Last night was another positive formative experience, a fantastic outpouring of love & devotion, praise & worship, fellowship & service.

Rehearsal was a bit rough but when the time came, it all came together and God was glorified despite our miscues and / or misplays!

But in the same way that God inhabits praise He inhabits weakness.

If you think about it, that makes for a very powerful combination.

So many people work hard and give their time and energy to make our Sunday Night Celebration happen and the experience so far has been relevant and full of meaning.

Since we do things a bit differently around here at Central (and since Easter Sunday we are launching our church-wide campaign) my message Sunday morning was my “Easter” message.

Nothing like beating the rush!

A Greater Hope (a message from Colossians 1)

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY

• Faith, love, and hope are the marks of an AUTHENTIC Christian community.

Colossians 1:3-6

A SOLID HOPE OF LIFE ETERNAL

• No matter how dark the future may seem, in Christ there is a BRIGHT hope for that which is yet to come.

JESUS REALLY DID RESURRECT FROM THE DEAD

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

• Hope provided the basis for Christian growth since the most basic elements of FAITH toward God and LOVE toward others grow out of hope.

• The basis of BELIEVING Christ (faith) and SERVING others (love) is that this world is not the end.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS OUR HOPE

Without the resurrection of Jesus;

• Faith is WORTHLESS.
• Death is HOPELESS.
• Christians are PITIFUL.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus;

• Faith is PRICELESS.
• Death is overcome in VICTORY.
• Christians are GLORIOUS.

Jesus rose from the dead!  Guess what?  We will too!

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

• There is an important connection between the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of Christians.

1 Corinthians 15:23

Where is your hope?

3 Responses to “Music Notes & Message Notes”

1. Brady says:

   March 30, 2009 at 11:16 am

   Thanks for helping me to get my Easter sermon ready. Talked to mom, she said she had a good time with you all.
2. Stoogelover says:

   March 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm

   For us amateurs in the praise band ministry, there are always … and I mean always … miscues and mistakes! Those of our ranks who do come to support us are very forgiving and gracious. For the most part.
3. cwinwc says:

   March 31, 2009 at 8:03 am

   We live that “miscues and mistakes” thing every Sunday. Our folks are always good about “m and m’s” – its always good to support the “home team.”