Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
As a preacher, you hope to find all your illustrations BEFORE you preach the sermon, but sometimes you don’t find them until just after. This happened to me recently. While doing research for this week’s message, I came across a story that would have tied well to last week’s message titled “A Different Kind of King.” I share it with you now in hopes that you’ll be inspired by it. You can find the story at the end of this email.
In worship this Sunday, we’ll continue our series on the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life. The sermon I plan to preach will focus on the suffering – physical and emotional – Jesus endured and how this suffering not only demonstrates God’s love but inspires great love in us. It’ll be great to see you for worship either in person or online. I hope you’ll make plans to join us (and invite somebody to come with you!).
As I close this note, let me remind you of two upcoming events.
First, our United Women in Faith are hosting a Soul Care Retreat this coming Saturday (March 25). The retreat will take place from 10am-1pm in the Fellowship Hall. At the retreat, you’ll enjoy yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, and fellowship. All women are invited!
Second, our children’s ministry is presenting a church-wide musical on April 2 (Palm Sunday) that you don’t want to miss. The musical will take place at 12:30pm in the sanctuary (just after the 11am service) and offer an inspiring and hope-filled message about God’s grace. Be sure to attend!
Enjoy the rest of your week, and I’ll see you soon!
Blessings,
Chris
Philip Ryken in his sermon “Long Live the King" writes: “Most kingdoms do anything they can to protect their king. This is the unspoken premise of the game of chess, for example. When the king falls, the kingdom is lost. Therefore, the king must be protected at all costs. Another notable example comes from the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill desperately wanted to join the expeditionary forces and watch the invasion from the bridge of a battleship in the English Channel. U.S. General Dwight David Eisenhower was desperate to stop him, for fear that the Prime Minister might be killed in battle. When it became apparent that Churchill would not be dissuaded, Eisenhower appealed to a higher authority: King George VI. The king went and told Churchill that if it was the Prime Minister's duty to witness the invasion, he could only conclude that it was also his own duty as king to join him on the battleship. At this point Churchill reluctantly agreed to back down, for he knew that he could never expose the King of England to such danger.”
King Jesus did exactly the opposite, didn’t he? As we talked on Sunday, he voluntarily surrendered his body on the cross so that we – His people – might be forgiven and set free. What kind of king is this? He’s a different kind of king, and the only king worth worshipping. Amen.