Easter Sunday

     “Live Like Jesus Lives”

Mark 16:1-7 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

 When I “Live Like Jesus Lives” my life is better and I am better at life!

Why?

“Living Like Jesus Lives” means I fear less and am HOPE full!

John 20:19-29 “When the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

1 Peter 1:3, 8-9 “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:      Mark 16:1-8

Tuesday:     Luke 24:36-49

Wednesday:   1 Peter 1:3-9

Thursday:    Matthew 28:1-10

Friday:      John 20:19-29

Saturday:    Psalm 71:1-8

Good Friday

Maundy Thursday

The Courage of Surrender

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday
      The “Great Week” Begins – Luke 19

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

This “Great Week” in Jesus life begins with an account of astonishing Courage... 

Vs. 28-40       38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

… as He Committed to staying the Course!  

Vs. 41-44    “41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it”

…as He cries out with Compassion for the Contrary!  

Vs. 45-48   “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

…as He Combats lies about Him and His house!  

WHY? 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:      Luke 19:37-44
Tuesday:     Luke 22:39-46
Wednesday:   Luke 22:13-20
Thursday:    Luke 22:54-62
Friday:      Luke 23:32-46
Saturday:    Psalm 22:1-5

The Genius of Generosity Part 5

                                                          “Generosity’s Measure”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:
          - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-life!
          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His Kingdom. 
          - I get to trust Him, focusing on His Promises as I step out in faith to give generously.

“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Luke 21

Jesus-styled generosity is measured not by the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice!
It’s a heart thing!  He noticed what was left more than what was given!

“In severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Cor. 8

 Sacrifice – Human view?

 Sacrifice – Jesus view?

 What does this mean for me?      “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” Rom 12

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:        2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:           Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:       Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 4

                                   “The Generosity Key”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:

     - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!                                                          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-                 life!                                                                                                                          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His             Kingdom. 

The KEY to actually living Jesus-styled generosity is faith which always leads to action!  “without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6

Living generously is impossible unless my focus shifts from trusting me to trusting Him!

My Ability and Effort                                 God’s Promises and Resources

What do I need to believe about my God to do what He wants me to do?   “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”   2 Corinthians 8:9

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34                                                                           Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5                                                                         Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10                                                                            Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10                                                                     Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10                                                                               Saturday:        Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 3

Recap:   
 If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
 Jesus styled generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because it takes Faith!

 Getting Practical – First things First

Jesus:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…  Matthew 6
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”Luke 12:21

  Generosity begins with “bring”, “return,” “give” back to God and His Kingdom.  This is the foundation of a generous life!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on our own understanding… Honor the Lord with your wealth the first-fruits of all of your crops” Proverbs 3

“Bring the whole “tenth” into the storehouse….. test Me in this…!” Malachi 3

 What about bringing the “first tenth” (tithe)?

 It is a matter of Trust which always places us under the waterfall of blessing!

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10      
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:        Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 2

Recap:    If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!  

Generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because…

John15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

         … Generosity is lived “by Faith” in flow with the Holy Spirit!

Galatians 5 6 For in Christ Jesus …The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love….13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

           … Generosity helps Free us from small living and joy-robbing idols!

Matthew 6 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

          … Generosity helps us Invest in what matters!
Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:19-24
Tuesday:         John 15:9-13
Wednesday:   Luke 12:13-21      
Thursday:       Galatians 5:13-18; 22-25
Friday:            2 Corinthians 9:11-15
Saturday:        Psalm 84