Since my husband retired last month, we have been visiting churches in our area, allowing the new interim pastor of St. Paul’s some time to settle in. Last week we went to church with a good friend and they sang a song I’d never heard before. It seemed to go with the monthly theme, so I decided to share it with our readers. Let me know what you think!
For more music about Jesus see these posts:
We sang this hymn during our Ash Wednesday service, and it touched my heart. It is certainly appropriate for Lent, as it reminds us of how deep our sin is, and how gracious is the God who saved us. It was evidently often used as a altar call and if you would like to know more about it, you can follow this link: https://barryshymns.blogspot.com/2011/04/jesus-i-come.htmll.
Listen and enjoy:
I just finished watching Son of God which was produced by Roma Downey (she also produced the mini-series, The Bible) and Mark Burnett. This film follows the life of Jesus from His birth through His crucifixion.
I thought the first section, which included many of His miracles, His teaching, and calling the disciples seemed choppy and disjointed. Many scenes were incomplete and not in the correct sequence. Of course, one problem is, if you are quite familiar with the Bible, you quickly notice everything that seems different, or not quoted exactly right. Of course, in fairness, it is difficult to boil down several years into an hour. I understand that, and nothing was misrepresented.
I found the portion from the Passover, including the Last Supper and Crucifixion much better and closer to the Biblical text. Many of the scenes were moving and realistic (yes, I shed a few tears). The resurrection and things that took place for the following 40 days, were once again compressed with some things being left out.
The acting was excellent, especially Diogo Morgado as Jesus and Greg Hicks as Pilate.
VERDICT: I would give it 4 stars. It would be a good choice to watch during Lent, reminding us of the suffering and sacrifice Christ endured for us.
Ryan Lokkesmoe is a well-known author of several books on small groups, as well as, small group curriculums. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part addresses the practical applications of small groups. He covers logistics, planning, leaders, childcare, and location, as well as many more.
He gives practical, simple principles to follow to make sure the group is instituted, planned and lead well so that it can succeed in the first part. I found the principles to be easy and effective if a bit simple.
The second part is based on 12 basic Christian studies which I enjoyed more than the first part. I felt that the studies were well thought out and provided ample questions to engage all participants. He backs up his study material with ample scripture references and ends each study with the most important thing – Prayer.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I felt it was well-written and gave sound advice but could have given a little more detail in the implementation part.
I have received a free copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review – Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR Part 255
Have you ever felt like you don’t count in this world. Think that people should look at you and say “Just who do you think you are?” Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt that way tons of times.
But Jesus changes that. We are all somebody. We all have worth.
Take a minute to listen to Casting Crowns (with Matthew West) sing about being nobody. Lately I’ve been trying to live so the world can see nobody but Jesus. I put the lyrics here so you can follow (or sing!) along.
Why You ever chose me
Has always been a mystery
All my life, I’ve been told I belong
At the end of a line
With all the other Not-Quites
With all the Never-Get-It-Rights
But it turns out they are the ones You were looking for
All this time
‘Cause I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
Moses had stage fright
And David brought a rock to a sword fight
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would’ve chosen
And You changed the world
Well, the moral of the story is
Everybody’s got a purpose
So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying
“Who do you think you are?” I say
I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
So let me go down, down, down in history
As another blood-bought faithful member of the family
And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
So let me go down, down, down in history (Go down in history)
As another blood-bought faithful member of the family (It’s all I ever wanna be)
And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus, yeah!
I’m just a nobody (Nobody)
Trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody
Who saved my soul (Oh, saved my, saved my soul)
Ever since You rescued me
You gave my heart a song to sing (You gave me a song to sing)
I’m living for the world to see
Nobody but Jesus (Nobody but You, Lord)
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
Here is the second installment in the series on Piety from Jim Edgel:
Authentic or true piety comes from a dynamic, personal relationship with God that is conscious, growing and shared. Piety is living a life that responds to God’s amazing gift of grace in His son Jesus. Conscious of the personal value of God’s grace and consciously choosing a life with Him. This life in Christ must be continually growing. We either grow or decline. We cannot remain still. As we live this life of grace, we must share it with others and be willing to accept people where they are, listen to them and share our most precious gift – our time. As we become more self-giving, we grow in our potential as human beings and understand we are God’s channel of grace to others and ourselves… Christ must remain at the center of all aspects of our life, every action, every decision we make. We can’t say I love Jesus but this is business, work or vacation; or I am having a difficult time right now, I must take care of myself. God’s word tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you” … What is Authentic or true piety? Authentic piety is directing our whole life to God. When we leave God out of certain areas of our life, we leave a huge space for Satan to slip in. Directing our whole life to God is not about a long list of things we are forbidden to do. It is about consciously sharing a growing Christ-centered life, which comes from the response of a grateful heart. When we give our life over to God and have a willingness to be changed by the Holy Spirit, we begin to discover the true purpose and plan God has created us for. We start the most amazing adventure we could ever imagine… For our whole life to be directed to God;
The three elements of every act – ones knowing, wanting and doing have to be directed to God. We should know God and know what He teaches. When our knowledge centers on God, God directs our knowing. Wanting is the emotions that drive our actions. Wanting becomes loving when our love for God drives our actions. We strive to act according to God’s will. Piety is directing our whole life to God by knowing who God is and what He taught. Loving God with our whole heart and striving to carry out His will is the full response to the gift of grace.
Piety is an Ideal. Living in a relationship with God is the Christian Ideal. This is a lifelong process that brings us to a personal relationship with God. And is nurtured in the same way as other intimate relationships we pursue in life.
With God at the center of our life, the Holy Spirit will help us maintain the goal of emulating the character of Jesus and His approach to dealing with people and problems. All of us, no matter how capable we become in our Christian walk, will make mistakes. I personally make many mistakes and at times need correction. None of us ever get it all right … Except for Jesus, of course. One of the greatest marks of maturity as human beings and to reveal the level of our spiritual maturity is the ability to receive correction. Other things that reveal our level of spiritual maturity are:
Characteristics of authentic piety. Courage, Naturalness, and Vibrant and joyful life. Courage is not foolishness; it is the mark of one who will do what is right because it is the right thing to do. It takes courage to step out of our “comfort zone” and accept new challenges that God may bring into our life. It also takes courage to forgive someone who has hurt us. Remember, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us … It is vital that everything we do as Christians be natural. Our actions should be a natural response to a grateful heart. People living a life of authentic piety should stand out only because of the love they have for God and others. Jesus said “By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” An ordinary life lived to the fullest is not dull, it is exciting and rich. As our faith deepens, we sense a new meaning to each part of life. We grasp new potential and realize new talents that God has created in us. As we direct our whole life to God our personal relationship with Him impacts every area of our lives. The practices of piety are those things we do that nourish our relationship with God. Practices of piety are not piety in themselves; they are our concrete, visible responses to God’s love for us. Practices of piety such as worship, prayer and Christian service to others flow out of our relationship with God and nourish it. Life must be approached from the perspective that all we do is part of our response to God’s call. Some may only know who God is by being around Christians. The outcome of authentic piety is the peace of God. As we are directing our whole life to God, we are conscious of being in a relationship with the Triune God. We are: Children of the Father, brothers of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit.
To be continued…
The following are excerpts from a talk on Piety given by Jim Edgel – They have been reprinted with his permission:
Piety is a word we rarely use and may think of it in a negative way such as the “pious” ways of the Pharisees. But authentic Christian piety is a very good thing. In fact, if we explain the life Jesus led, it was a life of true piety. Brothers, as we become filled with the Holy Spirit, God calls each one of us to a new life, and this involves a radical change from within. This change alters our relationship with: Our self, with God, with other people, and with the world, we live in together. We see ourselves differently, knowing that no matter how broken we may be, we are forgiven and very valuable to God. We have a new direction for our lives as children of God, full of marvelous capabilities. We begin to see other people through God’s eyes, loving them as brothers and sisters who were created with the same potential that God has given to us. And as we continue to transform; we see our world, as messed up as it may be, as God’s gift to us, given for our enjoyment and care. When we speak of piety, we are speaking of a full response in all areas of our life to God’s amazing love and grace. We must seek a personal relationship with God, not just knowing about God … But knowing who God is. Being Christian, not just doing Christian things. How can we discover our God-given potential and be the complete person that God calls us to be as we live a life of grace? This consists of balancing three key dimensions of our lives. All three are equally important and it takes all three, working together, giving equal stability and balance in order to support us as we live in a close relationship with God. To better understand the importance of Piety in our daily walks as Christians; which includes taking the Good News of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for you and me to the world, we must understand the difference between authentic piety and false piety. Authentic piety is an intimate, revitalizing deepening relationship with God. Jesus explains this to us. You may remember reading in the Gospel of Matthew when the Pharisees gathered to question Jesus and one of the group asked Him which was the greatest commandment in the law. And Jesus using His words with great precision, as always, not only answers their question, He explains authentic piety and sums up all the commandments in three sentences. 22nd chapter of Matthew verses 37, 38, 39 – And Jesus said to him “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”False piety is a superficial, inaccurate or deceptive practice that appears to be Christian. False piety is destructive. It distracts and diverts people from seeking and knowing God. It prevents them from finding and living the fulfilled life God has planned for them. Friends … any of us can respond to God’s call in either of two ways. We can follow a path of faith and commitment as Paul described in his letter to the Colossians “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Or we can devote ourselves to religious, regulations and practices that mark us as “A good Christian” who does “Christian” things. Those who take this path do not understand the role of God’s grace in the lives of those who are in a relationship with Him.
More to follow
When we’re deciding on a direction for our lives, it is not uncommon to follow someone else’s example. As children, we naturally look to our parents. As we get older, teachers, friends, and siblings influence us. At work, we may choose a mentor, someone we respect, and imitate their work ethic or philosophy. Sometimes we even look to celebrities or heroes whose lifestyle we wish to duplicate in our own lives. Often those we choose to follow end up disappointing us in some way. We find out that even the greatest saints have feet of clay… or as one Christian author said, we’re all cracked pots.
Jesus is the one person whose example is always perfect and safe to follow. Earlier this week I went to Maundy Thursday service and I learned something about that (for those who are from not from liturgical background, this is the evening when we celebrate and remember the Last Supper). Before the Passover meal Jesus deliberately set an example for the disciples. He knew that His time with them was growing short and He wanted to impress upon them this matter of great importance.
“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them. ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'” John 13: 12-17
Jesus set the example for us — servanthood. As His disciples, He expects us to follow. Are you moving in the right direction?
“…I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds …” Acts 26:20b
Did you know that the word repentance, as used in the Bible, actually means to “turn your guts (or insides) around”? Repentance doesn’t just mean saying “sorry” or even feeling sorry. It means going forward in a different direction — doing an about face. Many times, maybe most of the time, we really don’t want to do this. Sometimes we think we can’t do this, because the sin is so deeply ingrained. Saying sorry often means we’re sorry we got caught. We’re sorry our bad behavior was noticed. We want to look good instead of being good.
In the verse, the apostle Paul is explaining to King Agrippa exactly why the Jews want him to be prosecuted and put to death. He had the audacity to demand that they change their ways! He expected them to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, and it made them furious!
True repentance is a willingness to turn away from our sin (whatever that happens to be) and start walking in a different direction, walking towards God’s way instead of our way. It’s difficult, and sometimes we’ll stumble or even fall. When that happens we need to get up, get going, and stay focused on the goal.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Are you willing to turn around?
Lutherans aren’t too familiar with the Stations of the Cross. It’s usually a series of images, accompanied by prayers, intended to lead us on a pilgrimage through the sufferings of Christ during passion week. I found this Protestant version that I really like because it includes Scripture passages on which to meditate (remember for Lutherans it’s all about the Bible). Maybe you’ll find it helpful as well. You can also visit the link below.
| Stations | Scripture |
| 1. The Last Supper | Matthew 26:26-30 |
| 2. The Garden of Gethsemane | Matthew 26:36-41; Luke 22:40-46 |
| 3. Jesus before Pilate | Mark 15:1-5, 15; John 19:4-16 |
| 4. The Scourging and the crowning with thorns | John 19:1-3; Mark 15:15-20 |
| 5. The Receiving of the cross | John 19:6, 15-17 |
| 6. The Fall | |
| 7. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus | Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26 |
| 8. The Women of Jerusalem | Luke 23:27-31 |
| 9. The Stripping of his Garments | John 19:23-24 |
| 10. The Good Thief | Luke 23:39-43 |
| 11. Mary and John Below the cross | John 19:25-27 |
| 12. The Death of Jesus | Luke 23:44-46; Mark 15:33-39; John 19:30 |
| 13. The laying in the tomb | Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:53-54 |
| 14. The Resurrection | Matthew 28:1-7 |
Lutheran Ladies Connection 