This week we take a look at the passover meal and the final days of Christ leading up to his crucifixion. Executive Minister Matt Mazza challenges us to put ourselves in the shoes of those losing Jesus in real-time, as if the story were to end there. The things and emotions they experienced while Christ was in the tomb. 

We take time to hear the amazing stories that came to light because of the #ForCollinCounty initiative. Our challenge is to continue forward with this mindset for  years to come.

Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together that we always have Christ between ourselves and others. Whatever we say and do, we say to and through the Lord Christ. So it is with doing good. Whatever good we do, we do to Jesus. Whatever good we withhold, we withhold from Jesus. We are to be Jesus to others and see Jesus in the face of others. 

The word translated as “pity” here is the Greek word for intestines—guts. Pity and compassion are not intellectual exercises. Our lives should be trained so we have a visceral response to the needs of others that we act on before we think ourselves out of doing the good we should. 

Our doing good is an essential part of keeping the two great commandments. We have to deal with the challenge of love of the neighbor and the love of the one who is not like us. What pride and prejudice might keep us from showing the love of Christ to others?

Paul writes Titus a letter to help him with his ministry on the island of Crete. The Cretans had a reputation of being a horrible people. The difference Christ will make in the lives of his disciples on Crete is that they would be people who do what is good. This is a simple call for us now—do what is good. 

Following Jesus demands that we adopt his way of doing things. His ways and values are not the values and ways of the fallen world. The way of self-sacrifice and service is the way of the Cross. 

Being a disciple of Jesus is a matter of a decision and a process. We decide to follow Jesus. The journey is one in which Jesus becomes clearer to us, and our way to walk with him becomes clearer. 

Student Minister Wes Rasbury finished up the Churches That Heal series by giving guidance by reminding us that this is not the end of journey- not in any way! That we have walked through this to begin the process and journey of healing, it is just the start!

This week we hear a story of loss through a tragic story within the Greenville Oaks community. While these moments are difficult, God is still God and sovereign in all situations.