Notes: Sunday 18/02/2024 Catch Up: Watch   || Listen 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan followed him Matthew 4:17,23-25 (NIV) Repent: Teshuvah {Hb} return, as if turning back to something you've strayed or looked away from. Metanoia {Gk} the change of mind which is brought about in repentance. The good news of the Kingdom is that Jesus invites you and me into a new way of living, renewed thinking, and a different direction – in relationship with God and others, where there is light, hope, transformation healing, and incredible love. News about him (Jesus) spread – the good news of the Kingdom. What news (narrative) are you spreading?  Is it the counter-cultural good news of the Kingdom or something else…?! When bad things happen, it’s easy to lose sight of the Kingdom reality. All the experiences we go through in life have an impact on the people we become (Spiritual formation) Spiritual Formation in the way of Jesus (Discipleship/ Apprenticeship) is different, in that it is an intentional move toward being formed by the Holy Spirit, rather than by life alone. “Spiritual Formation [in the way of Christ] the process of being conformed to Christ for the sake of others.”  M. Robert Mullholland JR. It happens by the Holy Spirt, when hearts are opened in deeper and deeper ways to God, and is aided by habits that position you in environments of change (e.g. showing up to worship each week, being part of a community / Life Group, reading the Bible, prayer, simplicity, generosity, silence & solitude, teaching & reflection etc). If requires your participation, presence, and patience. It is not something you can do, but something God does in you – however, you can put yourself in the right environment. In the Critical Journey, the authors identify 6 stages in the life of faith and estimate that 85% of followers of Jesus never progress beyond Stage 3. (We will dig deeper into this in the weeks ahead, and you can find the link to the book below. Here is short summary from Pete Scazzero) Some reasons for this lack of progression Discipleship can often tend to be hyper-intellectualized, with a Bible Study /program /course for everything. This is not unhelpful, but this alone will not bring about transformation! Deeper work is needed (i.e. more than just intellectual learning) In The Connected Life, the author identifies 3 key areas where formation happens. Life of community / deep relationships Life of (contemplative) prayer Suffering in life There are barriers that can keep us from moving deeper into these areas Fear of rejection/hurt can prevent deep relationships. Distraction/busyness in life can prevent us from hearing God’s voice Tendency to avoid pain/escape, as highlighted well in Tim Keller’s Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, keeps us from finding the presence and invitations of God amid pain. We have to see the apprenticeship is not a linear path or a journey to walk alone. It’s way more like a path that winds and turns, with ups and downs, sometimes wrong turns and dead ends. Even so,  you keep moving forward, in the presence of God and in the community following the invitations of Jesus amid pain, and being formed more into his likeness, for the sake of others, and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom as we go! Extra reading Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, Tim Keller The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith, Janet O. Hagberg (Author), Robert A. Guelich The Connected Life: The Art and Science of Relational Spirituality, Todd W. Hall

Notes: Sunday 11/02/2024 Catch Up: Watch   || Listen In life, things shape us -  unspoken cultures at work, relationships, families, social media, and the stories we tell ourselves. Spiritual formation is something that has happened and is happening to you, some things deform you, some things transform you. Good news… unlike the rocks that are at the mercy of being shaped by the ocean, you can move! This means intentionally taking stock of what is shaping you, and positioning yourself in environments that bring about positive change. Spiritual formation in Christ  (aka discipleship, apprenticeship), is the process of becoming more like, and closer to Jesus - the goal, is to be transformed into a person of love. 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:17-20 For Jewish rabbis and their apprentices, learning was fully integrated into life, a lived reality. Today, being a "Christian" is often just about believing the right things, and is disconnected from a lived reality. Faith in Jesus is an add-on to our lives, not systemic change. Someone may say “I believe,” but just saying this doesn’t really affect how they live life. Jesus' invitation is to systemic change: a whole new way of doing life, a kingdom way. The Kingdom is not a geographical place, or just "in heaven". It is where the rule and reign of God is, where God's will is done! One of the dangers inherent in many current approaches to spiritual formation is that we tend to reduce it to a privatized matter that can be handled primarily by offering a program or a retreat here and there. We are looking for an attractive add-on, not systemic change. Ruth Hailey Barton Paul writes, in the context of arguments about who eats what passing judgment on each other: 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17 Righteousness, Peace, Joy - these are all relational words. Righteousness: Restored into right relationship with God through Jesus. Truth, integrity vs Deceit, Shame, Guilt, Hidden, Peace: Irene (Gk) Shalom (Hb) - goodwill, not just calm, vs chaos, anxiety, tension, insecurity Joy: glad to be with you, vulnerability, strong connections vs isolation, superficial, lonely ​1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 Kingdom is where God's will is done: Good, pleasing, perfect: Love God, Love People CONNECTION is at the heart of the Kingdom. The problem we have today is that while we are "connected" we are really more disconnected (isolated, lonely) than ever before - and it has a huge impact on spiritual formation. Two major trends: breakdown of the family and the decline of the community (Todd Hall) An Assumption to be Corrected 1/ “There is an assumption that the appropriation of biblical knowledge will by itself lead to spiritual maturity.” Barna Research Group The State of Discipleship 2015 Formation happens in deep relationships, vulnerability, there is both an explicit knowing and implicit, internal knowing… A Battle to be Recognized There are forces at work in our culture, and in our hearts and habits, that disconnect us from ourselves and others…extreme forms of individualism and materialism. This “good life” values independence over friendship, personal comfort over commitment to others, solitary achievements over the common good, and economic success over social and emotional well-being. Todd Hall - The Connected Life Local Church Practises - Tithing - break the power of materialism - Serving - commitment to others, common good - Life groups A place for connection and emotional healing A Choice to be Made Will you stay at the current level of disconnection, or move toward a deeper connection? Past hurts can lead us to believe that we don’t need others. However, "a deep and authentic connection with God is hindered by hiding pain, even if unconsciously" (Todd Hall). We may think we relate to God differently to people, but what's going on inside is pretty much the same. That means when you have been hurt, or let down by people close to you, in some way, you internally might expect God to do that, even though you "know" that He is good - and so healing is needed! All of us want to know and be known, to love and be loved, to know we have value and purpose. This is found in loving connections with God and others. We are born to connect and we need to belong.

Teaching Notes: Sunday 04/02/2024 Catch Up: Watch   || Listen Who you are becoming is the most important thing about you! It’s the most important thing about you because it’s the only thing about you that you take with you into eternity. This is why intentional spiritual formation in the way of Jesus is a crucial part of the Christian life. Real human growth doesn’t come through head knowledge alone but through relational knowledge and strong attachment bonds. Todd Hall In other words, to make intentional changes in the journey through life we need strong relationships with others. Spiritual formation happens best within healthy relationships with other believers. A healthy church community matters because we believe the lies we tell ourselves and we need others to speak truth and life over us and into us. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:7 As we include other people in our lives and journey together in authenticity, we are shaped by authentic connections and crucial conversations. Iron sharpens iron and if we are intentional about loving one another and leaning into relationships, even when it’s challenging, we will be transformed, sharpened, and spiritually strengthened. How do we do this? Simply begin by choosing to obey Jesus’ command to love people! This is what I command you: love one another. John 15:17 Some reflection questions that may help: Who am I becoming? Who is God calling me to be? What type of people do I need to surround myself with to be the best version of myself? In every situation ask yourself, “What would love do?”

