Friday First - Always With You

Friday First for October 23, 2020

Our goal for our vision in 2020 was to capture the meaning of the victorious faith that brings us to Heaven. Through a year of difficulty, stress and loss we have come to October now in the twilight of this challenging year. October has been all about the one who has given us the faith that allows us to rise to the occasion in times like these. In times of loneliness, distance and isolation, we remember one truth... Jesus is always with us.

So far we've witnessed the highlights of Jesus ministry, starting with his baptism, watching him go toe-to-toe with Satan in the wilderness and his penultimate showdown with Satan in the Garden just before the cross. We see Jesus persevering through difficulty, never giving up on his mission... never giving up on us. We ultimately see that on the cross. "Despising the shame..." he conquered death for us, rose and now reigns forever as the one and only true King.

Jesus left us with two sentiments in Matthew 28.19-20 before he rose... he gave his disciples one final command and one final promise. In his final command, Jesus tells us to go out and share the love he showed them with the whole world. In his final promise, Jesus tells us that we won't be left alone in our purpose.

Our faith is inspired by the amazing love of Jesus. That is where our victory is found. Now the responsibility and privilege is ours to grab hold of that love and allow it to fill us so full that we can only share it with everyone we come into contact with. 
On Sunday we’ll break down Matthew 28.19-20; 

• 18 Jesus is the first and the final authority...the only true King
• 19, 20a The final command
• 20b The final promise

As you prepare for worship on Sunday, please give consideration to these questions:

• How do we know Jesus is King? 
• What is the significance of Jesus' final command in Matthew 28?
• How are you participating in Jesus' mission?
• What is the significance of Jesus' final promise?
• What does it mean to 'behold' Jesus in our lives?