Get Connected with Passion!

Throughout 2010 our goal is to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ. During the month of April I encourage you to get connected with passion. Next week is Holy Week, a time for us to focus on a portion of the gospels called the passion narratives. These are the passages that provide a description of the suffering of Christ, especially his trial and execution.

The passion of Christ speaks volumes about the love of Christ. As we become better acquainted with the passion of Christ, the Spirit seems to stir in us more passion to serve Christ by serving others.

On Easter Sunday, we begin a new sermon series from the gospel of John entitled Passion with a Purpose. Just as we have been reading the book of Acts together as a church family, I invite you to join me in reading through the gospel of John in two or more translations during the months of April and May. In addition to the resurrection story in John 20, the gospel of John includes many of Jesus’ teachings about love, service, and abundant life.

As we prepare to reflect on the suffering of Christ and to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I am praying that God will kindle passion with a purpose within each of us.

Series: Passion with a Purpose

Apr 4 Life Is Stronger John 20:1-18

Apr 11 When You Can’t Put Your Finger On It John 20:19-31

Apr 18 Recognizing the Need to Feed John 21:15-19

Apr 25 Recognizing the Voices You Hear John 10:22-30

May 2 They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love John 13:31-35

May 9 What True Love Says to Me John 14:23-29

May 16 Jesus Loves the Children of the World John 17:20-26

May 23 Get a Real Life! John 10:1-10

May 30 Listening to Your Counselor John 16:5-15

Experiencing the Passion of Holy Week

This week is Holy Week…a time to experience the passion of Christ. Around the globe, Christians and other inquirers will be reflecting on the events leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of Holy Week and how can I explore its deeper meaning?

The tradition of observing Holy Week seems to have originated in the East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Each day of Holy Week is significant, however, for those of us whose faith was primarily shaped in non-liturgical communities, at least four days call for guided reflection. Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve. On Maundy Thursday evening, many faith communities re-enact “the last supper” when Jesus broke bread and shared the cup with his disciples by receiving the elements of communion. Good Friday is an occasion to feel the passion of Christ and to think on the enormity of his suffering. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.”

Because of the sequential significance of these events, Holy Week is best approached slowly, with a disposition of holy exploration, an attitude of sacred awe. In his book, The Gift of Worship, Weldon Gaddy underscores the opportunity we have to experience a profoundly meaningful experience of Jesus’ resurrection: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more comprehensive ministry of compassion among the people of God.”

This year as you embark on a spiritual journey through Holy Week, rather than merely reading the historical account, open your senses and your imagination to both the tragedy and the triumph of this pivotal week in history. Take time to listen to the voices of the crowd as Jesus enters the city. Hear again the teachings of Jesus and contemplate his days in Jerusalem. Feel the water touch your feet, taste the morsel of bread on your tongue and the sip of wine rolling over your lips. Sense the disgust of his betrayal by a friend. Smell the stench of the scourge and hear the mocking sarcasm of the trial. Grieve over the cruel injustice of his execution and experience the passion of his incomprehensible suffering. And ultimately…consider the mysterious power of the resurrection and the hope generated by the notion that life invested in Christ cannot be extinguished, even by the reality of death.

The events of Holy Week invite and inspire us to follow Jesus, not out of religious obligation or fear of eternal damnation, but because we resonate with his teaching, we identify with his vision, and we belong….we just belong to his cause and to his kingdom. A slow and deliberate journey through Holy Week may re-energize your faith and motivate you to live and serve with passion.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister of First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Experience the Passion During Holy Week

Next week is Holy Week, we will join with Christians around the world in reflecting on the events that led to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The tradition of observing Holy Week seems to have originated in the Christian East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Each day of Holy Week is important but four days call for guided reflection. Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve. Good Friday is a day to review the passion and suffering of Christ on the cross. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.”

Holy Week is best experienced one day at a time. In his book, The Gift of Worship, Weldon Gaddy underscores the opportunity we have to experience a profoundly meaningful experience of Jesus’ resurrection: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more comprehensive ministry of compassion among the people of God.”

This year as you approach Holy Week, reflect on the larger gospel story of the experiences of Jesus. Take time to listen to the voices of the crowd. Hear again the teachings of Jesus and ponder his days in Jerusalem. Contemplate the cruel injustice of the cross. Experience the passion of Christ’s suffering. And ultimately, celebrate the mystery of the resurrection with renewal of your vows to faithfully follow Jesus. A slow and deliberate journey through Holy Week may re-energize your faith and equip you to live with passion.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we complete our study of the book of Acts, and as we begin this strategic journey through Holy Week.

Stand Strong in the Face of Trials

Can you believe it? There are only three Sundays remaining in our series on Acts: When Church Comes to Life. This Sunday we are in Acts 26 examining Paul’s testimony before Felix and Agrippa. As we read about Paul’s steady faith and extraordinary courage, we are encouraged to “Stand Strong in the Face of Trials.”

