Climbing Higher~ 3rd Sunday of Easter

Acts 3:12-19: Peter preaches of Jesus and tells them to repent of their sins.

Ps. 4: Prayer for God to hear us in our distress. Ends with ... I will lay me down in peace.He must have found it.

1  John 3:1-7: God's love for us had Jesus pay for our sins. So we no longer have to live in that sin.

Luke 24:36b-48:Jesus appears to his followers after he rose from the dead.

When sin is heavy on our heart & min, we have trouble resting and going to sleep. that is what the pray in Psalms. 4 shows. But we do not have to stay in our sins. Because Jesus came and paid for our sins (1 John 3:1-7). But Jesus did not stop with just dying, but he also rose. He proved this when he appeared to his followers afterwards (Luke 24:36b-48). peter preached about that soon after Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 3:12-19). We too should share the Good News, of what Jesus did to others people. 

Challenge of the week:

This week share the Good News of Jesus and Easter with someone.

Accomplishment of the week:

Did you do the challenge of the week? If so , how did you do it and with whim did you share it with? How did that go?

Climbing Higher~ (Emuciation of the Lord) April 3rd 2018

Is. 7:10-14:God will give a sign. The sign is a virgin shall conceive a son & his name shall be called Immanuel. 

Ps. 44 or 40:5-10: Songs of great things that God has done for his people.

Heb. 10:4-10:Speaks of how the blood of animals did not cover sins once and for always. So God sent his son to be the lamb of God that covered all our sins, once and for always. 

Luke 1:26-38:An angel went to the virgin,  Mary to tell her that she would have God's son. She gave God permission to do so. 

In these verses we see the promises and the fulfillment of that promise. 

Challenge of the Day:

Today think of how God fulfilled his promise & then thanks & praise God for fulfilling His promise to send a savior for all mankind. 

Accomplishment of the day:

How did the challenge of the day help your walk of faith?

Climbing Higher~ 2ed Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35:The Christians had all things in common. 

Ps. 133: Blessing of unity among Christians.

1 John 1:1-2: We are witnesses to what we saw and share about Jesus.  

John 20:19-31:Jesus again appears to his disciples after he rose from the dead. 

The theme is Unity. If the Good news is going to get out there we Christians need to work together in unity. I believe that  one of the reasons Jesus reappeared to his followers in John 20:19-31 is that Thomas has not been with them when Jesus had appeared before and he doubted that Jesus was alive. Jesus wanted them to be united in their witness. 

Challenge of the week:

This week, work to make sure that you are in unity with other Christians. 

Accomplishment of the week:

What did your challenge help you accomplish this week? How did that help you be in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Climbing Higher~ EASTER SUNDAY

Is. 25:6-9:Prophecy of what Jesus would do & on which mt. that he would do it. 

or

Acts 10:34-43: Peter preaches of who Jesus is and what he did and how that brings salvation. 

or

1 Cor. 15:1-11: Paul speaks to those who witnessed how Jesus suffered, died and rose . He tells people to preach this Good News to everyone. 

Ps. 118:1-2,14-24:Give thanks to the Lord for his mercies lasts forever; The Lord has corrected me , but showed mercy when he did not kill me for my sins, but has become my salvation.: the stone that the builder threw out has become the corner stone.  

John 20:4-18: The first hours after it is known that Jesus has risen.

 

or

Mark 16:1-18:Jesus speaks of being faithful in small things. Then speaks to the Pharisees of their hypocrisy.

Challenge of the Day & week:

As you read through these verses, take the time to thank Jesus for going through all that he did to pay for your sin & conquer death for you. Then go and tell others about it. 

Accomplishment of the day & week:

How did the celebration help your walk of faith? 

Climbing Higher~ Easter Eve

Is. 25:6-9:Prophecy of what Jesus would do & on the mt. that he would do it.

Ps. 114:Song of how God took the Jewish people from Egypt to the promised land. 

1 Cor. 5:6b-8:Speaks of how the leaven and unleaven breads were symbols of our souls. 

Luke 24:13-49:Jesus shows himself to some of his followers.

Psalms 114 could be a song that is sung during Passover. In Passover they eat unleaven bread. Paul speaks of how the leaven & unleaven breads where symbols of our soul 

(1 Cor. 5:6b-8). Many years before Jesus came, Isiah prophesied of what Jesus would do and what Mountain he would do it on (Is. 25:6-9). After Jesus rose from the dead he showed himself to some of his friends. They then spread the news that he had risen from the dead (Luke 24:13-49).

Challenge of the night:

Tonight, let us check ourselves and see if we have any sin in us that needs to be taken care of. Let us go to God and take care of any that is there. In this way, we will make sure we are ready to go int Easter Sunday with joy. 

Accomplishment of the night:

Did you find that you needed to go to God to ask for forgiveness? If so, what for? How has that made you ready for Easter?

Climbing Higher~Good Friday

Lam. 3:1-9,19-24: No matter what bad things comes to us. We can have hope in God.

Ps. 22:Prophecy of what Jesus would go through for us. 

Heb. 10:16-25:Speaks of the fulfillment of God's promise to give us a High Priest that is eternal. 

Heb. 4:14-16: Jesus our High Priest understands our weaknesses. Go to him for help.

Heb. 5:7-9:Jesus was obedient to God's will and died for us. 

John 18:1-19:42:Jesus being betrayed, arrested, trial, beaten, hung on cross and buried. 

Challenge of the day:

As you read these verses and remember what Jesus did for us on good Friday. Let us find hope in Him. Let us also thank Jesus for suffering for our sin. 

Accomplishment of the day:

How did today's challenge bring you closer to God?

Climbing Higher~Thursday of Holy week

Ex. 12:1-4,(5-10), 11-14: God tells Moses to start their year at the time he saved them from slavery: God told Moses how to remember that they were saved from slavery (Passover).

Ps. 116:1-2,12-19:These verses speak of what Jesus was going to do to loose our bonds.

1 Cor. 11:23-26: Paul shares what happens when Jesus did the last supper with his disciples before he was arrested. As well as the fact that they were to continue to have the communion until Jesus comes back again to remember what he did for us. 

John 3:1b-35:Jesus tells Nicodemus how to be born again spiritually: John speaks of Jesus being the Christ that was coming after him. 

After God had freed the Jewish people from slavery, He told Moses to not only start the year at that point.But to also how He wanted them to remember each year that God had saved them from slavery. This is called, "Passover" (Ex. 12:1-4,(5-10), 11-14). Jesus was keeping that Passover when he had his last supper with his followers. He took the time to also give them a way to remember him until he came back. We call it, "Holy Communion or Eucharist (1 Cor. 11:23-26). 

There was a prophecy of what Jesus would go through in Psalms 116:1-2,12-19. John the Baptist also prophesied of Jesus in John 3:1b-35). 

Challenge of the day:

Today, let us take the time to remember what Jesus went through for us to free us from the slavery of sin. Let us also share the good news of that freedom to others. 

Accomplishment of the day:

How did today's challenge help you prepare for Easter?