Archive for March 30th, 2010

March 30th, 2010

Easter Week Announcements

by Pastor Bob

Thursday, April 1 — Maundy Thursday

Our church celebrates Communion and Footwashing to commemorate the Lord’s Supper and the Mandate (hence “Maundy”) that He gave on that night when He washed the disciples’ feet:  “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”  “If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet.”  While we uphold a tradition that honors this command with a literal foot-washing ceremony (because on that same occasion he said, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them,”) we also understand that foot-washing is symbolic of the life of service to others that is the calling of every Christian.  And truly, this is the path to happiness.

Friday, April 2 — Good Friday

While we have no special services planned in Marbury this year for Good Friday, we are pleased to join in with a sister congregation.  Pastor Bob will be present with others at the Temple Hills Church of God, 4814 St. Barnabas Rd., Temple Hills, MD 20748 to participate in a service commemorating the “Seven Last Words of Christ.”  The seven last words, or sayings, spoken by Christ from the Cross will be remembered with brief comments by a series of preachers beginning at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Sunday, April 4 — Easter

7 a.m. Community Sunrise service at  the Marbury Church of God.  It is a joy for us each year to join with our neighbors in celebration as the Marbury Baptist Church and the Marbury Church of God come together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. A time of fellowship with continental breakfast will follow this early service.

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March 30th, 2010

The Price

by Pastor Bob

Notes for message preached on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Marbury Church of God.

The Price

Isaiah 50:4-9a
50:4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens– wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

50:5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.

50:6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

50:7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

50:8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

50:9a It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

The Ministry of the Messiah

By all accounts this is a messianic text, allowing us, through the inspired prophet, to gain a glimpse into the mind of Christ.  This we must do, because we are admonished: “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” With what attitude did Jesus approach his ministry?
Isaiah 50:4-5:

Compare Luke 4:17-19 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me….

“the tongue of a teacher,” the tongue of one who is taught”…. the language here suggests that one who learns from God will be able to teach, to “sustain the weary with a word,” because he is also one who is able to learn continually, “morning by morning.  The best teacher is one who constantly learns, and the prophet here shows us that Jesus is that kind of teacher, as each of us is called to be.

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