Teaching Notes: Sunday 28/01/2024 Catch Up: Watch   || Listen Where-ever you might be on your spiritual journey, you might be wondering if things can change. YES! Two basic ingredients are required for change: Discomfort & Action The action/answer: Apprenticeship Jesus aka discipleship aka spiritual formation aka following Jesus. It is the process of becoming more like, and closer to Jesus. It's a way of life, not just believing and doing the "right" things. Staring at the salvation moment, there is a paradox of becoming who you already are - Position and Progress. This way of life requires your Presence, Participation, and Patience Why apprentice yourself to Jesus: 1/ Relationship is what you have been created for and where you find love, purpose, value 2/ Redemption Story I believe the aim of God in human history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons with God himself at the very center of this community as its prime Sustainer and most glorious Inhabitant Dallas Willard 1/ History Much of what we know as discipleship is based on the assumption that knowledge is the way to change: understanding the truth, making better choices, add the Holy Spirit's power to make that work. Right thinking leads to the right action. At the start of the faith journey, this leads to exponential change as a Biblical worldview reframes a secular worldview on things like relationships, finances, sexuality, prayer, etc. The problem is as time goes on, the deeper issues remain largely unresolved - the unJesus stuff is still very much there, and more "right thinking" doesn't seem to help. So the question remains how do you become the type of person who does not Worry about tomorrow, objectify others with lust, have anger outbursts Fantasize about a different life? 2/ Neuroscience The Brain operates in a master/servant system, where the right hemisphere is the master. The master system, which is home to your core identity, personality, and relational processing - is the one that gives you your feelings, like when you see a loved one, or when someone makes a snarky comment and gets angry. The servant system makes choices and solves problems, but is largely informed by the right hemisphere. The enlightenment-based assumption tends to emphasize the left brain: more truth, make better choices but leaves the identity part largely untouched, and while there is change at first, eventually you can end up with sin management / behavior modification. The left hemisphere is what we use to correct problems, but not what we use to develop identity. The solution is to begin to change the master system. This is where the deep work of spiritual formation has to happen - and it comes through relationships. 3/ Relationships (attachments) Simply put: We behave much more according to who (or what) we love rather than what we know or how hard we try. Forming relationships (attachments) forms identity - you become like those that you are close to. In other words, those that we are attached to are the ones that create environments for transformation. So, who are you becoming? 4/ Joy Joy is what your Brain desires most. It is a relational neurological response i.e. an active process. It develops in the right prefrontal cortex, especially in babies. It is primarily facial -face and eyes are very important. Joy is not the same as happiness, as it is independent of circumstances - it is when two people see each other and say "I see you and I am with you." even on the darkest day. Joy is key in forming relationships/ attachments thus shaping identity. In summary joy forms relationships, which shape identity, which ultimately drives behavior. When Jesus is one of your closest people, he has a profound impact on your identity and your behavior. Apprenticeship to Jesus is not just about believing the right things and doing practices, but it is a way of life with Jesus - a deep relationship with him and with others. This is why Jesus is so focused on relationships and the heart. “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A. W. Tozer 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 John 15:9-11 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Heb 12:2 Fix our eyes on Jesus - Jesus came to reveal what God is like. And the Holy Spirit mediates his presence into the lives of his followers. So, you can, with the eyes of your heart, see Jesus in a sense. and experience joy - and you need to know and believe that when he looks at you, there is joy! For the "relational response" set before him, Jesus endured the cross. You make known to me the path of life;  you will fill me with joy in your presence Psalms 16:11 The Hebrew word translated as "your presence" here means "face" - in other words, in the face of God, there is joy! As the church, apprentices of Jesus, we have an incredible role in bringing joy into people's lives by looking them in the eyes and saying "I'm glad to see you". (Thanks to Ruth Hailey Barton Michael Hendricks, Jim Wilder, Dr Iain McGilchrist, John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Wesley, Mike Avery)

Teaching Notes: Sunday 21/01/2024 Catch Up: Watch   || Listen Are you seeing the transformation you want in your life, or do you feel stuck, struggling to change, falling into the same things, living the same year over and over again? It might be time to pay some attention to your spiritual formation! Spiritual formation is the shaping (over time) of the inner being of a person, resulting in the transformation of the entire person, including mind, will, emotions, and relationships. From my conversations with Christians over the years, it seems clear that many who follow Jesus understand the concept of salvation - described in various ways for example: coming to faith, accepting Jesus as savior, moving from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive, being born again and so on. Yet, often these same people feel stuck or frustrated later in their spiritual journey after crossing the line of faith. They understand their sin was canceled, yet they are still chained to the past. They feel like they are in a cycle. They feel like they have hit a ceiling and can't find a breakthrough. The same issues keep coming up again and again. Usually, it's not that people don't want to change, but more a case of being unsure how to change. Perhaps you can relate? I know I can! This is the paradox we touched on last week - "it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20). The old me has gone and the new me has come but the old me often appears to be very much alive! In the context of Christianity, it is the process of the follower/apprentice/disciple becoming more like the teacher/rabbi - Jesus. A working definition of Spiritual Formation (in Christ): The process of becoming like, and closer to, Christ. At the outset, it's important to remember that Spiritual formation is already happening to each of us, whether we are aware of it or not. The stories we tell ourselves, the habits we have, and the environments we place ourselves in all influence the person we are becoming. It is not a brand new label for what we are already doing: worship, listening to preaching, life groups, and serving, but perhaps a different perspective on how it all works together. It should not be a checklist that focuses on doing more “religious activities.” While reading the Bible / listening to preaching is of utmost importance, where there is no translation from information to revelation, there is no transformation - simply because what is in your heart has a much greater influence on who you become than what is in your head. Spiritual formation requires effort on our part. Here is another paradox - without God, there will be no formation, but without our active participation, there will also be no change. Dallas Willard said "Grace is not effort opposed, it's earning opposed. It requires effort and intentionality to put off the old person and put on the new (Eph. 4; Col. 3). Here is a simple representation of the 3 dimensions of spiritual formation in Christ. Where all three intersect is where transformation really begins to happen. 1/ Holy Spirit Spiritual formation may be thought of as a shaping by the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful being, and He lives inside of followers of Jesus. He sanctifies those who believe. He is a teacher, guide, counselor, advocate, coach, and encourager - the empowering presence that you and I need to be transformed. Yet, He will respect your will, and will not force, control, or dictate. He waits to be invited into every area of your life. To God’s elect… who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ… 1 Peter 1:1-2 2/ Heart (Mind, will, emotions) This can be thought of as the shaping of the inmost dimension of a person Mind (core beliefs, thought patterns, strongholds), Will, (Impulsive will, reflective will, embodied will) emotions Emotions (indicators of what's going on inside Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 Guarding your heart (mind, will and emotions) is your responsibility - and requires an awareness of what it is that you are believing, feeling, or running from. This is hard work and requires humility and vulnerability in the presence of the Holy Spirit and community. 3/ Hands, Habits, Head (H-applications... ) Think of this as the application part - the doing bit. Teaching, training, and practicing spiritual disciplines (e.g. prayer, silence & solitude, fasting, Bible reading, Sabbath, Community, Simplifying Worship). If we are not careful, this area becomes the focus (without an open heart and the prompting of the Spirit) and we end up "religiously busy" but with no lasting change. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 2 Peter 1:5-6 _________________________________ Spiritual formation (in Christ) happens when all three dimensions are working together. If you leave everything up to the Holy Spirit but are unwilling to yield your heart, or take any responsibility to do anything, you won't see much change. If you have the heart to change and are following the Holy Spirit, but are unwilling to apply, you won't see much change. If you do all the "things" but ignore the Holy Spirit and present the best while hiding the rest, you guessed it, you won't see much change! Spiritual formation (in Christ) happens when hearts are opened and yielded to God, in the presence of, and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And, there are some practices (both individual and in the communnity) that can keep you on track. Which area needs the most attention for you in this season? _________________________________ Why is this important? Simply put - this is what you are created for, and if you don't walk in this you will go through life feeling like something is missing! Becoming closer to Jesus, and more like Him is what this is all about. It all comes down to a relationship with Jesus himself. Jesus' Mission: Transformation 7 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Jesus' Method: Spirit-Empowered Disciples 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus' Motivation: Love 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Following Jesus is more than doing religious things; it is an intentional way of life. As we own our part, God is able to work in us and with us transforming us to be the kinds of people that we need, and he desires us, to become. This week, develop a daily time and place to connect with God.

