The bigger picture
As we continue in this season of Easter, we celebrate the victory that Christ has won for us over death and reflect on what that means for how we live our lives here on earth. The apostle Peter delivers a sermon which describes how the people denied Jesus and had him killed, yet somehow it was all according to God’s plan to bring life to the world.
The Gospel
Today is the day we set aside to celebrate the fullness of the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and was raised for the sins of the world. Today, we remember that we have received the Gospel, we stand in the Gospel, and we are being saved by the Gospel.
Stations of the Cross
We anticipate what is to come on Sunday, but we wait until then to celebrate with the church around the world. Until then, we sit in awe and thankfulness for what Christ was willing to endure for us and for all people.
Deliver us from evil
Throughout Lent, we have been reflecting on the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. We conclude those reflections tonight with the seventh and final petition, “Deliver us from evil.” What is evil, and how does God deliver us from it?
Faith in song
On Palm Sunday, it wasn’t the people’s genius to use the psalms that made their praise meaningful. It is the Holy Spirit that causes the word of Christ to dwell in each of us and inspires us to make melody to him.
From death to life
Jesus describes his coming suffering and death to his disciples in a very honest way and even admits that it scares him. Yet, his determination to bring glory to God’s name is far greater than his fear of what’s to come.
Why do you believe in Jesus?
Belief in Jesus is no longer a given. Why do we believe in Jesus? This is a foundational question that each of us should be able to answer. Our gospel reading provides some direction as we consider this simple, yet challenging question.
The Cross, the Crux, and the Call
As we continue on our Lenten journey of repentance, we are faced with quite a challenging word. As Jesus explains the path of suffering ahead for him and asks the disciples to follow him straight into the furnace, Peter’s response of confusion reveals something about the human heart.
Baptism, Wilderness, and Repentance
During these forty days of Lent, may you hear Jesus’ call to repent not as a threat, but with the promise of forgiveness that he will make possible for us on the cross.
Don’t worry
We give thanks to God for the food, goods, and material possessions he has blessed us with. As we acknowledge the gifts we have received, Jesus warns us about what happens when the gifts become more important to us than the giver.