Easter Sunday

jlang@montereychurch.com — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

As believers, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every day, but the Easter season is always an incredible opportunity to reach out to our community with the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Many, who do not attend church on a regular basis, will choose to attend a church service on Easter Sunday. What a great opportunity to invite neighbors and friends to hear the story of Jesus!

Our theme for today and next week is GPS: God Positioning System. One of the marvels of technology is this little gadget that has the capacity to tell you where you are, and to guide you to your destination. If you have ever been lost on a trip, you know the fear and anxiety wrapped into being lost—you know what a blessing it is to find your way again whether that is through a GPS, a map, or the courage to stop and ask for directions.

Relate that analogy to our faith journeys. Scripture reminds us that sin leaves us lost, separated from God, confused, anxious, and fearful, but God’s grace is always there—pursuing us, pointing us in the right direction, longing for us to be on the right path. God’s grace is the positioning system for our life journeys. At the heart of that journey is the good news of the cross and the resurrection.

The question for next Sunday’s assembly is, Where Will You Be When You Get Where You’re Going? We go in so many directions, and we do it at a maddening pace, but do we really know where we’re headed? The testimony of the resurrection is that God is taking history somewhere—a triumphant conclusion—and we are invited to be part of that journey. It is a journey filled with many uncertainties because we live in a fallen world, but it is a journey that is filled with peace and security because we trust God’s positioning system.

Will you take a few moments this week to pray for friends who need Jesus, and then pick up the phone or in a one-on-one conversation invite them to join us next Sunday? Cards for you to use as you invite folks to join us next week are available at the Welcome Center. God may well have put you in that person’s life for such a moment.

Worship assemblies next Sunday will be at 8:15 and 10 a.m. We will not have Bible classes next week. Coffee and donuts will be available in the Great Hall from 9:30-10 a.m. Also, remember because this is spring break week for our school systems, we will not have any activities at the building this Wednesday evening.

Our Men’s Ministry is hosting 100 Hours of Prayer beginning with a continental breakfast on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. You are encouraged to devote an hour or more to prayer during these 100 hours—a period of time that will conclude at noon on Easter Sunday.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

—Barry Stephens

Monterey :: Blog

Easter Sunday