Our guest is Pastor Billy Skinner. In this sermon he shares principles of communication, which he says is the primary key in maintaining healthy marriages

We've spent the last few weeks seeking to answer the question, "Why did Jesus have to die?" We've looked at three aspects of the Cross. Tonight we come to the culmination of Holy Week, and in light of what we've been learning from God, we now ask the question, "What is the significance of the Resurrection.

We continue to ask the question, "Why did Jesus have to die?" This week the bad news is that we're all sinners, and, as Paul said in Romans 6, "the wages of sin is death." The good news is that Jesus died in our place for our sins and paid the ultimate penalty for sin: death. He died so that we don't have to.

The Atonement is defined as "the work that Christ did in his life and death to earn our salvation." In this sermon we look at Leviticus 16, at the Day of Atonement. This day, the most important day of the year, was set apart by God as a way to deal with the Israelites' sin.

The problem for humanity is that we are all in bondage to sin and cannot escape on our own. The only hope is to have a Redeemer. On the Cross Jesus gave His life as a ransom and redeemed us from captivity.

Paul could rejoice in his sufferings because Jesus had died on the cross for His Bride and had called Paul to be a minister to Her. Paul's goal, therefore, was to preach Christ to the church and to call each member to spiritual maturity. In this section of the letter Paul urges them to grow in Christ, and reminds them that spiritual maturity doesn't come by being religious. It comes through a relationship with Christ. This is the mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Ruth Lomo and Sara Babb share about the work that God is doing through the Refugee Empowerment Program.

What happens when you discover that God's agenda is different than your agenda? We have two options: Become bitter, or Surrender. John 6 tells the story of Jesus drawing a line in the sand regarding whose agenda His disciples would follow. Many decided that His agenda was too different, and they couldn't follow Him. Peter, however, surrendered to Jesus' agenda. Where are you when it comes to Jesus' agenda?

You will never put your trust in God until you believe that He is trustworthy. There are two objections to this: 1. God can't handle it. 2. God doesn't want to handle it. Psalm 62:11-12 You, oh God are strong, and You, oh Lord, are loving. Four Practical Ways of Determining if God is Trustworthy 1. Read the Bible 2. Remember 3. Throw yourself into community 4. Talk to Jesus

There are times in your life when you are not going to feel the presence of God. You are going to wonder where God is and how God can be active in such a situation. Jesus himself faced this and was on the cross surrounded by people saying, "Where is God now?" It was the same for Abraham, Joseph, Job, David, and John the Baptist. It will not be so different for us. But as Martin Luther pointed out, the resurrection vindicates our struggling faithfully and vindicates the hope we have that is beyond experience.