Easter
Journey to Easter: Sharing the Message
05/01/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Matthew 28:16-20
The resurrection was now a reality for the disciples. Jesus met with them after he was resurrected. His charge for the disciples was to go and preach the gospel, baptize new believers and make disciples.
The culture in which Jesus sends them faced many challenges. Women were viewed more as property than a partner in marriage, divorce was a problem, babies with birth defects were abandoned and often government officials could be bribed.
Into this environment Jesus sends his disciples to preach the gospel. He tells his disciples to go, preach and baptize those who put their faith in Christ. Then they are to help these new Christians grow and mature. Finally Jesus says he gives them the promise of the Holy Spirit to empower them as they go. Living the gospel will make an incredible impact in those who do not know Christ.
The directions given to the disciples by Jesus are also valid for us. Go and make disciples. Develop your faith and help new believers mature. Demonstrate your faith by your actions. Jesus promises to be with you and empower you as you go.
Podcast
The resurrection was now a reality for the disciples. Jesus met with them after he was resurrected. His charge for the disciples was to go and preach the gospel, baptize new believers and make disciples.
The culture in which Jesus sends them faced many challenges. Women were viewed more as property than a partner in marriage, divorce was a problem, babies with birth defects were abandoned and often government officials could be bribed.
Into this environment Jesus sends his disciples to preach the gospel. He tells his disciples to go, preach and baptize those who put their faith in Christ. Then they are to help these new Christians grow and mature. Finally Jesus says he gives them the promise of the Holy Spirit to empower them as they go. Living the gospel will make an incredible impact in those who do not know Christ.
The directions given to the disciples by Jesus are also valid for us. Go and make disciples. Develop your faith and help new believers mature. Demonstrate your faith by your actions. Jesus promises to be with you and empower you as you go.
Podcast
Journey to Easter: Jesus is Alive!
04/24/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Matthew 28:1-10
It seemed that the political and religious leaders of Jesus day had won. Jesus had been crucified. Yet that wasn’t the end. Very few could grasp what would be happening in just 3 days. Christ would not stay in the grave. As the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus body they discover something amazing. The stone in front of the tomb had been moved and an angel greeted them. Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
Easter declares to us that Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be. He is the Son of God and Messiah. Because Jesus did everything he said he would do we need to pay attention to what Jesus told us. For example, Jesus declared "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
The resurrection declares that Christ is alive. God moved the stone in front of the tomb and the Lord is still moving stones today in people’s lives. The resurrection tells us that God keeps all his promises to you. Yes, Jesus is alive today and He is still transforming lives, bringing hope and giving help to those who open their lives to Him.
Podcast
It seemed that the political and religious leaders of Jesus day had won. Jesus had been crucified. Yet that wasn’t the end. Very few could grasp what would be happening in just 3 days. Christ would not stay in the grave. As the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus body they discover something amazing. The stone in front of the tomb had been moved and an angel greeted them. Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
Easter declares to us that Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be. He is the Son of God and Messiah. Because Jesus did everything he said he would do we need to pay attention to what Jesus told us. For example, Jesus declared "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
The resurrection declares that Christ is alive. God moved the stone in front of the tomb and the Lord is still moving stones today in people’s lives. The resurrection tells us that God keeps all his promises to you. Yes, Jesus is alive today and He is still transforming lives, bringing hope and giving help to those who open their lives to Him.
Podcast
Journey to Easter: By Way of the Cross
04/17/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Mark 15:21-41
As we move toward Easter we cannot bypass the cross. Jesus knew that he was sent by the Father to accomplish something that we could not accomplish for ourselves. Paul writes in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The only one who has lived a perfect, sinless life is Jesus Christ. He came and was willing to take your place and my place on the cross.
Jesus went through unspeakable torture just to get to the cross. As he moved through the streets the 39 lashes had taken their toll. Jesus could not carry his own cross. Yet Jesus is the one who can help you carry yours.
On the cross Jesus could have called down legions of angels to rescue him. But he could not save himself if he was going to save you. In John 10 Jesus told us that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for us.
Jesus experienced separation from the Father on the cross when your sins and my sins were put upon him. He had never known separation from his Father. But Jesus took your sins on himself so that you would not face eternity separated from God.
You cannot get around the cross. God allowed his son, Jesus, to die so that we might have life.
Podcast
As we move toward Easter we cannot bypass the cross. Jesus knew that he was sent by the Father to accomplish something that we could not accomplish for ourselves. Paul writes in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The only one who has lived a perfect, sinless life is Jesus Christ. He came and was willing to take your place and my place on the cross.
Jesus went through unspeakable torture just to get to the cross. As he moved through the streets the 39 lashes had taken their toll. Jesus could not carry his own cross. Yet Jesus is the one who can help you carry yours.
On the cross Jesus could have called down legions of angels to rescue him. But he could not save himself if he was going to save you. In John 10 Jesus told us that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for us.
