Wilderness Wanderings

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is John 20:1-23. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. What do you want people to be like? Do you want to be the same kind of person?
2. What "influencers" have shaped your mind? What experiences have shaped you?
3. Which "influencers" transform us?
4. How does growing a seed compare to being transformed?

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is John 20:1-23.

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is John 19:28-37.

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 23:44-49. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. What does darkness mean to you?
2. What does darkness represent in the Bible? Which ones resonate with you the most? Do any of them frighten you? Spend some time this week imagining what the folks about the cross experienced in that darkness?
3. What does Jesus mean when he says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit?" How are we encouraged by this?
4. Also, spend time this week mediating on benefits of Christ's death reflected on in Romans 8. Memorize the songs of Psalm Sunday and sing/speak them regularly.

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is John 19:28-37. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. Why is valuable that Jesus is physically thirsty?
2. How does John introduce Jesus' thirst? What does this say about Jesus? What does it say about his death on the cross?
3. Jesus was thirsty for water. But he was thirsty for more too. What was it? Do you believe this about God? How does it change the way you live?

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Mark 15:33-41. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

DIVE IN QUESTIONS?

1. What do you see when you look at church buildings or cathedrals? What two things are often represented by cathedral architecture?
2. "Why do they focus on the awful way he died?" How would you have answered this question before today's sermon?
3. What have you done to stop sinning? How do you think about sin? How problematic is it? Have you ever considered yourself cursed?
4. Jesus took our curse upon himself. What does the cross make you think about? It is an awful way to die; yet does it not lead us to rejoice?
5. What does it mean that the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom?

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 23:32-43. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. In this word from the cross, was Jesus just being a good son, or did he intend something more?
2. Have you ever considered Jesus strange comments on the family?
3. What kinds of things unite the congregation you are part of, whether Immanuel or another? Identify some things that draw our attention away from realizing our unity in Jesus?
4. How can you live into the unity of the church this week? How will you be 'the Lord's servant'?
5. Do you believe that by his death on the cross Jesus dethrones the proud? Can your actions be guide by the hope that in the end all people will confess Jesus is Lord (cf. Phil. 2:11)?

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 23:32-43. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. What does Paradise mean to you? How did the sermon invite us to re-imagine it?
2. Consider what ways you have acted like the folks around the cross. How do you see such actions played out in society today?
3. What is indicated by the word 'Today' as used in by Jesus on the cross? What happens when Jesus' touches us?
4. How can the 'Today' of the kingdom happen among us?

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 23:26-34. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. Where do we pick of the story of Jesus on the cross? What might it mean that those at the cross 'did not know what they were doing'?
2. Why is it so astonishing that Jesus comes to us with forgiveness? How do we usually approach people who have wronged us? Evaluate your response to someone who has done you wrong.
3. What do thing think it means to forgive? Have you learned to practice it? What might be your next step?
4. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. How can forgiveness open the door to reconciliation?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Doxology is a fitting place to end this season of Wilderness Wanderings. This will be the last of the devotions for a while—and certainly the last of mine (Pastor Anthony). Perhaps Wilderness Wanderings will continue in time, but before turning to the season of Lent tomorrow, we simply give thanks to God for this good season of a unique ministry of daily devotions.

Doxology is a word that means "word of glory," and in our usage as Christians, generally means we are giving those words of glory to God. In the letter of Ephesians, this doxology circles us back to the beginning of the letter. But doxologies are scattered liberally throughout the New Testament.

The word glory is scattered throughout the scriptures even more abundantly. To name a few, we hear that God is a God of glory (Ephesians 1:17), his glory reveals who he is (John 1:14), God gives glory to Christ (1 Peter 1:21) and his people (Romans 2:10); Christians are transformed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18); we are to do everything for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) and give glory back to God (Ephesians 1:6). The new creation will reveal even more glory (Romans 8:18). "Glory" is one of those words that encompasses the whole of Christianity. No doubt this is why the first question and answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism says "man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

Today is the "fat Tuesday" before Lent—a day of feasting before the fasting that has more or less turned in popular culture to a day of glorifying ourselves and our worst desires. Today is also the day of tariffs (or at least that's still how the news reads now)—a day when our attention is sucked up into politics and business as we struggle to understand just why exactly friendly neighbours need to be punching one another. Today is also the final Wilderness Wanderings for a time—a marking of an ending of a season of ministry.

But here's the thing: no matter the day, no matter the news, no matter the grief, introspection, or self-glorification—each and every day is a day for doxology. Why? Because everything that Paul has written in the first three chapters remains true. Despite American tariffs, is it still true that Christ has ultimately destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between peoples through his cross in his church? Yes. Despite our sorrows in parting, has God still blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ? Yes. Despite any self-glorification, is it still true that the most important thing about us is that we belong to God, having been created and redeemed to the praise not of our, but of his glory? Yes.

The fact of Christ Jesus and his church, carrying on down through all the generations faithful and sure no matter what personal or global events raged—this fact is evidence enough of the power of God our Father, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

Join me then today—and every day—in giving glory to God. In the good times and the bad, in plenty or in want, in life and in death—may God be glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations. Forever and ever. Amen.

For the last time, go now with his blessing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.