Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized - Acts 8:26-39

    I don't know if you have ever had the opportunity to be in someone's presence when they first discover God's love for them, but it is profound. There is something about the joy of this truth capturing them that completely changes them. 

   Sometimes this comes as a first-time conversion experience. Sometimes, like John Wesley, it comes well after you believe in Jesus, but it sinks into your heart. Other times people are struck by the magnitude of this truth again and again and again, finding new levels of joy with each time. 

   The Ethiopian eunuch has such an experience. At first, he is wrestling with scripture, but then Philip is sent by God to help him understand, not just the text from Isaiah, but how it fits into the larger story of salvation in Jesus Christ. And the eunuch gets it. He gets that this means that he is welcomed to be part of the Kingdom of God. And the first bit of water he sees he asks to be baptized. 

   We don't really know what happens to the eunuch after that, but we do know that his life was changed. We don't always know what happens to the people we get to share the joy of Jesus's love with, but we still go. We still respond with obedience. And we let God bring the blessing.    

Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized Devo - Acts 8:26-39

 April 25th. 2021

Devotional

“Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized”

            Acts 8:26-39

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Get Up” - Acts 8:26

There are certain scripture passages that every time I read them I am caught by something new. That is one of the reasons we return to scripture again and again and again - we believe that God speaks truth through it, right here and right now.

This week I was struck by the words of the angel of the Lord to Philip, “Get up” followed by a bit of instruction. When I think of other times and places that the angel of the Lord shows up, there is often words of peace that come, “Do not be afraid” followed by the news he brings. To Mary. To Zechariah. To Jospeh. To the women at the tomb. 

But not Philip. Which makes me wonder if Philip has had other encounters with the angel of the Lord. For the angel doesn’t introduce himself nor does he speaks these words of peace or even bring news. Or perhaps, Philip is so intone with the movement of the Spirit that he can simply respond to the angel without needing to be calmed.

I want that type of faith. The faith of Philip that can pick up and go. The faith of Philip that does not fear. The faith of Philip that does not need all of the details, but simply respond. The faithful response that leads to divine encounters. 

  When has God called you to ‘go’ and how did you respond?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we do not have the faith of Philip. Sometimes we want to know all of the details before we are willing to respond. And even then, sometimes we fail to be obedient. Forgive us, O Lord, and never stop calling us to “go”, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Reading the Prophet” - Acts 8:27-28

If you were going to start having people read scripture where would you have them go first? This was a question posed in my discipleship group a few months back. The answers varied as widely as the number of women present. Some said Genesis. Others said Mark. Still other said Luke. Or the Psalms. But not a single person said the prophets.

If we are honest, the prophets can be a bit confusing. There is a lot of history that goes in to understanding them, and even then sometimes their words are hard to comprehend. Yet, that is what the Ethiopian eunuch found himself reading as he returned from worship in Jerusalem. 

This is a man who was not Jewish by birth or by faith, but there was something about the God of the Israelites that captured his heart. So he was trying to read, trying to understand, but it was not coming easily to him. 

Do you find the prophets easy or difficult to understand? Why?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your Word that continues to speak to us today. There are times when it is easy to understand, and other times when we need help. Send people to help us understand your word and send us out to walk alongside others as they read as well. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Do You Understand?” - Acts 8: 29-31

  Philip does not approach the chariot and start teaching right away. Instead, he asks a simple and direct, while compassionate question, do you understand what you are reading?

And the Ethiopian eunuch was honest - no. It’s confusing. And how is he to understand what it means if someone is not there to explain it to him.

The Ethiopian eunuch probably does not have people in his life at the court who can explain this passage of sculpture and its overarching meaning to him. But here, along the road, sent by God is a disciple who can unravel the scriptures he has been tangled in.

The same is true in our lives as well. We need other people to walk with us to study the scriptures. At times they may explain them to us, at times we may explain them to others, but we guide one another by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Who helped you understand the scriptures?

