OPEN: DISSAPPOINTMENT – GAS STATION
https://www.facebook.com/deharth/posts/10111028504121257

https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/tennessee-gas-station-owner-undercharges-customers-several-hours/ELEUDSFEOVHSJLN4FA577UTT7M/

WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, a people called out to show God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family. We’re in our 3^rd week of Terrific Trios, where we take a look a three instances where two others were with Jesus in a meaningful way, before, during, and after the death, burial, and resurrection. We’ve taken an in depth look at hope through Jesus’ meeting with Moses & Elijah in the transfiguration.  We’ve been blessed with compassionate forgiveness as we looked at the two thieves on the cross on either side of Jesus.  Now we dive into deep disappointment with some disciples. 

“Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” Luke 24:19-21

“some (of the) women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that (Jesus) was alive.” Luke 24:22-23

https://www.survivopedia.com/the-newly-updated-rule-of-threes/

“And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE.” Romans 15:4

Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to the dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

I Corinthians 15:13-14 & 20  “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

“… they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” Luke 24:28-31a

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: Nothing is free in this world.  That’s true.  Everything is paid for by someone.

No one had told him in the last 5 hours… Moreover, a guy in line behind me actually got mad at me. Although another lady was really sweet. … I insisted I pay the difference because he had already taken such a beating this morning.

What I find most frustrating about this is that this man, who came to a country to start a life, where they don’t speak his native language, with the guts to own a small business would get screwed over by people for half of day… There’s no telling how much money he lost today. He was on the verge of tears.

I get it, times are tough and gas is expensive, but NOTHING in this world is free. Someone is ultimately always footing the bill. How many people this morning thought, it’s my lucky day, while this man was getting taken to the cleaners.

It’s not just in this instance, though. Everything gets paid for by someone.

https://www.facebook.com/deharth

Nothing is FREE!

But we have a Redeemer who paid for our hope!

 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, he must DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

ILLUS: “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills.  And in the lonely night of earth’s winter, eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.” – German philosopher (Schopenhauer) 

Galatians 5:15 Paul warned them “if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” And in 5:26 Paul writes: “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

“As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

The point is: You and share an identity with others, especially the Household of faith.  That identity is to be a servant TO OTHERS.  WE vs. ME.

 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   Matthew 20:25-28

I John 3:16-19 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

“…you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 16:15 KJV

“All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”   Acts 9:39

Acts 9:40-42 “…he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  – Galatians 6:2

Before he was president of the United States, John F. Kennedy served in the Navy in World War II, where his brave actions led to injury and he was awarded the Purple Heart. | Photo credit John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Photograph by Frank Turgeon Jr.

In August 1943, Lt. Kennedy and his crew were ordered into combat near the Solomon Islands and, one night, their boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer and cut in half. As the pieces of the boat began to sink, several men were killed, and others were flung overboard into a sea of burning oil. Kennedy dove in after them, rescuing three men. For 12 hours, Kennedy and the remaining surviving crew members clung to the ruined hull of their boat in the water, hoping to be rescued. During these perilous hours, Kennedy famously asked his men to vote on what they would rather do – fight on or surrender to the Japanese.

“There’s nothing in the book about a situation like this,” Kennedy reportedly said. “A lot of you men have families and some of you have children. What do you want to do? I have nothing to lose.”

The crew voted to press on and started to swim to shore. Kennedy refused to let his back injury from the collision stop him from towing a badly burned crew member to safety. He placed the man in a life jacket and then swam with the life jacket strap clenched between his teeth, dragging his crew member behind him for three miles. They eventually reached a nearby island, bringing the man – and leading the rest of his crew – safely to shore, where they were later rescued.

Kennedy was awarded the Purple Heart, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, for his incredibly brave actions, with no thought to his personal safety.

Invitation:
1. Blessed be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

OPEN: Harry Truman

https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2020/05/harry-r-truman-still-believed-in-love-as-mount-st-helens-eruption-loomed-refused-to-leave-the-mountain-that-gave-him-everything.html

WELCOME: TO TRUE IDENTITY #5:

UKRAINIAN OPINION:  Opinion: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a war between tyranny and freedom. War rages in Ukraine, but it’s not merely a war of Russian forces against Ukrainians. It’s a war of two competing visions — fundamentally different concepts of what makes a nation great. One is a vision of national greatness defined by a free and peaceful society in which individual citizens can build their lives. The other is a vision of national greatness based on power and the ability to instill fear.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2022/03/17/russia-attack-ukraine-war-between-tyranny-freedom-vision/7053461001/?gnt-cfr=1

1943 Dietrich Bonhoeffer  “It was the teaching of cheap grace. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance; baptism without church discipline; communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”  – Cheap Grace is described in “The Cost of Discipleship”
https://www.gotquestions.org/cheap-grace.html

        Galatians 5:13  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do NOT use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these…I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Acts 2:38 tells us when we “repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin” you receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” “Grace is NOT a license to sin; grace is the power of God to overcome sin.” (Can’t find the origin of this quote.)

Grace is the free opportunity to fight for God, for people, with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. – Anonymous