April 1, 2021 // The Body and Blood of Christ (Maundy Thursday 2021)
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Sermons
What does it mean to be deeply committed Christians, growing in faith every day? How do we become fully engaged and flourishing in the Christian life? In this series, we explore a model for Christian discipleship built around five essential practices that we engage in both collectively and individually in order to more fully follow Jesus.
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Many of us attend worship services in-person or online, but how would you define worship? Why is it so important to worship for Jesus followers?
During Lent, we are focusing on the five essential practices of the Christian life highlighted in Adam Hamilton’s book, The Walk: worship, study, serve, give and share. This week, we explored “study,” learning and growing from the way God is revealed in nature, art, and life, as well as in the Scripture. This is a practice of training ourselves to listen for God’s voice so we can better follow our Good Shepherd.
If you have ever volunteered to do something for which you felt totally unqualified, then you already know what an experience like that can do for your faith. One of the primary ways God grows our faith is through serving others.
Are you mastering your money or being mastered by it? Maybe it’s time to adjust your approach. Instead of striving to have enough money to satisfy a me-first appetite, Jesus encouraged his listeners to have an others-first approach.
From the earliest days of the church until today, people become followers of Jesus in the exact same way: through an invitation. But many people today are uncomfortable sharing their faith for various reasons and they believe that their faith is private. So why does a fully devoted follower of Jesus need to share their faith?
Over the last five weeks, we have studied five essential practices of the Christian life – worship, study, serving, giving, and sharing. And the goal of this series has been to close the gap between the Christians we are and the Christians God wants us to become by focusing on these spiritual practices. That all sounds good, but why are these practices so significant? Are they necessary?
The wedding at Cana sets the scene for the beginning of Jesus’s ministry in the world (John 2:1-11). This passage is full of symbolic meaning. Jesus acts on behalf of the young couple, but John tells us the act is not just a miracle, but a “sign” of his coming glory. As a guest, Jesus brings new wine to the wedding feast. Later, Jesus will say that he is the bridegroom, who rejoices in his bride, the Church. How can we be a people who live fully in the “sign” and light of Christ’s abundant love?
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Maybe you grew up in a church where it was frowned upon to ask questions? You were basically told what to believe. And like many Christians, maybe you still have some questions that you are just afraid to ask. In this series, we will explore some questions that Christians just don’t feel comfortable asking. Maybe you are just asking for a friend.
For various reasons, people sometimes ask or think the question “Why should I pray?” God already knows what I need, I can’t change God’s mind, and God didn’t answer my prayers in time of crisis, so what’s the point. But what if there is something we don’t understand about the purpose of prayer?
Many people are not followers of Christ because of the problem of suffering, the problem of evil and how you reconcile that with the scriptures that proclaim a God of love and mercy. I think we all wrestle with this question from time to time; even if you are a person of faith. So how do we reconcile an all-powerful God with the existence of evil and suffering. Is it even possible?
Is there more than one way to get to heaven? If we say “Jesus is the only way,” isn’t it going to sound very narrow minded, snobbish and exclusive. In a world filled with contradicting ideas, there can only be one truth. What’s the difference between Jesus being the “best” way, and him being the only way?
As we begin a new year, there is hope that the COVID-19 vaccine will lead us to a brighter 2021. If we’re wise, we’ll reflect on what we’ve learned from this experience and what we want to carry forward. After all, pain without any gain is a shame. Join us as we look at how our COVID-19 experience can make us ‘Better than Ever.’
For many of us, there’s something we wish we’d been doing all along to prepare for what is happening now. Whatever lessons we’re learning, now is the time to start putting them into practice. What lessons relationally, financially and personally have you learned that can make you better than ever.
While we don’t always choose our circumstances, we do have the ability to choose our responses. But the response that has the potential to reverse the natural course of things isn’t natural at all. Never underestimate the power of a measured response. We have no idea what hangs in the balance of our decision to respond rather than react to events we did not choose. Our responses can make us better than ever.
There is more to your circumstances than meets the eye. Your current circumstances are a chapter. They are not the full story. You have the power to respond rather than react. Use it. You will be better than ever and the people around you will be, too.
Join us as Pastor Mindy McKonly returns to preach the message: “The Work of Christmas.” Worship is streaming at 10:30 AM at live.asburylv.org.
