Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church

Can Jesus relate to our pain when our dreams crash, our loved ones desert us, when all seems lost? Consider the depth of Jesus' pain when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This fourth word from the cross gives us a path to follow in our days of desperation … and before …

As Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out to the Father. Like us, he was not abandoned, but he felt that he was. How do we know that this is true? The psalm Jesus quoted gives us an answer.

Ever feel like God is far away? "Sure, he cares about me, but honestly, he has a lot on his mind. He probably doesn't get around to thinking about me very often." You need to hear Jesus' third word from the cross. You might be surprised as you learn who's on his mind! Pause, come close and lean in to hear the last words of the One who cares so much he'd give his life for us.

Today? Really? Is it possible to be that sure of my eternal destiny? Jesus' word to the criminal on a cross beside him seems to indicate that it is. If that's true, it's really Good News! Lean in and listen to this last word of Jesus, "… today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

“No, I can’t forgive him!” … “No! She hurt me too deeply!” Imagine Jesus saying that about those who beat Him, tormented Him, crucified Him. That’s what we can’t do: imagine Him not forgiving people, even those who don’t ask to be forgiven. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” He not only sets the example, He gives us a path to follow that we might forgive others. It’s not easy, but it’s the way He did it!

“Going Forward” means we need to go back first … go back to the stumbles and hurts and wounds … We can’t ignore them any more than the Church at Philippi could ignore the conflict between two of their faithful servants. Conflict is to be expected, but churches that handle conflict well are too often the exception, not the norm. The Apostle Paul gives us a way forward and Pastor Peter is asking us to take three steps together as we move into His future.

This sermon begins our Lenten sermon series on the seven last words of Christ. When Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,” and forgave his enemies from the cross, we are called to forgive those who have hurt us.

Comparison is something that a lot, if not MOST, of us struggle with in some way, shape or form. We’re not living lives as FULL and FULFILLING as we could be when we’re caught in the trap of comparing ourselves with others. The truth is, our ONLY standard of comparison that matters is Jesus . . . he is the ONLY one we should strive to be like . . . and, according to scripture, he is the secret to our contentment.

Pastor Anne shares her personal story and a turning point in her journey of faith.

Jesus called the disciples to the adventure of a lifetime. He does the same for us. Are we willing to journey with him?

“Abundance!” What starts out with such freedom can become a task to finish, chores to complete, an exhausting life of duty. That’s what happened to me as my new life in Christ became a heavy load to carry. Somewhere in the desire to please my Savior and serve Him well, I forgot the real Jesus! He became the demanding taskmaster in my mind, not the liberating Savior. The return to abundant living came slowly, but its return was certain. His promise in John 10:10 is real and it’s for all who trust in Him!

Jesus promised “New Life!” But how do we get it? Many of us go to church, read our Bibles, and live in a way that, though not perfect, is the best we can do … But it seems like something is missing. It seems like there’s an empty hole in our hearts. Listen carefully and you’ll find that the answer is much more simple than we have imagined.

He came into the darkness to bring us the light! It’s hard to imagine the degree of darkness he entered: the brutality, the oppression and the hopelessness made people hungry for the light … but not everyone. It would get darker, but His light would shine brighter, so bright that we can see the way today. John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Mary! She was an amazing woman with a God-sized calling, but is that the whole picture? Was Mary so unlike the rest of us that we can never imagine her crying out to God for his help and pardon? Look closely at the biblical record and see how much you’ll relate to Mary. She is a model for all women and men.

“Little People” … They’re hardly noticed, except when they get in our way. They’re little in power, except when God chooses to flow through them. God chose little people to announce the Savior’s birth and also when he looked for an example of what it takes to enter the Kingdom of God. It’s not about money or position or power … it’s about the heart. We can become those little people and know his fullness as well.

What did Joseph do? He did what Jesus would do because he was a man of integrity, a man who listened for God’s voice: he obeyed! Joseph stands out in history for “Living it Out!” Isn’t that the reputation you’d like to have? Being that kind of person doesn’t mean our name will be known for thousands of years, but it does mean that we’ll have joy … in the deepest part of who we are.