Jesus experienced separation from the Father on the cross when your sins and my sins were put upon him. He had never known separation from his Father. But Jesus took your sins on himself so that you would not face eternity separated from God.
You cannot get around the cross. God allowed his son, Jesus, to die so that we might have life.
Podcast
Journey to Easter: Prayer in the Garden
04/10/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Mark 14:32-42
As we move towards Easter we can only get there by way of the cross. Before Jesus went to the cross he took 3 of his closest disciples with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Prayer had been vital for Jesus all through his public ministry. The Gospel writers let us know that often Jesus would go off to be alone with his Heavenly Father.
It is not surprising to find Jesus in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was in agony as he struggled to obey the Father and go to the cross. He needed the support of those 3 disciples yet they fell asleep. While Jesus had to struggle alone you never do. Whatever life throws at you does not have to be dealt with by yourself. You have a Savior who not only knows how hard life can be, but has overcome. He will never abandon you.
Jesus understands that obedience to the Father can be costly. The Lord, himself, struggled to obey. His flesh was in agony at the thought of the pain he would face on the cross . He also knew that the sins of every person would be thrust upon him as the perfect sacrifice. Sometimes obeying Jesus is easy. But often it calls for sacrifice or a realignment of one’s priorities. Our Lord told us that being his disciple meant taking up one’s cross and following him.
Prayer is the key. In prayer you find the power to overcome temptation. In prayer you are given courage to do God’s will. Through prayer the Father is shaping you into the image of his son. Prayer is powerful. Do you have a Gethsemane? A place where you can be alone with the Father? Wherever that is, visit there often with God. In your Gethsemane the Father will continue to work his perfect will in your life. In Gethsemane you find the courage and power to obey. In Gethsemane you are reminded that whatever is happening, Christ is with you.
Podcast
As we move towards Easter we can only get there by way of the cross. Before Jesus went to the cross he took 3 of his closest disciples with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Prayer had been vital for Jesus all through his public ministry. The Gospel writers let us know that often Jesus would go off to be alone with his Heavenly Father.
It is not surprising to find Jesus in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was in agony as he struggled to obey the Father and go to the cross. He needed the support of those 3 disciples yet they fell asleep. While Jesus had to struggle alone you never do. Whatever life throws at you does not have to be dealt with by yourself. You have a Savior who not only knows how hard life can be, but has overcome. He will never abandon you.
Jesus understands that obedience to the Father can be costly. The Lord, himself, struggled to obey. His flesh was in agony at the thought of the pain he would face on the cross . He also knew that the sins of every person would be thrust upon him as the perfect sacrifice. Sometimes obeying Jesus is easy. But often it calls for sacrifice or a realignment of one’s priorities. Our Lord told us that being his disciple meant taking up one’s cross and following him.
Prayer is the key. In prayer you find the power to overcome temptation. In prayer you are given courage to do God’s will. Through prayer the Father is shaping you into the image of his son. Prayer is powerful. Do you have a Gethsemane? A place where you can be alone with the Father? Wherever that is, visit there often with God. In your Gethsemane the Father will continue to work his perfect will in your life. In Gethsemane you find the courage and power to obey. In Gethsemane you are reminded that whatever is happening, Christ is with you.
Podcast
Journey to Easter: Loving Jesus
04/03/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Matthew 26:1-13
What is the craziest thing you have ever been asked to do? What is the craziest thing that you really have done? What would you think of someone who took a year’s salary to buy a very expensive bottle of perfume and in one motion poured the entire contents on the head of one man? Crazy? Wasteful?
That’s exactly what the disciples of Jesus said about the woman who poured the entire bottle of an expensive perfume on Jesus head. It cost her a year’s worth of wages. Some of the disciples complained that the perfume could have been sold and the money given o the poor.
Mary was moved to act and she did not allow cost to factor into her devotion for Jesus. Becoming a Christian is easy. Becoming a disciple will take a lifetime. When you commit your life to Christ be willing to use your time to serve the Lord and others. Find ways to use your talents and skills to build up and meet needs. Give of your finances to support God’s work through your church.
Mary gave her very best to Jesus. What can you do right now that will reveal your love for Christ? What does your best look like today?
Podcast
What is the craziest thing you have ever been asked to do? What is the craziest thing that you really have done? What would you think of someone who took a year’s salary to buy a very expensive bottle of perfume and in one motion poured the entire contents on the head of one man? Crazy? Wasteful?
That’s exactly what the disciples of Jesus said about the woman who poured the entire bottle of an expensive perfume on Jesus head. It cost her a year’s worth of wages. Some of the disciples complained that the perfume could have been sold and the money given o the poor.
Mary was moved to act and she did not allow cost to factor into her devotion for Jesus. Becoming a Christian is easy. Becoming a disciple will take a lifetime. When you commit your life to Christ be willing to use your time to serve the Lord and others. Find ways to use your talents and skills to build up and meet needs. Give of your finances to support God’s work through your church.
Mary gave her very best to Jesus. What can you do right now that will reveal your love for Christ? What does your best look like today?
Podcast