God sent Christ into the world as our Savior. That’s what Christmas is all about. In turn, Christ sends us into the world. But do we really understand how, where, and why we are sent? This five-week, churchwide Advent study challenges us through story, art, and Bible study to discover what it means to be Christ’s hands, feet, head, and heart.
One of the unique things Christians believe is that God became one of us. And every December we celebrate this event. For thirty years he lived undercover as a carpenter, surfaced as a miracle worker and rabbi for three years, and allowed himself to die in the most degrading way imaginable. He came as one of us but was treated as less than one of us. So the question we have to ask is “why in the world would God do that?”
Every December, we sing the song “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” which reminds us that ‘he came to set his people free.’ And maybe you have sung that song for decades but you never stopped to ask the question “What does he set us free from?” So, what does he set us free from?
One of the unique things Christians believe is that God became one of us. And every December we celebrate this event. But what are the implications for us that God became one of us?
Through the lens of the prophecy of Ezekiel, we know that no circumstance is so dry, so despairing and so hopeless, that God cannot bring new life. As Christians, we live in the reality of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead and his promise of new life, and Christmas provides an opportunity for us to reflect on how that promise first came to us in the form of a tiny baby.
To understand Christmas, you have to understand waiting. And as we all know, waiting is not easy and it comes with strong expectations. We have so much hope and so much desire for what we want Christmas to be and then sometimes Christmas doesn’t live up to our expectations and we experience disappointment. And disappointment is a common emotion that we share with the people who were waiting with hope and anticipation at that first Christmas. On that first Christmas, no one was expecting a baby in a manger. That was not on their Christmas list. But one of the powerful lessons from the Christmas story is that sometimes what we want is not always what we need. Join us Christmas Eve to explore why the baby in the manger is just what we need.
“After all I’ve done for you! You are so ungrateful.” Have you ever said that? Has anyone ever said that to you? Very few things sting a relationship like ingratitude. And the reason it stings is because it’s the exact opposite of what we expect, and it’s the opposite of what we think we deserve. But the problem with ingratitude is that it is very hard to see in the mirror. So what can we do to improve our relationships damaged by ingratitude?
The Apostle Paul calls Christians to care for one another. But sometimes we are not sure how to care for one another. Sometimes we are not even sure what to say when someone is going through a difficult season. In this series, we will examine some difficult subjects (death, suicide, addiction) from a Christian perspective, and learn how we can care for someone going through some dark times.
When someone dies, the journey of mourning ahead can be a difficult one. When you have experienced the death of a friend or loved one, who and what comforted you at that time? Together, we can learn and grow to be a community of people who are truly helpful to those who are hurting, by responding with God’s presence and compassion.
Suicide is a major public health concern. Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States and based on recent nationwide surveys, suicide in some populations is on the rise. Suicide affects many families in our nation today. Join us this week as we look at a Spiritual Perspective on suicide and how to minister to families affected by this tragedy.
Many people in our nation today struggle with various addictions – drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling etc. These addictions rob us of the life God intended and they hurt our relationships with God and others. So how can Jesus followers respond? Today we will talk with licensed professional counselor Gregory A. Krausz, MA, CACD, LPC regarding a Christian perspective on addiction.
There are few things as divisive as politics. But the question for Jesus followers is this: Are you willing to evaluate your politics through the filter of faith rather than create a version of faith that supports your politics? Jesus didn’t call everyone to agree on everything, but he did command his followers to be united by unconditional love.
Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church will win or lose based on our behavior between now and then.. While we will not agree on every political talking point, we must not let politics divide us.
Our political views are shaped by a number of variables: our backgrounds, education, and personal experiences to name a few. It’s easy to feel like our view is the right one, but the person beside you is more precious to God than your political view.
When it comes to money it seems like we never have enough and it leads to stress, anxiety and frustration. But, maybe the problem is not how we handle our money, maybe the problem is how we view our money. Many of us hold onto a world view of wealth that leads to discontentment, misplaced hope, and misplaced faith. But God never intended us to put our faith and hope in money. In fact, it’s not even ours. In this series, we will look at how to avoid the pitfalls of wealth based upon biblical truths.
Rich people live in denial. They won’t admit they’re rich. No matter how much you have, there’s always someone who has more. Many people in our nation are considered rich by the world’s standards. And one of the dangers of being rich is discontentment. The more you have, the more you want. How do we avoid the pitfalls of wealth?
