Message Title: Representing Hope
Theme: Living the Resurrection
Season: Easter
Main Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22
Scripture Reading: Psalm 66:8-20
RCL Scripture: *Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21
Focus: Peter encourages believers to show their faith with humility.
Function: To engage with others outside of our faith with genuine respect, an attitude of curiosity, and representation of Christ’s hope.
Other Notes: MOTHER’S DAY

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 66:8-20 ⁸ All you nations, bless our God! Let the sound of his praise be heard! ⁹ God preserved us among the living; he didn’t let our feet slip a bit. ¹⁰ But you, God, have tested us—you’ve refined us like silver, ¹¹trapped us in a net, laid burdens on our backs, ¹²let other people run right over our heads—we’ve been through fire and water. But you brought us out to freedom! ¹³So I’ll enter your house with entirely burned offerings. I’ll keep the promises I made to you, ¹⁴the ones my lips uttered, the ones my mouth spoke when I was in deep trouble. ¹⁵ I will offer the best burned offerings to you along with the smoke of sacrificed rams. I will offer both bulls and goats. Selah ¹⁶ Come close and listen, all you who honor God; I will tell you what God has done for me: ¹⁷ My mouth cried out to him with praise on my tongue. ¹⁸ If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. ¹⁹ But God definitely listened. He heard the sound of my prayer. ²⁰ Bless God! He didn’t reject my prayer; he didn’t withhold his faithful love from me.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What is your favorite “ethnic” food (including European)? Would you say the food was a good example of authentic cuisine?
   1. Americans do not do ethnic food right
   1. If I’m honest – I used to be super judge-y in comparing American versions of ethnic food to their true forms. I heard a talk about Chinese food in the immigration diaspora and how American-Chinese food is an example of enduring through adversity. Most Chinese immigrants, originally were young men working on the American railroads, were not taught how to cook. These men learned to create their mother’s recipes with the ingredients immediately available to them.
      1. Was it “authentic”? NOPE but it showed not just survival but thriving.

TRANSITION:  Last week we talked about dwelling in the Already, Not yet of Salvation. This week Paul is discussing our faith surviving regardless of circumstances.

MAIN TEXT: 1 Peter 3:13-22 ¹³ Who will harm you if you are zealous for good? ¹⁴ But happy are you, even if you suffer because of righteousness! Don’t be terrified or upset by them. ¹⁵ Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. ¹⁶ Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you. ¹⁷ It is better to suffer for doing good (if this could possibly be God’s will) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit. ¹⁹ And it was by the Spirit that he went to preach to the spirits in prison. ²⁰ In the past, these spirits were disobedient—when God patiently waited during the time of Noah. Noah built an ark in which a few (that is, eight) lives were rescued through water. ²¹ Baptism is like that. It saves you now—not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is the mark of a good conscience toward God. Your salvation comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who is at God’s right side. Now that he has gone into heaven, he rules over all angels, authorities, and powers.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Chapter 3 context : From the middle of chapter 2 until this point, Paul has given instructions on behaving as Christians in a household of non-believers. These are called “household codes.”
   1. (ch 2 slaves, ch 3 wives & husbands)
   1. All Christians in relationships with non-Christians
   1. When we walk in the light—we will find resistance from the darkness. (we talked about that 2 weeks ago)
2. When someone asks….YET do this with respectful humility.
   1. Psalm – let me tell you what God has done
3. Preach to the spirits in prison—even the disobedient spirits got to see the message of hope

INTERPRETATION:

1. Christians are called to thrive in this world regardless of circumstances. BUT our thriving does not mean creating a Christian bubble isolated from anyone that believes different from us.
   1. We are called to be hope represented.
   1. We are called to be in the world but behaving distinct from it. Not through judgement or condemnation but by living like Jesus.
2. Marks of a Christian: Sometimes we get confused about this – let’s take a moment to discuss the marks of a Christian.
   1. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, self-control, endurance (Gal 6) Retranslate “love” for “Christians”
   1. 1 Cor 13 (Love chapter – about the church’s behavior in worship not romantic love)
   1. REFLECT ON LAST WEEK: it is not honoring our faith to broadcast our beliefs as an excuse to be rude or judge others—think of the Pharisees that Jesus interacted with and how frequently they pushed people away from the faith.
      1. INTERNET EXAMPLE: getting nails done by a Christian because not wanting someone with a Buddha statute doing nails. …What? (set up for a joke about Jesus getting nails from Romans….)
3. Jesus engaged with culture. The disciples engaged with culture. Jesus behaved in a loving way, calling us to follow his example of love and truth.

