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Archives For November 30, 1999

Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 6

Meredith Flynn —  March 29, 2013

Step by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

EasterDay 6: Good Friday, March 29
The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-54)

For the first moment in all eternity, Jesus finds himself alone. He has enjoyed the community of his Father and the Holy Spirit always. But here, after six hours being tortured to death for our sin, Jesus feels fully how sin separates defiled humans from the holy God. Darkness covers the bald hillside of his execution, and he cries out, Why have you forsaken me?

His words, mistaken for a plea to Elijah, are actually the first verse of Psalm 22. With these few words, Jesus invokes the entire Psalm whose 31 verses perfectly describe his death: “I am poured out like water…They pierced my hands and my feet…for my clothing they cast lots.”

At Calvary, Jesus, alone, bears our sins. Until our sins kill him.

Father, we would be alone to die for our sins, were it not for the self-sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that because of his death in our place, you are not forced to turn away from us.

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

 

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Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 5

Meredith Flynn —  March 28, 2013

Step by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

EasterDay 5: Maundy Thursday, March 28
The long road home (Matthew 26:36-46)

So many things happened this day and night: Jesus reinterprets the Passover meal, declaring the bread his body and the wine his blood. He gives lengthy instruction to his followers on how to carry on his ministry (John 14-17). Jesus is picked from a line-up of a dozen men by a kiss from a friend. He is betrayed, tried, convicted, denied (Matt. 26:47-75).

But it is in the olive press of Gethsemane that we see Jesus, the Man, crushed. The weight of the sin of all people of all time would soon be laid on him. That he who had never sinned would become sin seems more than one man could bear. Even a perfect God-man.

And in the darkness of the garden he asked, Must I?

What would compel him to bear the unbearable? Duty? Demand? No. It is Love.

And from the ground at Gethsemane Jesus would stand and begin his determined journey up the Road of Suffering to Golgotha – taking us with him.

Lord, help us watch and pray and accept your will. Thank you for Jesus’ journey on our behalf that ultimately takes us home. 

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

 

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Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 4

Meredith Flynn —  March 27, 2013

Step by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

EasterDay 4: Silent Wednesday, March 27
Time for contemplation (Matthew 24:1-14, 36-44)

What were the disciples doing at mid-week? This day is noteworthy for the absence of events assigned to it by Scripture. But after Jesus’ bold prophecies the day before, the disciples must have been asking themselves why their teacher was talking about the destruction of the temple and the end of the world.

His end-times sermon on Olive mountain was framed with memorable illustrations:  the greening fig tree, the procrastinating butler, the silly bridesmaids, and the fortune stuffed in the mattress.

But nestled among these parables were the reasons for his lessons on urgency: every people will hear the Gospel (v. 14) and then the Lord will return (v. 42).

Would the disciples live accordingly? Will we?

Lord, help us share the Gospel before time runs out. We want our neighbors and family – and ourselves – to be ready for your return.

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

 

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Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 3

Meredith Flynn —  March 26, 2013

Step by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

EasterDay 3: Tuesday, March 26
The confrontations (Matthew 21:23-32, 22:34-46; 26:6-16)

The Tuesday accounts read like a boxing match: The elders question his authority; Jesus tells them harlots will enter the kingdom before unbelieving religious leaders.

The priests and lawyers try to trip him up with trick questions; Jesus confounds them with amazing answers.

Ultimately, he silences the tricksters. The match goes to Jesus. But the confrontations leave Jesus weeping over the sorry spiritual state of the city where Israel should meet and worship God (Matt. 23:27).

Later Jesus pulls his disciples aside for deep teaching on the end times. And from the Mount of Olives they retreat at evening to Bethany, where a woman causes a squabble when she anoints Jesus for his burial. “Love the Lord your God with all…” he taught earlier that day, and she did.

Having seen her offering, Judas made a different – and fatal – choice.

Lord, at various times we behave like all the people you encountered. Prevent us from argumentative debate and traitorous bargaining. We want to give you our very best.

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

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Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 2

Meredith Flynn —  March 25, 2013

EasterStep by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

Day 2: Monday, March 24
Spring cleaning (Matthew 21:12-22)

Jesus created such a commotion that every pilgrim in Jerusalem must have been talking about it. Who would disrupt the holy transactions? Weren’t the bank tellers swapping Caesar’s money for acceptable temple coins to give their offerings? Weren’t the sellers offering animals for sacrifice? “We couldn’t come all this way with lambs under our arms?” some travelers might mutter.

“Who does he think he is!” the tongues likely wagged.

After the ruckus, Jesus and the disciples overnighted a few miles away in Bethany, possibly at home of the resurrected Lazarus.

