March 31, 2024 • Pastor Bill West • Matthew 28:1–10
The resurrection proves that Jesus was who He said that he was. He constantly spoke about how He would be arrested by the religious officials, beaten, and battered and would die on a cross and then three days later He would rise from the dead. The resurrection is His final word: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” These are words of victory that change the course of history and have the power to change our lives today.
Words of Victory
Words of Trust
March 24, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • Luke 23:44–47
Jesus now turns back to His Father and trusts Him to take care of Him even in death. Jesus was committed to being the person he needed to be to accomplish the work the Father had given to him. There were many people who tried to get him to be the person they wanted him to be but he refused to give in. At the end of his life, he knew that he could trust his Father to take care of him. He knew God's love for Him was all that mattered and that love motivated him to accomplish His work here.
Words of Trust
Words of Finality
March 17, 2024 • Pastor Bill West • John 19:28–30
Jesus completed the purpose for which he came by dying on a cross. His suffering was finished, God's punishment on Him was finished, the sacrifice for our sins was paid in full for all eternity. When Jesus declared "It IS Finished" he meant that it is finished both now and forever. He is indeed the Messiah and the Hole One from God-the only way to God. In a world where people believe there are many ways to a right relationship with God, Jesus' death on the cross demonstrates that He is our only hope.
Words of Finality
Words of Humanity
March 10, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 19:28–29
The shortest of the last words which Jesus spoke reveal the humanness of his suffering. They reveal his physical needs. We can all identify with the physical aspect of thirst, but there is also the spiritual aspects of thirst that drives our life that only Jesus can fill. We will also address how our willingness to help meet the physical needs of others will also us to address the spiritual needs as well.
Words of Humanity
Words of Loneliness
March 3, 2024 • Shawn Kennedy • Matthew 27:45–48
God is holy and therefore he cannot look upon sin. While Jesus was hanging on the cross he took our sins upon himself and therefore, God had to abandon him at his darkest hour. Jesus became our substitute while hanging on the cross so that we could have a right relationship with God. Our sin separates us from God and brings a sense of loneliness and sometimes even abandonment. Because Jesus experienced loneliness and alienation from God while hanging on the cross, he can offer help to us when we experience loneliness and alienation.
Words of Love and Compassion
February 25, 2024 • Pastor Bill West • John 19:25–27
Despite the pain and suffering Jesus was experiencing one of his main concerns was providing for the needs of his mother. Jesus has that same concern for us as well and has promised to provide for our needs as we trust him. Also, we are to love others just as Jesus did and seek to help and serve those in need that God brings our way.
Words of Love and Compassion
Words of Certainty
February 18, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • Luke 23:39–43
Salvation is not found in what we do but is found in the person of Christ and the work he has done for us. One criminal demanded salvation for himself-the other acknowledged that he deserved the punishment he was getting. Yet, in humility asked for Jesus to remember him. Jesus words of certainty to him are also extended to us-we can be certain of our salvation here and now and one day being with Jesus in heaven.
Words of Certainty
Words of Forgiveness
February 11, 2024 • Pastor Bill West • Luke 23:32–38
All of us have a need for forgiveness. We all have done things that we should never have done and we all have not done some things that we should have. We have hurt those we love and those who love us. We all carry around guilt and shame because of our thoughts and our actions. We also do all kinds of things trying to get rid of our guilt-we go to church-we try to do better-we give money and help others. We hope that our good will outweigh our bad but we're never quite sure that we've done enough. Jesus offers forgiveness to us by the work that he accomplished for us. Even while hanging on the cross suffering at the hands of so many, his main concern was forgiveness.
Words of Forgiveness
