RECAP: NOISY STONES based on Luke 19:28-44
The Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday was a moment of great celebration for the disciples and for the people that looked to Jesus as their hope. At the same time, the Romans largely ignored that event, thinking it was just more hoopla that would die in time. Further, the Pharisees, instead of celebrating this moment, tried to force Jesus to silence the crowd. What prompted the three different responses? What we truly believe about Jesus will reflect how much we celebrate him. If we are willing to see God work, then we will rejoice; but if God does not work in the way we want him to work, then we are less likely to celebrate.
How can we live a life of celebration? We can create a culture of celebration as we do the following:
- Live to serve the king (19:28-34). Walking with Jesus gives us opportunities to see great things. The disciples experienced Jesus because they were fully present. They witnessed miracles with their own eyes. When we walk with Jesus, we see him at work. It then encourages us to follow Him more not out of obligation, but because we want that close relationship with God. We grow more confident in him, knowing Jesus as Lord and the master of it all.
- Give Jesus the honor he is due as king (19:35-36). When we live to serve the king, we are moved to bow our hearts in obedience and surrender. We obey because we love and we believe. And as we obey, we then can lay down our cloaks before Jesus in trust. We are willing to surrender our very lives into His hands because we know He will take care of us. And we can then celebrate his goodness for we see him at work constantly for we are daily in his presence.
- Celebrate God’s mighty deeds (19:37). When God works in your life, you should celebrate it! Joyfully praise God together with fellow believers. Recall God’s faithfulness; brag on him in the assembly. As we celebrate what God has done, we strengthen each other’s faith and live in a state of celebration, even when we are facing difficult times.
- Declare the greatness of Jesus (19:38). We should not only encourage each other but boldly share with people outside the walls of the church. The disciples shouted in loud voices cries of Hosanna and praise! Our job is to draw people’s gaze toward the King of Kings! We should proclaim the hope of the good news and share God’s peace and glory with anyone willing to listen.
- Refuse to stay silent (19:39-40). Even when we face pressure to shut up and remain quiet, we should declare God all the more. When we celebrate Jesus, it will make people uncomfortable. Jesus said if we remain silent, the stones will cry out instead. Creation will sing the praise of God, but we can join in the song. When we are silent, we are saying we are ashamed of God.
Don’t be like the Pharisees and miss the celebration! They wanted Jesus to keep the disciples silent. Jesus did not fit their expectation, and they were also afraid of the Romans. In time, the nation refused to celebrate and lost peace, protection, and ultimately security as the stones of the temple were thrown down by the Romans (19:41-44). Will we celebrate and experience God in the moment, or fall into the trap the Pharisees fell into?
Questions for Reflection
1) What is one step you can take this week to serve the King?
2) What is one way you have seen God at work in your life recently? Can you share it with others?
3) When you encounter people outside the walls of the church, is your life pointing people to Jesus?
4) What is holding you back from sharing your faith?
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, for Easter Sunrise Service Pastor Ryan will share the meditation called “Why Do You Look for the Living?” based on Luke 24:1-12. For the main service, Pastor Ryan will continue the study in the discipline of celebration with the Easter Sunday sermon titled, “Look at My Hands and Feet”, based on Luke 24:36-49. Do we believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Do we look for a risen Savior? Why is it important to act on our beliefs? Come or tune in Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for April 4 – 10
April 4: Matthew 21:23-27 How does Jesus challenge our attitudes?
April 5: Matthew 21:28-32 In what ways does Jesus challenge our faith?
April 6: Matthew 21:33-46 In what ways does Jesus challenge our faith?
April 7: Matthew 22:15-22 In what ways does Jesus challenge our faith?
April 8: Matthew 26:6-13 In what ways does Jesus challenge our faith?
April 9: Matthew 28:11-15 What should we not do with the resurrection?
April 10: Matthew 28:16-20 What should we do with the resurrection?
