“The Cross of Christ”
On this Good Friday, I share with you a message from The Skit Guys about what it might mean to carry the cross of Christ. I hope you are as blessed by these words as I was.
Blessings, Chris
Carrying the Cross: A Good Friday Devotional
Read This: “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” Luke 9:23-24
Think: As creatures of comfort we try to avoid pain whenever possible—physically and emotionally. Even the most avid adrenaline junkie has soft spots. We cling to what’s secure, safe and feels good in our circumstances and relationships, naturally seeking to protect ourselves. A lot of times, that’s a good thing. We were designed to value life and preserve ourselves. On the other hand if we hold ourselves too tightly, we keep ourselves from following God with our whole hearts.
God often asks us to get out of our comfort spots and set ourselves aside for his glory. He wants us to trust him, but we can only do that when we let go and obey. More than likely, Simon had other things to do that day rather than get personally involved in Jesus’ scandalous crucifixion. His own plans and agenda where interrupted when he was given an order to carry the bloody cross for Jesus. It was hard work, bloody, and humiliating, but he carried the cross for Christ and walked with him in his most difficult hours. In doing so, he became part of the greatest story to go down in history.
What a powerful example of what Jesus had taught not long before. Even more significant is that what Simon was forced to do, Jesus did willingly. He subjected himself to public mockery, severe beatings, and one of the most horrific deaths the world has ever come up with. As the Son of God, he didn’t have to endure anything; he wasn’t a prisoner of the Roman soldiers any more than he allowed himself to be. Even in those last excruciating hours nailed to the cross, he could have opted out. But Jesus understood his suffering was not about him; it was the only way to restore sinners like you and me to our loving heavenly Father.
God doesn’t force us to follow him either. He doesn’t put the cross on us, but asks us to pick it up willingly. Our decision will cost us something; there’s heavy lifting, rejection, and personal interruptions. Actually, it will cost us everything. The only way to get the life we work so hard to protect is to give it back to God and trust him to take care of it.
Do we have it in us to carry the cross with Jesus like Simon did? To publicly align ourselves with him no matter what the rest of the world thinks? To get dirty for the sake of the gospel? Do we have it in us to follow Jesus’ example and submit ourselves to God even when it gets tough?
Ask: What do you think Jesus meant by picking up your cross daily? What are the practical ways you do that? Are there areas you’re still holding back from God?
Pray: Ask God to give you the courage, strength, and endurance to follow him every day. No matter how tough the obstacles, how long the dark night, how our plans might be disrupted, may we never forget real life starts when we give ourselves to him.
Mission
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Vision
Nelson Memorial UMC seeks to be a place where all God’s broken, hurting, and imperfect children discover wholeness and community while experiencing the warm and welcoming love of Jesus Christ. We seek to connect with one another to grow in our knowledge and love of God, to encourage each person to live out their unique calling to serve God, and to make a difference in the Boonville community and throughout the world.
Priorities
Developing and Nurturing Faith in Children and Youth
Fostering Growth and Community in Worship and Small Groups
Provide Opportunities to Serve God in Boonville and Beyond
Worship This Week
This Sunday is we celebrate Resurrection! Our Message this Easter is titled “He’s Not There.” Our Scripture lesson this Sunday will be the Resurrection account as told in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 1-7:
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’.”
Our services will begin with the song Glorious Day by Casting Crowns. We will proclaim Resurrection with our opening hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today. Our praise song will be In Christ Alone, and we will conclude our services with the hymn Because He Lives. Our 10:20 service will include the Choir providing Ring the Easter Bells as our Prelude. Additionally, we will have some special music during our offertory.
Virtual Worship Information
In addition to in-person worship, our service will be live-streamed. The service can be viewed on our Facebook Page. The service will start at approximately 10:20 am with our Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
Church Work/Cleanup Day – In place of their April meeting, the Methodist Men will host a work/cleanup day tomorrow – Saturday, April 8 beginning at 8:30 am. Tasks include wiping down/polishing pews and other woodwork, cleaning up entrances and common areas, cleaning out some storage areas, and other tasks not a part of the weekly cleaning tasks. Everyone is invited to join in this effort as we prepare our building for guests on Easter Sunday. Donuts and coffee will be provided.
Family Ministries Pizza & Bowling – Mark your calendars now to be a part of the Pizza & Bowling Party on Sunday, April 23. We will meet at Muddy Mo Pizza in Glasgow, MO for lunch around 1 and then go to the bowling alley in Glasgow around 2. Everyone is invited. Please sign up on the sheet in the back of the Sanctuary or in the East Wing so we can order enough food.
Christian Movie Night – Beginning Sunday, April 26, we will start a Christian Movie small group (open to all ages). We will show some favorite movies every other Sunday night in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. The first movie we will watch is Godspell, after that, we need your help. If you have any suggestions or recommendations please text (660) 888-5408 and also let us know if you own it. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and good old fashion fun!
Outreach Opportunities:
1. We are writing notes of encouragement to ALL of the students at LSE as they take the annual state assessment in early May. Packets of notecards will be placed in the back of the church. If you’d like to write a note, simply take a packet–write a few words of encouragement, and return by April 30.
2. We are also collecting prepackaged and individually-wrapped snacks for LSE students for their testing days. Think granola bars, PB crackers, Goldfish, etc. These can be left at the church by April 30.
Recognizing Our High School and College Graduates – Please contact the church office if you have a High School or College Graduate in your family this spring. We would like to be able to congratulate and recognize them during an upcoming worship service. Thank you.
Giving Through Venmo – We can be found on Venmo at @NelsonMemorialUMC. If you don’t know what Venmo is and would like to learn more, information about giving through Venmo can be found on our webpage at https://nelsonmemorialumc.org/give/venmo/.
Events this week:
Saturday, April 8: Church Clean-up Day, 8:30 am
Sunday, April 9: Easter Celebrations – 8:00 and 10:20 am
Monday, April 10: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 11: Boonslick Ministerial Alliance Meeting, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Wednesday, April 12: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, April 13: Baby Grace Size & Sort, 1:00 pm, Annex
Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, April 14: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Good Friday and Easter free us to think about other things far beyond our own personal fate, about the ultimate meaning of all life, suffering, and events; and we lay hold of a great hope.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer