jesus stayed connected to community and to the Father:
* Opposition and pressure can often cause us to isolate ourselves; they can trigger our self-preservation mechanisms. Jesus - knowing that he would be betrayed - connected himself to his friends at the Last Supper and to His Father in the Garden of Gethsamene.

Music from Sunday was led by Chris Donahue and Travis Jarrett
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Last Sunday we celebrated the second week of Advent; during this forty-day period, we turn our focus and our spiritual rhythm to the incarnation of Christ and we prepare for an encounter with Jesus.
[Mark 1:1-8]
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" - "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.    
John comes, speaking of a Messiah, a Savior, who is to come... and while many respond in hope, there are still those in the crowds who must have thought, "I've heard this one before."
Our nature is prone to disillusionment; we hate to be let down and disappointed. 
Our lives seem to tell story after story of times and people that have done just that. So we are left, jaded and numb, questioning and skeptical.

But then Jesus steps in.
[John 1:14-15]
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'")
1. As the Word, Christ was God become vocal. Through Christ, God speaks His great and glorious message - that salvation is here - in a new and living language of life in Christ. 

2. As the Word, Christ was God become visible. Jesus portrays the mind and heart of God, reminding us that God loved the world so much, He gave Jesus so that all could believe, all could be forgiven, all could enter into life.

We should ask ourselves, "What difference does the incarnation make in my life?" As people who have been brought from darkness into light, who have heard the Word of God and responded to it, we are to make known the glorious name of Christ, the one who came to live among us and die for us. 
  • This is the Word of God – have we become jaded with it?
  • This is the Unexpected Word who came to an unexpecting world to save us in a most unexpected way – have we taken it for-granted?
  • This is the message of Christmas – are we bored with it?
  • This is the message of the Logos, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh – are we connected to Him?
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Last Sunday began one of my favorite times of year - Advent, the celebration of the Incarnation of the Christ. Over the next 40 days, we will turn our focus and spiritual rhythm to the anticipation of Jesus' coming.

This anticipation and celebration is often elusive to us; we so hate to be let down and disappointed. So often we would rather keep the promise of God - with all of its uncertainty - at an arm's length rather than embrace it fully, which demands our trust and faith. But if we are to truly engage in the real depth and meaning of Advent, it begins with the understanding and belief that God keeps his promises.

On Sunday we said it like this:
The promises of God are inevitable, 
yet often unexpected.
And so when Paul talks about the return of Jesus (while referencing a prophecy of the coming of Christ) he writes,"For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 
[1 Thess. 5:2]

What we see here is:
1. We can be unaware or unconcerned about Jesus' coming
"As it was in Noah's day, so will it be when the Son of man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept them all away. This is what it will be like when the Son of man comes." [Matthew 24:37-39]

2. We can be filled with guilt, fear, and shame at Jesus' coming 
 "What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light. Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope." [Amos 5:18, 20]

3. Or we can put our faith and hope in Christ, and be filled with joy and celebration that the day of the Lord has come 
"But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night."
[1 Thessalonians 5:4-5]
Paul's directive then is that those who believe in Jesus should be: 
1) Awake and aware of what God is doing; 2) Clearheaded and have a proper perspective on this life and the next; 3) Prepared and equipped for the unexpected day and work of God.
What difference will the incarnation make in 
your life this Advent season?
Prayer for the First Week of Advent 
“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; that in the last day, when He comes again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to eternal life; through him who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
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What a week it was! Following the previous week's snowstorm, I spent a lot of time reaching out to friends and neighbors without power, without heat... some even had to go without coffee!  ;)  It was a week of need, which means that it was a week of ministry; I was reminded yet again that even the most comfortable of us have moments of difficulty, challenge and need. 

And that's a great opportunity to live like Jesus. 
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. 
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." [1 Corinthians 15:58]
In Paul's letter to the young church of Thessalonica encourages them to continue ministering and meeting needs - living the Gospel - in their community, regardless of whether their situations are comfortable or challenging. In fact, Paul emphasizes that their work will not go without result, and he uses his own ministry experience to them as an example.

Paul connects the Gospel and ministry to faith -- he encourages the church to take on the challenge of faith in order to see the victory of faith.
But now Timothy has returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians 3:6-8]
Our takeaways from Sunday:
>> Nothing that we do out of love for Jesus is in vain
>> With that realization comes incredible hope and joy – and a desire for         more of God, to be with him, to worship him
Music from Sunday was led by Chris Donahue and Travis Jarrett. 
Songs were: "Eastern Hymn" (David Crowder), "Our God" (Chris Tomlin), "The Stand" (Hillsong), "Hallelujah" (Steve Deal), "Forever God You Reign" (Steve Deal)
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Last Sunday we gathered for an outdoor service at the home of Jon & Jacquie Liebold -- we want to thank them for their hospitality and willingness to use their home for the Kingdom.

Consistent with our human nature, we tend to categorize our lives as either "good," "bad," or somewhere in-between. Within our discussion, we examined some of the shared life experiences and emotions that everyone goes through at some point, regardless of the "quality" of our lives. From Ecclesiastes, we highlighted three experiences/emotions that we all share: 

1. I’m frustrated  
[Ecclesiastes 1:2-4] – “Life is useless, all useless. You spend your life working... but what do you have to show for it? The world stays just the same.”

2. I’m tired 
[Ecclesiastes 1:5-8] – “The sun still rises, and it still goes down... the wind blows… round and round and back again.  Every river flows into the sea... [then] the water returns to where the rivers began and starts all over again.  Everything leads to weariness – a weariness too great for words... “

3. I’m unfulfilled
[Ecclesiastes 1:8-9] – “No matter how much we see, we're never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we're not content. History merely repeats itself...

We then moved over to Paul's teachings in his letter to the church in Rome:
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
[Romans 5:3-5]

and in his second letter to the church in Corinth: 
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]

This reminds us of two Kingdom truths:
1.  Hope is the trust and acceptance of God’s love for me, forever.
2. Hope enables me to live with the eternal perspective Jesus teaches I should have for my life

And this hope is lived out in:
>> Prayer -- hope is renewed and refreshed as we grow closer to Jesus
>> Giving -- hope is demonstrated as we trust God to provide
>> Service -- hope is active as we live fully & freely for Christ
>> Sharing Jesus -- hope maintains its eternal focus when our focus is Jesus
Music from Sunday was led by Chris Donahue and Travis Jarrett. 
Songs were: "Shadows" (David Crowder), "Eastern Hymn" (David Crowder), "Marvelous Light" (Charlie Hall), "Your Love Oh Lord" (Third Day), "Only the Blood" (Village Church), "The Old Rugged Cross" (Traditional)
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