Teaching Notes: Sunday 14/01/2024 Catch Up: Watch || Listen #2024theyearofmore … More of Jesus! More faith | More freedom | More formation - Faith - not once off breakthrough moments, but consistent trust, confidence - Freedom - not liberty do whatever, but use freedom to serve (Gal 5:13) - Formation - becoming more like Jesus – through the valley moments Which best describes your life: • Me (God doesn’t feature in your plan) • Me and Jesus (God fits into your plan)| • Jesus and Me (You fit into God’s plan) What would it look like to have more of Jesus? AW Tozer: we are spirits with bodies, not bodies with spirits. God is Spirit. Genesis, Eden, pre-fall – there was unity between God’s Spirit and humankind’s spirits. Sin caused a separation – leaving a vacuum that we try to fill with all kinds of things. Jesus’ work on the cross is the way through which our spirits can be in unity with God’s Spirit – this happens by the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) moving into our lives through faith. This is what the Jesus and (then) Me life is about. This is what you are created for! So, how do we get there? Paul presents a clear picture of this in Galatians 2:20 –the context of this letter is a correction of a false teaching that people needed faith AND tradition to be saved. He makes it clear that the only means of salvation is through Jesus’ work on the cross, and the only means to receive it is by faith. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Jesus and You: Past Note the tense – Paul is stating a fact, not pointing to a feeling/experience There are three truths here: 1/ Son of God Loved and gave himself for you – this is personal 2/ Christ was crucified, and by association, you have been crucified too. Just like when the Springboks won the World Cup last year, so did all who identified as their supporters. 3/ I no longer live - The old position you were in is gone Jesus did not just die for your sins, but you died with him. Your past often shows up, but the truth is that in Jesus, God doesn't hold it against you, and it does not define you. Faith is that you believe this in your heart! BUT…This is only half the story - if you stop here, you will be a "Me & Jesus" Christian and not a "Jesus & Me" Christian Jesus and You: Present The life that I now live. Christ lives in me. Jesus doesn’t just deal with the PENALTY of sin on the cross, but through the Holy Spirit, he now lives in you – the reason – to empower you to live a new life. You and I need a complete overhaul, not just forgiveness from sin. Christ in you is the way that Jesus sets you free from the POWER of sin. He is closing down the factory of sin in your life – destroying the power that sin has over you and opening the door for you to step into greater freedom in your new identity, one that is dead to sin and alive to a new life empowered by Christ. Once you have decided to follow Jesus, you will often feel a tension between following after the flesh or following after the Spirit. The enemy loves to make you feel condemnation simply because you have this wrestle! Remember, your sin is already forgiven, and with the Spirit living in you, you are empowered to say “No” to the flesh and follow the Spirit. This process involves spiritual formation (you might call it sanctification). It’s growing to be more Christ-like in our attitudes and actions, becoming spiritually mature. It is a transformation and shaping work of the Holy Spirit that starts when you get saved and continues until Jesus returns. There is no shortcut to formation, it can’t be bypassed, and you have the choice to co-operate or not – God will not force the process upon you. Moving forward in this journey will take you into God's preferred future for you, but He will let you stay on whichever level you settle for. The best thing to do is to make room for Jesus in your life. This is the very thing that brings success in God and is the very first thing to go because we are so good at getting busy. Don't just read the Bible, but do it to find Jesus when you do! Don't just serve on the Dream Team, but do it to encounter Jesus when you do! Don't just come to church, but do it to experience Jesus when you do! Jesus and You: Future Where is this all going? It is so much more about saying a prayer and going to heaven one day. It is about the newness of life. It’s about becoming more like Jesus in the present, partnering with Him to bring the Kingdom of heaven here as we look forward with great expectation to the promise to come. An invitation to so much more! How will you make room for Jesus in your life this year? Leave a comment below! “Where real repentance is, there is obedience; for repentance is not only sorrow for past failures and sins, it is a determination to begin now to do the will of God as He reveals it to us.” A.W. Tozer, Man: The Dwelling Place of God

