We are starting a new BridgeKidz series with the tagline, “Worshipping God Every Day”
Honor the LORD our God. Worship at His feet. He is holy.
Psalm 99:5 (NIrV)
Synopsis
We worship God in church with songs of praise, but that is just one part of worship. Worship can happen anywhere and at any time, regardless of the circumstances of our lives. Worship can happen when we sing, when we pray, and when we show love to others.
Objective
Kids will learn that every day we can praise God in some way.
Dates
Our series begins on Sunday, March 3, 2024, and will continue through May 5, 2024.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
Genesis 50:20ab
That may be the closest we come to describing the happenings in the Garden.
Jesus is about to be betrayed, denied, and much more leading to death. He knows it’s coming. He knows the immense pain and suffering about to take place – and at the hands of His friends and religious leaders who were supposed to welcome the Messiah and prepare the people for Him.
But the main antagonist in this story is the one who is not named – “Satan,” Jesus’ adversary.
He tempted Jesus at the beginning of His ministry and would return at “an opportune time.” He entered Judas and was looking for the right time to betray Him. He is looking forward to “sifting” Peter, leading him to deny Jesus. His chaos in this moment cause the disciples, not to stand firm in the temptation, but flea in fear.
This is his hour. His moment. And Jesus knows it!
He tries to tell the disciples to pray in this moment and He Himself makes sure to; with a pit in His being that is palpable.
The real battle of good and evil. Spiritual forces, flesh and blood. And this is evil’s time.
Heart-wrenching.
But where Satan and evil will have the moment, Jesus will have the rest of eternity!
Satan still works his wares. Our sinful nature still gives in to temptation and evil. These things still affect us for the moments we’re this side of eternity. But those moments will end; forever!
Jesus made sure of it; in those moments. In the Garden with blood and tears. On the cross in agony and death.
But that moment ended, and the rest – life – is yet to come!
The need for more blood donations is growing daily. Your blood donation is essential to keep the blood supply strong and steady. Without on-going donors, we cannot ensure people have the blood they need.
We’re asking you to come in and donate! The need is real. The need is now.
Come join us for the SEDER MEAL (with Holy Communion) at LifeBridge!
DATE:
March 28, 2024 (“Maundy/Holy Thursday”)
TIME:
7:00 PM
LOCATION:
LifeBridge Sanctuary
CONTACT:
Pastor Scott Heitshusen SHeitshusen@LifeBridgeSealy.com (713) 965-6761
The meal is FREE (though a freewill offering will be taken)! ALL people and ages are welcome!
Due to the extreme preparations needed, signup for the meal is needed for EACH PERSON ATTENDING. DEADLINE is SUNDAY, MARCH 24! – You can do so in the form below.
Mark it on your calendar, sign-up, and plan to attend! You won’t be disappointed!
Jews the world over celebrate the Seder as a reminder to the Passover. For Christians, we see the deep and deliberate connection of the Passover and Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). We will see the how God has saved us from death by the blood of His Lamb, Jesus, just as He saved Israel from death through the blood of lambs in the Exodus.
And all of this will tie into the Passion of Jesus through Holy Week as well as Holy Communion.
Join us for a very special Seder Meal for Maundy Thursday. Those gathered will engage in the rituals associated with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples, the traditional…
Jesus, the greatest One of all, tells us in today’s Scripture that He is present as “One who serves” and later as the One “numbered with the transgressors.”
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
Genesis 50:20ab
This at His last supper with His disciples.
Disciples whom He has taught, shared with, suffered with, laughed with, repeatedly banged His head against the wall with.
And what do these disciples, these ones whom Jesus has assigned kingdoms to and who will judge the tribes of Israel; what do they do in this last supper with their Lord and friend?
They argue – again – about whom among them is the greatest.
We are at the beginning of the end of Jesus suffering. The battle of evil in this world and the spiritual realm against God and good is climaxing.
And the disciples are going to be a part of the evil.
They will choose it. They will take part in it. They, the closest to Jesus, who have “stayed with Jesus in His trials” will fall away and deny.
All will seem lost.
And if it were left to the disciples – if it were left to us – that would be the end.
But it wasn’t left to them or us. It was left for the Suffering Servant; the One who took became sin for us; the One who took on all evil and won! Forever!
He is the Victor! He is our Victor! Through faith in Him our place in heaven is secured!
How much greater news is there than that?
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dealing with evil and our part in it and conquering it for us!”
Transfiguration Sunday is an interesting celebration. We harken back to Moses on Mt. Sinai, speaking face to face with God and Jesus being transfigured before Peter, James, and John, with Moses and Elijah on a mountain top.
[Jesus] was transfigured before them, and His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
Mark 9:2b-3
When Moses was in God’s presence, he radiated God’s glory. People couldn’t help but notice the difference that enveloped him. – And they didn’t like it! They didn’t want to hear from Moses – at least not directly. They feared the change. They tried to put off the messenger.
Peter, James, and John didn’t have that same reaction. Rathen than be put-off, they were confounded and confused. They didn’t know how to react to this transformation and or understand what it really meant.
So here’s a question: with whom do we identify? Are we like the Israelites, who fear the glory of God and only somewhat reluctantly follow Him out of fear? Are we like the three apostles who are happy to do something but really no idea what or why? Or are we like Moses, who went to commune with God, listen to Him, and carry His message, His radiance, His glory to those around – regardless of how they may take it?
The fact is, through faith in Jesus we are joined to Him; the One who was transfigured; the One who transfigures us! We are changed, forever! We have His Message of Salvation! We have His glory! We shine with His radiance!
Others should see that! It should have an impact on all those we encounter! We have been saved by the Light of the world, and we are to shine like starts with Him; always!
May we be bold in that calling, and always point to Jesus through it all, so that His saving glory may show the Way to a people still in darkness!
Yes, I know we’ve been around for over a decade, so “why a ribbon cutting now?” I hear you say.
LifeBridge joined the Greater Sealy Area Chamber of Commerce on November 9, 2023. They like to have a Ribbon Cutting to welcome new chamber members, create fellowship, let people know more about their new members, etc.
LifeBridge’s Ribbon Cutting will take place on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM.
