Death is defeated!

Resurrection Sunday

We live for seventy years or so (with luck we might make it to eighty), And what do we have to show for it? Trouble. Toil and trouble and a marker in the graveyard. ~ Psalm 90:10(MSG)

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus defeats death -- and that changes everything.

PRAYER:

Powerful God, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead. Thank you for defeating death on behalf of all of us. I want to start living the resurrection life right now. In spite of that desire I get distracted by old things and I need help overcoming them. But I am trusting in you to raise the resurrection life in me. Amen.

Power

Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power... ~ Deuteronomy 8:18a (NLT)

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. ~ John 19:26-27 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus has the power of God, which he waits to use to break the power of death.

PRAYER:

Lord, Jesus appeared to be so powerless as he looked down from the cross. Thank you that Sunday is coming. Amen.

Call out to Jesus

Good Friday

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NLT)

Then one of the criminals being crucified next to Jesus said to him, “Remember me when your kingdom comes together and you are in power.” ~ Luke 23:42 (ABP)

KEY IDEA:

Call out to the Lord Jesus while you can.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for being with us in the good times and the bad times. I worry when I think that things will not get better for me -- maybe even worse. So I want to acknowledge you and serve you while I'm in good health and have a good mind. Your sacrifice shows me again of how worthy of honor and recognition you are. Amen.

Jesus saves!

Maundy Thursday

Save your people, Lord God! Don’t let foreign nations make jokes about us. ~ Joel 2:17 (CEV)

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ~ John 1:29 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is the one who saves us.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to save us. Sometimes I don't act very "saved" but I know that when you look at me you see Jesus. I know that I am forgiven. Help me to live like a saved person. I'm going to live confidently because of Jesus. Amen.