You know the feeling that you have when you wake up the day after something terrible has happened, and you wish it was all just a bad dream? Jesus's followers must have been feeling just that on this dark Saturday. It was the Jewish Sabbath, the day of ceasing of usual activities to create space to worship God. Yet, for them, this was a day of mourning, not worship. Their Messaish lay in the tomb, and they must have been wondering if the same fate lay ahead for them. There are not many verses in the Gospel accounts to paint a full picture of this Black Sabbath, save this passage recorded by Matthew: Matt 27:62-65 (CSB) 62 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take guards,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” 66 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards. The religious leaders remembered that Jesus said he will rise again after three days, while Jesus' own followers had to be reminded (post-resurrection) that he had said that Luke 24:6b-8 (CSB) Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered his words. It seems like the enemy was more fearful than the disciples were hopeful that there would be a resurrection story. The religious leaders anticipated having to do damage control, while the followers of Jesus had little expectation of the damage Jesus was about to do to the enemy! While the followers were confused, hopeless, devastated, crushed, and reeling with shock, the religious leaders were thinking about what Jesus had said. I wonder if the enemy takes the promises of God more seriously than the followers of Jesus do sometimes! The Gospel message is one of forgiveness, freedom, abundant life, and every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Jesus' death and resurrection open the way for all who will believe to be transferred into His good Kingdom, and slowly but steadily transformed into His likeness. Whatever situation or struggle you are facing right now, remember the words of Jesus. He will always do what he said he will do. You can hold onto His faithfulness, no matter how dark the day may seem. There is always a light in the dark, so, you can live with great expectation of what God is going to do. 1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

IT. IS. DONE. It is done He said. It is done after enduring betrayal and rejection from His friends. It is done after facing physical torment, mockery and emotional agony from His enemies. It is done after crying out to His Father ‘Why God?’. It was done the moment He breathed his last breath. All the pain, all the suffering, all the humiliation, all the blood. We have to wonder, why call it good Friday? It doesn’t sound all that good, does it? Surely there must have been a simpler, more tolerable, even easier way? Yet Jesus endured what He did for the sake of you and me. You see the only thing separating us from God was sin and Jesus understood that the only way for us to truly be with our Father, to experience His compassion, grace, abounding lovingkindness and faithfulness was to pay the ultimate price - Death. Here’s the thing though - Was it all for nothing? In dying the excruciating death that He did, Jesus granted us the opportunity to put to death our sin, shame, guilt and feelings of worthlessness. He did it so that we can walk in freedom and be with our Father. He tore the veil. If we want to really understand why good Friday is so good, we might just need to ask ourselves the question. Are we walking in this freedom that Jesus has given us or are there parts of us that need to be laid down with the cross? Today we get to mourn all the pain and suffering that Jesus had to endure for our sake, yet we also get to walk in freedom because of it. We cerebrate because Friday was not the end - Sunday’s still coming! Read: Matthew 27 Exodus 34: 5-7 Prayer: Holy Spirit would you help us to bring to light today the things in our hearts and heads that need to be put to death. Would you open our eyes to the things that are holding us back from walking in freedom and being with our Father. Thank you Jesus for the price that you paid for us. Today we stand in remembrance. In Jesus almighty name we pray. Amen.

As we take a look at the sacred journey to the cross this Holy Week, we get to pause and ponder the magnitude of the Messiah’s humble sacrifice. As they prepare for Passover Jesus powerfully prepares them for purpose. By bending low and washing filthy feet He shows that a humility to serve is the way to win hearts and change worlds. He reminds them that this new covenant is one of love, not laws. One of service, not splendor. That we will be know, so that He is known, by how we love! The beautiful simplicity continues as He hands them the bread and the wine. “Do this in remembrance of me.” I imagine them laughing and eating and not understanding at all. All the while He’s sipping and breaking, not only the bread, but also His heart as He’s fully aware of what He needs to endure. He speaks of betrayal and denial because He knows He’s going to trial. He knows those same followers will flee, but He needs to do this for them and for you and for me! So today, take that bread and the cup and drink in the reality that this Christs body, was given for you. And rise from the table ready to serve, because there’s a whole world that doesn’t deserve… but giving this grace gift is our feet washing, love slinging humble privilege. Read: John 13 Matthew 26 Pray: Jesus, thank you that because of your sacrifice, we can be free. Thank you that because of your servant leadership, we have an example to follow. Prepare our hearts Lord, for what you want to do this Easter. Prepare our hands Lord, ready to serve. Prepare our minds Lord, ready to respond to your call. Amen

