Special Message from Israel
Pastor Doug and Harvey Friesen have taken a large group of people on a pilgrimage to Israel that is currently in progress. This Sunday, Pastor Doug takes us on a video tour about the real Jesus
- Sea of Galilee
- Mt Precipice (Nazareth)
- Capernaum
- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Pool of Bethesda
- Garden of Gethsemane
- Garden Tomb
Palm Sunday
Why is it important to understand the real Jesus? How do you dispel myth, legend, from truth and reality about who Jesus is? At it’s core, the real Jesus is all about freedom:
“Normally when someone dies, their impact on the world immediately begins to recede. But Jesus inverted this normal human trajectory, as he did so many others. Jesus impact was greater a hundred years after his death than during his life; it was greater sill after five hundred years; after a thousand years his legacy laid the foundation for much of Europe; after two thousand years he has more followers in more places than ever.” – JOHN ORTBERG IN “WHO IS THIS MAN?” P.8
Luke 4:16-21 – And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Acts 5:37-38 – After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
Easter
When Jesus came, he was not the first to talk about good authentic life, love, or justice. But, he was the first to rise from the dead.. and becuase of that everything he said and every claim he made in that moment were prooved to be true. That is why the resurection is the center of the Christian faith. Until you believe that he rose from the dead that that He is the King of Kings, then you are not a follower of Jesus.
Love is the ultimate meaning and purpose that we find in life and that is what our souls long for. Pure, unadulterated and unconditional love is the real answer and THAT is what Christ is calling you to experience. Quench the thirst of your soul so that everything Christ has done is because he loves you. The resurrection is the most potent powerful historical fact because despite everything happening in your life, you can always look back to it and see it because THAT is God saying to you “I Love You”!
John 10:7-11 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Colossians 1:15-18 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
