It’s still true!

12 Apr It’s still true!

I shared with some friends in the US yesterday that I could assure them (from a couple of time zones ahead of them) that Jesus is still risen!

It is that assurance we carry with us every day. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. – Rom 6:9

But not only that, we are given, by the living Jesus, the same power in our lives that raised him from the dead. His power in us transforms our present and our future:  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may walk in new life. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. – Rom 6:4-5          It is still true…as true today as it was the moment Jesus stepped out of the grave.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be following the early church as Peter writes to encourage them in that assurance. It’d be great if you could read through 1 Peter in preparation for worship these next 6 weeks.

 

Some regular notes for this week:

1. Zoom Bible Study Catch-up – We’ll take a quick re-cap of the Holy Week/Easter texts…there’s so much there for us! (Matthew 21, 26, 27 & 28)

Friday – 14 April 2023  @ 1:00 PM —  Join Zoom Meeting  —  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83586782734 —  Meeting ID: 835 8678 2734

2. This coming Sunday (16^th April) we’ll have a baptism and then Morning Tea after worship as part of the celebration. What a great way to keep the joy of Easter alive & at work in our community…welcoming a new sister in Christ & throwing our arms around her extended family to help them keep the promises they make in response to God’s eternal promise of life in Christ.
3. THANK YOU! I started saying this Easter morning…but my gratitude just keeps bubbling to the surface! I am so thankful to everyone who helped in worship over the Lent-Holy Week-Easter cycle. Philippa crafted some wonderful ways to experience the gospel for kids and adults, and it was so encouraging to me to see & hear so many different faces & voices bringing the good news to life. We had guests among us who were warmly welcomed. We have had food & drinks available in abundance. We’ve had our shut-ins & hospitalized visited & prayed for. In all the busy-ness you all continued to care for & serve one another joyfully. AND…right in the middle of it all there was our amazing Picnic! What a great season we’ve had as a family in Christ!

 

I’ll probably say something about this over the next few weeks…but my daily Bible reading took me through John right over Holy Week, so I was reading John 21 just before Easter. John 21 is the final encounter between the risen Jesus & the disciples before Jesus returns to the Father at his Ascension. It’s a crucial part of the narrative because Jesus reclaims Peter from his denials & restores him to a lead role among the early band of followers. I find it interesting that Jesus’ final commands to Peter are “feed” & “follow.” Three times Jesus tells Peter to “feed” his sheep. And the last command is “Follow me.”

Jesus isn’t just speaking to Peter…we get it…He’s talking to us too. And being a disciple, follower of Jesus, a Christian isn’t all that complicated. It involves sharing what you receive from Jesus (that’s the “feed” part) and staying close to Jesus so you are always able to do what he directs & go where he guides. (that’s the “follow” bit)

Keep those simple commands in mind…feed & follow…share & stay close.

I’ll see you Sunday…or Friday at 1:00 p.m. for our Zoom Catch-up.

Peace

John