This weekend is a little bit different than most, after Pastor Rieke  tested positive for Covid-19. But he was feeling well enough to record a  sermon from 1 John 1:1-2:2 about what it means to have complete joy.

It’s been said the distance between your head and your heart is the longest distance you can travel. It’s the difference between knowing something and believing something. It’s the difference between heaven and hell. The demons know there is a God and shudder.

This Easter season, by the grace of God, we will make that longest journey from what we know in our heads, to what we believe in our hearts. To not only know what the Bible says, but to know by experience what the Bible says is true. So That You May Know…that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Did God raise Jesus from the dead? It's the all important question that  we answer on Easter. Thanks be to God that he did raise Jesus from the  dead. This is not only good for Jesus, but good for us as well, as we  have God's promise that we will rise from the dead too. He is Risen! He  is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

What about this day makes it be called "good?" It was our Savior taking  our place under God's wrath. In our Good Friday service, we are reminded  of Jesus' nail-pierced hands, and his words from the cross.

On Maundy Thursday, we remember when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.  But before he did that, he gave his disciples a new command. The  command to love in the way he loved them. He demonstrated this with  hands of humility when he washed his disciples' feet. This sermon is  taken from John 13.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. He  did this despite of the religious leader's warrant for his arrest. He  did it despite his disciples' concern for his safety. He came to  Jerusalem on his own terms. Because his own terms were the only terms  that could remove the punishment of sin, and the condemnation of death.  Sermon is taken from Mark 11:1-10.

Did you know that Jesus was troubled? As Jesus was steeling himself for  everything that was to come during Holy Week, he was troubled. But he  didn't let this trouble overwhelm him, instead he turned to God. He  remembered his purpose - us. Because of this, we know it's OK to be  troubled, but it's not OK to worry. God loves us, and walks with us  through our troubles.

What can a snake teach us about suffering and salvation. This is what Jesus talked to a Pharisee named Nicodemus. This is the background of the most famous verse of the Bible (John 3:16​). Sermon is taken from John 3:14​-21.

In our Lenten service today, we see a clear distinction between God's  Law and God's gospel. God's law has the power to change actions, but not  hearts. It's only God's gospel that can change hearts. God's law makes  us aware of our sins, God's gospel makes us aware of God's forgiveness.

The season of Lent is a focus on the sufferings of Jesus.  Jesus suffered on the cross to save us. Today, we also focus on the suffering that Jesus calls for Christians to go through as a result of being a Christian. Hear Pastor Rieke explain what it means to be part of Crosses Incorporated. The sermon message is based on Mark 8:31-38.