Returning to Jerusalem the next day, Jesus cursed the fig tree. At first it seems unfair to the tree, but this action says it all: even good things become bad when they are unfruitful. Rituals are offensive when they replace the faith they are intended to aid. Anything that robs God of worship must be driven out.

Lord, we all could use some spring cleaning now. Examine me, Lord, and wipe away anything that prevents me from worshiping you.

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

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Easter Week Devotional Guide: Day 1

Meredith Flynn —  March 24, 2013

EasterStep by Step: Following Jesus from the Palms Parade to the Resurrection

Day 1: Palm Sunday, March 24
The pre-Easter parade (Matthew 21:1-11)

Crowds are fickle. One day they’re cheering, another they’re calling for execution. Such was the crowd that greeted Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem less than a week before His death.

At the time of Passover, up to 2 million people crowded into Jerusalem for the annual celebration of their ancestors’ deliverance from slavery. They greeted Jesus and his entourage as they would a king, making for him the red carpet of the times.

The parade goers declared him a King in the line of Israel’s great king David, answering the city’s question, “Who is this?” And they called out a Hebrew word meaning “save us now” to the One who would soon deliver their salvation. Yet, these shouts of “Hosanna!” would turn to “Crucify him!” before week’s end.

How can we explain their faltering commitment? Or ours?

Lord, open our eyes to see who you really are. Help us to hold you as our true King, and to never turn on you or away from you.

Devotion by Eric Reed, artwork by Kerry Jackson

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From ‘normal job’ to church planting in Chicago

Meredith Flynn —  March 10, 2013

HEARTLAND | “I just was like any other normal person with a nice secular job,” said Marvin Del Rios. “God kept on pushing me and impressing on me that this is what you need to do.”

Del Rios’ “this” was pastoring and church planting in Chicago. Watch the video below for more of his story, and how others are sharing the Gospel in the Windy City.

SEND North America: Chicago from IL Baptist State Association on Vimeo.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 8

Meredith Flynn —  March 10, 2013

Today marks the end of the Week of Prayer for North American Missions. In this post, we go back to Day 1 for a look at Chicago church planters Scott and Ashley Venable.

Scott Venable“It’s the most eclectic place you can imagine,” church planter Scott Venable says of his Chicago neighborhood. “It has drug dealers and businesspeople. When we prayerwalked as we were looking for a place to start the church and we got to Wicker Park, we just knew it was it.”

One of the most famous neighborhoods in the Windy City, Wicker Park is the kind of place where million dollar homes are just a few blocks down from government housing. It’s also a place that needs churches. Scott and his wife Ashley are planting Mosaic Church with a focus on serving the community, and sharing the Gospel in Chicagoland, where only 10 percent of people know Christ.

Pray for Mosaic Church Chicago as they live out  the Great Commandment and carry out the Great Commission – may they see many transformed lives.

Go to www.anniearmstrong.com/scottvenable to watch “Where to Start,” a video about the Venables’ work in Wicker Park.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 7

Meredith Flynn —  March 9, 2013

Many Southern Baptist churches will mark the Week of Prayer for North American Missions this week. For more information about the week of prayer or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, contact IBSA’s Missions team at (217) 391-3138.

PowerPlantDay 7 – Short-Term Missions
Every day of the year, young men and women are working alongside missionaries throughout North America. Through summer and semester opportunities, they are discovering future areas of service as they learn from experienced church planters and missionaries. And they’re also developing their own relationship with God as He uses them to meet the spiritual and physical needs of others, and to experience new cultures and missional living firsthand.

Pray for more young people to answer God’s call to serve in short-term missions experiences. Pray also for summer and semester missionaries to be stretched and challenged during their times of service so they may more easily discern God’s call to missions for the long term.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 6

Meredith Flynn —  March 8, 2013

Many Southern Baptist churches will mark the Week of Prayer for North American Missions this week. For more information about the week of prayer or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, contact IBSA’s Missions team at (217) 391-3138.

Victor Thomas, Simon Fraser University, collegiate ministry, campus ministryDay 6 – Victor and Candice Thomas
Victor and Candice Thomas landed in Vancouver from South Africa promising they’d never stay. They meant to be there for four months, but Victor, a researcher at Simon Fraser University, found a new calling in Burnaby, a quick train ride from the city’s downtown.

Three weeks before they were to go home, Thomas walked the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser, his eyes seeming to open for the first time. “I saw these students with blank looks on their faces…” he said. “It was as if God was saying, ‘Isn’t this the poverty I’ve called you to?’”

The Thomases now lead The Point, a church they’ve helped grow from a small Bible study to four sites where 90 people gather for weekend worship services.

Pray for more ministry partners to answer God’s call to reach the lost in Vancouver.

Go to www.anniearmstrong.com/victorthomas to watch “We Had to Do Something,” a video about a young couple who heard the Gospel at The Point.

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