Midweek Moment - March 7, 2010

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Midweek Moment

March 7, 2010
God's Power to Deliver: The Cross
Pastor R. Greene
Alec Hail

The Centrality of the Cross (I Corinthians 2:2)

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
• Paul resolved to know nothing except "Jesus Christ and him crucified".

• Paul was resolved to know Jesus Christ crushed, scorned, rejected and killed.

The Message of the Cross (I Corinthians 1:18)
• The message of the cross is foolishness to those who don't believe but to the believer it is "the power of God".
• The message of the Cross is one of POWER to set us free from the bondage of sin.
• God's grace in becoming human makes no sense apart from the message of the cross.
• Christ's humility makes no human sense.
• Christ's love makes no human sense.
• Christ's willingness to suffer on the cross makes no human sense.

Changed Lives at the Cross (I Corinthians 6:9-11)
• The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• BUT YOU were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God."
• They were CHANGED by the Cross.
• They were justified, they have a new standing with God.
• They went from selfish to unselfish; prideful to humility.
• No person has sinned so badly that they are beyond the reach of the Cross.

Alec Hail: Col 3: 12-17
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Motivations of the Cross (II Corinthians 5:16 - 19)
• From the old to new…a NEW creature!
• From enemies to friends.
• From estranged to reconciled.
• He has given us a ministry of reconciliation (v. 18).
• We bright the message of the power of the cross to change lives as His ambassadors.

Do you want to be reconciled back to God?
Do you want to know the power of the cross in your life?
Do you want to carry this message of reconciliation to the world?