APPLICATION: To engage with others outside of our faith with genuine respect, an attitude of curiosity, and representation of Christ’s hope.

1. BACK TO INTRO: WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, I was a pretty basic Midwesterner only liking American-Chinese, American-Italian, and American-Mexican food.
   1. Eventually, in college I learned to like 1 or 2 dishes of Greek, Ethiopian, Indian, Vietnamese, and Japanese. I still played it safe with ingredients I recognized.
   1. Thanks to my relationship with Josh, I’ve not only gotten more adventurous especially loving multiple Japanese, Thai, & Korean dishes BUT also building my spice tolerance and learning to cook these recipes.
2. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: How are you at cross cultural or interfaith interactions?
   1. In Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Holy Envy, she suggests the importance of interacting with other faiths AND EVEN finding things to envy in their faith. This engagement informs us about our own beliefs and helps us to have a firmer foundation about what we believe and why. 
3. It’s Mother’s Day – it’s not helpful to highlight your differences within your family today. Perhaps this is a perfect day for interfaith relations. Show love, kindness, and curiosity for your differences.
   1. Take a family photo
   1. Enjoy a meal
4. Persevere, Faith, Diaspora

CONCLUSION: Avoid fighting while not ignoring the differences between you—love each other not in spite of differences but including them.

Living the resurrection is not demonstrating haughty or self-righteous behavior. Living the resurrection is representing hope with respectful humility.

Message Title: Fire, Sheep, & Burnt Toast
Theme:  Christian role
Season: Pentecost
Main Text: John 10:1-10
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42-47
RCL Scripture: *Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10
Focus: Jesus uses a parable to emphasize God’s values.
Function: To live abundantly responding to the voice of the Shepherd, carrying the flame of the Spirit.
Other Notes: PENTECOST/MEMORIAL DAY

Pentecost Reading to open service: Acts 2: 1-4 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

1. Candles by the pulpit & the cross

SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 2:42-47 ⁴² The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. ⁴³ A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were united and shared everything. ⁴⁵ They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. ⁴⁶ Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. ⁴⁷ They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What is your preferred level of toasted for bread? (PICTURE)
   1. What do you do if you over toast the bread?
      1. Grandma Edith toast

TRANSITION:  Today, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Jewish holy day of Pentecost. Fire is the typical symbol of the Holy Spirit but we don’t intend to burn any bread today. We will investigate how the fire of God dwelling in us inspires us to act.

MAIN TEXT:  John 10:1-10¹ I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. ² The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying. ⁷ So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

EXPLAINATION:

1. The last few years on Pentecost we have focused on the traditional passage of Acts 2. Well, except last year. Last year Pentecost was June 5^th and Stevie decided to arrive 3 weeks earlier than planned. Thanks again to the deacons for being ready to pivot on that day.
2. This year, I want to pull in a more practical perspective to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus differentiates himself from other teachers, leaders, or those who would deceive. Bottom line: his goal is to give us life to the fullest. Some translations even say abundant life. Overflowing satisfaction. Enough.
4. Jesus contrasts himself from “thieves” with the intention to destroy life—to leech away all the goodness from life.
5. Jesus plans to provide more than enough. His sheep, his more than enough sheep, follow his voice. They too live in the more than enough, abundant, fullness.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Our Scripture Reading tells us that once the followers received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they go to work, living abundantly.
2. No one was hungry or naked. Possession and property weren’t valued more than people. The communal goal of abundance was prioritized.
3. Exposure to the “flame” changed things. There was no going back to life before the abundance. No “un-toasting” the bread. … So now what?

APPLICATION:

1. …We get to work! The sheep follow the voice of the shepherd, not to earn salvation but to respond to his call.
   1. Summer is a time to dream. This time is a chance for us to take a breather from the school year routine and consider how we will let the Holy Spirit guide us into new ministries.
2. Paul on Spiritual gifts
   1. One Spirit, Many Gifts -1 Cor 12:4-7 ⁴ There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are different ministries and the same Lord; ⁶ and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. ⁷ A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.
   1. One Body, Many Parts – 1 Cor 12: 20-21 ²⁰ But as it is, there are many parts but one body. ²¹ So the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
3. Called to Serve: Liberty Committees, Calendar, & Service
   1. For years we’ve had the habit of filling positions through the “voluntold” method. Originally, there was enough committee positions for each member of the church to fill a spot because all are called to serve. However, over the years – fewer people stepped into roles and more responsibilities were poured onto a few faithful servants. This has led to exhaustion.
   1. We are pivoting. It is our new goal to create an environment where each of these positions are filled by the Spirit’s prompting. Not every role will create rainbows and butterflies but every role honors God.
      1. Or if ministries need to shift
      1. It may be hard to envision the Spirit caring about building maintenance BUT every job is an opportunity to show God’s love, grace, and compassion.
      1. 1 Corinthians 12:22-25 ²² Instead, the parts of the body that people think are the weakest are the most necessary. ²³ The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we honor the most. The private parts of our body that aren’t presentable are the ones that are given the most dignity. ²⁴ The parts of our body that are presentable don’t need this. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the part with less honor ²⁵ so that there won’t be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual concern for each other. 
         1. (Post covid – Find inspiration in the shepherds abundant life)

CONCLUSION: We have been changed by the fire of God. This new status invites us into abundant life; like how toast is improved with peanut butter and jelly.

BENEDICTION: Listen to the voice of the Shepherd. Carry the flame of the Spirit.

Message Title: Songs of Resistance
Theme: Living the Resurrection
Season: Easter
Main Text: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Scripture Reading: Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
RCL Scripture: *Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11
Focus: Peter finishes his letter by restating his exhortations and encouragements.
Function: To learn the song of resistance by practicing spiritual disciplines.
Other Notes: END OF SERIES

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 Let God rise up; let his enemies scatter; let those who hate him run scared before him! 2 Like smoke is driven away, drive them away! Like wax melting before fire, let the wicked perish before God! 3 But let the righteous be glad and celebrate before God. Let them rejoice with gladness! 4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides the clouds! The Lord is his name. Celebrate before him! 5 Father of orphans and defender of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the lonely in their homes; he sets prisoners free with happiness, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 When you went forth before your people, God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah 8 the earth shook! Yes, heaven poured down before God, the one from Sinai— before God, the God of Israel! 9 You showered down abundant rain, God; when your inheritance grew weary, you restored it yourself, 10and your creatures settled in it. In your goodness, God, you provided for the poor. … 32 Sing to God, all kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to my Lord. Selah 33 Sing to the one who rides through heaven, the most ancient heaven. Look! God sends forth his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Recognize how strong God is! His majesty extends over Israel; his strength is in the clouds. 35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries— the God of Israel who gives strength and power to his people! Bless God!

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What songs do you remember from church camp or vbs?
   1. Kids:
      1. “I may never march in the infantry” …. Why are we sending kids to war?
      1. Superman – “thank you God for who I am, I don’t have to be a superman…” https://youtu.be/LV6w9lQON5c
      1. Hippopotamus – hip hip hippopotamus, hip hip hooray God made all of us…. https://youtu.be/mUg6JUk6iyM
2. The goal of church camp songs was to teach us concepts about God in entertaining ways in order for the words linger in our minds.
   1. Hymns were their own contemporary version of that – some songs were put to popular tunes of the day so that people would know the melody.

TRANSITION:  Peter is finishing his letter with a summary of his final instructions. Hopefully repeating things again will help the thoughts stick. Maybe if we put them to a tune? Let’s review Peter’s message:

MAIN TEXT: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 ¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised about the fiery trials that have come among you to test you. These are not strange happenings. ¹³ Instead, rejoice as you share Christ’s suffering. You share his suffering now so that you may also have overwhelming joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory—indeed, the Spirit of God—rests on you….⁶ Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. ⁷ Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. ⁸ Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be power forever and always. Amen.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Ch 4: Continued conversation about faithful endurance amidst suffering
   1. No boasting for suffering for being a jerk
   1. Only commended for suffering on behalf of Christ
   1. as “stewards of God’s grace” (meme?)
      1. Vs 2. “As a result, they don’t live the rest of their human lives in ways determined by human desires but in ways determined by God’s will.”
         1. Ch 3: Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. 
      1. Put away behavior that doesn’t build up the community
      1. “Use your gifts to better the community”
2. Ch 5
   1. Final instructions: Ch 5 for leaders – set the example, “not domineering”
      1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: List off from scripture (6-9)
         1. Humble yourselves
         1. Give God your anxiety (hint: saying “Calm down” doesn’t work)
         1. Stay alert – mad eye moody “constant vigilance”
         1. **Resist the devil
         1. **Stand firm
   1. Final encouragement: AUDIENCE LIST OFF AGAIN vs 10
      1. God’s will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you