When all is said and done, the questions God will ask us about our giving will have little to do with dollars and cents, but, ‘Where were your priorities?’ ‘What did you think about the most?’ ‘Did you value the work of my kingdom first and foremost?’ and ‘Was your heart in your giving at all?’ The account of the “Widow’s Mite” teaches us what it means to be “all in” for the kingdom of God.
We’re all tempted to place our faith in money. We’re tempted to believe that if we make enough, we’ll be able to control our circumstances and create a better life for ourselves. The problem with that view is that the more we place our faith in money, the more it controls us. Scripture challenges us to look at our money differently because our lives are better when we place our trust in the One who richly provides. Viewing wealth through the lens of eternity loosens our grip on it and its grip on us.
COVID-19 has turned our world upside down and has left us with a new normal. At some point, the world will have an answer for this pandemic and things will improve. But how do we deal with this new normal? What do you do when it seems like there is no way forward and no way out?
Some people may say “Why would God allow the coronavirus to happen if he is a good and loving God.” That question is understandable during times like this, unfortunately there is not easy answer. The situation in our world may cause some people to lose faith, but what we need to understand is that Christians have never believed in a God who doesn’t allow bad things to happen to good people. Christians believe the worst possible thing happened to the best possible person. Join us in week one of the series as we look at why to remain faithful and what we can expect from God during a season like this.
We avoid things we don’t like. But sometimes things come our way that we can’t avoid, like a global pandemic. When our circumstances deteriorate, what do we do when there’s nothing we can do?
Simon Peter was an ordinary fisherman who transformed into a follower of Jesus. He was faithful, yet flawed. Peter was the first to profess Jesus as the Son of God, yet he later denied knowing him. Peter went on to give his life for the sake of his call. In this series, we take an in-depth dive into the life, faith and character of Simon Peter.
Peter had no idea what hung in the balance of his decision to go fishing with Jesus. When Peter’s simple act of faith intersected with Jesus’ faithfulness, everything changed. What is your next step in your faith journey with Jesus —coming back, confessing, reconciling, choosing purity, serving, giving? Whatever your next step is, take it. You don’t know what hangs in the balance.
The disciples were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were terrified. Jesus walks on water in the midst of the storm and tells the disciples “Be encouraged, It’s me, don’t be afraid.” This story is about something that happened on the Sea of Galilee a long time ago, but it’s recorded in the Gospel because it’s something that happens in our lives all the time if we just realize it. What can we learn about Jesus and what it means to be a disciple from this passage?
Jesus asks the disciples a question that begs an answer from all of us – “who do you say that I am?” In this moment, Peter declares that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus declares that Peter is correct and that he will build his ‘church’ upon the rock (Peter) and nothing will destroy it. Jesus was giving Peter and through him, the church, the authority to do his work in the world.
Jesus makes it clear that if we want to be his disciple it will require self-denial, sacrifice (take up your cross), and following him. We all want a convenient faith, but following Jesus requires an inconvenient faith.
During the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that all the disciples would soon abandon him and that Peter would deny knowing him three times. Peter adamantly proclaimed that he would never desert or deny knowing Jesus. However, before the night was over, Peter not only deserted Jesus but he denied knowing him three times. It’s a night that Peter would talk about over and over again. If Peter’s story is our story, what can we learn from Peter’s failure?
Simon Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, but that was not the end of his story. When the disciples find the tomb was empty, they begin to understand that the grave could not hold their Lord. When the Resurrected Jesus calls on Peter, Jesus asks Peter to affirm his love, not once, but three times. What will it mean for Peter to repent and be forgiven? What could repentance and Jesus’s forgiveness mean for you? And how then might Jesus be calling you to demonstrate your love?
After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Peter went on to minister for 34 more years. During this period of time, Peter became fearless in his faith, he continued to learn about God, and he left an amazing legacy. The same person who once denied knowing Jesus was crucified for being a follower of Jesus. What can we learn from Peter’s life after Jesus?
Asbury’s mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. But how do we grow deeper in our faith? No one strives to be shallow. It’s easy to feel lost when we go at it alone. But what if there was a way to thrive?
Feeding ourselves spiritually isn’t intended to be another thing on our “to-do” lists. The reason we feed ourselves isn’t just because of what we find there, but who we find there. It’s a way we encounter more of Jesus. It’s a step we take to lead ourselves into a growing relationship with Jesus that’s marked by closeness.
