Lenten Schedule – Starting Feb. 18

The Lenten Season begins early this year, with Ash Wednesday on February 18, and Easter on April 5.

The Lenten messages will be Jesus’ Parables about the “Kingdom of Heaven (of God)” from the Gospel of Matthew. These and similar Parables are also found in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.

Jesus said “The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to …” and “The Kingdom of Heaven is like …” in order to teach us about God’s Kingdom – how it grows and spreads, how it is found, how it is received, and how God determines who will enter it and who won’t.

Note: We have a fellowship meal at 5:50 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please sign up for the meal in advance at the Sanctuary entrance. At this time we are looking for individuals or groups to pick a Wednesday Lenten Dinner, so the same person or group won’t be required to do them all. Then at 6:30 p.m. go upstairs to the Sanctuary for Worship.

The Lenten schedule is listed below. Note:

Date Bible Verse Parable Meal By

Feb.  18  Matthew 13:01-09  Sower & Seed Council – Spaghetti Dinner

Feb.  25  Matthew 13:10-17  He Who Has an Ear Z-Team – Taco Night

March  4  Matthew 13:44-46  Treasure & Pearl Pot Bless

March 11  Matthew 13:31-33  Mustard Seed Pot Bless

March 18  Matthew 20:01-16  Vineyard Laborers Pot Bless

March 25  Matthew 13:47-50  Net Pot Bless

April  1  Matthew 18:23-25  Settling Accounts Pot Bless

April  2  Matthew 22:01-04  Marriage Feast Sisters-in-Faith – Soup & Salad

There will be more details about the Confirmation schedule, Good Friday Community Cross Walk, and Easter plans in the March Newsletter.

So come and join us, and invite your family and friends, to hear from Jesus about “The Kingdom of Heaven.” Which He has opened to all who follow Him.

“GOD So Loved” by We The Kingdom (2020)

Come all you weary, come all you thirsty

Come to the well that never runs dry

Drink of the Water, come and thirst no more

Come all you sinners, come find His mercy

Come to the table, He will satisfy

Taste of His goodness, find what you're looking for

Refrain 1:

For God so loved the world that He gave us

His one and only Son to save us

Whoever believes in Him will live forever

Refrain 2:

Bring all your failures, bring your addictions

Come lay them down at the foot of the cross

Jesus is waiting there with open arms

Can you see His open arms? Here we go

Refrain 1

Refrain 3:

The power of hell forever defeated

Now it is well, I’m walking in freedom

For God so loved, God so loved the world

Refrain 4:

Praise God, praise God

From whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, praise Him

For the wonders of His love

Refrain 4

His amazing love

For God so loved the world that He gave us

His one and only Son to save

Refrain 1

Refrain 3

Refrain 2

The following is taken from:

https://www.thebereantest.com/we-the-kingdom-god-so-loved

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song invites everyone to bring their worries, shame, and heavy loads to the feet of Jesus. Through Christ, we will experience living water that will never run dry, forgiveness for lawbreaking, and blessing.  We praise God for His sacrificial love, attaining eternal life.

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All the lyrics of this song are Scriptural. Click on the weblink above to see the full scriptural connection.

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely believe that they are called to action, namely, to bring their hurts and hang-ups to Jesus  They should easily conclude it’s Christian based on the John 3:16 quote and explicit usage of the word “Jesus”, combined with everyday language to ease examination. Even the word “sinners” is explained later in the song, as failures and addictions.

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that this song pleads with its hearers to follow Jesus.

Closing Comments

We The Kingdom’s “God So Loved” is a great song. It is evangelistic, compelling us to surrender our problems to Christ. His love and compassion draw us near to Him, bringing Him glory. Those outside Christianity should easily interpret similarly.

This song is perfect for an altar call, especially in seeker-sensitive churches. Consider adding it to your worship set.