“Sin is my greatest curse; Let thy victory be apparent to my consciousness, and displayed in my life. Help me to be always devoted, confident, obedient, resigned childlike in my trust of thee” pg. 92
Valley of Vision is a series of blog post that will contain quotes from the book Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
This week is Holy Week, the period of days that mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His Last Supper, trial, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. Each of the four Gospel accounts (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) have different details regarding this week in the life of Christ. We would encourage you to read through these events in order this week, and have a great tool for you to do so with.
The ESV Study Bible has a great harmony of the Holy Week. This takes you through the Holy Week in chronological order. We encourage you to go there and read through each day’s events as we progress towards Easter.
You can find this harmony HERE.
HT: Stephen Brush
The most important part of Easter, and all of Christianity for that matter, is the fact that Jesus, having died a horrible death on our behalf, physically rose on our behalf to justify us guilty sinners. Had Jesus not risen from that tomb, we would be lost; none could save us if He hadn’t.
In light of this glorious truth, Cody DeGraff has written the song that we are beginning to sing this weekend. Chew them over, meditate on the truth of them. Worship Christ, our risen savior:
He Has Risen by Cody DeGraff
With Easter a week away I wanted to share with you a great quote from J.I. Packer.
“Had Jesus not risen, but stayed dead, the bottom would drop out of Christianity, for four things would then be true.
First, to quote Paul, 1 Corinthians 15.17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
Second, there is then no hope of our rising either; we must expect to stay dead
Third, if Jesus Christ is not risen, then he is not reigning and will not return, and every single item in the [Apostle's] Creed after “suffered and was buried” will have to be struck out.
Fourth, Christianity cannot be what the first Christians thought it was – fellowship with a living Lord who is identical with the Jesus of the Gospels. The Jesus of the Gospels can still be your hero, but he cannot be your savior.” (emphases mine)
[page 108; Jesus Keep me Near the Cross, Nancy Guthrie]
Why does the resurrection matter? Because without it, “The Jesus of the Gospels can still be your hero, but he cannot be your savior.”
You can purchase this book here
“My heart melts at the love of Jesus, my brother, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, married to me, dead for me, risen for me; he is mine and I am his.” pg. 24
Valley of Vision is a series of blog post that will contain quotes from the book Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
This weekend is once again our UAsked sermon where you have the chance to have your questions answered during Atmosphere. If you haven’t asked any thing yet, head on over and do that! The questioning closes tonight, so don’t be late!
Where we get our answers
We believe in the absolute authority of the Bible and echo Paul when he says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3.16). The Bible, God’s Word, is his truth, and we must go to Him for that truth.
So whether answering questions about temptations, or Jesus’ skin color, we cling to the authority of the Scriptures and call on Him for wisdom that comes by His Spirit.
Join us this weekend for UAsked.
“Spirit, Help me not only to receive him but to walk in him, depend upon him, commune with him, be conformed to him, follow him, imperfect, but still pressing forward, not complaining of labor, but valuing rest, not murmuring under trials, but thankful for my state.” pg 37
Valley of Vision is a series of blog post that will contain quotes from the book Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
Today our Oak Hill campus director Richard Bradstreet along with Robert Bradstreet, Ben Foss, and Nate Jillson will be joining EABC’s Andros team on their trip to the Bahamas to work with our missionaries there. While there, they’ll stay in a village called Red Bays where they can spend time with the teens and villagers that will be benefiting from their service there.
Not a vacation
You may think, “Mission trip? To the Bahamas? Yeah, I’m sure those surfers REALLY need Jesus”.
Well they do, but that’s not why they are going. Over the course of this week, the team will be:
Pray for them
Will you join your Atmosphere leaders in praying for these guys as they travel? The team leaves today at 6 AM and will be returning next Sunday at 10:30. Pray for their safety. Pray for wisdom for the leaders. Pray for salvation of the lost there, and success in the projects. Please don’t forget to lift them up.
Next weekend at Atmosphere we will be answering your questions. We would love to hear what you want to know more about. Anything goes, so CLICK HERE and let us know what you want to hear us talk about. Here are some of the questions that have been asked thus far:
Questions:
- Do the music you listen to and the movies you watch affect your christian walk and is it wrong to watch or listen to them?
- Why do some Christians oppose things like Harry Potter and Twilight and yet others embrace them without a second thought?
- Why is it so easy to give in to temptation when I know that it is wrong?
- If you have done everything to overcome your past, you are in a fight club, walking through the steps to change, and moving forward, how do you keep growing if others continuously bring up your past and won’t drop certain problems in your life?
What About You?
Let us know what it is you want to know! Fill out the uAskend question form.
