It Is Finished - Good Friday: Service of the Cross

As the middle service of the Triduum, Good Friday is prepared for by Holy Thursday. In turn, it leads into the Easter Vigil. The absence of a benediction the previous evening and again on Good Friday underscores the connectedness of the Triduum services. Good Friday is not a “funeral” for Jesus, but an austere celebration of the Lamb and his sacrifice. The bare altar, symbolic of Christ, is the focus along with a large, rough-finished wood cross that is placed before it.  The Service of the Cross consists of two parts: (I) the Word and (II) the Meditation on the Cross. The service is highly meditative in nature and is celebrated simply and not hurried.

All of human history hinges on this day. Humbling himself before the will of the Father and the blood-thirst of men, the Son of God is slaughtered. Even worse than an ignomible death, the Father must reject his own Son since he bears the sin of the world. But all this served God’s saving purpose, and so we call this Friday…Good.

A New Covenant - Holy Thursday

As part of our Holy Week worship life, we observe, in part, an ancient custom of the early Christian Church.  Beginning with the evening worship on Holy Thursday and continuing through Holy Saturday's Easter Vigil, these services were considered to be one service and called the Triduum (The Three Days).  Even though people go home to rest and carry out their necessary responsibilities, they are encouraged to remember that at least in spirit, they are still "worshiping" and remembering the events of Holy Week.  No benediction concludes this service as an indication that the service continues for two more days. 

Tonight, we remember the first Passover meal and celebrate the meal that was given to us when Jesus celebrated Passover---on the night when He was betrayed. Blood paints the way to salvation. Yet “not all the blood beasts” (Christian Worship #128) could for sin atone. Fulfilling the Old, the Lamb of God establishes the New Covenant in his own body and blood.

Hosanna to Our King! - Palm Sunday

Here is the culmination of our Lenten journey of repentance and renewal. Here is final preparation for the celebration of the our Savior’s victory. The journey of Lent has prepared our hearts to ponder anew the Passion of our Lord and his glorious triumph over death and grave. With repentant hearts we join our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, confident in his everlasting rule, hailing him as our Eternal King. At the same time, we are mindful that he is our King because he is the Messiah, the promised Son of David sent as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

When Christ Went to Calvary: He Patiently Pleads for You

A foreigner comes to Birmingham in the fall. It seems as though everyone is wearing crimson and white or navy and orange. They say words that when put together seem to make no sense, words like “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide.” Yet, they sense that something important is happening, they just don’t know or understand what.

Perhaps the same is true for us as we approach Easter. We know its important, we just aren’t sure why the church makes Easter such a big deal. In the week’s leading up to Easter, we are going to be looking at what happened When Christ Went to Calvary. Each week, we will see a different aspect of Christ’s battle on our behalf against sin, the devil, and death itself. Each week, we will have a clearer picture in our mind not only why Easter is important, but why Christ went to Calvary.

So far, we have seen our Savior’s battle waged against temptation. We have found confidence in his resolution to carry out the Father’s plan of salvation. We have turned to the Lord at his invitation to draw near with repentant hearts. And we have rejoiced in his loving and forgiving embrace. In these final hours before Holy Week, even as we rejoice in the great things God has done for his people throughout history, let us put the ways of the past behind us and continue to strive for that for which Christ has laid hold of us.

When Christ Went to Calvary: He Forgave His Brothers and Sisters

A foreigner comes to Birmingham in the fall. It seems as though everyone is wearing crimson and white or navy and orange. They say words that when put together seem to make no sense, words like “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide.” Yet, they sense that something important is happening, they just don’t know or understand what.

Perhaps the same is true for us as we approach Easter. We know its important, we just aren’t sure why the church makes Easter such a big deal. In the week’s leading up to Easter, we are going to be looking at what happened When Christ Went to Calvary. Each week, we will see a different aspect of Christ’s battle on our behalf against sin, the devil, and death itself. Each week, we will have a clearer picture in our mind not only why Easter is important, but why Christ went to Calvary.

Today, we hear in God’s Word how our Savior forgave our sins when he went to Calvary. Now, the repentant sinner rejoices at being found in the loving embrace of the Father’s full, free, and “foolish” forgiveness. Secure in our Savior’s love and forgiveness, we go forth to share the Good News with those around us.

There is no video recording of today’s sermon.

When Christ Went to Calvary: He Urges Us to Repent

A foreigner comes to Birmingham in the fall. It seems as though everyone is wearing crimson and white or navy and orange. They say words that when put together seem to make no sense, words like “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide.” Yet, they sense that something important is happening, they just don’t know or understand what.

Perhaps the same is true for us as we approach Easter. We know its important, we just aren’t sure why the church makes Easter such a big deal. In the week’s leading up to Easter, we are going to be looking at what happened When Christ Went to Calvary. Each week, we will see a different aspect of Christ’s battle on our behalf against sin, the devil, and death itself. Each week, we will have a clearer picture in our mind not only why Easter is important, but why Christ went to Calvary.

