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13 Sunday Palm Sunday John 12:12-15
Palm Sunday is such a special time at our church. For years now we have made it a huge family outreach day, and follow our regular services with a huge egg hunt and fun time for kids. It all starts inside the building during the family worship service, when kids wave palm branches during worship when we all sing hosanna, glory to God. Seeing kids worship is such a beautiful reminder that a child can lead us into the presence of God, and into a place of worship. It also bring into focus that people can be all about worship one day, and then by the end of the week be ready to say crucify Him, just what happened to Jesus from Jerusalem to Gesthemene. As believers in a world where being a Bible believing, spirit filled Christian is not politically correct, or often even socially acceptable, it is up to us to take a stand and make a stand for what we believe in. We stand for Christ. We stand up love. We stand for the principles of the Bible. We should be known not for what we are against, but what we are for. We are for freedom in Christ. We lift our hands and our palm branches to say that we stand for Jesus. Adults and kids together worshipping as family in church. We worship Him today, and everyday. He is the one we choose to love and serve with all our heart. Today we stand with our church family and declare that Jesus is Lord of all! Hope you can join us for Eggstravaganza.
2 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’[a]
The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

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Fellowshipping with other believers can be a great way to be refreshed. The enemy likes to get us off alone, and tries to convince us that nobody cares about us, or that we aren’t part of the family of God. We know the opposite is true! When we join the family of God, we join a world wide body, where we can fit. In I Corinthians, Paul talks about how we are fitly joined together and that every joint supplies. Just like a physical body, each part is dependent on every other part. Jesus said he was the head, and we are the body. We can’t do without the head for sure, but every part of the body is important too. So if the enemy has been lying to you lately that you really aren’t important, or that nobody needs you, don’t believe it. Your place in the body is where you need to be. It is a perfect fit for you. If you are longing for more fellowship with the body, get involved in your church. The ones who cook together, paint together, serve together get to know each other. If you act as a loner sheep, the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion, will persistently try to snatch you away. If you gather with the other sheep, and have a shepherd watching out for you, he can help ward off the predators, and your fellows sheep with have your back. Sounds like God has our best interest at heart! Let’s say yes to his way, and fellowship with the sheep!
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

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Come home. Calling all prodigals, Jesus is calling you back to the fold. If you are one who needs reconciliation, God is calling your name. His desire is that you run back into His arms. He is waiting, and watching for you to come HOME. It doesn’t matter that lots of water has gone under the bridge, or how long it has been, today is the day of restoration, reconciliation and salvation. Don’t wait another moment. Nothing you can do, can make God love you more, and nothing that you have done already would disqualify you from running back to Jesus. That is what the cross is all about. Jesus paid the penalty for your sin, so that you can live free from guilt, free from shame, and free in Christ. Because of the cross, your sin has been taken care of. Jesus bore all the sins of the world on His own body, so that we can live for Him. Our choice is, do we accept or reject what was accomplished on the cross? Do we say yes to receiving full salvation? Just like the Father in the story of the prodigal in the Bible, God is anxiously waiting your return, and has a robe to place on your back and a ring to put on your finger. He’s ready to throw a party for your return. He is ready and waiting for you! The robe you get to wear is the Robe of Righteousness, which is blemish free, with stains removed, and past forgotten. The ring you wear is one of royalty. You are a part of the family, you get the family name, and your position restored, all because of God’s love. So come on Home. The party is about to start. Say yes to coming to Jesus! And come on back to Jesus and come back to church!
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[h] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[i]
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[j] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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I love talking about the House of God. I have loved church all of my life. When the church door swings open, I swing on in! I would be there all the time if I could! Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. I think I love church so much, because it has all of the elements I think you would find in heaven. It is a place of beauty and order. Being a music lover, I love worship with instruments, with voices in choir, or praise and worship teams, all kinds of music that I’m sure is evident around the throne of God in heaven. I love the reverence you feel in church, because people are getting fed the Word of God which is able to save their souls, it is like a feeding trough for faith. I love people being saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, sharing their faith, growing in God, and making disciples. I love seeing people become fruitful as they learn about taking dominion of the earth, operating under submission to the Father and exercising the authority that Jesus told us to operate in. I love church being a place of encouragement for the body, where people finding solutions and answers to life issues, and learn to have a prosperous soul. I especially love church when joy is abundant, jealousy is non existent, and where people feel like they’ve experienced heaven on earth. Just like a plant that will only flourish when it is planted, so it is with our spiritual life. We grow and flourish in life, when we are planted! I hope you love to put down roots, and are growing lasting fruit, in your life. For me, and I hope for you too, that is what I call heaven on earth!

