A Blessed Marriage

Ephesians 4:2
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love."

The honeymoon doesn't last forever--and none of us are perfect, individually or as a couple. This verse, which of course applies to everyone you encounter, applies to the marriage relationship well.

The assumption here is, we will have to look past someone else's imperfection (because we are all imperfect) and they will have to look past ours. When we choose to do this, and look for the image of God within that other person we honor Him.

Our humility towards others reflect the character of our Savior. The King of the Universe humbled himself in order that we may know the will of the Creator. When we choose to love someone who may be acting 'unloveable', we reflect the character of our Father. He gave up His Son for us. A bunch of sinful, selfish people.

Who better to display these divine traits of humility, gentleness & patience to, than our spouse!

24 Hour Prayer Vigil Guide for Easter

To download and print this guide, click here:
Easter Vigil Prayer Guide pdf
Easter Vigil - 2009

Opening Prayer
>Lord, you have given us a Counselor – the Spirit of truth (John 14:17) and it is written that “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Rom. 8:26). Lord God, let your Spirit guide us now as we enter in to this time of prayer asking all things in the name of your son Jesus according to your holy will (John 14). Thank you for saving us by grace through faith, as a gift to us, not because of our own works (Eph. 2:8-9) and for making a way for us to appear blameless and holy in your sight. Thank you for Jesus.
Please feel free to use this guide-or not; follow the guidance of the Spirit. This guide is merely a tool to help you, if you need it. There are some suggestions for prayers & some scriptures you can read. There are also prayer journals and ideas on the table for you to use. If you are led to pray about just one thing, that is perfect, too.

Preparing Our Hearts and Minds
Praise and Adoration (Read Psalm 103):
Begin your time in prayer with a time of praise and adoration to God for his attributes.
Confession – Agreeing with God on sin:

Read these scriptures and ask God to reveal to you any hidden hurt, bitterness, resentment or sin of any form that stands between you and Him. Confess these to the Lord and ask Him to fully restore you.
Psalm 51:17 (Amplified Version) “My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”
Mark 11: 25, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop-leave it go-in order that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop.”
Reading of God’s word -
Read the following passages at least three times (in different voices if in a group) and notice what word or words stand out to you.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Meditation - Briefly reflect on what word or words stood out to you and why. Pray about what God wants you to grasp about prayer through His word.

Thanking God and (Thanksgiving) & Presenting our Requests to God (Supplication)
For the Easter Services
Offer prayers of Thanksgiving for
...the very First Easter.
...Jesus. And God’s awesome plan.
...the freedom to celebrate.
...Lebanon High School.
...all of our volunteers.
...our church family.
Request that
...everything done and said would be of the God alone.
...Christ’s death, burial and resurrection be ever before us at Easter and always.
Present Requests for
...those who have been invited.
...those who will be visiting for the first time.
...the members of the church.
...the teachers and childcare volunteers.
...the children attending.
...the message and Lee.
...those leading worship.
...a time of celebration.
For our Church
Offer prayers of Thanksgiving for our church family and for those who serve among us humbly through actions and prayer. Present Requests for the Growing Church
May those growing up in the church, grow each day to know You more and delight in your ways.
For our children to grasp how high, how deep and how wide is the love of Jesus (Eph. 3:18)
For our teens to do everything without complaining or arguing, so that they may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. Help them to shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the word of life— 1 Peter 5:5-10.
For our college students and young adults to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will though all spiritual wisdom and understanding and that they may live a life worthy of the Lord to please him in every way (Col. 1:9-10)
Present Requests for Leadership
For our elders that they will be willing shepherds, eager to serve, and an example to the flock – I Peter 5:1-4
For our Bible study leaders and Sunday school teachers to proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. – Col. 1:28
Our volunteers and our ministry team leaders - that “the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Our staff – That they will have “the wisdom that comes from heaven [that] is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” May they be “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” - James 3:17-18
For those who lead by living a Godly example – we thank you so much for leaders such as these in our church family. Please bless them.
Prayers for the new in faith and those who are being called to believe
Lord, for those who are searching for you - may they find you and be found by you. May those new in the faith stand firm. For all of those in our church who haven't yet found a place to learn and grow, a place to serve and use their talents, a place be encouraged by other believers and grow to know you more – we ask that you would lead them and guide them to true community among us.
Prayers for Our Entire Church Body
Prayers for Holy Living - Colossians 3:1-17
Since, then, we at Lebanon Christian Church have been raised with Christ, may we set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. May we set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. For we died, and our lives are now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then may we also appear with him in glory.
May we, at Lebanon Christian Church, put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to our earthly natures: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. We used to walk in these ways, in the lives we once lived. But now we must rid ourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from our lips. May we not lie to each other, since we have taken off our old selves with its practices and have put on the new selves, which are being renewed in knowledge in the image of their Creator. Here may there be no [insiders or outsiders] but may Christ be all, and in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, may we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. May we bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. May we forgive as the Lord forgave us. And over all these virtues may we put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
May we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we were called to peace. And help us to be thankful and to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God. And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Imitating Christ's Humility – Philippians 2:1-11
If we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then may we make [his] joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. God, help us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility may we consider others better than ourselves. May each believer at Lebanon Christian Church look not only to their own interests, but also to the interests of others.
May our attitudes be the same as that of Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfand became obedient to death—even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.
A prayer to remember “the least of these” – from Matthew 25:31-40
Lord, when we are gathered before you and you say “to those on [your] right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'” May we be among those who have been faithful. Give us eyes to see those in need among us and the compassion of Christ to serve. May it me true of us when you say , “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' May we remember that whatever we do for one of the least of these brothers of yours, we are doing for you.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give us, at LCC a spirit of unity among ourselves as we follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 15:5-6
May we at Lebanon Christian Church, individually and as a whole, “consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus [our] Lord, for whose sake” may we be willing to lose all things. May we “consider them rubbish, that [we] may gain Christ and be found in him...”Philippians 3:8-9
Lord, give us the strength to confess to each other and pray for one another that we may be healed. - James 5:16
For our community
Offer prayers Thanksgiving for our community.
Present Requests for
...the spiritually lost in our community.
...us to be the arms and legs as we encounter the hurting and those in physical and emotional need. – Matt. 25:34-40
...all church families in our community to work together to reach the lost for Christ.
...the missions within the community that we support.
For the world
Offer prayers of Thanksgiving for
...the freedom to worship God and speak freely of him where we live.
...being the one true God who created the world and loves all who live in it.
...that He so loved the world that He sent his son. - 1 John 3:16
Present Requests for
...peace on earth
...the members of our armed forces serving in the war against terror.
...those causing terror to come to know our Lord as Savior.
...everyone across the globe to come to know our Lord as Savior and praise His name.
...the persecuted church.
...God to call people, even members of our church family, to preach and teach about Him around the world (“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38)
...the missionaries that we support.
...missionaries around the globe.
THANK YOU for praying with us!
Numbers 6:24-26
24 " ' "The LORD bless youand keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon youand be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward youand give you peace." ' Amen.

Good Friday (Holy Friday)

Jesus' Day

"On Friday, Jesus voluntarily submitted to be nailed to a cross.
The Bible says at noon the skies got dark. There was an earthquake. The temple veil was torn. People suddenly realized that when Jesus cried out, "It is finished," and then died, he was no ordinary man.Jesus was taken from the cross, prepared for burial, and put in a tomb."

- Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Matthew 27:11-61
Mark 15
Luke 22:66-23:56
John 18:28-19:42
Romans 6:1-14

Thought
Good Friday is a day we remember the painful crucifixion of our Savior. It is a day of mourning, a time of remembering that tightens our stomachs. It pains us to remember and recall the details, but it is in remembering those details that we realize we are recipients of the most gracious gift of God.We are forgiven because he was forsaken, as the song says. We are accepted, he was condemned. In the cross, we quickly feel little and unworthy of such a great gift from the awesome and Most High God. We say, "You did this for me? But, why?". We are in disbelief that by one death, death is conquered. Death is conquered! Good Friday is a day of great love and recalling that:

"The cross reveals that Jesus has conquered sin and death and that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ. ... not fear, guilt, shame, self-hatred, or even death can tear us away from the love of God, made visible in Jesus the Lord.Listening to the faint heartbeat of the dying Rabbi is a powerful stimulus to the recovery of passion." - Brennan Manning, Abba's ChildGod is faithful in fulfilling His words. Praise Him.

Reflection
Galatians 2:20-21 says "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

What does it mean to you to be crucified with Christ in your life today? What is he calling you to do as an act of faith? What would your life look like if you surrendered all that you are to the freedom offered through Christ by the grace of God?

Prayer of the Day
Thank you Lord Jesus for bearing our sins and healing us by your wounds, so that we can live freely. Help us to die to our old selves and our sinful desires and to live lives worthy of the calling we have received. (1 Peter 2:24, Eph. 4:1, Romans 6:1-14)

Spend some time at the foot of the cross today.

Maundy Thursday

Jesus' Day
"This day, Jesus took a normal Passover meal and changed it forever. All the arrangements had been made, but then the foot-washer didn't show up! The disciples came to dinner with dusty feet, and stood around asking who messed up the arrangements. It never dawned on them that maybe one of them could humble himself to do that for anybody else.
Jesus came, took off his robe, put a towel over his arm, filled a basin with water, then knelt down and started washing the disciples' feet.

They couldn't believe it! The Son of God, the Savior of the world—

and he had the humility to wash their feet." - Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Matthew 26:17-75
Mark 14:12-72
Luke 22:7-65
John 13:1-18:26

Thoughts
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the day that we remember Jesus having his last meal with his disciples. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (like mandate) and refers to John's account of Jesus giving the disciples a new commandment, a new order.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:34-35Jesus set an example of humility, service and love. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." - John 13:14
He also had the first communion with his disciples during that meal. (Matt. 26:26-29)

Reflection
What would it have been like to be in the room the night that Jesus washed feet and broke bread? Tonight as we sit down to our own Thursday evening meal, let us remember Jesus and tell the stories of his last meal with his disciples.

Prayer of the Day
Pray that God would make you a washer of feet and that our church body would be a people looking to wash each other's feet in service. May we humbly serve each other and those in our community as we follow Christ's example.

Wednesday

Wednesday

"Most scholars believe this was a day of solitude for Jesus. He was doing the most important thing he could—getting alone with God. As he quieted himself, he heard the still small whisper of his Father say, "You're on a mission, and it's going to be difficult, but I'm asking you to endure. I'll be with you." " - Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Psalm 131

As soon as Jesus heard the news [of John the Baptist's beheading], he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns (Matthew 14:13).After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone (Matthew 14:23).Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them (Luke 4:42).

Thought
Jesus always made time to withdraw from people to spend time alone with God. Jesus who was God in flesh and who lived a perfect existence knew that it was important to spend time alone with God. In his last week, when there was so much to be said and done, so much work to do, so much to think about, so much to rest up from or rest up for, a day alone with his Father was top priority.


Reflection
If time alone with the Father was so important to Jesus, how much more important it is for us! Time will not set itself aside for us. No one is going to open our Bibles for us, kick us into our rooms and shut the door. We can claim what is ours through Jesus - access to our loving Father, and we can approach him freely.


Prayer of the Day
Please make time to enjoy spiritual solitude - alone time with God - today. Your prayer may be a prayer of silence or a prayer of pain. It may be a prayer of need or of thanksgiving. You may have a mission ahead of you or a past issue to resolve. Whatever the case, do not delay - seek him and be strengthened by him.

Jesus' Day
"On this day, Jesus did something that shocked people. Known for his love, gentleness, and humility, Jesus came into the temple, saw all the little arcades set up for commercial business, and cleaned house. He overturned the merchants' tables and kicked them out of the temple. People had never seen this side of Jesus before." - Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Matthew 21:12-17
Mark 11:12-19
Luke 19:45-48
Isaiah 56:6-8

Thought
"As [Jesus] taught them, he said, "Is it not written:" 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"One historical commentary notes that money changing in the temple, basically exchanging currencies, was normal, but was only sanctioned strictly for temple-related activities. Clearly, there were activities going on inside the temple that had no place there. The scriptures say that the crowds hung on Jesus' every word, the Truth, which may mean that they knew all along something was out of place.Jesus brought focus into the temple.

Reflection
Jesus has given us his eternal words to hang on forever. When we feel as though something is amiss, do we go with the flow or stop and seek out the truth of God through his holy Word? Are we mindful of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer of the Day
Praise God for giving you his word. Pray that God would incline you to cling to and delight in his Word. Ask that he would strengthen you to keep your temple pure.Consider those things for which you have not sought out guidance in his word; ask God's gracious forgiveness for substituting your own solutions for his truth. Consider whether there is anything going on in relation to your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, that has no place there; ask God's willing forgiveness.Pray for our church to be a people of the Word.

Palm Sunday

Jesus' Day

On Palm Sunday—six days before Jesus' death—people lined the streets, waving palms as he entered Jerusalem. It was the first-century equivalent of our ticker-tape parades for heroes down the streets of New York City.Jesus' popularity was at an all-time high; his teaching had astonishing power. Jesus had changed people's hearts and healed them physically. He'd even recently brought someone back from the dead! By far, Jesus was one of the most popular people in the entire Middle East." - Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Zechariah 9:9-1o
Mark 11:1-11
Matthew 21:1-11
Luke 19:29-44
John 12:12-19
Matthew 16:13-20

Thought
People had all kinds of ideas about the identity of Jesus. Some thought he was Elijah or Jeremiah, still others thought of him as a political figure or a person with mysterious powers. On the day of his triumphal entry, a large crowd covered the ground with garments, grass and branches. Some participated and knew why and some participated and didn't know why. We can imagine that some were trying to place a face with the stories they had heard while some stood back and watched the Christ.Still today people have different ideas about who Jesus was and is. Some think he is distant or demanding while others think he is stiff or dry. Drawing close to Jesus means coming close enough to compare our own ideas of him with God's holy truth. It means that we may have to admit that we don't know him as well as we'd like. If we get close enough, our own limited ideas and notions based on our view will be blown away by the absolute truth of God's amazing plan and unbelievable saving grace. Jesus will always be more wonderful, more capable and more gracious than we can allow ourselves to believe.

Reflection
Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?". What would you like to know about Jesus? How has your image of Jesus changed over the course of your life as a believer? Who do you say Jesus is and what would your life look like if you constantly lived your answer to that question?

Prayer
Ask God to open your eyes to see who Jesus truly is through his word. Ask him to help you to live your answer to "Who do you think I am?" with your whole life.

Easter Season

"Why did Jesus have to die?"

A question asked by many. As Christians, we know that Jesus had to die, as a sacrifice for our sins. He paid the price. But is there more? Jesus conquered death, which makes it possible for us to have eternal life.

Resurrection could not have happened, without the crucifixion.

Likewise, in our own lives-we must choose daily to die to self. When we die to self, we allow Christ to live in us.

"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God."-Romans 6:2-10

Easter Season

Today (Ash Wednesday) marks the beginning of the Lenten season. We can take this opportunity to consider the state of our faith & condition of our hearts as we lead up to the celebration of the death, burial & resurrection of our Savior.

Ashes, in the Bible & in Jewish tradition, have different symbolic meanings.

Three main themes are:

1) Mourning, as seen in the Book of Job. Job had lost nearly every earthly thing-his children, his home, his wealth & his health. His outward expression of loss was to sit among the ashes.

"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes." -Job 2:7-8

As sinners-we are all considered dead.

We are sentenced to eternal separation from God.

2) Humility, as Abraham demonstrated, when pleading with the LORD to spare Soddom & Gomorrah.

"Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"

"If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." Once again he spoke to him,

"What if only forty are found there?"

He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it." -Gen 18:27-29

Apart from the saving grace of God,

and our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior-we are nothing.

3) Purification, as seen in Numbers. The ashes from the burnt offerings were placed in water, which was then sprinkled on the unclean. The purification depended on the 'sacredness' of what had been the offering.

"For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them." -Numbers 19:17

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a sufficent to cover our sins.

It was the perfect & pure sacrifice.

However, we must do our part and confess our sins, repent,

and be obedient to his authority.