At the beginning of the Mid-morning service this week, we will be celebrating the baptism of those who have recently made decisions for Christ. Our next opportunity for baptism is scheduled for Easter Sunday April 4.

During March our emphasis is on Connecting with the Spirit. When a believer is motivated by the Holy Spirit, that believer moves to a more effective level of Christian service. We believe that the Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously in our world and in our community. There is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our First Baptist Family. Will you set your sails to that wind?

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour this Saturday evening! I look forward to seeing you “on time” as we gather for worship and Bible study.

Getting Acquainted with the Spirit

Acts 19:1-7

(sermon outline for March 7)

In 2010 we are aiming to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ.

During March, I am challenging all of our First Baptist Family to connect with the Spirit.

Introduction:

1. The Holy Spirit is perhaps the most misunderstood and underrated member of the trinity.

2. The primary way we experience God in this life is through our connection with the Spirit.

3. In Acts 19, Paul encounters a group of religious persons who have knowledge of John’s message of repentance, but they have not yet discovered the good news of Jesus. It is only after they commit their lives to Christ that they receive the Holy Spirit.

3. Anytime we study or discuss the Holy Spirit within small groups, a Sunday School class, or a worship service, there are some preliminary things we should remember:

• Not everyone uses the same language about the Holy Spirit.
• We should never believe that our experience with the Holy Spirit makes us spiritually elite or superior. (One sure sign you’ve got the wrong spirit is that you have an inflated ego.)
• The Spirit will never lead us in a direction contrary to what we know from the Bible about God and Jesus.
• Be careful not to confuse the Holy Spirit with emotions. Emotions should not be perceived as a synonym or a substitute for the Holy Spirit.

Outline:

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God in our world, the very personality or Spirit of Jesus who resides within the life of the Christian. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, it is not a miniature replica of the human Jesus who comes to live within us, it is the Spirit of Jesus, who is also the Spirit of God.

2. What does the Spirit do?

The following are among many items included in the job description of the Holy Spirit:

• To convict us of sin. (John 16:8)
• To confirm (assure) our faith. (Romans 8:16)
• To comfort our grief. (John 14:16)
• To guide our decision-making. (John 16:13)

3. How should I respond to the Spirit?

• To agree (confess) when the Spirit convicts us. (I John 1:9-10)
• To obey by following the Spirit’s leadership.
• To receive what the Spirit gives….for example, spiritual gifts, encouragement, guidance, reconciliation, healing, etc.

Conclusion:

1. When a believer is motivated by the Holy Spirit, that believer moves to a more effective level of Christian service.

2. The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously in our world and in our community.

3. There is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our First Baptist Family. Will you set your sails to that wind?

Getting Acquainted with the Spirit

As we continue our study in the book of Acts, When Church Comes to Life, during March I am challenging our First Baptist Family to connect with the Spirit as we learn about the indwelling, empowering, encouraging presence of God who strengthens us for daily living.

The Holy Spirit is not a paranormal anomaly, nor does the Spirit leave behind a trail of glow-in-the-dark heavenly ectoplasm. The Holy Spirit is not a divine ghost drifting aimlessly through space waiting to land on unsuspecting believers, nor is the Spirit synonymous with erratic or ecstatic emotion. The Holy Spirit is the personality of Jesus that comes to reside in the life of a believer during one’s initial salvation experience. The Holy Spirit is the dimension of God that convicts us of sin, comforts us in grief, re-enforces us with boldness, and guides us in decision-making.

This Sunday we are investigating Acts 19:1-7 as we are Getting Acquainted with the Spirit. We are also planning to share a few moments of Parent/Child Dedication in each of our worship services.

On Sunday March 14 we will be celebrating the baptism of those who have recently confirmed their decision to follow Jesus. If you have a friend or family member who has recently made a commitment to Christ, encourage them to contact me or one of our ministers so that we can assist them in preparing for the important step of baptism.

Are you experiencing a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our fellowship? The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously.

Connect with the Spirit in March and stand in awe of what God can do in the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

Connect with the Spirit in March

In March we are continuing our study in the book of Acts as we focus on the good things that happen When Church Comes to Life.

During our study in Acts and throughout 2010, we are learning to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ. This month, I am challenging every member of our FBC family to connect with the Spirit as we learn about the indwelling, empowering, encouraging presence of God’s Spirit in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is not a paranormal anomaly. The Holy Spirit is not a divine ghost drifting aimlessly through space waiting to land on a believer. The Holy Spirit is the personality of Jesus that comes to reside in the life of a believer through the experience of conversion. The Holy Spirit is the dimension of God that convicts us of sin, comforts us in grief, re-enforces us with boldness, and guides us in decision-making.

Have you noticed that there is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our fellowship? The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously.

Connect with the Spirit in March and stand in awe of what God can do in the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

Sermon topics for March:

Mar 7 Have You Received the Holy Spirit? Acts 19:1-24

Mar 14 Almost Persuaded Acts 26:1-32

Mar 21 Courage on Shipwreck Island Acts 27:13-26

Mar 28 Two Years in a Rental House Acts 28:17-31