Category: Jesus!

Today, we say ‘see ya later’

On By MarkIn God's Glory, Jesus!, Memorial, Zac3 Comments

Tough day. Glorious day. I dunno, you pick. Life with Jesus is awesome. Death on this planet sucks. I hate goodbyes. In just a bit, we’ll see Zac’s ‘earthly tent’ go in the ground. But we all know with clear confidence that on Sunday afternoon, Zac said ‘hey’ to Jesus, face to face. Seriously. And because of that, we do what we do. Tell as many people as possible that Jesus makes that gift available.

If you haven’t seen this for awhile, go ahead and take a look. http://www.hello-righton.com/2010/03/01/zacs-story-video/

Can’t wait to see Jesus, face to face. Until then, to God be the glory.

The Call of Grace

On By MarkIn GRACE, Jesus!Leave a comment

Grace. That’s what’s on my mind. It’s on my heart, it’s on my agenda. His grace fills me and drives me. It’s why I’m alive and it’s what I’m called to proclaim. Grace restores and revives. It brings freedom & responsibility. It’s a really good thing. Yep, it is a God-thing. Jesus loves us. Jn 3:16 Eph 2:8-9 Jn 20:30-31

Let’s pray together

On By MarkIn Jesus!2 Comments

This Sunday is Resurrection Sunday, aka Easter. But then so is every Sunday really. We worship God as a church on Sunday because of the resurrection on Sunday.  Yet, we all know this Sunday is a day that more churches will have more guests than usual.  So, let’s enjoy it. Let’s be ready.

I’ve asked the people of Grace to pray/invite/welcome. Pray for opportunities to invite someone to church. Then take the opportunities God gives you. Invite them. Say the words. They won’t bite. They may reject. Probably won’t even laugh. But there are some that are just waiting for you to invite them. Then everyone reach out and welcome people at church on Sunday. Again, like you do every week!

I want to pray for and with you. If you’ll post a comment, I’ll join you in praying for your friend. Together, let’s pray that this week, though it really is just another week, will be special for someone who will come because they were invited and they will have their life changed because of Jesus. Okay? Let’s do this together. Alright, go…

Who’s waiting to be asked?

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, Jesus!Leave a comment

I read the other day that 30% of people would go to church with you on Easter if they were just asked. Wow. Think about it. Almost one of three are simply waiting for a personal, thoughtful invitation. In 12 days we celebrate the biggest deal of all time. We like to call it a Resurrection Celebration. Truth is, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday. But, I’m glad we set aside one day to remember and share this amazing truth with as many as possible.

Here’s what you do. Make a list of 10 people you’d like to invite. Pray for them. Pray that they’d be open and ready. Be intentional about inviting them. Do it over the back fence, or over the little wall that separates your desks. Maybe send them a “happy Easter’ card now, inviting them to join you for church and lunch. This isn’t complicated. Not necessarily easy either. But really, we have the greatest news on the planet and we have a special day to highlight the central truth of our faith in Jesus as Lord and giver of life. So, whether you attend Grace with me or you’re in a different church, let’s invite someone to come alongside as we follow Jesus!

Thanks

On By MarkIn GRACE, Jesus!, ThanksLeave a comment

Okay. Here we go. The week of thanksgiving is upon us.  I know, I know, it’s all predictable and everything, but seriously, we have much to be thankful for, and we need to give thanks.

Giving thanks seems a bit different than merely saying thanks.  It’s easy to say thanks. Especially right after we’ve somehow been motivated.  Someone gives you something, you say thanks. Someone holds the door, say thanks.  The last cookie is offered to you, you better say thanks, and maybe break it in half!

But to ‘give’ thanks takes a little more thought. And it shouldn’t be limited by the season.  Giving thanks is like going out of your way to ‘say’ thanks.  Don’t just say thanks for the obvious right in front of you, the open door, the cookie (half). Think and consider what you have, what you are blessed by and then go out of your way to give the thanks to whom it is due.

I want to give God thanks. For a lot of things.  My wife, my family heritage, my faith, my church family, my town, my struggles, my friends, staff, neighbors, my health, my home.  I want to especially give Him thanks for bringing 8 people to Himself this week.  Eight people that are now in a personal relationship with God all because of His great love for them.  Like me, none of the eight deserve this gift they received, they couldn’t buy it, couldn’t work long enough or hard enough to earn it. But because of Jesus, they have it.  And so do I. For that I’m most thankful.

The Oddness of Sickness

On By MarkIn church, Jesus!Leave a comment

Just a quick update:
I’ve been in bed ALL week since last Sunday afternoon. I was feeling a bit better on Friday, then today, it kinda hit like a second punch. I’m guessing it’s your basic cold stuff, but it’s miserable. Now Laurie is down with similar stuff.

I’m getting ready to come to Grace tomorrow and preach. I feel bad that I may have to simply come in and out the back like I did last week. I really am missing people.

