OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.

“My question to all the panellists – do the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which lie at the heart of the Easter Season, have any relevance to contemporary society 2,000 years after the events took place?” - David Campbell “The words of the Sermon on the Mount do resonate, must resonate. It is a very radical message. It’s a challenge to all of us about how we live our lives. The thing that puzzles me about Easter is why the sacrifice was required… blood sacrifice has a lot of pre- echoes in the Hebrew Scriptures, but why is it required? No preacher has ever explained to me why the death of Jesus had to happen, why it was mandated, why any message from God to man had to happen by that route… What about a different way of communicating that message?” Bob Carr

Question #1: Why was Jesus’ sacrifice required? The Sermon on the Mount is not a challenge to live a good life Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.”

Question #1: Why was Jesus’ sacrifice required? The Sermon on the Mount is not a challenge to live a good life Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.” Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Question #1: Why was Jesus’ sacrifice required? The Sermon on the Mount is not a challenge to live a good life The Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments are a mirror that reflects back to us our short comings before a Holy God Leviticus 5:17-19 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Question #1: Why was Jesus’ sacrifice required? Why do we need a sacrifice at all? Bridging the gap between God’s infinite existence and our finite brokenness comes at a huge cost 1 Peter 1:18-20 “…know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” “…know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Question #2: Was there any other way for God to communicate with us other than the death of Jesus? The sacrifices people made in the Old Testament were a shadow God’s character is cross-shaped The Cross is the perfect demonstration of sacrificial love Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the L ORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God” “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the L ORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God”

Question #3: Is the Easter Story still relevant The Easter story is still relevant because it is ongoing Easter is the point at which Jesus stakes His claim to be the Divine King of the world

Question #3: Is the Easter Story still relevant Philippians 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Question #3: Is the Easter Story still relevant 1 Peter 1:21-22 “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

Prayer of Salvation Heavenly Father, save me from my sins. I believe that Jesus died and shed His blood for me and He rose again so I could live for You. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can serve you with all of my heart, fully devoted to you. Thank you for new life; and tonight I give You my life In Jesus' name I pray.

OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.