INTERPRETATION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What does the devil look like?
   1. Why would it make sense for the devil to not appear obviously evil?
   1. Picture1: Red guy with horns, tail, and pitchfork? – obviously evil
   1. Pictures 2: Cupcake, attractive person, open cash register – the desirable choice
2. Reality of Evil:
   1. I don’t like scary movies. –
      1. First, I’m super sensitive to the emotions in entertainment (music, books, movies, shows)
      1. Second, I don’t want to be desensitized to the presence of darkness
   1. This is not a judgement on those who like horror, thrillers, gore etc BUT
      1. Balance of awareness of evil vs. obsession with evil
      1. There are forces at work that want to prevent God’s plans from being fulfilled.
      1. As we participate in God’s work, we put ourselves at risk of these forces (frequently influencing humans to invoke suffering)
3. I want to be sensitive to these influences and avoid things that may desensitize me (unlike spicy foods we talked about last week I don’t want to build up a tolerance to evil).

APPLICATION:

1. While our minds may be filled with pictures of horror movies, I want us to turn back to the spiritual side of things.
2. How do we resist “the devil”?
   1. Prayer
   1. Honesty (confession)
      1. Confession is about honesty with God, ourselves, and others
      1. Keeping ourselves in the light
      1. Baby out with the bathwater rejecting this catholic practice
   1. Community- isolatin is at risk
      1. Accountability, encouragement, teaching/learning
   1. Scripture memory – like Jesus in the desert
      1. Not jewels in a crown like awana
      1. “create in me a clean heart” PS
      1. Sticker challenge – (get the stickers from my office)

CONCLUSION:

1. Psalm retelling God’s work & praising God – scripture teaches us
2. Church camp songs:
   1. Romans 16:19
      1. Be excellent at what is good, be innocent of evil
      1. God of peace will soon crush Satan, yes God will crush him underneath your feet
3. Resistance & Living the resurrection

Message Title: Already Not Yet
Theme: Living the Resurrection
Season: Easter
Main Text: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
RCL Scripture: *Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14
Focus: Peter highlights the process of salvation.
Function:  To recognize our work-in-progress status
Other Notes: CINDO DE MAYO// COMMUNION

Blessed Be the Tie: “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above”

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

I take refuge in you, Lord.
    Please never let me be put to shame.
        Rescue me by your righteousness!
² Listen closely to me!
    Deliver me quickly;
        be a rock that protects me;
        be a strong fortress that saves me!
³ You are definitely my rock and my fortress.
    Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!
⁴ Get me out of this net that’s been set for me
    because you are my protective fortress.
⁵ I entrust my spirit into your hands;
    you, Lord, God of faithfulness—
    you have saved me.

… ¹⁵ My future is in your hands.
    Don’t hand me over to my enemies,
    to all who are out to get me!
¹⁶ Shine your face on your servant;
    save me by your faithful love!…

Recap: Last week we discussed the source of our suffering – is it consequences of our actions or the darkness resisting our faith in Jesus? A call to analyze our suffering (and fighting against the generational pains as they come up) and to remain faithful.

If you remember, last week we read the end of chapter 2… now we’re reading the beginning.

INTRODUCTION: (Swear words, bullies, …?)

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT:  What is the most entertaining bumper sticker or car decal that you have seen?
   1. Gump wiper
2. Bumper stickers – Christian concert festival called Life Light. Vendor booth with free will bumper stickers
   1. https://lifelight.org/sffestival
   1. “God loves you and I’m trying”
   1. “In case of rapture this car will be unmanned”
   1. “next time you think you’re perfect try walking on water”
3. I remember at the time thinking those bumper stickers were HILARIOUS but now I wonder…. What message am I sending about myself and about Jesus here?
   1. Tuna-shamed à(cross) unashamed
      1. Sends a message we (Christians) are out of touch

TRANSITION:

MAIN TEXT: 1 Peter 2:1-10 Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. ² Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, ³ since you have tasted that the Lord is good. ⁴ Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. ⁵ You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Thus it is written in scripture, Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed.^[a] 7 So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. ⁸ This is a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Because they refuse to believe in the word, they stumble. Indeed, this is the end to which they were appointed. ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. ¹⁰ Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Vs 2 – milk nourishing us to salvation || Paul – 1 Cor 3:2 milk à meat
2. Vs 3 – tasted that the Lord is good (hunger/craving for God’s design)
3. Vs 5– being made into a holy priesthood
4. Vs 8 – the end to which they were appointed (light/dark last week)
5. Vs 9 –
   1. Have become this people –
6. Vs 10 – now you have received mercy
   1. Being made holy but have already received mercy
   1. …Some things are done and somethings are in the works…

INTERPRETATION: Let’s sort through some of the complex language here:

1. Conversation with Josh:
   1. Texas gun violence – children
      1. how can God be good when hurt people hurt people? Holy Parent please step in!!
2. Teachings on salvation: — DRAW OUT EXAMPLES
   1. Did you know that not every Christian denomination teaches the same thing about salvation?
      1. An event occurs and salvation is imparted:
         1. Some teach that your salvation is tied to baptism
         1. Some teach that your salvation is tied to a prayer of dedication
      1. Process: Some teach that our salvation is a work in progress our whole lives
         1. Marriage & love
      1. In God’s hands:
         1. Some teach that you have no control over your salvation and it is entirely in God’s hands
         1. Some teach that only a select few are saved (even down to only 144k).
         1. Some teach that eventually all people will be redeemed and saved.
   1. For the most part, they all agree that Jesus is the path of salvation but the more words you add to explain it—the more Christian denominations you have. (Even some would resist “the path” of salvation and say “a path” … but let’s not split any more hairs.)
3. Our passage today gives you hints at a few different beliefs…we are one church…. So naturally we probably represent all of them – lol.
   1. Unpopular Baptist Pastor opinion – I struggle with the “event” salvation beliefs. I think “event” salvations put too much power in my hands and ignore the work that God has been doing since before time.

APPLICATION:

1. I lean on the Already Not Yet
   1. I have already received mercy
   1. I’m not yet perfectly holy
   1. I’m a work in progress
2. Back to intro:
   1. Loppy Rae’s Sensitive driver bumper sticker – lately, I’ve loved bumper stickers more real to life.
   1. AUDIENCE JOKE: Little experiment – which of you is REALLY a work in progress?
      1. Church bumper stickers
      1. Church decals – you can’t drive like a jerk and have this on your car…

CONCLUSION: Work in porgress; already, not yet – not all will be understood now.

COMMUNION

Message Title: New Birth
Theme: Living the Resurrection
Season: Easter
Main Text: 1 Peter 1:17-23
Scripture Reading: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
RCL Scripture: *Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
Focus: Peter calls his audience to live their New Life in Christ.
Function: To engage in a heart transformation not legalistic rule following.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
 I love the Lord because he hears
    my requests for mercy.
² I’ll call out to him as long as I live,
    because he listens closely to me.
³ Death’s ropes bound me;
    the distress of the grave^[a] found me—
    I came face-to-face with trouble and grief.
⁴ So I called on the Lord’s name:
    “Lord, please save me!”^[b]

^…12 What can I give back to the Lord
    for all the good things he has done for me?
¹³ I’ll lift up the cup of salvation.
    I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
¹⁴ I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
    in the presence of all God’s people.
¹⁵ The death of the Lord’s faithful
    is a costly loss in his eyes.

¹⁶ Oh yes, Lord, I am definitely your servant!
    I am your servant and the son of your female servant—
    you’ve freed me from my chains.
¹⁷ So I’ll offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you,
    and I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
¹⁸ I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
    in the presence of all God’s people,
¹⁹     in the courtyards of the Lord’s house,
        which is in the center of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Viewer Discretion Advised

INTRO TO SERIES: The season of Easter lasts 50 days (up until Pentecost). Whooo hooo! Jesus has resurrected…. now what? What does the resurrection mean for us? We will investigate Peter’s words in 1 Peter and the instructions he gives believers in the diaspora (define) about living IN the resurrection.

You’re invited to read your way through 1 Peter as we go through this series.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Swear words
   1. What is a word you have used to substitute a “swear” word?
   1. Did your family deem any unconventional words “naughty”?
   1. What would your family do if you used “swear” words?
   1. Did an adult every tell you why you shouldn’t use “swear” words?
2. Much like popular slang, swear words have changed over the centuries. Even our English-speaking siblings across the world use different swear words.
   1. What makes a word a “swear” word?

TRANSITION: In our text today, we will see the Apostle Peter writing to Christians about not just their actions but their heart. We will be in 1 Peter 1:17-23. Let me provide some context.

