Preparing to Celebrate

The power of the resurrection. Many church communities began to anticipate the celebration of the resurrection by entering into the season of Lent - a time of reflection and anticipation. A time of looking forward to the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Whether the celebration of Lent is a part of your church's tradition or not, there is something to be said for taking time to prepare for and anticipate the meaning of what Jesus revealed in His death and resurrection.

It is this anticipation that Pastor Pablo invites us to consider and enter into as we move into that time of the year when many turn their thoughts and hearts toward remembering and celebrating God's gift of grace to us. You are invited to reflect on the words of Paul to the right as he reflects on the resurrection, and if you wish, to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps even for the first time. You can access our sermon library by clicking here.

Philippians 3

(NIV)

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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