Rev. Max Brennan is pastor of
St. Matthew United Methodist Church
2414 Hitson Lane -- Ft. Worth 76112 -- 817-451-6980
Meadowbrook east, 1 short block east of the blinking red light
at Sandy Lane turn right to 2414 Hitson,
WORSHIP TIMES -- Sunday 11:00 a.m. -- Saturday 6:00 p.m.
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Almost there.
Easter! Glory and halleluia -- it's time to come up shoutin'!
But we've got Good Friday first. What are you doing tomorrow night? Got plans? Attend a Good Friday service somewhere. This may be the most important service of the church year.
For our service, I have memorized the entire Crucifixion account from Luke's Gospel. This lets me tell the story -- right out of the Bible. The choir sings. The sanctuary moves into darkness as that moment approaches when, at "the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land." The greatest story ever told becomes a living experience in this service. Standing in the shadow of the Cross on this evening prepares my heart for Easter. (7:00 p.m.)
I had a preacher tell me, "I don't look forward to Easter. It's the same scripture every year. I've run out of things to say." What! Is he nuts?!!! Tell people what happened and make 'em believe it! Because it's true. And I mean "true" historically and in every other way. Jesus was up and out of there, and the tomb was empty.
Let me tell you something strange. The great theologian Paul Tillich wrote his Systematic Theology to stand the test of time -- even the eventuality that it might one day he proven that Jesus did not exist as an historical figure. That's how uncertain some scholars have been about Jesus. I am sometimes astounded by scholarly ignorance in great minds. There can be such lack of insight into the nature of the Biblical material -- and so little understanding of how religious experience works. Tillich hedged his bets in the wrong direction. Things have moved the other way. He should have left room for the possibility that the Resurrection would one day be historically and scientifically proven. Faith comes through the Holy Spirit -- but that Spirit gives witness to what is genuine. The evidence is there.
God doesn't ask for blind faith. God shows us the truth -- and shows it in a way that leads us to conviction. On Easter Sunday I know I am talking about the real thing. Jesus is Lord -- and "the Lord is risen!" Celebrate this reality in some church this Sunday. |
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This file last modified October 8, 2000
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