Today, the Scripture lessons urge us to a life of repentance. God is gracious. He is long-suffering. He grants time for repentance now. But there is a day of judgment ahead when those who have despised God’s call to repentance during this time of grace will surely perish. Our Savior went to Calvary so that we can be confident of our God’s forgiveness when we repent. So, here is our God’s invitation during Lent: turn from sin fully confident of the Lord’s deliverance.

When Christ Went to Calvary - He Was Determined to Save Us

A foreigner comes to Birmingham in the fall. It seems as though everyone is wearing crimson and white or navy and orange. They say words that when put together seem to make no sense, words like “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide.” Yet, they sense that something important is happening, they just don’t know or understand what.

Perhaps the same is true for us as we approach Easter. We know its important, we just aren’t sure why the church makes Easter such a big deal.

In the week’s leading up to Easter, we are going to be looking at what happened When Christ Went to Calvary. Each week, we will see a different aspect of Christ’s battle on our behalf against sin, the devil, and death itself. Each week, we will come away with a clearer picture in our mind not only why Easter is important, but why Christ went to Calvary.

This week, we see that even though he was rejected by many, Jesus was determined and resolute on his journey to redeem us. Having met his enemy face-to-face (last Sunday’s readings), the Savior now proceeds to accomplish that which needed to be done so that the enemy might be crushed. We see Christ’s boundless love in the self-sacrificing way in which he resolutely goes up to Jerusalem, knowing what must happen to him there. His compassionate love is also directed toward those in Jerusalem who would reject him and who thus bring upon themselves their eternal destruction.

When Christ Went to Calvary - He Trampled Temptation

A foreigner comes to Birmingham in the fall. It seems as though everyone is wearing red and white or navy and orange. They say words that seem to make no sense, like “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide.” Yet, they sense that something important is happening, they just don’t know what.

Perhaps the same is true for us as we approach Easter. We know its important, we just aren’t sure why the church makes Easter such a big deal.

In the week’s leading up to Easter, we are going to be looking at what happened When Christ Went to Calvary. Each week, we will see a different aspect of Christ’s battle on our behalf against sin, the devil, and death itself. Each week, we will come away with a clearer picture in our mind not only why Easter is important, but why Christ went to Calvary.

This week, we will reflect on the battles each of us fight with temptation every day, and the results that are too obvious to mention. Christ was no stranger to temptation, either. He battled, yet was without sin…for us and for our eternal righteousness. This message of victory gives us confidence as we journey through the wilderness of sin in true repentance. When Christ went to Calvary, he went to trample temptation!

Ash Wednesday: Humble Repentance and Gracious Forgiveness

Almighty and merciful God, you never despise what you have made and always forgive those who turn to you. Create in us such new and contrite hearts that we may truly repent of our sins and obtain your full and gracious pardon; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Where is God? He is Revealing Himself as the Lord of Glory!

We are often filled with silent fears, burning guilt and heavy sorrow. We can feel that we are without hope and imagine that God is absent from our lives. We believe that God has forgotten about us. When sorrow burdens our hearts, worries pester our minds, and the world simply scoffs – where in the world is God? Our series this Epiphany season will show our God exactly where he is, and where he is found.

The season of Epiphany draws to a dramatic close. Jesus atop a mountain reveals his divine glory, giving Peter, James and John a glimpse of all that He is! Moses and Elijah are there too. The voice of the Father speaks. Together with the disciples we are filled with holy awe at Who Jesus is! Even more amazing: the Lord of Glory insists on leaving this mountain so that at just the right time he can ascend the Mount of Crucifixion to subject himself to the ugliest of punishments but for the most glorious of reasons: to save you and me! Come and see for yourself just how glorious a Lord you have! 

Where is God? He Is Loving You!

We are often filled with silent fears, burning guilt and heavy sorrow. We can feel that we are without hope and imagine that God is absent from our lives. We believe that God has forgotten about us. When sorrow burdens our hearts, worries pester our minds, and the world simply scoffs – where in the world is God? Our series this Epiphany season will show our God exactly where he is, and where he is found.

It is natural for us to love those who love us and hate those who are our enemies. In a world of messed-up love, Jesus reminds us that when our hearts are warmed by His divine and forgiving love for us, then we can share that same love with others. We can love the unlovable and have compassion on those who curse us.

Where is God? He Is Blessing You!

We are often filled with silent fears, burning guilt and heavy sorrow. We can feel that we are without hope and imagine that God is absent from our lives. We believe that God has forgotten about us. When sorrow burdens our hearts, worries pester our minds, and the world simply scoffs – where in the world is God? Our series this Epiphany season will show our God exactly where he is, and where he is found.

In our world, the rich, powerful and happy are blessed. Jesus turns our world upside down so we may be saved. He blesses the poor with the riches of His grace. He blesses the hungry with the good things in His house. He blesses the weeping with resurrection hope. He even blesses those who are hated, insulted, and persecuted, because these things are happening to them because they are connected to Christ.