According to John 19:28-30, at the end of Jesus’ life, he says, “It is finished”—a single word in Greek, but not a single word in meaning. Jesus didn’t say, “I am finished,” “You are finished,” or “We are finished.” Rather, he roared like a lion, “It is finished.”

What was crucifixion and why did Jesus have to endure this brutal form of execution? This Weekend, we'll unpack the physical and spiritual realities of the cross. What happened to Jesus? What happened because of Jesus? Get ready for a powerful look at the unconditional love that led Christ to the cross, as we continue the unconditional! sermon series on the road to Easter. Reread John 19 as you prepare for this message.

The cross is the most enduring symbol of Christianity. Peter, one of Jesus’ most devoted followers, wrote that Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, “so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). The cross of Jesus Christ is that pivotal point in history, the center of time and eternity, when unconditional love met indescribable suffering, which opened the way for the salvation of all mankind. “By his wounds you have been healed.” What are those wounds? Join us this weekend as we begin to look closely at the events leading up to that pivotal moment captured in John 19:16 when, “Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” To prepare well for our study, read John 18 and 19.

This weekend, we’ll meet up with one of Jesus’ best known followers. His name is Peter and we will meet him in one of the most painfully real, yet powerfully life-changing experiences of his life. It’s an experience you may have had, or may yet have, as you follow Jesus. It’s an experience that someone you know and love is having even now.

When you discover how Jesus ultimately responded to Peter in this painful experience, you can’t help but say, “What a Savior!” Without a doubt, Jesus’ unconditional love and grace is on display in Peter’s life. It is the same love and grace that Jesus has for every one of us!

His is a tragic story, and the lessons from his life are sobering. His betrayal of Jesus in the 24 hours leading up to the cross was not an isolated incident. It followed in a long line of sinful choices made by Judas that gave the devil full access to his life. It is indeed a dark tragedy, yet through the darkness, the light of Christ shines brightly. We see the light of Jesus’ unconditional love and grace. To fully appreciate this light, you need to fully experience the darkness of Judas’ betrayal.

This weekend we begin a series of messages that focus on the 24 hours leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross. We will follow Him to the cross and, as we do, we will learn the true meaning of UNCONDITIONAL. Unconditional care. Unconditional compassion. Unconditional service. Unconditional giving. Unconditional kindness. Unconditional forgiveness. Unconditional obedience. Unconditional surrender. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Join your GCC family this weekend as we look at what Jesus meant when, in John 13:1-17, he called on his followers to wash one another’s feet. You may be surprised by the powerful truth that flows out of this simple command! I look forward to growing with you this weekend.

We wrap up a six-part series called First Things First this weekend. Over the past five weekends, we have said GCC holds to preaching God's authoritative, inerrant, and infallible Word. That prayer is an essential part of the life and ministry of GCC. We hold to celebratory worship, reaching the next generation, and grace in our relationships. GCC is not called “Judgment Community Church!” It is called ‘Grace Community Church,” and for good reason.

Join us this weekend as we conclude our series by giving a biblical perspective on compassion. According to Matthew 20:29-34 and many other passages, compassion is not passive but is our love in action, which is why GCC is committed to demonstrating compassion for hurting people in a broken world.

When we look at people, we see them as they are right now and possibly remembering who they were in the past. But do we see who they can become by choosing to follow Jesus? Do we have vision for lives changed by Christ?

Join your GCC family this weekend as we dig into John 4 and notice that Jesus had a different vision than his followers, and he took action to correct their vision. Open your eyes to the people around you who need Jesus!

Early 20th century devotional writer J. Oswald Sanders wisely noted, “There is always one fact more in every life of which we know nothing, therefore Jesus says, "Judge not." Yet that is precisely what we too often do. Too often, we judge men and women without having all the facts. We assume we know it all when, in truth, our judgments show how very little we know and how very little we care. It is one of the many reasons that God tells us to keep a tight rein on our tongues!

We continue our First Things First series this weekend as we look at our third core value: We are committed to leading children, youth, and young adults into a growing relationship with Jesus. Join us as we study Mark 10:13-16 together and reflect on the powerful truths of that verse. Together, we can remove the hindrances that keep children, youth, and young adults from Jesus. We can and should invest in the present and future of the church!