Palm Sunday – Praise!

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Palm Sunday: Praise – Rejoice in the Messiah

Read: Mark 11:1-10

Prayer: Father, let me join the crowds and lift up my voice in praise to you.  Thank you for the coming kingdom – the great hope of a new heaven and earth where we will dwell in peace without suffering in the presence of our King.  Thank you for so many salvation blessings of which the crowds were completely unaware.  Awaken my soul to give you the glory and praise that is due you today.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: For what salvation blessings can you praise the Lord today?

Praise: Sing some of your favorite songs of praise to the Lord.

Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your Easter weekend reading:

Enter the Dragon Slayer – Jon Bloom (DG)
Weary years passed as the cursed earth and its depraved inhabitants languished in bondage to corruption. And then, in the fullness of the King’s time, the ancient, mysterious decrees began to unfold. In an unexpected place and an unexpected way, into the world stepped the Dragon Slayer.

10 Things You Should Know about the Cross – Patrick Schreiner (Crossway)
The Christian faith is distinctively Trinitarian and cross-shaped. Therefore, the cross must reveal the Trinity. God the Father sent the Son to save the world, the Son submitted to the Father’s will, and the Spirit applies the work of redemption to Jesus followers.

Salvation by Propitiation – Kevin DeYoung
The God who has always been for us in eternity sent his Son in time to be the wrath-absorbing sacrifice that we might enjoy peace with God for ages unending.

Hymn Stories – Christ The Lord Is Risen Today – Tim Challies
Here are all 11 stanzas published by the Wesleys. It is worth reading through each one thoughtfully, and perhaps especially the ones that we no longer sing. They are rich with biblical allusion and the wonderful implications of Easter.

Hope you have a great Resurrection Sunday!

New Years Collection

Here are some good posts to help you review the past year and think about the new year:

End of Year Check-Up Questions For Christians – David Qaoud

9 Questions to Help You Steward All of Your Life for God’s Glory – Brad Hambrick

Resolution Principles – Brian Mikul (that’s me…)

How to Make Your Resolutions Stick – Mike Cosper (TGC)

10 Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year (pdf) – Donald Whitney

Bible Reading Collection

Here are helpful thoughts and plans for reading the Bible personally and as a family in 2019:

Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think (Crossway)

10 Suggestions For Your Personal Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies

Reading The Bible Fast And Slow In 2019 – Paul Carter (Challies)

How to Read Through the Bible in a Year With Kids– J. R. Briggs (ABS)

10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies

Christmas Collection

Here are some good posts for Christmas:

God’s Passion for God at Christmas – John Piper (Crossway)

Even as a Secular Holiday, Christmas Makes the Gospel Accessible – Tim Keller (TGC)

How to Love Hard People at Christmas – David Mathis (DG)

An Open Letter to the Depressed Christian at Christmas – David Murray (Crossway)

Christmas for the Weary– Sam Allberry (TGC)

Far as the Curse Is Found  Nancy Guthrie (DG)

Hope you have a merry Christmas!

He Is Risen…

He is risen, so we can have:

Forgiveness of Sins

Removal of Guilt

Cleansing from Shame

Righteousness in Christ

A New Life in Christ

A Relationship with God

Victory over Sin

Victory over Satan

A Mediator with God

Intercession by Christ

The Sending of the Holy Spirit

The Way to Heaven

The Return of Christ

Personal Resurrection

Hope in Death

Confidence in God’s Word

Mercy or Grace

A Strong Basis for Our Faith

Numerous Reasons to Sing

If Jesus Is Dead and Gone…

If Jesus is dead and gone, we have:

No Forgiveness of Sins

No Removal of Guilt

No Cleansing from Shame

No Righteousness in Christ

No New Life in Christ

No Relationship with God

No Victory over Sin

No Victory over Satan

No Mediator with God

No Intercession by Christ

No Sending of the Holy Spirit

No Way to Heaven

No Return of Christ

No Personal Resurrection

No Hope in Death

No Confidence in God’s Word

No Mercy or Grace

No Basis for Our Faith

No Reason to Sing

Good Friday Collection

Here are some good posts for your reflection today:

It Was My Sin That Held Him There: Weeping at the Foot of the Cross – Greg Morse (DG)

We Are Barabbas – Dave Furman (Crossway)

Let Us Never Grow Weary of the Cross – Kevin DeYoung

10 Things You Should Know about the Cross – Patrick Schreiner