Give thanks for the unprecedented harvest of new believers across Africa, Asia and Latin America. There are now Christians living and fellowshipping in every country on earth. World mission, globalization and high migration rates have dispersed the Church into every corner of the world, both to previously unevangelized areas and back to traditionally Christian regions where the Church is in sharp decline. For more information visit www.operationworld.org.
[button url=”http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:13-35&version=ESV” newwindow=”true” color=”red”]Luke 24:36-53[/button]
Sermon Series on the Gospel of Luke
This will be updated soon. UNDER CONSTRUCTION[
The Crossroads Spring Choir will have weekly rehearsals Thursday’s at 7:00 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club. All singers 13 and older are welcome! We will work on several beautiful anthems to share for worship in late April and into mid-May. If you are interested in joining the choir, please let Linda know! lindaneice@crossroadspca.net
CROSSROADS TRIVIA NIGHT & TALENT SHOW
Fellowship Event & Mission Trip Fundraiser
Saturday, April 27th: 6-9pm
Dumfries Boys & Girls Club
Theme: World Tour (including clothing, sports, political geography, and sightseeing)
What is a Trivia Night? Gather in teams to socialize, eat good food, and compete against the other teams in rounds of trivia. Between rounds, enjoy talent exhibitions from your fellow congregants! Teams also compete for best decorated table.
How can I sign up?
How can I help?
If you plan to attend Trivia Night, please consider hosting a table. Check the box below and return this form in the offering plate (or give it to Dorothy Carroll) if you are interested.
¨ I will host a table of 8! (This means you will find the other 7 people to fill your table. They can, but do not have to be, other people from Crossroads.)
If you are hosting a table and know what your table’s theme will be, please write it below. Pick a country or a major international city or landmark as your theme.
Questions? Contact Dorothy Carroll (dorothy.r.carroll@gmail.com).
Veggie Tales Live, Happy Birthday Bob and Larry, with be coming to Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge at 2:00p.m.
Ticket Prices: Individual $15, Group 10+ – $12
Purchase Tickets: call 1-800-861-0850 or online at eventtickets.net
We had a great worship service this past Easter Sunday. The sermon was on Luke 24:1-12 where we were encountered by the empty tomb of Christ – a shocking surprise to hearers ancient and present. The apostles who heard the news passed it off as “nonsense” or an “idle tale” (Luke 24:11). Many throughout history have passed the empty tomb off as an idle tale, including Thomas Jefferson. Indeed, he even went so far as to not include the four Gospel’s united resurrection account in his version of the Gospels (although Wikipedia is not the best of sources here is more info on the Jefferson Bible if you are interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible).
Nevertheless, my intent was not so much to bring Jefferson into focus as much as how ending the story of Christ at the burial leaves us looking at a graveyard. Luke wants us to look elsewhere. He wants us to look into Paradise (Luke 23:43) and into the face of Jesus. The way Luke records the story functions like this: as we stare depressed at the graveyard of the Lord Jesus he comes from behind and turns us around to look into his face. Luke, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wants us to look into the face of our living and loving Lord.
Jesus is living – the Living One (24:5). He is no ancient character from history past only to be regarded for his great morals. No! Jesus is alive! He is Risen! [quote name=”Luke 24:5″ center=”true” float=”right” size=”one-third”]Jesus is living – the Living One (24:5). He is no ancient character from history past only to be regarded for his great morals. No! Jesus is alive! He is Risen!
[/quote] We can communicate with him now and he hears our prayers.
Jesus is alive…but that may not bring us repose. I mean, he’s holy and we are sinners. Yet, the heavenly men at the tomb remind the women that Jesus’ love for them included the cross (24:6-7). Christ had told them that this all would come to pass. What seemed to the women to be a senseless act of violence against their innocent Rabbi turned out to be part of God’s loving plan for the Son of Man and his people.
Finally, Jesus is Lord. Nowhere in Luke had Jesus been called “the Lord Jesus” until 24:3. Then, in Luke’s second volume (the Book of Acts) Jesus is called by that title over and over again. Why? Christ has now officially been vindicated in his role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords by his resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:1-4). This is partially what Peter may have been marveling about as he trekked home from the empty tomb (24:12). Peter, who had given up so much for the Jesus movement and seen it all crash days before now had regained hope for the movement based in Jesus’ proven Lordship.
Christian: Jesus is alive today – he hears your prayers. Jesus loves you today – he does not mean you harm in the least. Jesus is Lord today – his movement is alive. Don’t get stuck staring at the graveyard, sin, depravity, and death. The story has moved beyond the grave to the resurrection and Jesus has turned us to look at him our resurrected Lord and Friend.
[button url=”http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:1-12&version=ESV” newwindow=”true” color=”red”]Luke 24:1-12[/button]
Questions for Conversation
[box icon=”info”]Do people modify the Gospels today? How so?[/box]
[box icon=”info”]How do Christians truncate the Gospel story?[/box]
[box icon=”info”]Have you ever thought that it was proper to dwell on the death of Christ in isolation from his resurrection? Is that possible?[/box]
[box icon=”info”]What would you tell a friend who is not a believer about the resurrection of Jesus if you had one sentence?[/box]
[quote name=”Luke 23:44-56″]44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.[/quote]
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Everyone is welcome to join our Fellowship Brunch following the Worship Service on Easter Sunday. Please bring a dish to share if you are able to. Don’t forget to invite a friend too.
Please contact Kimberly Haney at kkahaney@gmail.com if you are able to help with clean up or set up.
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®