Second, the cross ought to compel us to proclaim the hope of the gospel. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ae061dd0a1adfbed9a6220aa689c5620" );document.getElementById("i94c344953").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Enter your email address below to subscribe to the church newsletter. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ! Raised With Christ: Holy Week 2021 Each year, we love to offer a free holy week devotional to our community. "Hosanna! Remind them that whatever they choose should be meaningful to them and beneficial to others. If you are an unbeliever, turn from sin and trust in Christ. Translate into 100+ languages! These sermons will encourage your students to develop a real burden for those who don't know Christ, understand that worship is . Jesus has the right to cleanse the temple because He is the authoritative King. In this chapter and the chapters that follow, Jesus authority is put on display. Jesus experienced the separation that we as sinners deserve, so that we might receive reconciliation. Check out the. Indeed, He is Lord of the temple, and He has the right to do in it whatever He desires, including throwing it into disarray. Keep before our eyes the image of your Son, Who, being God, became a Servant for our sake. If they drop a cotton ball before putting into their bowl, they must pick it up (they can use their hands for this) and put it back in the starting bowl. And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. This will provide students with some encouragement and accountability in their decisions. In each object, readers will find meaning in the biblical account of Jesus final days. Uniting Suffering to the Cross. "Please look with eyes to see," the Apostle invited. O God, Son of God, you took on yourself our nature and suffered death on the cross for us. Furthermore, Christs judgment means our efforts for justice in this world become meaningful. So Jesus, in righteous anger, drove them all out, overturning their tables and their seats (Matthew 21:12). While we can't physically be with our youth and families, we can still resource them on their personal spiritual journeys as we all journey toward the Cross this Easter. For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood, see to it yourselves.". Maundy Thursday. All men die because they sin, for death is the payment for sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). Overcoming Sinful Passions. By your Passion, you have set us free from eternal death. These sermons are filled with strong main points, interactive experiences, and powerful illustrations. Our Bible lessons for student ministry are designed to be easy to understand and not too long. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Holy Monday is the second day of Holy Week, right after Palm Sunday. He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. One features a New Testament chapter each day. "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. It is the day that we remember and celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as Savior and King. Walking Through Holy Week Focus on the Family's free Easter activity kit retraces the events of Jesus' final days on earth, helping kids learn more about Christ's sacrifice and victory over death. However, as we noted earlier, Jesus cry on the cross was also a cry of spiritual anguish. Following Christ is difficult because we still are asking these same questions in our time but in a different context. First, surrender your heart to God. Jesus and his disciples had just shared what is known as the Last Supper and he washed their feet saying: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34). Exodus 20:8 is the original verse explaining to Gods people how to observe this law, Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? Well look at three implications concerning the authority of Christ based on the resurrection. Computer or tablet (one that can be connected to a projector or big screen TV if you have a large group), Scratch paper or personal white boards and pens/markers for quiz, What is Fat Tuesday? 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Things that Will Keep Me from Coming Back to Your Church, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 10 Things You Should Know about the Intermediate State of Death, 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children Again. Pleading for Mercy and Forgiveness of Sin. Perhaps pick a time each day alone or with family or housemates to slow down and savor what was happening during the Passion week some two thousands years ago. ), Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?" How is it that historys most glorious moment is surrounded by fearful fishermen, despised tax collectors, marginalized women, feeble politicians, and traitorous friends? Paul speaks to this reality in Romans 10:9-13, what we might refer to as the foundational confession of Christianity: If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. A prophecy made around 500 years before Jesus came witnesses to Christs holiness and purity. To understand the depth of Christ's sacrifice and the amazing gift and power of the resurrection, the stories of Holy Week are essential. Todd Outcalt, Creating a Life of Meaningful Prayer Amen. All glory be to him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" (1 Peter 2:18-25), Lord God, We wait, on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday And sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays And we cannot see what is Good.. You are very welcome Tiffany. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on . It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 1st Corinthians 15:55-57 teaches us that sin is the sting of death: Death, where is your victory? Actually, what youll find is a collection of games, lessons and activities on Lent. We will declare that your love stands firm forever. Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? Psalm 22:14-16 captures this physical anguish: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me. But your foolishness is wiser than our wisdom. By Doug Franklin April 13, 2021. After all, He explicitly told Peter in John 21:18-19 that Peter would be put to death. Let's take a brief look at some of the primary observances in Holy Week: Palm Sunday is the celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus cry on the cross was a cry of physical agony, spiritual anguish, and relational alienation. However, if they claimed that Johns authority was from heaven, then they would be guilty of rejecting God, since they denied that Jesus was the Messiah. It helps us in our small church in the islands. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. In verse 34, Jesus says, I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. This verse has been particularly confusing, because it seems that Jesus is saying that the generation He was speaking to would see His second coming. Poem - This Day You Will Be With Me. Notify me when these are available. We see in this passage that genuine compassion for the crowd leads Jesus to action. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. 4 o Matthew 26:1-5 (NIV) 1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and The hundreds of people shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! In addition, this was also a cry of relational alienation. Weve seen in Matthew 24 that we are to trust in the authority of Christ and persevere in the power of Christ. On Wednesday of Holy Week, Jesus may have rested. Yes, as a matter of fact, He is. Shortly before His own death, Jesus told His disciples the following: No one takes it [My life] from Me, but I lay it down on My own. speed and the best experience on this site. The above devotional is an adaptation of an original selection from The Gift of the Cross: Celebrating Christ Through Holy Week which is available for purchase on Amazon or from Brandon Helder's website.Though this book can be read independently, it is intended to be used in conjunction with the Resurrection Block Set available for purchase separately from Worship Wood Works. Reading Time: 2 minutes. How can this be? Malachi speaks of Gods messenger restoring the worship life of the people of God and purifying the priests. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Jesus is Lord over your life. Todd Outcalt is the lead pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana and is a thirty-year youth ministry veteran. Spending these days in prayerful preparation can help enrich your celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday. Our anticipation will grow as we study more Scripture and light another candle each week of December: the Prophecy Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, the Shepherds' Candle, the Angels' Candle, and the Christ Candle. Lest we think these were just innocent questions by the religious leaders, remember that they had already rejected John the Baptists message (v. 32); these questions often come from unbelief. It was, in fact, all very exciting and dizzying. We may not have the natural ability to multiply bread and fish on . So tell them, and pray for their salvation. This is intended to be used as a daily devotion for families as they prepare to celebrate Easter. If they give up their candy and win the quiz game, then they get their piece back plus two more. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. Here's an insider's guide to some of our best one-off resources for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, including: liturgies, Stations of the Cross, worship films, visual art, banner art, and more! This is what Paul speaks to in 2 Corinthians 5:21: He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Martin Luther spoke of this exchange: Our most merciful Father, seeing us to be oppressed and overwhelmed with the curse of the law [so that] we could never be delivered from it by our own power, sent his only Son in the world and laid upon him all the sins of all men, saying: Be thou Peter that denier; Paul that persecutor, blasphemer and cruel oppressor; David that adulterer; that sinner which did eat the apple in Paradise; that thief which hanged upon the cross; and briefly, be thou the person which hath committed the sins of all men; see therefore that thou pay and satisfy for them [all]. The Spirit in Christ From Youth, March 4. Would this Jesus of Nazareth be the One to deliver them from Roman tyranny? Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals His glory in the image of a cloud. Following Jesus description of His second coming in verses 29-31, He tells the parable of the fig tree in verses 32-33. Unbelief isnt the only reason people question Jesus authority. It was on the Thursday of Christ's final week before being crucified and resurrected that He said this commandment to His disciples. Our salvation is not because we've done any good works, but it's because of God's gracean expression of God's kindness. Invite them to hear the whisper of God. Instead of such worship, however, Jesus found a commercial business filled with scores of people selling sacrifices and exchanging money. Before the game, offer students the chance to give up one piece of candy for the chance to get two pieces if they win the game. lent resources, youth ministry, lent for youth, youth devotionals, youth group, youth discussion guide, lent discussion guide, lent sunday school . He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Patrick Boatwright, Thin Spaces The question for us is, Will we let unbelief and the opinions of others control us, or will we submit to God and His Son Jesus Christ? You put me into the dust of death. But now they are hidden from your eyes. Each devotional connects an element of what Jesus said or did to the current crisis and includes a few questions for you to reflect on or discuss with friends or family. (A day to indulge before fasting), What does Lent commemorate? So thank you kindly. The first time He came to a remote, obscure town just outside Jerusalem, where He went largely unnoticed, save for a few shepherds and some farm animals. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Holy Spirit who inspired their writing are all interested in the last seven days of Jesus' earthly ministry. There are many things we could say about him, but first and foremost He is the holy King. Holy Monday Devotional Holy Monday is the second day of Holy Week, right after Palm Sunday. Devotions from the KJV Bible | Free Daily Devotionals Two free daily devotionals that teach biblical principles and doctrines. One features a New Testament chapter each day. Your browser is outdated, update your browser for more security, Remember that the purpose of the resurrection is grounded in Christs love for us. We stumble, we become lost, But you are steady and sure. Alexis has a Master's degree from Denver Seminary and a Bachelor's degree from Colorado Christian University. ThisFREE podcast provides a fresh approach to the Lenten season and can be used as a devotional or study for individuals and groups. But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? We praise you, we bless you, Lord! Let us know how you used them and how your youth engaged during Holy Week in the comments below! And the entire city was immersed in parades and all the festivities. The day preceding the miracle is yes, a Sabbath, a day to rest, but it is also a day to be still. ", And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. We can never grow close enough to God and these Passion Week devotions have been created to enhance and help you grow in your spiritual journey with Jesus in days leading up to Easter.