Matthew 5.43-48 (NLT)
⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Leviticus 19.18 (NLT)
¹⁸ “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

1 John 4.8 (NLT)
⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

TODAY’S BIG IDEA

Loving your Enemies is impossible without being transformed by Love yourself.

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• Boxed super pasteurized milk (not powdered milk)
• Canned meats of all types (tuna, beef, chicken or ham)
• Cereal and pop tarts
• Canned fruit
• Peanut Butter and Jelly (no glass jars)
• clean 5 gallon bucket with the cleaning supplies
• blankets
• tarps
• tents

There are 2 ways you can drop off these goods:
1. Bring any of these items by our office of operations (21 Washington Street, Monroe) during regular hours (M-Th: 9am-5pm; F: 10-2pm)

2. Bring them to the lobby of the RRCA next Sunday.

***PLEASE NO WATER, GLASS ITEMS OR CLOTHING***

Mark 11.9 NKJV
Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”

Matthew 5.9 NKJV
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5.10 NKJV
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Today’s Big Idea

The procession of Jesus on Palm Sunday shows us that life UPSIDE-DOWN is really RIGHT-SIDE-UP

There were two processions that happened on Palm Sunday. Who led them? Describe each one.

Jesus and Pilate had completely different ways of making peace. What kind of peacemaker have you been?

What do you think it means that following Jesus’ procession invited persecution? How should you respond (Matthew 5.12)?

Next Steps:

• Good Friday Service: Join us this Friday at 6.00pm as we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and prepare for Easter.
• Easter Invite Cards: Help others experience life as Jesus intended. Invite your family and friends to one of our 3 Easter Services. Invite cards are in the lobby.
• Remember: Our 10.45am Easter Service will be packed. If you’re a regular attender, arrive early or attend our 9am or 12.30pm service.

The daily Lent readings will still post regularly and comments are still open.

Next time I post, I’ll be a little more tan and a lot more relaxed.

Grace & Peace

I was thinking some “what if” thoughts the other day…

• WHAT IF the early church had decided to simply study what Jesus said but not apply it?
• WHAT IF the early church had decided their primary responsibility was to be political, thus organizing protests against the Roman government for occupying their land?
• WHAT IF the early church had decided to yell and scream at the Romans for acting like Romans?
• WHAT IF the early church had decided their primary call was to save the environment rather than the ones living in it?
• WHAT IF the early church had substituted their personal preferences in place of the words of Jesus?
• WHAT IF the early church had been more obsessed with Robert’s Rules of Order rather than the Scriptures?
• WHAT IF the early church had been focused on the cross on the wall rather than the cross Jesus called them to carry?
• WHAT IF the early church had instructed the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 that He was a little out of hand…and that his movement hadn’t been voted on and approved by the deacons.
• WHAT IF the early church had been full of people who drove their “luxury camels” to church…but became angry when someone mentioned the offering?
• WHAT IF the early church had the attitude of, “we love a small crowd…so don’t tell anyone about Jesus coming back to life.  I know He commanded us to tell…but let’s keep it a secret?”
• WHAT IF the early church had been more passionate about their comfort than conforming to who Christ called them to be?
• WHAT IF the early church had spent their time attacking the church planting movement than began in Acts 8 and continued throughout the NT?
• WHAT IF the early church had been full of people who had an attitude and an opinion…but weren’t actually willing to do anything to reach people far from God?
• WHAT IF the early church had required only “religious professionals” to be in ministry?

WHAT IF…WOW…so glad the early church listened to Jesus and did what HE said…or else we would have been in a lot of trouble!

Ever since we brought Landon home from the hospital our town house has shrunk considerably.  In one of those “only God” sequence of events we were able to get a great house in a great location all with more space and a fenced in yard for Addison who wakes up everyday saying “outside”.

So today, with the help of some friends, we move. We have loved our town house- it fit our needs perfectly for the past 2 years and was technically where we started Elevate Church. We ‘re ready for the next chapter of what God has in store for us at the new place. Here’s some quotes on homes:

I always thought a yard was three feet, then I started mowing the lawn.  ~C.E. Cowman

The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it.  ~Author Unknown

The universe is merely a fleeting idea in God’s mind – a pretty uncomfortable thought, particularly if you’ve just made a down payment on a house.  ~Woody Allen

See you on…