CONTEXT: Info we’re skipping from the intro texts plus history

1. Author: assumed the Apostle Peter because of the text
2. Dating: around 60 AD(he is executed in 65 AD) – 70AD
3. Audience: Christians (Jews & Gentiles) in the diaspora
4. Goal: to emphasize the continuity of the God of Israel (OT) and Jesus.
   1. The expectations of God in the OT are same in the NT

MAIN TEXT: 1 Peter 1:17-23 ¹⁷ Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land. ¹⁸ Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. ¹⁹ Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. ²⁰ Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, ²¹ who through Christ are faithful to the God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So now, your faith and hope should rest in God. ²² As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. ²³ Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word.

EXPLAINATION: Peter calls his audience to live their New Life in Christ.

1. you were not liberated by perishable things – not works or money or power
2. your faith and hope should rest in God. – not works or money or power
3. set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth—Behavior changed
4. new birth…This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word  — Sustenance
5. Connection to Psalm
   1. What to give God back for the gift of salvation?

INTERPRETATION:

1. God’s words give life—what are your words giving?
2. BACK TO INTRO: swear words don’t matter– darn, dang, or damn all have the same meaning in your heart.
   1. A good guideline: if you are using words to express your emotions, they are neutral. If you are using words to cause injury, they are words to avoid.
   1. Perhaps we will release words from the curse category OR perhaps new words will become curse words
3. As we work to change our heart and our language will transform. Perhaps you still use a conventional swear word in moments of heightened emotions but you speak with dignity to your neighbor.
   1. No guilt vs Cursing
   1. Responsibility to results

APPLICATION: To engage in a heart transformation not legalistic rule following.

1. why are Christians looking like the world? I’m not talking about drinking, swearing, and listening to rock music. I’m talking about anger, jealousy, exclusive gatherings, & greed
   1. Christians looking like the world:
      1. persecuting those who are different
      1. allegiances based on money, fame, or power
      1. judging the actions of others but giving allowances to the self
         1. Double standard – others can’t win
         1. (internet search history Convo with josh)
2. Following Christ is like swear words – the label Christian doesn’t mean anything if your heart isn’t in it.

CONCLUSION:  The next few weeks we will continue reading 1 Peter and engage our hearts in transformation. You are invited to join me in the New Birth of Living in the Resurrection.

Message Title:  Who Are You Looking For?
Theme: Seeking
Season: EASTER
Main Text: John 20:1-18
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-6
RCL Scripture: *Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Focus:  Mary discovers the empty tomb and is the first to witness the resurrected Jesus.
Function: To release the image of Jesus from our expectations and allow a new image to form.
Other Notes: EASTER//Sanctified Art Curriculum//Baptism Sunday & Bell Choir

SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 31:1-7 At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. 2 The Lord proclaims: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness. As Israel searched for a place of rest, 3 the Lord appeared to them from a distance: B. And so with unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.  4Again, I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel. Again, you will play your tambourines and dance with joy. 5 Again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; farmers will plant and then enjoy the harvests. 6 The time will come when the watchmen shout from the highlands of Ephraim: “Get ready! We’re going up to Zion to the Lord our God!” 7The Lord proclaims: Sing joyfully for the people of Jacob; shout for the leading nation. Raise your voices with praise and call out: “The Lord has saved his people, the remaining few in Israel!” 

INTRODUCTION:

1. Audience Engagement: “Last place I looked..”
   1. Speaking of looking, is anyone here a master finder of lost things?
   1. Growing up: who always found the most easter eggs?
   1. How does your family do egg hunts?

TRANSITION: SERIES CONCLUSION Over the course of this series, starting at Ash Wednesday, we have been on a seeking journey. We’ve dwelt in questions rather than racing to answers. Today, we get to a culminating question: Who Are You Looking For?

1. Gospel Context: John’s Gospel focuses on Jesus’ divinity. This guy is more than human, he is God with us.
   1. Once again: each of the gospel authors have a different goal in mind when they share the story of Jesus. You’ll notice they each tell the story of Easter a little different – I mean Mark doesn’t even show us the resurrected Jesus.
   1. BUT they all share the key detail: The Tomb is Empty.

