Rocky Mount United Methodist Church

We’re almost to the fourth Sunday in Lent. Are you getting prepared for Easter?

Never give up. How many times in your life have you been told that or said that to someone else? Beginning with scripture from Luke 13:1-9, we read a parable in which the landowner is unhappy because a three-year-old fig tree isn’t producing any fruit. The servant begs the owner to give the tree another year and he will take care of it. If it doesn’t produce after the year, it can be cut down. Are you just hanging around, like the fig tree, not producing what you should produce? Is somebody giving up on you because you aren’t doing what you should?

We also heard a story about Winston Churchill and a powerful speech he once gave to a group of college graduates. The message: “Never Give Up.” Instead of the long, detailed speech that was expected, the speech was short, and those hearing the message probably remembered it much better as a result.

We serve a God who has never given up on us, and we should never give up on him. Honor what has been done for you.

After being fed spiritually, we were fed physically. Each Sunday in March, we are hosting Lenten lunches, and we invite you to join us. We also invite you to join us on the radio on WKLF-95.5 FM each Thursday at 7:30 a.m. If you have any questions, please call the church at 688-2204 and leave a message. Have a blessed day!

Cedar Grove Church

Create in me a clean heart, Oh, God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Announcements:

March 31: Easter Drama during the morning service

March 10: Spring forward with Daylight Savings Time

Aug. 18: Homecoming: Guest will be Randy Perry with revival to follow Aug. 19-21.

We had another Holy Spirit-filled shouting time at Cedar Grove today, begining with special singing by Sam Price. I am drinking from my saucer because my cup has overflowed! To God be the glory!

Bro. Jeff Carroll brought the message, “The Passover,” from Exodus 12:1-13 and Mark 14:1-26.

The first Passover in the Old Testament involved Isreal being in bondage under Pharoh, the king of Egypt. God sent Moses to tell Pharoh to let his people go, to which Pharoh replied, “No,” even after suffering several plagues sent by God. God then had Moses tell all of Isreal to get a lamb or goat of the first year and without blemish and sacrafice it on the evening of the 14th day of the month, then take some of the blood and apply it to both door posts, cook with fire, eat quickly and be prepared to leave. God was sending the Angel of Death at midnight to kill the first-born of Egypt, but every door that had the blood applied would be passed over, thus the Passover of the Jews. Pharoh then let God’s people go.

The next Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is from the New Testament and takes place in the house of Simon the Leper. Here, Jesus was anointed with oil before his crucifiction, death and resurrection. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, the disciples went into the city at Jesus’ direction and found a room to in which to eat the Passover meal. Jesus told the disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with me will betray me.” The disciples asked who it would be, and Jesus said, “It is one of the twelve.” Jesus then took some bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body.” Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” When God looks at us he will see that the blood has been applied and he will Passover us, saving us from the wrath of destruction and a devil’s hell.