Thanks for praying for us as we take care of each other and get through this crud. Aside from health stuff, I really am excited to talk about Jesus tomorrow and the amazing gift He gave us. Hope to at least wave to you from the stage. Blessings.

Come Here…You!

On By MarkIn Bible, church, Jesus!Leave a comment

Throughout our study in John we’re noticing Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him.  Yesterday I broke it down to three invitations: Come and See – Come and Follow – Come and Die!

Where are you with Jesus?  He invites us to “come and see”. Check it out. “You gotta see this!” And that’s more than just an invitation to a great church service with amazing music and fog machines.  That’s about an honest look at Christianity and it’s claims.  Remember the gal from Samaria, “Come and see this Jesus, you gotta check this out”.  She could say that because she had already seen, and believed.

“Come and follow” is the invitation to become a genuine follower of Christ by placing your faith in Him as Savior. Exchanging your life for His. Crossing the line of faith.  Repenting of your sins, seeing yourself and your sins as filthy rags, and telling Jesus you believe WHO He is, and WHAT He’s done for you.  Pray the prayer!  I hope several did that at Grace yesterday. If YOU never have, I hope you will.

“Come and die” is the hard part of giving your all to Jesus.  This isn’t the same as being saved. This is an act of the (already)child of God giving full surrender to a life dedicated to the mission of Jesus.  There is a cost to consider.  This is obedience.  This is where God calls/leads us to give our all.

Wherever you are, Jesus reaches out His arms and says, “come here…come to Me!”

Aren’t you glad?

Holy Anticipation

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, Jesus!, Pray, Worship2 Comments

I’m in my office on a Saturday morning going over notes for tomorrow, cleaning up the place, and…oh yeah, listening to the Grace Worship Team rehearsing for tomorrow. As I’m listening to them, I’m thinking of tomorrow morning at Grace. I’m anticipating God’s blessings on His people as we come together FOR Him. I’m picturing hundreds of people lifting their voices and some even their hands as we worship God as His holy community. We are HIS. He’s our Abba, our God, our Saviour, our Life-giver, and our Friend.

Whether you attend Grace on Sunday or your church in your community, do you go with a sense of anticipation? Here are some thoughts to help you get ready for the holy gathering of the community:

  • Lord, what will you teach me about YOU?
  • Who will I see tomorrow that needs a fresh look at YOU, someone I can love and encourage?
  • What will I learn from your WORD?
  • How can you use ME to bless someone else in this holy community?
  • Who will be there tomorrow for the first time, seeking YOU?
  • Who will be there hanging on by a thread, needing more of YOU?
  • Lord, what can I give you?
  • Lord teach me your ways.
  • Lord show me your glory.
  • Lord, bless our holy gathering.
  • Lord, may I be rested and thoughtful as I approach this sacred moment.

I seriously can’t wait to gather with God’s people and our many guests to see what He’s got in store for us as we bring our offering of praise to Him. To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Rom 16:27
to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Chris

Ordinary or Extraordinary

On By MarkIn Bible, Jesus!, Preaching, Teaching4 Comments

Perhaps there are many ways to distinguish between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Be it with someone’s performance, or someone’s character, or the “new car” versus the old one. Somethings are ordinary, and that’s good. Then there are the extraordinary. When it comes to life, do you want ordinary, or have you considered extraordinary?

I found a definition in Acts 5. (Best to read the chapter, save me writing out a whole sermon here!)

“We must obey God rather than men” 29

What made Peter’s confession so strong was that behind this statement was a life of amazing adventure. Extraordinary adventure that seemed to follow these Apostles. All they did was live it out.

Obviously we have a pretty cool healing ministry happening when people from all around Jerusalem are bringing their sick to just fall under the shadow of Peter. That’s not normal. And it’s really not something we’re suppossed to shoot for today when we think of being extraordinary. (Though I must admit it would be pretty cool to do.)

After the guys were imprisoned for this extraordinary ministry, “an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

So, they did.

The next day the Apostles find themselves again in front of the council. Mr. BigShot councilman says, “I told you plainly not to teach in THIS NAME…” That’s when Peter gives us these words that mark the line between ordinary and extraordinary.

You see the ordinary response from most of us would be… “Well, gosh, if they don’t want me saying the name of Jesus outloud, maybe I should find a more subtle way to express my beliefs.” I say ordinary because that’s so what we would expect today. That’ how we respond. That’s probably exactly what I would have done. I mean these are powerful people telling me what to say and not say. But not the extraordinary Peter.

So, check out verse 42, “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

THAT’S IT!

That’s the extraordinary life. It’s not about shadows that heal, or standing before the powerful leaders and getting all up in their face about your beliefs. It’s not about miracles and amazing things that make you say, WOW. No, it’s about being about Jesus! Seriously, that’s it. That’s the extraordinary life.

For the apostles, to “obey God, rather than man” meant to preach and teach Jesus Christ. It was more than a Sunday morning declaration, it was a way of living.

Did it cost them something? Um…yeah. v40.

What’s the extraordinary life look like for you today? I’m just sayin

What do you think?