What would it be like if every person in our church genuinely, deeply cared for the spiritual welfare of everyone in this congregation?What would it be like if everyone actively sought to bring in the lost into our congregation so they too would be cared for? It would be like a loving family that transcends blood, race, class, and preferences. Just like how Paul called Timothy his son although they didn’t share the same upbringing or background, it would be like being in a family that’s centred not on natural ties or affinities – but on the gospel of Jesus Christ marked by the supernatural, selfless love of our Good Shepherd.So will we seek the interests of Jesus Christ?

Do you ever have moments in your life where you know you need to move forward, but you’re not sure how?

Maybe it’s a decision you’ve been putting off, a job change, a habit you need to break, a step of obedience, or a conversation you’ve been avoiding. 

You know you need to move forward, but you feel uncertain, maybe even afraid. You feel stuck. 

That’s where the book of Joshua begins. The people of God are standing in a moment like this.

Moses is gone, their trusted leader is no longer with them. Behind them is the wilderness and all of their failures, and in front of them is the Promised Land.

But it’s not empty. There are enemies and battles ahead. So they’re standing at what was and what will be.

The question is simple: Will they trust God and move forward?

If Jesus Christ is truly the risen Lord, then we as followers of Jesus Christ are called to worship him – not only on Sundays but every single day of the week and in every aspect of our lives. From the passage today, we learn what it means to give to God what is God’s, which is ultimately our whole life in worship.

There are moments in life that feel “final.”Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s a struggle. Maybe it’s something deep inside your heart and you feel like nothing’s going to change.Today’s passage speaks directly into that feeling. Not with wishful thinking or vague optimism, but something far greater.We’re talking about the Risen Saviour.

In today’s passage in Luke 23:39-43, we see two criminals who were crucified on the cross next to Jesus held him in very low-esteem. They both mocked him. They both insulted him over and over again. But one had a change of heart, and he demonstrated humble faith. And what was the result? Eternal life for that one criminal. Not just life after death, but the promise of being with Jesus. Two criminals, two responses, two radically different eternities. May we at GCC turn from mocking Jesus with our words or with our actions to believing He is the righteous king who alone has the power to save. And let us take comfort in knowing that when we repent and call upon His name, He will show us mercy without hesitation.

When someone accuses you of wrongdoing, how do you respond?

In a trial, whether we’re guilty or innocent, we would lay out our case, explain, defend, and try to justify ourselves. 

But in the trial of Jesus, the only truly innocent man in history, he stood accused, choosing not to defend himself. 

In today’s passage, we see why Jesus remained silent in a trial that meant life or death.

Through Jesus’ earthly ministry, he kept saying, “The hour is coming.” But in today’s passage, we see in Luke 22:63-71, the hour has finally come. It’s the hour of suffering. The hour of the cross. The hour where everything begins to unfold.But it’s not an hour that overtakes Jesus. Rather, it’s the hour that he’s been moving toward all along.And in this hour, he is being revealed and not in the way you would expect.

Who is Peter? We know he’s an apostle of Christ but still a man with many flaws. However, despite all his flaws and weaknesses, including in his denial of Christ three times, we see how Jesus ultimately forgives him and empowers him to still be a leader within his church. And we see in this passage after Peter’s repentance, God still used him to strengthen his brothers in Christ.

The world we live in celebrates and admires greatness.The all-star athlete, the talented musician, the successful entrepreneur. But how is greatness defined? Is it titles, achievements, status, and recognition? Is it having the biggest house or the nicest car? Or is it being popular and having the most followers and subscribers on social media?In today’s passage, we see that Jesus has a very different definition of what makes someone truly great.

It can be uncomfortable thinking about death. It’s not a topic we like to dwell on. But the harsh reality is that death is a real enemy that will come for all of us. And it will bring pain and grief to those we love. Yet in today’s passage in Luke 22:14-23, Jesus himself tells us to remember his death. In fact, he institutes a ritual we call the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, so that we would continually remember and commemorate his death.Why?As we’ll see in the passage today, in continually commemorating his death, we not only remember what He did for us, but we remember why. And most encouragingly, we remember, through his death, the future he promised all believers, that gives us hope, even as we face death ourselves.