Joseph of Arimathea - the Fearful Disciple

For Good Friday service.
D. Marion Clark 

I had to do something. I was ashamed, ashamed that I had not owned up to believing that he was the Messiah. So why now, when it is clear that he is not the One for whom we hope, do I come forth to show my devotion?

It seemed like the decent thing to do. The Romans would have thrown his body into a common grave, maybe not even that. They would have defiled Jesus’ body. And yet how much more could it have been defiled than it already was to be hung on a tree – a curse to the Romans and even by our law a curse to God?

Celebration of the Victor

Below is the sermon I prepared for Maundy Thursday but was unable to preach. It was the second part on Psalm 118.

Psalm 118:5-18                       Celebration of the Victor

3/24/16 Maundy Thursday      D. Marion Clark

Introduction

This past Sunday we looked at Psalm 118, considering it as the psalm shouted out by the people in the joyful procession of pilgrims into Jerusalem and the temple. This was also likely the last psalm that Jesus sang with his disciples. What would it have meant for our Lord to sing this psalm, knowing the suffering before him? With that in mind, look with me at the section of the psalm spoken in the singular voice.

Celebration of the People

Psalm 118:1-4; 19-29                        Celebration of the People

3/20/16            D. Marion Clark                      Palm Sunday

Introduction

The pilgrims have ascended the crest of Mt. Zion and now are streaming into the gates of Jerusalem, where they will observe the feast of the Passover. Among them are Jesus and his disciples. The pilgrims, Jesus, his disciples, and the people along the road and at the gate shout to one another the words of Psalm 118. Let’s take time to look at this psalm shouted out on the first Palm Sunday and find out why it became a favorite of God’s covenant people then, and the rich meaning it has for us today. We will look at the portion that speaks for the people this morning, and the rest of the psalm for Maundy Thursday that speaks for the Messiah.

Meditation Verse for Women in the Church

2 Timothy 3:16   "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." 
My God-inspired Grandmother knew this well.  "Be ye kind, one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you."  I can hear her voice now, chiding us children to cease our quarreling. 

Thank you to Sue Vorreyer of the LOPC's Ladies' Thursday Early-Morning Bible Study Group for her recipe for Texas Yum Yum Cake!

Weekly Meditation Verse for Women in the Church

Romans 10:10 
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

The staff celebrated Pastor Marion Clark's birthday (which was March 6th) under the LOPC pavilion today. The weather was too nice to eat indoors. Happy Birthday Marion!

Thank you to Lynda Hancock of LOPC's Thursday Early-Morning Ladies' Bible Study group for the recipe for Taco Soup! Yum!

Crouching Sin

Genesis 4:1-16                        Crouching Sin

3/6/16              D. Marion Clark

Introduction

Pastor Sam Smith has begun a sermon series in Genesis. Sam’s idea is to study characters in Genesis for this purpose: “to learn how God intervenes in the life of his people to reveal both the source of their problems and his solutions.” By examining the stories of people in Genesis, we will gain insight into our own lives and what God is doing in us.

Weekly Meditation Verse for Women in the Church

Romans 10:9

"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

"Jesus is Lord" - the classic New Testament confession of faith.  With  your heart you believe, with your mouth you confess, and you will be saved.  Your cannot memorize everything, but this one is a good verse to memorize.