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What a privilege of “doing life together” as believers. What joy it is to see years of blood, sweat, and tears (!) being manifested in the great house that we get to worship in (Amazing Grace Fellowship). Of course, the body is not the building, it is the people. Over the years, we have seen many grow in their giftings, as they have labored for the kingdom in our church body, and they have produce great results. Some of those whose lives we invested in have moved on to other cities and other churches where they have become fruitful in new soil. Some started the bus ride with us, and are still on the bus!
The ones with longevity are those who have grown deep roots. They have allowed themselves to be planted. They remain fruitful and faithful even as they grow older. (Ps 92) Their commitment to Loving God, Loving People, and Loving Life is obvious in the fruit of their lives. There is a generational mentality that is evident, that not only does today count and the memories of yesterday, but also our many more tomorrows together.

Deuteronomy 6:6-8
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
May we never forget – treasure is found in the family of God. Fellowship and communion are what the world longs for and can never found outside of Christ. As we celebrate Easter, may we never forget what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us. May we never forget the finished work of redemption and the celebration of new life when we look into the tomb and find it empty. He is risen! He’s called us family, so let’s do life together and bring heaven to earth, and see more of heaven manifested in THIS House!

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“The people that God connects us with in His Kingdom are not mere acquaintances…they are family – God’s sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters who just happen to be alongside us in the portion of history that we are walking through together.” Bobby Houston (Heaven is in this House) We get the privilege of “doing life together” with Christ’s body. Amazing!

God has some incredible divine connections for us! Visitors to the church body are not just people who have come to take your seat or your parking place! They can be seen as long lost family God has been waiting to reunite us with! A sermon on Sunday is not just a way for the Pastor to tell everyone what they should do, it is heaven’s nourishment – bread of heaven that is needed for our health and direction. Newborn Christians are not only new converts, but new family members, precious people who we get to help see grow up in the family of God and become His disciples. We are divinely connected with new people in our body, the Word of God, and even new converts within the “House”.

As we do life together, there are some things that are absolutely necessary. Food is necessary for our bodies, and the Word (God’s very own manna from heaven) is necessary for our spirit. To grow strong as a body, we need to eat both ways – the Word of God and natural food. Doing communion with the body of Christ is necessary, and eating natural food is necessary. True fellowship takes place as we eat together, invite each other over, go out to dinner together, eat breakfast together (in our case at the Yaweh Café and Jehovah Java Coffee Bar). Take time and make time to be in the company of other Christians and eat together. Enjoy life together – do fun things, laugh, create memories – live life to the fullest – bring on the party!

Company comes from the Latin word compani, which broken apart mean together – bread. It literally means to break bread together. It has wonderful natural and spiritual ramifications and we should not neglect the company of our brothers and sisters. That’s how we “do life together”, and experience more of Heaven in This House!
Acts 2:46-47
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[a] daily those who were being saved.

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Intro: This week we are continuting to look toward the Easter. Our focus is going to be about how awesome it is to be a part of God’s family and God’s house, and kingdom connections! God to us, us to others and us to the lost. Hello, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day! Because of Jesus, we can now have a relationship with God, and then have authentic dynamic relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the family of God in our local churches. What a great mission statement this would be for each Bible believing church…..to reach and influence the world by building a home for God’s family that changes mindsets and empowers people to lead and impact others for the cause of Christ in every sphere of their life. Let’s do it! Here is your dailyeword

