Taken from my pastor’s sermon this morning, I could think of no better explanation.

1. First the Bad News:
a) The cross hows how utterly sinful our sin is.
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Rom 3:9-18
b)The Cross shows how utterly powerless we are to make ourselves right with God.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:19-20
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:6

2. Now the Good News:
a) The Cross shows how deeply God really loves us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8
b) The Cross removes our moral-sin-debt to God and enables us to experience God’s complete forgiveness.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:9-15
c)The Cross makes all things right.
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight– Col 1:19-22

3. Why boast in the Cross?
Without the Cross we would have no way to be right with God but God in His mercy has given us His way-Jesus.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name John 1:10-12

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God
Psalms 143:10

Are you equiped for the battle?

Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

Ephesians 6:13-18 NLT

For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

With the anticipation of the upcoming “The Da Vinci Code” movie, there is a lot of discussion as to the validity of the comments made in the book by Dan Brown. Lee’s Summit Community Church senior pastor, Doug Brown has a 3 part sermon looking into the facts and fiction of The Da Vinci Code. You can listen online or download the series.

Even God took time to rest. Genesis tells us what God created each day and that on the seventh day “He rested”. I don’t know about you but I often get so tied up with work, the house, family, commitments, and my own time for relaxing.

In the Kansas City area we have a place called Spa For The Spirit which allows women a chance to gather in a quiet setting allowing for some personal quiet reflection time, a 1/2 hour massage or facial, and a group setting where we can listen to a national speaker via video.

The Psalmist reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God”. When women take just 15 minutes to quietly rejuvenate their hearts, they become better wives, mothers, daughters and friends.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

..on the seventh day He rested from all His work Gen 2:2

My husband and I had just ordered dinner when we started to look all around the restaurant. I commented how I liked one particular picture on the wall called “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. He responded telling me that was the one with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Bogart and James Dean. I have admired that picture many times but I only noticed James Dean, never the others.

I find that I sometimes read the scripture the same way. When reading I focus on one part of the verse and miss the rest. That’s why I enjoy listening to others tell their interpretation of scripture, they focus on something I never even noticed was in there.

I think, too, that is a good reason to attend church; to hear the scripture presented. When I hear my pastor read the verse I hear words spoken that I may have overlooked in my reading; just like I overlooked Marilyn, Elvis and Bogart in the picture. I get new insight when I view the artwork and the scripture from anothers’ point of view.

The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. Deut 30:14

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You both precede and follow me (Psalm 139:2-4).