With just a few days to go until the crucifixion, Jesus was maximizing time with those close to him - Simon, the one he had healed from leprosy, Lazarus, the one he’d raised from the dead, Mary, Martha, the disciples, including Judas the soon to be betrayer… Whenever people got close to Jesus, he invoked in them a deep response. Some took offense, some despised him, and some responded in gratitude and worship. There didn’t seem to be any middle ground when people got close to him. Mary took an incredibly expensive jar of fragrance and lavishly poured it on Jesus, a picture of her extravagant devotion. As the beautiful scent filled the room, Judas snarled “What a waste!", because he was thinking of what he might be able to do with all the money he could skim off the top if they sold the fragrance instead. A few moments later, he headed out and sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus said Mary would be remembered for her devotion wherever the gospel was preached. We remember Judas for his greed and betrayal. Both of them were close to Jesus. Yet they responded in completely different ways. One was overcome with selfless devotion (Mary), and the other was driven by selfish desires (Judas). Judas' pretense of caring for the poor was a thin veil of his greedy personality, almost clandestine - hence this day becoming known as "Spy Wednesday". Jesus went to the cross and overcame death to remove all barriers that kept people from being able to get close to God. The only way to be close to God is open, and it’s through Jesus. Now, like then, whenever someone gets close to Jesus, he demands a response. Proximity to Jesus reveals personality. That response can either be selfless devotion and worship like Mary, or selfish desires like Judas. What will your response be? Read Matt 26:15-26 John 12:1-8 Reflection When you draw near to Jesus, what happens in your heart? Prayer Holy Spirit, would you show me the things in my heart that need to be dealt with and laid down, so that I can express unhindered and extravagant devotion? Forgive me for thinking that any time or resources given to you are wasteful because you are deserving of more than I can ever offer! May my worship of you be like the fragrance that Mary used!

Let's back up a little to the morning before Jesus tore through the temple traders... On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree, with leaves, but no figs. So he cursed the tree. What the fig? Was Jesus hangry? Or is there something else for us to figure out... Fig trees usually bear fruit a few times a year. A tree with lots of leaves gives the impression that there would be fruit to be found. Think of this as being a "misleading" tree. Now, fig-trees, are often used in scripture as a symbol of the nation of Israel. So, the cursing of the unfruitful tree was a sign of the judgment due upon the unfaithful nation, which looked good from far but was really far from good. The point is that a show of religion without any fruitfulness towards God, comes under God’s judgment, and so the tree cursing sets up the cleansing of the temple. The next day (Holy Tuesday), they passed by the tree, and sure enough, it was all withered up. When the disciples pointed this out Jesus gave a surprising response. He spoke about faith, prayer that moves mountains, and forgiveness. His point is that they should hold on to the faithfulness of God to remove whatever hinders them from bearing fruit for God. Moving a mountain was a metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what was seemingly impossible. Those who hold on to the faithfulness of God can have confidence that He will accomplish the impossible according to His will. And almost as an afterthought, he adds a line about being sure to forgive others. All of this sets up what is about to happen on the cross. He is going to take God's judgment on behalf of a rebellious people. He is about to accomplish the impossible and offer forgiveness to all who will have faith in Him. In return, He requires authenticity and no pretense, complete reliance on Him, and hearts that are quick to forgive others in the same way they have been forgiven. Read Mark 11:12-25 Prayer Jesus, we come to you in authenticity, without pretense. Will you help us to hold on to your faithfulness, to pray prayers that are aligned with your will and so will move mountains, and will you by your grace help us to be quick to forgive, because you have forgiven us so much.

Jesus entered Jerusalem with a palm-branch-waving, Hosanna-singing crowd of excited followers. They had expectations, you see, expectations for victory! They let their expectation cloud their vision without stopping to see what was before them. Not a warrior come to do battle. A servant king, come to die. A few short days later, those same followers had fled as he hung and bled. It was defeat, they said. But he rose again and broke all those chains. Those chains we dread, those chains are dead! We’ve got victory instead! This upside-down Kingdom of death to life has us waving branches of surrender and putting to death our old selves to see the life-transforming power of this same bleeding Christ who comes alive, breathing the breath of life into our lungs. We too can now stand and sing with this resurrection power in our veins. Hosanna in the highest! This simple surrender of death to life is our eternal victory dance. The time is now, the time to move to the rhythm of His beating heart as chains are breaking and life is beckoning. That victory sound, it’s yours to be found. So lay down those crowns! It’s a sacred surrender of death to life you see, so pray this prayer with me: “Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.” Amen ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬, ‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭TPT