19^th February 2013

Ministry Show Bag of Allsorts No 3 

 

Talking up the Easter Event

Short texts for your Church News Sheet:
Ensure your weekly News sheet contains Easter content, then encourage those who attend your Church from the pulpit to pass it to a neighbour and invite them to an Easter Service.

 

"Our faith is not based on myth or legend but on the solid historical fact of the risen Christ and the empty tomb. Anyone trying to move the stone from its entrance would have broken the seal and incurred the wrath of Roman law. But the tomb was empty. Paul said, " Jesus appeared to more than 500 at one time, the majority who were still alive and could confirm what he wrote." The dramatic transformation of the dispirited disciples into witnesses no opposition could muzzle can only be explained by a living Christ."--"The Basic steps Towards Christianity"

"The cross is the hinge upon which the door of history swings. It is the hub that holds the spokes of God's purpose in a grand unity. The old Testament prophets pointed towards it and the New Testament disciples proclaimed it. When we celebrate it we are not doing so out of mere sentimentality. The cross is the heart of our message and the heart of our power." -"Cries from the Cross" Pastor Erwin Lutzer.

Sample News sheet Message: Beyond a holiday break that everyone enjoys, Easter is a special time for many because Jesus identifies and immerses himself into our suffering, dying world. With the resurrection comes the announcement that the final powers of darkness and death have been destroyed, forgiveness and life with a future is possible. Things can now be different because Jesus has been shown to be the Lord of Life. Yet what Paul said is still true, " The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" 1 Cor 1:18.
Sometimes traditions can seem like religious jargon but Peter explained Jesus death this way. He, (Jesus) bore our sins in his body on the tree." He means that in his death on a Roman cross Jesus actually took every sin we have committed into himself, and let the consequences expend itself on Him. He took our place and the darkness of humanities burden, shame and loneliness associated with our guilt and fear into himself.
Isaiah tells us that the effects of Jesus suffering was so terrible that he no longer looked like a man. Isaiah 52:14.Paul said, God made Him to be sin for us. 1 Cor 5:21. On the cross Jesus bears the terrible physical, psychological and spiritual effect of our sinful state until it is played out to extinction, until it is no more.
We cannot avoid suffering in this life in some form, and all our experiences must include death of some sort, but it is in the Cross we come face to face with the great love of God. Jesus actually dies our death. When he died, we died and because He was condemned Paul was able to say, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Rom 8:1.
Jesus said, "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." Have you entered into the profound freedom of experiencing what it means to be totally forgiven. Does the word of the Cross seem like foolishness to you or do you know it to be the power of God ? In the Cross of Jesus Christ and in our response now to this act of God's love lies the possibility of a profound new freedom and an assurance of a future destiny. This is why Easter this year can be much more than just another holiday.
T. Curnow.

Talking up Easter Outreach

Handout resources:
(1) "What Easter is all About." Cover, with that heading and an opening flower. Content focuses on what Jesus accomplished and the resurrection rather than the Cross. It says we can know the power of the resurrection. It shares three points and the last invites people to receive the risen Saviour. The opening question may attract some.
(2) "Six hours one Friday." Cover, with that heading. A hill and three Crosses. Max Lucado uses a centurion soldier to tell the story and concludes by inviting the reader to accept God's free gift. Prayer. "Dear God I admit I am a sinner- etc" A person may need to be seeking or well motivated to take the time.
Both of the above are available in packs of 25 from Word Books at $3.99 each.
(3) "What is Easter About." This tract explains that it celebrates Christ's death after he took the punishment for our sins. Pack of 25 available, Cost $2.50.Available from crossways.org
(4) Jesus Film. The classic two hour Jesus Film. Closes with a prayer opportunity to trust Christ. Cost $5. Item ZDVD-JF-NAY. Available from jesusfilmstore.com
(5) "What is Easter all About" pack of 25 available. Cost $3.50 Koorong Books.
(6) "Why Easter" by Nicky Gumble, Alpha International. Illustrated booklet, 21pages Cost $1.99 Content; Why bother with Jesus? Why did he come? Why did he die? What do we have to do? Suggested sinners prayer. Better for group discussion or seeking person.
Also see earlier Easter resources under this heading Practical and Pastoral.

Talking up other Resources.

Family Voice: David and Roslyn Phillips have established respect and a sound reputation for research into current moral issues. The February 2013 "Vox point" looks at eight modern myths about marriage?
Why not share them with your Congregation. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for copies.

World Congress of Families. 15-18 May 2013. Sydney.

Exploring how business, government, (churches) media can strengthen natural families to benefit society. This needs to be given wide publicity in the Uniting Church. wcfsydney2013.org.au

Wilberforce Weekend Conference, 26-28 April, Capital View Hotel, Arlington Virginia. USA.
Making the invisible Kingdom visible when we see culture losing its moral footing. Innovations and activists may inspire you. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Methodist History. A new Methodist family history website that aims to draw on the knowledge of people from all over the world has been launched by Methodist Heritage (UK) It invites contributions, stories and shares research interests. http://www.mymethodisthistory.org.uk