MAIN TEXT: John 20:1-18 Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” ³ Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. ⁴ They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. ⁵ Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. ⁶ Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. ⁸ Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. ¹¹ Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. ¹³ The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” ¹⁴ As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

EXPLAINATION:

• Good Friday: On Good Friday, we learned in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus was laid in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea (John’s Gospel adds the Pharisee Nicodemus). After the burial, the women were hanging out in front of the tomb at the end of Good Friday. It’s no wonder that the women are the first to see Jesus.
• Mary at the Tomb
  • John tells us it was only Mary Magdalene present on Easter morning to witness the empty tomb.
  • This death had been so traumatic and controversial, her rabbi and Messiah was executed as a blasphemer and traitor to Rome. Being associated with such a controversial man would have been dangerous, yet she risks it all to go to the cemetery to sit by the tomb.
  • THEN she arrives on Easter Sunday and the tomb is EMPTY!
  • WHO TOOK THE BODY?! Hasn’t he dealt with enough shame and harassment?!?
• The Gardener: She is so distraught; Mary doesn’t even recognize Jesus standing before her. She assumes he was the gardener of the cemetery.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Have you ever wondered: What did Mary come to the tomb to seek? Did she simply want to cry at the tomb? Was she guarding his tomb from foul play? Was she hoping Jesus’ words would come true?
   1. Whatever she was seeking – she didn’t recognize the resurrected Messiah.
2. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: 2 volunteers: Draw a picture of Jesus (invite kids forward at the beginning to color on the floor)
   1. Have lot’s of colors available
3. Jesus grew up in Israel—the Middle East—he likely was a brown man with black hair and brown eyes. Yet most famous paintings we see of Jesus he has VERY white skin, blue eyes and either blonde, light brown, or red hair.
   1. THEN there are artistic depictions of Jesus from around the world
   1. Iconodules vs Iconoclasts

APPLICATION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What does Jesus look like to you? Does it make you uncomfortable to see Jesus looking different?
   1. Who are you looking for?
   1. Does God have room to surprise you?
2. I invite you this Easter to be surprised by God.
   1. Perhaps this is the year that God shows you new things about God’s self.
   1. This could be the year that we stop putting God in a box (or picture frame).
   1. This could be the year we are filled with curiosity and a season of discovery.

CONCLUSION: This Easter Sunday – Who are you seeking? Are your eyes open to seeing Jesus in a new way?

