Church notes - March 2020

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1st March
Psalm 119: 5, 56, 66

2 Corinthians 1:20

Luke 19:28 - 44

Worship - Every moment spent in service to God.

Psalm 51:10

Luke 19:28 - 44

Route of the Triumphal Entry

http://www.jesuswalk.com/john/maps/triumphal-entry-route-300.jpg

vs 29 - 31
The riding of the donkey colt is a symbol of coming on peace.

Zechariah 9:9, 10
Peace.

Contrast
Revelation 19:11 - 16
Jesus on a war horse.

vs 39
It was a happy occasion. Excitement was contagious. It wasn't just that the Passover was approaching, but that Jesus was there!

Psalm 118
People were enthusiastic, they knew Jesus was the Messiah.

vs 41
Jesus wept over the city, because the leadership was spiritually blind.

vs 43
He foresaw the seige by the Romans in AD 70.

It can be symbolic of our own towns and cities. He was weeping because others will face judgement.
Heartbroken over every sin and poor choice in our lives. He is for us, not against us.

Don't let moments of committment pass by. Pray upon them. Determine what it is what the LORD wants you to do for Him.

Communion
Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. His body broken. His blood poured out for us.


8th March 2020
Matthew 7:13, 14
Romans 5:8
Acts 4:12

Luke 22:1 - 34

What do you bring to the table?
Judas - What did Judas bring to the table?
Betrayal!
vs 3
What does it mean to 'enter'?
It wasn't that Satan possessed him and took control.
John 13:2
Satan prompted Judas, who was already thinking about betraying Jesus. His motivation?
Money (Hence the 30 pieces of silver...)
Judas sets the events in motion, but later, he can't stop them.
Parallels with the nature of sin.

Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Feeding your 'harmless little sins'
Will eventually consume you.

What the disciples brought to the table?
Selfishness! (Disputing about which one would be the greatest in the Kingdom.)
St. Augustine - Incurvatus in se - Curved in on oneself. Navel gazing. Can't see anyone or anything else.
vs 24 - 25
His Kingdom is built on Spiritual Power, not fear.

Peter
What does Peter bring to the table?
Failure!
Luke 22:60 - 62
Peter had failed and became aware of the depths of his sin. He broke down in despair.
But.
John 21:15 - 19

Conviction
Confession
Forgiveness
Repentance
Restoration
That is what is offered to us.

Jesus - What does Jesus bring to the table?
Forgiveness
Restoration

He gives the means of Forgiveness and Restoration.
It's more than just participation.

What do you bring to the table?
Not what the disciples brought, but the life giving message of the Gospel.

Giving ourselves totally. Bring your all.


15th March
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 27:1 - 3
Psalm 40

How to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Take it seriously, but in a loving way.

Pandemic
Easily spread.

Luke 22:39 - 52

Fasting Communion
Passover
Luke 22:14 - 23
Jesus took the punishment for us.

Luke 22:39 - 52
Jesus, fully Human and fully God. When we pray to Him, He can understand what we are experiencing.

How can Jesus feel anxiety and pain?
See his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Gethsemane - literal 'Olive Press'.
A working Olive farm.
A million people stayed in Jerusalem during the Passover period. Only a portion could stay overnight.

Not a normal night! Jesus was going to wait and pray. He wasn't waiting for something tedious. He was waiting to die.

Fight or Flight. He could have fled. But He stayed in the place where He knew Judas would find Him.
vs 42
He was pouring out His feelings to the Father. Prayer is a process.

Mark 14:43 - 50
During His prayer a spiritual victory was acheived. He was strengthened.

Jesus was following the will of the Father. He chose to be sacrificed for us.
Hebrews 4:15, 16
The High Priest can symphathise with us.


22nd March
FEAR
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Luke 22:54 - 62

We must rely on God's Word and Command Fear to leave.

Kidswise - Peter gets it wrong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjxU8TDtyWA

God is in Control
Jesus tried to warn Peter, but he wasn't prepared. Jesus did ask Peter and John to pray, but that wasn't enough.
Denied Jesus at the courtyard belonging to the High Priest.
Make sure you're following Jesus more closely.
John 18:15 - 17
Peter's fears were growing

Peter had been unfaithful to Jesus.
So have we, silent, not defending Jesus.

vs 60, 61
Eye Contact, Peter remembered.

'f Satan can't destroy our faith, he tries to destroy fellowship, joy and hope, so that we live in misery, are ineffective, and are neutralized as far as furthering the kingdom of God and diminishing Satan's sphere of influence.' Ralph Wilson.

1 John 1:9
Peter followed the path.
A point of failure. Guilt can't help us achieve anything.
A Juxaposition. Juxtaposition is an act or instance of placing two elements close together or side by side. This is often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, etc.
E.g. Three sisters at the Three sisters.

The moment of eye contact.
Juxtaposition of guilt and forgiveness.
Shame
- Negative Emotion, feeling something is basically wrong with you,
- Unresolved shame - can lead to depression and anxiety.
- Can lead to withdrawral and addictions.

By going to the Cross, Jesus has dealt with our shame.

God's long term plan
- Jesus knew he was going to the Cross, to save the world. He wasn't surprised by Peter's denial. Similarly God wasn't surprised by the Coronavirus.

John 21:15 - 19
Jesus restored Peter and gave him a job. No matter how great our shame, Jesus forgives us.

Conviction of sin.
Confession of sin.
Forgiveness through Christ's blood.
Repentance - a decision to turn from sin.
Restoration - the relationship repaired & renewed.

Romans 12:12


29th March
Psalm 92:1 - 8

John 14:6
John 16:33

Luke 11:2 - 4

What is something that has changed in the past week?

Luke 8:22 - 28
Hebrews 13:8

The coronavirus is strong and scary, but Jesus is stronger!

Jesus Calms the Storm
1) What does this story show us about Jesus?
2) If we trust in Jesus, does that change how we approach difficult, even dangerous situations in life?
3) Does it mean hard or dangerous situations won't happen?
4) Why trust Jesus if he doesn't always rescue us from every bad situation. What does he rescue us from?

Psalm 91
Life throws curveballs...
Uncertainty and anxiety, not only drought and bushfires, but also COVID-19. (On top of the usual life struggles.)
Job and Psalmists asked why the bad things were happening to them.
John 16:33
In this world there will be trouble.

Why?
Why me?
Those asking want an answer of comfort and hope.
Ultimately, God is in control. He didn't create death and suffering.
Genesis 1:31

Thorns and thistles. The Devil is the one responsible.

Romans 8:21, 22
The creation waiting for redemption.
Romans 8:28

Joseph's story - despite being enslaved and imprisoned, God was able to use him to rescue the people of Egypt and the surrounding nations from famine.

God can bring good, even out of evil.

Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good.

Suffering pales into insignificance compared to what God has in store for all his followers.
2 Corinthians 4:17
Romans 8:18

Revelation 21:3, 4

We decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage.

John 16:33
Suffering and death doesn't have the last word. God does.
Jesus experienced these, but He overcame them at the Cross.
Salvation come from knowing Him personally, and receiving his forgiveness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18