Grace, Faith, and New Life God provides for the faithful who are at their wit’s end (1 Kings 19:1-15a). His covenant love rescues those who have proven to be obstinate and slow to honor his ways (Isaiah 65:1-9). Jesus Christ makes us children of God through faith. Those who are baptized into Christ are heirs of God’s covenant and members of his community (Galatians 3:23-29). Praise God! Jesus has the power to cast out evil and has come to rescue those who are far from God (Luke 8:26-39).
Wisdom, Beauty, and the Life of God “Wisdom, in the form of Jesus, has always been with the Father (Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31). When we see the beauty of creation, we are amazed that God has given us the chance to be his children (Psalm 8). We are grateful that we may be at peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-5) and that we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16: 12-15).”
Come Holy Spirit “It is not our achievements that matter (Genesis 11:1-9) but the breath-taking works of the Lord (Psalm 104:24-34,35b). Because we are his children and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-17), empowered by God, we are able to achieve more than we could ever accomplish by ourselves. Christ has left his peace with us, so we need not be troubled or afraid (John 14:8-17,25-27).”
Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail for casting out unclean spirits in the name of Jesus. In their suffering, they exhibited joy and trusted God. God saved them. As a result, the jailer and his household believed in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 16:16-34). We can rejoice because this same God, revealed through Jesus, is above all other gods (Psalm 97). He will come again in power and offers life to all that come to him (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21). Until that time, Jesus desires his children to walk together in unity and love (John 17:20-26).
Through the Holy Spirit, God opens hearts to have faith in Jesus and be baptized into His name. Like Lydia, we should share God’s grace with our own households and offer our resources to those in need (Acts 16:9-15). Throughout history, God has blessed His people and made known His salvation to all the earth (Psalm 67). He has promised to completely restore all of Creation (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5). Until that day, Jesus Christ has left us with the hope of his return and has promised the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:23-29). While on earth, Jesus demonstrated his power to heal and restore (John 5:1-9). We praise God for opening the way of salvation through Jesus and wait in the light of His resurrection.
God has opened the way of salvation for all. Through the Holy Spirit, life and freedom are given to all who believe in Jesus (Acts 11:1-18). Let the whole earth praise God for raising the horn of salvation through Jesus Christ (Psalm 148). He is the Alpha and Omega who promises to quench our thirst and make all things new (Rev 21:1-6). Life and resurrection have been promised by the one who is faithful. Because of this, we should love one another, as Christ loved us (John 13:31-35).
“Through Christ, we are able to do more than we could in our own strength, just as Peter worked a miracle in Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). The Lord is our shepherd (Revelation 7:9-17); he takes care of all our needs (Psalm 23) and offers us eternal life (John 10:22-30).”
“Just as Saul heard the voice of the Lord in the road to Damascus, was blinded and then regained his sight (Acts 9: 1-6), so we who turn from our sins and follow the Lord find joy and healing (Psalm 30). Because we love and trust God’s Son, who became man and dwelled among us (John 21:1-19), we offer him all praises and glory (Revelation 5:11-14).”
“He is risen (John 20:1-18)! In Christ’s resurrection is peace for the world and the promise of a new creation (Isaiah 65:17-25). The Lord is our strength and our salvation. This is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24). Death is destroyed. Christ is risen – he is risen indeed (1 Corinthians 15:19-26).”
“We bear witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection and tell everyone the good news (Acts 5:27-32). Like Thomas, we lay aside our doubts (Jn 20:19-31) and now anticipate his second coming (Rev 1:4-8). We will not die, but live and proclaim what the Lord has done (Ps. 118). Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” –Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
The most striking worship celebrations of the Christian church happen every year at the end of the Lenten season. There is no greater contrast between darkness and light than the eclipse and glory that were experienced by Jesus’ disciples between the Last Supper and Easter morning. For centuries, Christians have marked the progression of these events through worship. They reenact these bedrock events to honor Christ, celebrate salvation, and grow in the way of Jesus through imitation and reflection. This period of time in the Church’s calendar has traditionally been referred to as the Paschal Triduum or “The Three Days.”
“The events framed by Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and his resurrection are some of the most dramatic and theologically important of the entire scriptural narrative. These days feature not only the drama of the triumphal entry, trial, last supper, and crucifixion but also Jesus’ poignant prayers and prophetic teachings. John’s gospel devotes eight of its twenty-one chapters to this week alone—reminding us of a common observation that the gospels are “passion narratives with long introductions.” The week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday and ends with the “three days” (also called the Triduum, from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Easter Day), the period during which we mark Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection.” -from The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd Edition.