Prayer: God, we confess that at times we act as if faith is something to be undertaken alone. But in the example of Philip we see how we can companion one another on the journey, while being led by the Holy Spirit. Unite us together in you, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Thursday: “About Whom” - Acts 8: 32-35

  The scripture that the eunuch was wrestling with was from Isaiah 53. He, rightly, was asking who this all was about. And Philip had his opening.

Philip wove together the words of the prophet with the history of the Israelites, as part of this greater narrative that pointed to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He told of how Jesus was both the son of God and servant of God, who gave his life to redeem us from sin. In him has emerged a new covenant, as the lamb of God, that redeems us.

I just imagine the eunuch leaning further and further in towards Philip as he heard this Good News for the first time. He may have been led to the temple that day, but he was set free by Philip proclaiming the Gospel.

We all have a moment when something just hits us about the love of God. It may be scripture. Or the words of another. It could be anything or anyone God uses to open up our hearts to receive the Good News. And we may be the ones God uses to open up the hearts of others. 

  Who first introduced you to the Good News of Jesus Christ? What was that experience like?

Prayer: Lord, free us to be proclaimers of the Gospel. We thank you for opening up our hearts to receive the Good News, now unleash us to share it, in word and deed, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Baptized” - Acts 8: 36-39

  The Ethiopian eunuch’s response is to desire to be baptized. To have an outward sign of what is happening in his life at this moment. He has realized that this Good News isn’t just for some, it is for all who accept it, including him, and he respond “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

The first chance he gets, he gives his life to Christ. Praise be to God!

After that holy act, Philip disappears, and we do not hear of the eunuch again. The same may be true in our lives as well. Some people may only walk with us on this journey of faith for a little while. But that doesn’t mean that we are not impacted by them or that we do not impact them in return. We simply respond to the holy moments that God gives us and trust God to bring the increase. 

When has God led you to an unexpected moment to bless someone?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing us to be part of the faith journeys of other other. Bless our obedience, not for our own sake, but for their’s, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Council at Jerusalem” - Acts 15:1-18

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Acts 8:26-39

From the Sermon:

Philip must of intuited that the angel meant now - because he didn’t ask any questions - he simply _____________________.

Philip said ________, even with all of the unknowns. 

Like Stephen before him, he weaves together the story of Jewish history and unite it with the teachings of the prophets to one connected story that tells of the Messiah. The one who has come to set the people free - ________________.

Being one of the first people in the book of Acts who shows that the Good News of Jesus - it goes _______________________ to change lives. 

Philip has this spiritual ear that was attuned inside of him to hearing the will of God and responding with a “yes.” The word we use for that is ____________.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever had an experience where you felt a nudge, or maybe even a firm push to do something? How did you respond?

How do you figure out if a push/ nudge is from God or not?

Prayer:

Lord, speak to our hearts and teach us to discern your call and your ways. To those things which you are drawing us, keep nudging and speak. To those things you are calling us away from, help release us from their hold. In your name. Amen. 

“Stephen’s Witness” Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60

     We have made the idea of "bearing witness" into something that only some people are called to do. Something only the martyrs, the Stephen's of the world, have done for God. But the truth is, we all bear witness every day. We bear witness with our word, as well as our actions. We bear witness to who we follow by the steps we take and how we serve. We are all witness bearers.

     Which leads us to ask - witness bearers of what or whom?

     What Stephen bore witness to - what got him killed - is that God had been faithful when other people weren't noticing. God of the ancestors had fulfilled his purpose and promise through Jesus Christ, who was then sacrificed. God of the covenant had done something both ancient and new through this Messiah, but others looked away. 

     But Stephen could only bear that witness because of where his heart was. His heart was focused on God, who had revealed it to him through grace and called him to reveal it to others through service. 

     Friends, Stephen was a witness bearer for the way of God in Christ. What about us? Who or what are we bearing witness to this day and beyond?

Stephen's Witness Devo - Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60

 April 18th, 2021

Devotional

“Stephen’s Witness”

            Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “The Widows” - Acts 6: 1-4

As the early church grew, so did their need for organization. When a few people gather together to share their lives and possessions with one another, it can easily be contained. But when thousands upon thousands join in, there needs to be a different structure. When it became apparent that the old way of doing things was no longer working, the disciples, the teachers and leaders of the movement, called everyone together and honestly spoke the truth saying, we cannot do everything. We are called to teach and pray. So find seven people from among those whom you respect and trust who are called to organize the distribution of food. 

We are part of a denomination that believes that followers of Christ are all called to share their gifts and talents for the good of the church. We even have a name for it, lay leadership. We have people who step in and do whatever needs to be done, even if it is not their gifting. And we have people who do not view themselves as leaders, so they push their gifts and talents aside. We believe in lay leadership, but somewhere between our belief and our action things become muddled. 

  How are you living into your gifts to help the community?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes when problems present themselves before us, we do not view them as opportunities. We run the other way, shying from what you may be inviting us to venture into for the sake of your Kingdom. Forgive us, O Lord, and help us claim who you have created us to be for such a time as this. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Spread” - Acts 6: 5-7

The disciples did not debate with those who came to them about whether the Hellenisitc believers widows were being slighted food or not. They simply responded in a way that appropriately said, we hear your concern and we will address it fairly. There wasn’t judgement. Simply reaching out in love. But the disciples had to be open to hearing the need and equipping others to respond, thus having leadership arise from the community’s needs. 

We also need to trust that God will give us the resources to serve in missions. Often we get so caught up in the reasons that we cannot do something that we overlook what we have been gifted to do. The disciples could have complained about not having enough food for everyone or not enough time or people to get the job done. But instead they approached in creatively, trying something new. They didn’t know if it would work, but they were willing to try. Are we willing to risk trying to serve our community in a new way, too? We need to be open  to allowing the Holy Spirit work through us in a new way so we can touch people’s lives?

  How was the Holy Spirit inviting the early church into a new way of being and what was the result?

Prayer: Lord, we are people who like the way that things have been. Yet, you are often inviting us to step out in faith in new ways. Lord, give us the courage to follow you in order to best serve your Kingdom and name. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Opposition” - Acts 6: 8-14

  When people tell me that faith should be easier “than this”, I often think of the story of Stephen. Somewhere along the way, we have sanitized the Gospel and Acts into little stories to be words of encouragements to us, instead of reminders of truth throughout the ages. Truths like, living into our faith will lead to opposition. Not everyone is going to like what we have to say. And there are going to be times that this life of faith is going to cost us greatly.

For Stephen, I can just imagine the wave of relief he must have felt when the whole internal argument within the early church about the food distribution to the widows was taken care of. Whew! That could have ended badly. But just as the internal argument subsides, the argument from the outside starts.

Some folks who didn’t like what Stephen was teaching tried to argue him into their way of belief, only that didn’t work, for he was given wisdom from on high. So then they started rumors about him - taking his words out of context to use against him (as had been done to Jesus in the not too distant past). 

Yet, Stephen approached the external opposition with the same grace as he did the internal arguments. He tried to speak wisdom and truth, even if others were not ready to hear it. For who he was as a deacon, a servant, in the early church, was a reflection of his truest heart, no matter where he was or what he faced. 

How do you handle conflict with grace?

Prayer: God, we thank you that even in times of opposition you are with us and your truth will be made known. It does not mean that things will always be easy, but Lord, we know your presence will lead us. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Thursday: “True” - Acts 6: 15- 7:2

  You have to appreciate the irony in this moment. Stephen is literally glowing, like his face had seen an angel, probably like Moses had shone so long ago, to the point of frightening the people, but the high priest asks him of what he is saying is true.

He either didn’t see the glowing or he didn’t understand it.

He missed that the truth was literally overflowing right out of Stephen as a light from above.

There are going to be times that people misunderstand what we say. Or make assumptions. Or twist our words. There are going to be times when people ask us if it is true. My hope and prayer during this time is that we don’t jump right in with words, but take a moment to let the truth of God just flow out of us - even if others miss what is happening. We proclaim the truth of God not just with our words, but with our heart.

  How do you bear witness to the truth of God?

Prayer: Lord, we join Stephen is rushing not to defend ourselves, but calling others to you. Let our lives bear witness to your holiness and your name, we pray. Not to us, but to your name be the glory. Amen. 

Friday: “Stiff-Necked People” - Acts 7: 44-60

  Stephen gets swept up in the Spirit and starts to connect the dots for folks. He tells the story of the ancient Israelites, their ancestors, which is really at its core, the story of God’s faithfulness and salvation. He walks the high priest through everything he would have already known, but tells of how it points to Jesus. And how people, including those listening now, have rejected it all.

Ouch. 

Stephen is essentially saying that God has fulfilled the promises made to the patriarchs so long ago. The Messiah has come. But people were too busy crucifying him to notice. God was trying to offer the salvation from of old, but in this way that people did not expect, so they pushed it aside.

For these words, Stephen was stoned.

In a perfect world, everyone we tell about Jesus would understand and have their hearts and lives transformed. But we live with hard hearts. If we are honest, we were probably once people with hard hearts. So we keep speaking the truth in love. We keep planting the seeds of faith. Even when it costs us. 

For we know the next part of the story. Who was at the stoning of Stephen who would eventually have his life changed? Saul who became known as Paul, who took the Gospel to the Gentiles. 

It may not always be comfortable to share the truth, especially when people turn away and will not listen, but we keep showing up. We keep bearing witness - trusting that God is doing a good work even beyond our wildest imaginations. 

How have you seen God’s timing come to bear fruit in people’s lives?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the one who can soften hard hearts - including our own. Thank you for being the God who does not give up on us, but who bears fruit in your perfect timing. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized” - Acts 8:26-39

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60

From the Sermon:

When folks became ____________ in the early church, it would often cause a rift between them and their blood family.

Even if a house hold is baptized, they may no longer have the wider support of the extended _____________________________.

A serious question is being raised here - we say that we are all part of this _________________, but are some people being favored over others?

When the arguments didn’t work - then came the  _______.

The leaders were trying to protect what they always believed to be ______ - thinking his words were a threat that would lead people astray.

Reflection Questions:

How did Stephen bear witness to God?

Why did other’s not believe him?

How are we bearing witness to Christ today?

Prayer:

Lord, sometimes its a lot easier to go with the crowd. Even if it leads us the wrong way. Even if it does not honor and glorify your name. Lord, give us the strength and courage to go your way and live into your truth as we bear witness to your name, we pray. Amen. 

Emmaus Road - Luke 24: 13-35

 One of the thing I appreciate about the story of the Walk to Emmaus is how many ways we can be blind to the movement of Jesus in our lives. Until we recognize our own blinders and repent, it is hard to change our ways. But what can be even harder for us to recognize is how our blinders can effect other people. 

        When I explain my job as pastor to people I often say that part of my vocation is helping people see the whole picture, how what they see fits in with what others see. Often in life we are only concerned with our own lives, what is right in front of us. We can be quick to dismiss other people's concerns or experiences, which can lead them to lose faith in us as followers of Jesus. 

       Let us pray this week that our blinders about Christ will not only be removed so we can see Christ more clearly, but also so we can be better follower of Christ, sharing his love with the world around us in a tangible way. 

(Reblog - May 2017)

Emmaus Road Devotional - Luke 24:13-35

 April 11th, 2021

Devotional

“Emmaus Road”

            Luke 24:13-35

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Emmaus” - Luke 24: 13-16

For years the United Methodist Church through the Upper Room Ministries has offered a three day retreat called Walk to Emmaus. I have both attended this walk as a participant and have served on the leadership team as an assistant spiritual director, as well as encouraged folks to attend. The mission of this retreat is to “offer an opportunity to meet Jesus in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed to you.” 

I love that purpose statement for the Emmaus experience because it so clearly captures the spirit of what happened on that road to Emmaus so long ago. When Jesus comes across two people along the road who were discussing what had happened over the last several days. They were in deep discussion of the death of this man called Jesus, the one who they had put their hope into as the political messiah - the one who could and overthrow Roman occupation. Then a man came near them and started to walk with them, but they were so lost in their conversation that they didn’t recognize him there. Finally he asked them what they were discussing and they told him the story of Jesus, assuming that he was from out of town and didn’t know what was going on.

  How were grace and love revealed along the Road to Emmaus?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we are blind to your love in our life and we are hard-hearted to your grace. Break us wide open, this week, O Lord, so we may receive that which you have in store for us. Amen.

Tuesday: “Are You the Only One?” - Luke 24: 17-24

If I had to describe this moment I would summarize it as awkward. Have you ever came across people who were talking and as you got closer you realized that they were talking about you? Even when they are saying good things it can be such an uncomfortable situation, yet that is exactly what Jesus walked into. Or have you ever had the experience of being deep in conversation, so deep that you seem to forget your surroundings, only to find that someone else has been standing next to you for a while, trying to be part of the conversation. That would have been the men.

Yet, for all of its awkwardness, Cleopas continues to tell this “stranger” about Jesus who was a mighty prophet in all he said and did, yet the chief priests handed him over to die. Its been three days since it took place, yet it seemed to be all people could think and talk about up to this point, including the women who said they had went and found an empty tomb and that Jesus was alive. 

How would you have responded if you were Cleopas to the “stranger” before you?

Prayer: Lord, it is sometimes hard for us to fathom how those whom you were closest with saw you as a stranger. And yet, there are time in our own lives when we treat you the same way. Forgive us, O Lord, we pray. May you no longer be a stranger, but our Lord and Savior and friend. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Messiah” - Luke 24: 25-27

  Jesus then called them out for not knowing what it meant to truly be the Messiah. Could you imagine just sharing the most gut wrenching story with a stranger only to have them tell you how you missed the point? And the awkwardness continues. Yet, as they entered into the village and Jesus starts to veer off to part ways, the men invited him to stay. And as he responded to their hospitality and stayed, he took bread, blessed it and broke it, and they finally recognized Jesus!

These disciples of Jesus, followers of his, almost missed the point. They had become so blinded by their grief and expectations that they could hardly recognize who was right in front of them the entire time. In fact they were blinded several times in this story. First, they nearly missed the person joining them on the road because they were so engrossed in their own concerns. Have you been there? Have you become so engrossed in what is going on in your life that you miss what’s going on in the lives of others? 

In what ways have you overlooked the movement of the Spirit in your life?

Prayer: God, unleash your Spirit in a way that moves us and open up our senses, not only to perceive, but also to respond. Breathe on us, O breath of God. Amen. 

Thursday: “Broke Bread” - Luke 24: 28-32

  Then the disciples became blind to what it means to be the Messiah. Some translations put it as “we thought he was the Messiah” or “we hoped he would have been the Messiah” or in our case “we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel”. They had let their own expectations get in the way of seeing that Jesus was the Messiah, just not the conquering, political King that people had expected. 

  We let our own expectations get in the way of our faith walks all too often. We have expectations about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We want to pick and choose how our God should be. There is a saying that goes something like if your God hates who you hate and loves only who you love, it probably isn’t truly God, yet that is exactly how we can act from time to time. Instead of reading scripture to see who God truly is, we make God in our image. Especially looking for a God who can give us what we want, when we want it. We let what who we want God to be block us from seeing who God is.

We also can let our expectations of ourselves get in the way of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. In the gospel of John, as Jesus is preparing to die, we find him telling his disciples that they are going to experience difficulties and persecution. Somehow we have tried to make our discipleship about what we want to receive and miss the point that following Jesus requires real sacrifice. We miss the point that discipleship changes us. In fact, its life changing, continually, because Jesus doesn’t let us settle for the expectations of ourselves but instead pushes us beyond our comfort zones for the sake of the Kingdom.  

How has Jesus revealed himself to you and how are you sharing his love with others?

Prayer: Lord, in the breaking of the bread, your disciples were able to see. Let us see and then share you, as the bread of the world. May we truly live into being your Body, we pray. Amen.

Friday: “It is True!” - Luke 24: 33-35

  The disciples almost completely missed the fact the one that they had been traveling and talking with was in fact Jesus. They had been focusing on other things until Jesus stood before them and blessed and broke the bread for them to share. Haven’t we been there? Where we have been like animals with blinders on - only seeing a small part of the picture, thinking that Jesus has abandoned us or hasn’t been preset in the midst of our circumstances, only to have the blinders removed by the grace of God and we come to realize that Jesus was with us the whole time?

What have we been focusing on instead of Jesus? And how have our distractions almost made us miss what is right in front of us? For some it may be their grief. For still others situations at work or at home. It wasn’t until the distractions were out of the way, that the disciples remembered how their hearts were warmed along the road.  We need to set our distractions aside so we can see Christ anew. We need to get out of our own way so that Christ can fill us and send us out. May God gives us ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts to respond so that we can go out and share the greatest story ever told - of how Christ met us along the road and changed our very lives. 

How has meeting Christ changed you life?

Prayer: Lord, you alone can transform us. Lord, do not leave us where you find us, we pray, but change our hearts and minds all for your glory. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Stephen’s Witness” - Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Luke 24:13-35

From the Sermon:

For Benedict, all were to be treated as if they could be  ___________.

In the midst of this discussion this seeming ___________ comes up and walks right beside them.

As Jesus seemed to be going on they called out to him to stay - moving him from a stranger they met along the road to their ________.

As he blessed and broke the bread their eyes were finally opened and they realized that this whole time they had been _________ to the one right in front of them - Jesus.

Jesus moved from _________, to _________, to ________ of the table as he broke the bread that day.

Wesley described communion as a _____________________ a way to come to know God not with the head, but with the heart.

Reflection Questions:

Do we live like Matthew 25 is a thing? 

Do we live like Jesus could be taking the blindness off of our eyes in order to see the people before us? 

Do we live in a way that proclaims the story of God to guest, stranger, and friend alike?

What is the invitation of the Road to Emmaus for you this day?

Prayer:

Lord we confess that we have a lot of reasons we would prefer not to love the stranger, yet that is the invitation before us this day.  There are many ways we would rather stay within the blindness of our comfort, yet you invite us to a new way of seeing. Come, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen. 

Resurrection of Our Lord - Luke 24: 1-12

    I love the question that the angels asked the women when they came to upon the empty tomb - why do you look for the living among the dead?

    What a powerful question! Of course they were speaking about looking for Jesus in the place of death, when really he had been raised to life, but, friends, don't we, too, look for the living among the dead? Aren't there ways in our life that we look to be given life by things that we know will simply lead to death?

   The angels question still is pertinent to us today. It still rings true.  Why do we look for life amongst things that bring or mark death? And how can we come to God and asked to be changed?

    For that is truly the beauty of this day. That Christ has given us freedom and victory over these things that want to claim us for death. If only we come to him to be set free!

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Luke 24: 1-12

From the Sermon:

For Easter isn’t supposed to just be a memory or memories about the past, its supposed to be a day that propels us ________________ in our Christian walk.

The angels had a question for the women - “Why do you look for the ______________________________?”

The women may have been frightened and confused, but they were also compelled to ________.

 When we tell the story of how Jesus has changed our life, then we are like the women - bearing ________________ because we have been changed.

Jesus has claimed _________ over all that has held us captive.

Reflection Questions:

How has today not just been a memory for you, but a chance to move forward in the freedom of Christ? 

How do you claim not just what Christ once did, but what Christ is doing in and through your life?

 What is the Good News that you have been set free to go and bear witness to? 

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that sometimes we forget the power that comes in your name to set us free. Free us, O Lord, from all that is holding us captive. In Your name, Jesus, amen!