Moving out of the shallow end starts with feeding ourselves spiritually. But if we stop at that first step, we’ll be left spiritually fat rather than spiritually fit. How do we prevent that from happening? The next step involves a spiritual workout that’s unique for each of us.
Many of us have viewed faith as something we do alone. We might have said that it’s private. But there’s a limit to our faith growth when we go it alone. There’s a deepening to our faith that we only experience together. When it comes to consistently growing our faith, “we” is greater than “me.” Who’s spurring on your faith and whose faith are you spurring on?
No Discussion Questions and Small Group Study Guide or Sermon Notes for This Week
The United States of America is a nation of laws. But laws don’t necessarily inspire virtue. When we confuse what is legal with what is moral, everyone looks for a loophole to serve his or her own interests. The rich rule the poor, women become commodities, racism prevails and children become victims. We as Christians are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to do unto others as God, through Christ, has done unto us. Leveraging our individual rights for the benefit of others is how our liberty makes our nation more like the kingdom of God.
God works miracles through those who obey, though often times our nature rebels against Him. Regardless of which path we choose-obedience or rebellion- God is the God of second chances. Few stories illustrate this principle more clearly than the story of Jonah. Join us as we delve into the story of one man and his journey towards surrender.
What do you do when that still small voice of God calls you to do something you don’t want to do? Like Jonah, many of us run in the opposite direction. But just because you run, doesn’t mean God is through with you.
Do you regularly communicate with God or does it take hitting rock bottom to reach out to God? This week we will examine Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the whale and see what it means for us.
Have you ever felt like God has given up on you? Sometimes we are ashamed of our actions and think God will never use us again. But what we learn from the story of Jonah is that God is a God of second chances.
Like Jonah, sometimes we live in the great contradiction. Jonah knew God intimately, desired his forgiveness but withheld forgiveness from the Ninevites. Do you struggle with extending forgiveness to others?
In this series, we explore the most common worries and fears experienced by Americans today, consider practical steps for overcoming these fears, and reflect upon fear in the light of scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we don’t need to live in fear. Let’s live with courage and hope.
Let’s face it: there are a lot of circumstances that make us anxious in our world today. So how can we possibly follow Jesus’ teaching to not worry? In this message, we will examine the anatomy of fear and how we can face our fears with courage.
As humans, we tend to fear those who are different from ourselves. Those differences include race, ethnicity, differences in socio-economic status, politics, religion, a person’s sexual orientation and so many more. The differences can make us a bit uncomfortable, and that discomfort fueled by our imagination, our perception of the world, our culture and upbringing, the media, religious leaders and politicians, can lead us to be afraid. In this message, we will look at how to overcome our fear of the other and see people God sees them.
Loneliness is the feeling of isolation we feel at times, the feeling that we have no real companions with whom to share our life. It’s not the same as solitude. We all need alone time, but though we need alone time, we are also wired as human beings for companionship, for someone to share our lives with, to talk to, to listen to, someone who cares about us and enjoys being with us. In this message, we will look at how to deal with feelings of loneliness.
When fear of failure really takes over, you begin to avoid taking risks – because every risk includes a possibility that you will fail, that you will lose face, that you will embarrass yourself or people will laugh at you. When this happens, you may miss out on some of the most amazing blessings in your life. What can we do with our fear of failure?
Getting sick, growing old, and facing death are the three things most people fear most. Many people fear growing old and becoming obsolete or irrelevant. Many, of course, fret about their health and fear getting sick, and the current pandemic has only exacerbated those fears. What all people fear most is what may happen to them when they face death. In this message, we will explore how to reduce our anxieties around coping with illness and growing old, and how ultimately, Christ has destroyed death itself so we can face even our earthly death without fear.
The Easter story doesn’t end with The Resurrection; but it took a familiar action for an encounter with the resurrected Jesus to become clear to some of his followers. In “Encounters on the Road,” we learn what the Gospel writer Luke wants us to learn about The Resurrection through recording this story.
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Following Jesus’ crucifixion, his followers expected what anyone expects after someone dies: that they would remain that way. But one of Jesus’s followers, John, gave an eyewitness account that summarized the main event surrounding Christianity: Jesus rose from the dead. In this seventh and final sign that John documents, he makes the case that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be.
April 9 • Streamed 12 PM and 6 PM
Featuring a Love Feast led by Pastor Barbara
April 10 • Streamed 7 PM
Featuring a replay of the 2017 Good Friday service