This Week’s Events:
Saturday, April 8–Easter Egg Hunt @ 10 am
Sunday, April 9–Sunrise Service @ 7 am
Sunday, April 9–Easter Breakfast @ 7:45 am
Sunday, April 9–Easter Service @ 11 am
Monday, April 10–Timothy Bible Study @ 7 pm
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, April 15–Men’s Fellowship Chicken Barbecue (we need volunteers to especially turn chicken!)
Thursday, April 19–Leadership Team Meeting @ 7 pm
Saturday, April 22–Crestmen Benefit Concert @ 4 pm
Sunday, April 30–Meeting for Children’s Church @ 12 pm
Announcements:
Celebration– Spiritual Discipline Challenge
Celebration is very important for our spiritual health. This week, take five minutes each day to celebrate what God has done in your life. I would encourage you to do so together as a family over the dinner table and encourage each other with what you see God doing and how he is at work.
In the spirit of celebration, we rejoice with Josh & Megan Harris and the LaPrade family in the birth of Anna Jolene Harris on April 1!
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. If you would like to serve, contact Alice Over (worship leading) or Phyllis Simmons (children’s story).
Extraordinary Women’s Conference
This is an opportunity for the ladies of the church. The Extraordinary Women’s Conference returns to Lynchburg this year on October 13-14! Some of the speakers include Tim Tebow, Mandisa, Julie Clinton, Hannah Keeley, and others, with a concert from Big Daddy Weave and worship led by Michael O’Brien. The cost is $64 for basic and $84 for gold as long as you register by March 31. The Fidelis class really would like to see if we can get a group of women together to go. If you are interested, please contact the church office. If there is a large enough group, there can potentially be a discounted group rate.
Emma Trip Update
Emma is very close to having all the money raised for her trip.
You can donate through the offering plate. Make the check out to the church and notate “Emma Eckard fundraiser” on the memo line. Likewise, if you want to give cash, put it in an envelope and also mark “Emma Eckard fundraiser” on the envelope.
If you would like to give only, go to http://crossworld.org/give.
Click on support a disciple-maker.
Enter Emma Eckard for name and 40612 for account number
All money needs to be accounted for by the end of April.
Benefit Concert
We will host a benefit concert for Emma’s trip and for Savannah Miller’s treatment on Saturday, April 22 at 4 pm. The Crestmen will inspire us through wonderful songs, and Reba’s family will open the evening. There will be an offering taken toward the end of the service for these two wonderful causes. Food will be provided afterward. Please grab a flyer and spread the word!
Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
The youth will once again be making Easter Eggs on Good Friday. They will come in two sizes, small for $4 and large for $6. The sign-up sheet will be in the church lobby on Sunday. If you would like to order, you can also call the church office and leave your name, number, and quantity of each size. Also, new this year, the youth are willing to deliver to your house! If you would like them home delivered on Saturday, April 8 so you can place them in Easter baskets, please let us know on the form as well or when you call. The last day to order these is Thursday, April 6. Please call the office to place the order before 1 pm that day!
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for six to eight volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour and church hour. There will be a signup sheet in the back. If you would be willing to volunteer to allow our families to be able to participate in worship, please let one of the members of Christian Education know (Theresa Eckard, Scott McAvoy, Becky Whitmore), or sign up on the signup sheet!
Children’s Church
The Christian Education team would like to relaunch children’s church for our kids, as well as for the kids in our community without a church home. To be successful, we need six to eight volunteers who would be willing to give up one Sunday either a month or every other month to minister to our children. If you are interested, please let one of Christian Education know, email the church office, or sign up on the sign-up sheet on Sunday.
The hope is that as we build our children’s ministry, more young families will want to participate in the church.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe into the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Drop off in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller, Stanley Suter & Carolyn Wine
Eddie Baker (health)
Terri Burkholder (health)
Deanne Dastoli (health)
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
John Fix (addiction)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Tori Jackson (peace)
Darlene LaPrade (health)
Lynne Lent (health)
Alma Long (health)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
Norlen Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Savannah Miller (health)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Stanley Suter (health)
Whitmore family (house)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Jeff? Wilbur (health)
Cindy Wittig (recovery)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Joyce Wright (health)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church