In Col 4:5-6, Paul shares four ways we can become intentional about introducing others to Jesus. 1) Be wise in how you act. Actions really do speak louder than words. I know all of you are polite, patient, optimistic and encouraging all the time – it is just others we know who are judgmental, frustrated, arrogant, irritated and rude. ☺ 2) Make the most of every opportunity – each day you have opportunities for divine appointments, make yourself available to God daily. 3) Make our words kind and pleasant. People are attracted to love, and love is like honey – besides attracting things, it makes things sticky. We want those who come to Christ to stick. We want lasting fruit, the kind that remains. 4) Give a good answer. People are looking for answers, and we may not know them all, but we have access to the One who does. As we share Christ we can do it in a manner that propels them toward Christ, instead of repels them.
When it comes to sharing the gospel, there is no more powerful tool than hospitality. From the Old Testament example of Abraham welcoming the 3 holy visitors, to Paul’s admonition in the New Testament, we are commanded to be hospitable. What comes naturally to some, is work for many, but should be a natural part of our lives as believers. Entertaining is different from hospitality. We are not inviting people over to impress them, or to make them feel obligated to reciprocate, but merely to show the love of God. It is a great way to make friendships and show acceptance to those who don’t know Christ yet. We are on this earth representing Jesus, and hospitality is a great way to get to know people, and to have them in a home filled with peace, so that the love of God in us, can draw them to the feet of Jesus.

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In Matthew 10:7-8, Jesus is speaking and He tells us to “go preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely you have received, freely give.” The key that makes living fruitfully natural is by receiving fully, so we can give fully. We have received so much, that living out the Fruit of the Spirit is the overflow of what we have received. We have opened our hands to receive, and naturally we open our hands to give. We are connected to the power source and through Him and in Him we have an abundant supply. As vessels He flows through, we receive it first and then we give it away. It’s easy to love fully, when we know we are fully loved!

Because there are so many factors in our life that pull on us, we can feel like we are giving way more than we receive. That’s where that exhausted and drained feeling comes from. But when we realize that it isn’t by our power, or our own strength that we operate in, we can yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him breathe fresh life into us to freely receive again, so we can freely give again. To keep all the candles in our lives lit, we need a constant supply of oil. That’s where the Spirit of God comes in!

When the oil of the Spirit of God reaches our core,
Our light will shine brighter than ever before.
As we have received, let us freely give
The fruitful life we were destined to live
The gifts and the fruit, are for others to taste
They are heaven’s extension reaching the right place
To meet a need or desire, to bring healing or cure
His power flows through you bringing blessings so pure
The seed has been sown, the plant grows up tall
When we abound fruitfully, we won’t ever fall (II Peter 1:10)

I’m encouraging you today to live full and give freely.

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Good God Ps 107
Did you know that the word “good” comes from the root word which literally means “to be like God”? That would imply that when godliness increases, so does goodness! Maybe you’ve heard this before, if you take God out of the word good, all you get is a big fat zero. Or perhaps you’ve heard this other saying about God’s goodness, that good is just God elongated! Try to imagine your life with God’s goodness flowing through you unhindered. Out of every pore of your life, goodness oozes out. That may be a funny word picture, but I think that is how we should begin picturing fruitfulness. Producing fruit should not be a strain. It should come very naturally, and just like God who is totally good, we can begin to completely demonstrate God’s goodness in us. Psalms 107 is a classic portrayal of God’s goodness. Here are some of the things that Psalms 107 says about God’s goodness. He is GOOD, He delivers us, He does wonderful deeds, He satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry with GOOD things. He broke away chains, He sent forth His Word and healed them, He rescued them, He stilled their storms, He guided them, and listen to this, He sowed fields and planted vineyards, that yielded a fruitful harvest! God’s goodness is amazing. He is fruitful in every way. Let’s make it our goal to be just like Him.

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We’ve made it to the last fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. This may be the hardest one too! If we get the first one (love) and the last one (self-control) in order, the rest fall into place pretty naturally. Another word for self-control is temperance, and I think we all could agree that being in control of our “temper” is definitely part of temperance. Being temperate means saying no to any excess, in any realm….. from appetite, to physical urges, to passions and desires. To be temperate means to be “in power or in control, or to have power over one’s self.”

When we are in adverse situations, Jesus admonishes us to maintain control and choose how we respond. That takes self-control! When we choose to bless instead of curse, that is self-control. When we choose broccoli over Snickers….that is self-control! When we are wronged and we choose to respond in love, that is self-control!

Without self-control, we are like a city with a broken down wall. Proverbs 25:28 says exactly that. The cities of old were walled for protection. Self-control is like our wall of protection! It fortifies all that is within. Self-control is operating within the boundaries of victory. Any “out of control” area is an open invitation to the enemy. Let’s lock the enemy out of our lives, by operating always “in power” over ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit within.

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