THE GREATEST TRUE STORY EVER TOLD
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus
In the 8 weeks leading up to Easter we are re-telling the true story of Jesus during our Sunday morning services, using a variety of creative media: Film clips, Dramatic readings, Creative writing, Art, Craft, Testimonies and, of course, Bible Readings.
Each week we will be telling a part of the story as well as exploring a theme that provides practical help with our everyday lives.
We’re inviting everyone to come and hear about the real Jesus and equip everyone to answer his question: ”Who do you say I am?”
In these two blogs we provide an outline of the series – the first covering the first four weeks and the second the four weeks leading up to, and including Easter.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Week 1: Jesus Son of Mary
Purpose
Parts of the Christmas story may be familiar to us, but have we ever imagined what it must have been like for Mary and the shepherds to receive such momentous news? And what can we learn from their responses?
The coming of this Son of Mary had been foretold hundreds of years earlier and forever changed the relationship between God and man. To this day, this event triggers the true and profound purpose for every living person.
Week 2: Jesus Son of God
Belonging
Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist marks the start of his ministry here on earth and confirmed his status as the Son of God. His temptation in the desert over 40 days saw him do what no other person in human history had ever been able to do – fully resist the temptations of the devil.
Jesus thereby set in train the mission to restore God’s people to himself. His life, death and resurrection opened the way for us to become a full part of God’s family once more. That provides a profound and utterly fulfilling sense of belonging for those that believe in Jesus.
Week 3: Jesus the Saviour
Faith
As Jesus’ ministry gets underway, he first reveals that he is indeed the long awaited saviour to someone few would have expected to hear the news first: An outcast Samaritan woman at a remote well.
Jesus goes on to tell parables about what God is really like – including comparing Him to a father running to embrace the son he thought he lost. A very different God is being revealed from what had been supposed – and even more amazingly Jesus goes on to reveal that faith in him is all that is needed for eternal life.
Week 4: Jesus the Healer
Wholeness
Jesus’ ministry sees him demonstrate his authority from God by conducting numerous healings. He heals the blind, lepers and even a paralyzed man who was lowered down on a mat through the roof by his friends, so confident were the of his power to heal and grace to do so.
But Jesus did more than just heal physically. To the amazement of his followers – and the shock of the religious leaders of the time – he also forgave their sins, to enable a reconciled relationship with God. This wholeness of mind, body and soul remains on offer for us today.
Next time we will be looking at Jesus the Revolutionary, Jesus the Sovereign, Jesus the Lamb of God and – for Easter Sunday – Jesus is Alive!