1. Details: 
   1. Traditions: Scripture, Specials, Past services: Funeral for Jesus (2 years), Campfire conversations about grief, Tenebrae service
   2. RCL Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 OR Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42
   3. Audience Engagement: Scripture stations
   4. Order of Worship:
      • Welcome & Prayer
      • Hymn- Were you There — Abby J
      • Interactive reading of Matthew 27
        1. Dark lights, campfire crackling sound, campfire picture
        2. Dim lights, birds chirping, dawn picture
        3. Lights getting brighter, morning picture
        4. Lights bright, late morning picture
        5. Lights dark, eclipse picture
        6. Lights dark, crickets/cicadas sound, starry picture
      • Special – Jesus Paid it All –Abby J
      • Closing prayer
2. Stations of the cross, live nativity, & Easter
   1. frequently, we forget exactly how the timeline unfolds for holy week. most of what we celebrate on Good Friday unfolds in the darkness between Monday Thursday and Good Friday. We left Maundy Thursday, last night, to the sound of songs being sung much like the disciples and Jesus on the way to the garden of Gethsemane.
   2.  as we read Matthew 27 together tonight, we will portion it out to emphasize the passing of time and the chain of events. I envision this best served like a Catholic Stations of the Cross (based on christian on Christian traditions) or Christmas live nativity. 
   3. With each passage, I will place (mostly modern) symbols for each section on the altar and invite kids and adults to engage with those items as we consider the scriptures. likewise the slides will not show scripture but give us an indicator of time passing. 
3. MAIN TEXT: Matthew 27 & Stations
   1. PICTURE OF A CAMP FIRE, CRACKLING SOUNDS, –HANDCUFFS, JESUS WAS ARRESTED LAST NIGHT
      • Introduction [not scripture] Good friday starts late maundy thursday in the garden of gethsemane. Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night while praying in the garden. 
      • As dawn approaches, Good Friday unfolds. We enter scripture at dawn, by noon Jesus is crucified, by sunset he is in the tomb. We will journey through this story through reading Matthew 27 and having stations with items to engage with. 
   2. [Good Friday]- LIGHTS SLOWLY TURNING ON  & BIRDS CHIRPING [DAWN PICTURE] — ROPE
      • 27:1 Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to have Jesus put to death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate the governor.
   3. Judas’ death – MORNING TIME — BAG OF COINS
      • 3 When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and 4 said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” 5 Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. Then he went and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, “According to the Law it’s not right to put this money in the treasury. Since it was used to pay for someone’s life, it’s unclean.” 7 So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field where strangers could be buried. 8 That’s why that field is called “Field of Blood” to this very day. 9 This fulfilled the words of Jeremiah the prophet: And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price for the one whose price had been set by some of the Israelites, 10 and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.[a]
   4. Questioned by Pilate- MORNING TIME [EARLY MORNING PICTURE] – CROWN/SIGN KING OF JEWS
      • 11 Jesus was brought before the governor. The governor said, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” 12 But he didn’t answer when the chief priests and elders accused him. 13 Then Pilate said, “Don’t you hear the testimony they bring against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer, not even a single word. So the governor was greatly amazed.
   5. Death sentence- MORNING TIME [EARLY MORNING PICTURE] – JUDGE’S GAVEL & BOWL OF WATER
      • 15 It was customary during the festival for the governor to release to the crowd one prisoner, whomever they might choose. 16 At that time there was a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. 17 When the crowd had come together, Pilate asked them, “Whom would you like me to release to you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 He knew that the leaders of the people had handed him over because of jealousy. 19 While he was serving as judge, his wife sent this message to him, “Leave that righteous man alone. I’ve suffered much today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus. 21 The governor said, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” “Barabbas,” they replied. 22 Pilate said, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify him!” 23 But he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” They shouted even louder, “Crucify him!” 24 Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I’m innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It’s your problem.” 25 All the people replied, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
   6. Soldiers mocking Jesus- MORNING TIME [EARLY MORNING PICTURE] – CROWN OF THORNS & PURPLE CLOTH
      • 27 The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s house, and they gathered the whole company[b] of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a red military coat on him. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they bowed down in front of him and mocked him, saying, “Hey! King of the Jews!” 30 After they spit on him, they took the stick and struck his head again and again. 31 When they finished mocking him, they stripped him of the military coat and put his own clothes back on him. They led him away to crucify him.
   7. Crucifixion- MORNING TIME [LATE MORNING PICTURE] – WOOD & NAILS (HAMMER??)
      • 32 As they were going out, they found Simon, a man from Cyrene. They forced him to carry his cross. 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place, 34 they gave Jesus wine mixed with vinegar to drink. But after tasting it, he didn’t want to drink it. 35 After they crucified him, they divided up his clothes among them by drawing lots. 36 They sat there, guarding him. 37 They placed above his head the charge against him. It read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 They crucified with him two outlaws, one on his right side and one on his left. 39 Those who were walking by insulted Jesus, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “So you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, were you? Save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way, the chief priests, along with the legal experts and the elders, were making fun of him, saying, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. He’s the king of Israel, so let him come down from the cross now. Then we’ll believe in him. 43 He trusts in God, so let God deliver him now if he wants to. He said, ‘I’m God’s Son.’” 44 The outlaws who were crucified with him insulted him in the same way.
   8. Death-NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DAY– DARKEN ROOM [STARRY NIGHT PICTURE] – GREIF CANDLES
      • 45 From noon until three in the afternoon the whole earth was dark. 46 At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?”[c] 47 After hearing him, some standing there said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 One of them ran over, took a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a pole. He offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 But the rest of them said, “Let’s see if Elijah will come and save him.” 50 Again Jesus cried out with a loud shout. Then he died. 51 Look, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, 52 and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection they came out of their graves and went into the holy city where they appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what had just happened, they were filled with awe and said, “This was certainly God’s Son.” 55 Many women were watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to serve him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
   9. Burial- KEEP ROOM DARK & SOUND OF CICADAS [STARRY NIGHT PICTURE] – WHITE CLOTH & light incense (FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH)
      • 57 That evening a man named Joseph came. He was a rich man from Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission to take it. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had carved out of the rock. After he rolled a large stone at the door of the tomb, he went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting in front of the tomb.

CONCLUSION: Jesus went from being arrested in  the middle of the night to being crucified in the middle of the day to in the tomb by night. Similar to Maundy Thursday, tonight, we leave in the middle of something.

1. Tomorrow, Holy Saturday is the space in between: the silent day, the day of shock and uncertainty.

1. The disciples are scattered and scared– will they be hunted down and crucified for following Jesus?  
2. Is hope lost? The One they believed to be the Messiah is dead… how could he free Israel from Rome and restore the Davidic Monarchy from the grave? 
3. Sometimes we rush to Easter to ease the gravity of Good Friday. No one really likes the tension of Holy Saturday
4. However, holy Saturday reminds us of our current state. Just turning on the news reminds us of the dark limbo we are in. We’re waiting for Jesus now, just like the disciples were waiting then.
   1. what will you do with the time in between?