Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

Do you remember the story last week of the love between Jack and Grace? What did you think about Jack before you discovered he was dating the Church and not a girl? Pastor Bret laid out four visible elements of the church and displayed them through the letter of 1 Corinthians; Conversion, Baptism, Lord’s Table, and Church Discipline. Reflect on the message (http://tinyurl.com/swbc-last-Sunday). To go deeper, listen to his previous series: (http://tinyurl.com/swbc-defining-church-series). As you think through last weeks sermon, compare these elements to many of the Christian churches in America today and notice the stark difference. Why is this so important? The culture is shifting rapidly and is growing in animosity toward true believers in Jesus Christ.

Looking forward to this Sunday we will be hearing the Word of God from Matthew 21:33-46. This is another parable Jesus is speaking to the authority given him and the response of the people. The vineyard owner’s son died at the hand of the tenants, much like God’s Son died at the hand of His chosen people. The Church is to be the body of Christ, identifying themselves as such. How? Through Church membership in a local body. How do we treat Christ and His body? Let us pray that we continue to dwell on last week as we prepare for the upcoming Sunday. Take a few moments to read on how best to do that (http://t.co/AJLavgQzEA). Let us come to be with the body of believers and be prepared to understand how we should respond to Jesus as Lord and Savior as the body of believers.  

A final, related thought is from a book I am reading, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, by Jeremiah Burroughs. “If I become content by having my desire satisfied, that is only self-love, but when I am contented with the hand of God, and am willing to be at his disposal, that comes from my love to God.” Let us not be in the body as Jack was with Grace, to have his desires satisfied, rather, let us be at the Father’s disposal to do His Work, His Way.