Monday, April 18, 2011

Easter Sunday Happenings at HBC, April 24, 2011

Join us for a great day in the Lord this Easter Sunday as we celebrate the risen Christ.

Walk through Breakfast -- 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School/Bible Study (all ages) -- 9:15 a.m.

Celebration Worship Service in Our Gym (CAC) -- 10:30 a.m.

This Sunday's Scripture Reading Is Luke 24:1-12, NIV

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”

8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

See you Sunday as we worship and give honor to our great God and Savior!
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Last Week (Saturday) Luke 23:5-56

This week we will look at what happened on the Saturday of Passion Week, the Last Week of Jesus' earthly life. The Scripture is Luke 23:50-56.

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,

51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Hope to see you this Sunday as we worship the risen Lord of Easter!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Monday, April 4, 2011

Sunday, April 10, 2011 Scripture Reading and Theme

The sermon series leading up to Easter, "The Last Week" continues this Sunday with a message based on the "Friday" of Passion Week. This week's Scripture is Luke 23:32-49. This passage includes two incredible stories of God's grace: Jesus promising the thief on the cross that today he would be in paradise, and the story of the Roman centurion who came to the realization that Jesus was the Son of God. In both accounts their was a recognition of Jesus' righteousness. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God was the only one who could pay our sin debt. Because of the cross, in Christ we are now declared righteous! Now you know why we call this day "Good Friday!"

Luke 23:32-49
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar

37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,

45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

See you this Sunday as we worship the crucified and risen Lord!
Pastor Joe