Life Lessons of Jesus 2022
1-22 to 4-22
04-17-22 GOOD NEWS OF EASTER
April 17, 2022 • Pastor George Gas
Jesus was dead. For three years the disciples had given up everything for him. Lately he had been talking about “going away,” but none of them expected things to turn out like this. But not only was their friend dead, so was their hope. Jesus was supposed to be the one to free the country, defeat the Romans, and make everything all right. When Jesus died, everything seemed lost.
04-15-22 Tenebrae-Good Friday
April 15, 2022 • Pastor George Gasperson
On each Good Friday, our church has a Tenebrae service. Often called a Service of Shadows, the service marks the events of the day Jesus was crucified. A tradition that dates back to the ninth century, this somber service is characterized by a series of readings that tell the story of Jesus’ final moments, death, and burial. We start of with a video that portrays Jesus' last days. **As a reminder: during the service we do show a video that is graphic in nature - parents please exercise discretion for children.** Then after each reading, a candle is extinguished to symbolize the world growing darker, and silence is kept to help us feel the story internally. Following tradition, the service ends with extinguishing the last candle, putting us in darkness. You will hear a loud bang, as the Bible is slammed shut. Everyone leaves silently.
04-03-22 The Heart of a Servant
April 3, 2022 • Pastor George
During Lent, we are focusing on the 5 spiritual disciplines of Lent that prepare us for Easter. So far, we have studied self-denial, repentance, prayer, and fasting. This week we’ll conclude with the 5th discipline, which is giving. I want to expand the scope of this discipline to encompass the foundation of giving, which is serving. What qualities are found in the heart of a servant?
03-20-22 Powerful Prayers
March 20, 2022 • Pastor George Gasperson
Lent is the perfect time to focus our attention on the discipline of prayer. Developing a personal and private prayer life is important, but learning to pray bold prayers for people and circumstances is important, too. In Acts 4, the early church came together and prayed boldly, and the church building shook with power! Imagine what it was like to be in that building when this happened. Imagine what we could accomplish if we prayed like this! Who says we can’t? Let’s look closer and learn what made this prayer so powerful.
03-06-22 Self-Denial
March 6, 2022 • Pastor George Gasperson
I am personally observing Lent this year, and I invite you to join me. Set aside some time this week to recalibrate your attitude toward submission, toward priorities, and toward comparing yourself with others. Choose something you would be willing to set aside, abstain from, or give for the next 6 weeks to help you practice self-denial. When we do these things, we are following in Jesus’ footsteps, and we are preparing ourselves for the most joyful day of the year for Christians- the day Jesus walked out of that tomb alive
02-27-22 The Consequences of Our Actions
February 27, 2022 • Pastor Chris Weatherly • Luke 16:19–31
Our actions set us on a trajectory for our future both in this life and throughout eternity. Yet with Jesus there is always hope for new beginning and a fresh start that will change us today and for eternity .
02-20-22 Teach Us To Pray
February 20, 2022 • Pastor George Gasperson • Luke 11:1–13
In today’s story, Jesus’ disciples see Jesus praying and they ask him to show them how to pray. I believe this was a question he was pleased to answer, and he sits down with them for a time of informal instruction and encouragement. He begins with the Lord’s Prayer, which contains 6 elements of a well-rounded prayer. I hope Jesus’ teaching and encouragement to pray creates a desire for you to pray. Nothing is too big, nothing is too small, and nothing is too insignificant to pray about. You will never pray and not be heard. And there will never be anyone who is more ready, willing, and able to meet your needs than your Heavenly Father. What are we waiting for?
1-30-22 Parable of the Sower
January 30, 2022 • Pastor George Gasperson
This week we’re studying one of Jesus’ most recognizable parables: the parable of the Sower. A simple definition of a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Parables were easy to remember, they incorporated everyday scenes and circumstances that the hearer would easily identify with, and they offered clarity to the point Jesus was making- they were built-in illustrations.