FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
The Shared Ministry is actively journeying through Lent. This forty-day journey will culminate with Easter on April 20.
The Gethsemane Wednesday night Lenten Seminar this year had the theme of The Hard Sayings of Jesus. There was good small group and large group discussion. Each Seminar provided two "hard sayings" of Jesus which were not only very interesting, but challenged and bolstered our faith. The “hard sayings,” of course, are the Word of God. How do we know the Word of God is true? Besides the external witness of the Bible, there is also the internal witness. It is easier to understand the external witness: this includes scientific, historical, and written contextual evidence. But what about an internal witness? What could this mean? The internal witness comes through the Holy Spirit. God’s Word is trustworthy and truthful because the Holy Spirit bears witness within our spirits. Now, this may seem to be very subjective, so how can we know it to be true? Not only do we have the original Canonical objectivity of the witness of the Holy Spirit, but our own inner witness should also correspond to others’ inner witness. In other words, when you get a bunch of folks together who are filled with the Holy Spirit, then there is much agreement about the Word of God from their contemporary inner witness. The Holy Spirit is speaking to each and all of us at the same time. Persuasion comes as sinners are persuaded to receive God’s Word as the Holy Spirit changes their hearts and assures them that they can trust and rely on what Scripture says.
There will be a Maundy Thursday/Tennebrae worship service on April 17 at 7:00 p.m. Easter services are scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The Easter
See you all in Worship during this Meaningful season. Blessings to each and every one of you during this Blessed season.
With Hope and Confidence in Christ,
Pastor Jerri ╬
