Just Chillin

So, I have been prepping for the Easter Sunday message reading and re-reading the Gospel texts.  I can't get Matthew 28:2 out of my head and heart.  Specifically the part that says that not only the angel rolled the stone away but that the angel sat on it.  He sat on it.  What's up with that?  The picture I have in my head is the picture of the angel just chillin.  Why?  Jesus, just rose.  His guy is victorious.  I think he sat because he didn't have a care in the world, he was taking a load off, just taken it easy proclaiming the message to us that because Jesus rose we can chill.   Jesus said, "Cast all your anxiety on me."  He also said, "Do not worry."  We are invited once again by Heaven, "To come and see."  May God enable us to sit on the rock, to sit on Jesus, to sit on His word, and in that may we chill.

The main thing

In prep for this weeks sermon I have been reading and rereading the 4 gospel accounts of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday.  This day for the ancients was known as lamb selection day for the Passover.  Scholars tell us that in that time the city of Jerusalem went from 20,000 people to 2 million and over 250,000 lambs were selected to be slaughtered for the forgiveness of sins on that day.  I find myself thinking once again in the midst of the magnitude of that day that the main thing is the main thing because the main thing that is the main thing.  If you are wondering what the main thing let me remind you of what Jesus said, "So that you know I have the authority to forgive sins, I say get up and walk."  The lamb's blood was spilt and the lamb that was slain got up and walked. The check didn't bounce.  We are for forgiven.

Where IT belongs.

      So, we are starting a new sermon series this weekend that is going to take us through Easter.  We are calling it, "Weight."  This weekend we are going to dig into Hebrews 12 and talk about the weight of sin.  The format of the sermon this week is going to be a bit different because of the sin that Hebrews 12 addresses and the fact that I am hoping to keep the sermon somewhere between a G & PG.  Sexual Immorality is one of the 3 specific sins that Hebrews 12 mentions so we are going to go with IT.  Yep.
      The other day I was taking Toby "10" and Graham "7" into school which is also where I work.  In my hand I had a book called, "talking to your kids about sex."  So, I showed both the boys the title of the book, they both can read, and I decided to have a little talk with them.  The little talk went about 2 minutes.  I simply asked Toby who are you allowed to have sex with.  Toby's response simply and profoundly was, "My wife dad."  Then I reminded them both that I am here to talk if they ever have questions and then I prayed the rest of the day for my children that they will be able to fight against and flee from the temptations that they will face and if they fall in a sexual sin that they will experience the restoration power of forgiveness.
      O God let Your word carry more weight than the weighty sin that is so real in our lives.  Search us, break us, fill us, mold us, and use us.   Crush the weight of sin once again with your Weighty (glorious) GRACE! 

The look?

So I am preaching this Wednesday in a sermon series called, "the places of the passion."  The place this Sunday is the courtyard the place of denial. When I was reading and rereading the scripture I couldn't help but get stuck on the look that Jesus gave Peter.  What was that look about as Peter denied him? Was it a look of disappointment or a look of compassion? Interesting enough as I dug into this look the promises of Jesus to Peter that he was praying for him that he would not fail because of this denial and that he would be renewed to be an even stronger witness stood out to me like never before in my faith journey.  Come to find out the courtyard is not mainly about the denial but about this look.   Sermon writing for me is a very humbling task.  Each sermon prep reminds me that I am still a student of Jesus and His scriptures.  In the work of the day often times I pray it would be so much easier for me but then I am reminded of just how vast God is and the word that he has given us.  I am glad to say that I am still reading my bible.  In the word of my dear uncle Buddy who is with Jesus,  "When you preach don't forget the bible." May we continue to be people of the text.