“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformed to His death.”
Phil. 3:10

The pursuit of the believer is Jesus Christ. Not just to be like Christ, but to know Christ.

This knowledge does not consist chiefly in facts about Jesus, but rather it consists in an intimate sharing of His person through the work of the Spirit.

It was the Spirit of Holiness that raised Jesus from the dead and demonstrated through the resurrection the power of God. The resurrection demonstrated to the world that the power of death is broken and the way to God has been opened. The death of Jesus was a once for all sufficient atonement for our sin, the resurrection demonstrated that Jesus was who He claimed to be.

The road to knowing Him is a road of suffering and is trod by those of faith. We believe in One whom we’ve never seen, only read about and felt the stirrings of His presence deep within our hearts. We look for a new home- a better one, where lion and lamb repose together in the shade of the trees and the child plays with the cobra. A land free of death and curse.

May your pursuit in life be the One alone who is worthy of all our praise.

Because of grace,
Tim

The post That I May Know Him appeared first on EBCSV.

Do you remember Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha?

Martha was upset at her sister because she wasn’t being helpful with all the preparations for a meal. Rather than agreeing with her diatribe of hurt feelings; Jesus simply said: One thing is needful, Mary has chosen the better thing, leave her alone.

So in order to make sitting at Jesus’ feet a bit easier this year at Easter we are going to keep it simple. With Easter coming at the tail end of spring break I am expecting that many will be rushing back into town at the last minute. Rather than adding to the stress to have to fill a busy a schedule and to fix more food than is already needed in your homes we will just ask you to contribute some pretty easy fixings.

So here is where we are going:
1. Friday evening we will celebrate Good Friday with some worship, reflections from the Scripture and an observation of the last supper in the Lord’s table as we remember our Savior’s love in dying for our sin.
2. Sunday morning we won’t have an early service:
*We will have breakfast at 9:00. We will also have an egg hunt with the kids around 9:30

*At 10:30 we will have our worship service and celebrate the Lord’s victory over the grave.

Here’s what we need you bring:
Greek Yogurt (individual cups)
Toppings:
(Fruit, nuts, etc.)
Granola
We will supply the rest

*Questions or want to help, ask Amie Moyer

Let’s keep it simple and sit at Jesus’ feet!

The post One Thing is Needful appeared first on EBCSV.

I know you’ve all been missing each other and the sweet fellowship we have in Christ. I was thinking of the old song: “Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.” I don’t think we realize how blessed that tie is until there is strain on the edges of our life. We pray you’re enduring this time of isolation by drawing closer to your family and having sweet times of fun as well as times of Christian growth.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is a reminder to us of how fickle we are as people. One week the crowds are worshiping- the next week they are crying for His blood. When everything was unfolding the way they had planned (a King to cast off Rome) the crowds were all in. When He turned out to be a different kind of king, they abandoned him quicker than you can blink. This same heart is in all of us. We praise Him when it is convenient and when things are rolling along as we expect. When the rug gets pulled out from under us, Am I as quick to say “blessed be the name of the Lord?” Let’s see this test for what it is- a time of refining.

Along that line, we will livestream the service again this Sunday at 10:30. We are not completely sure what our schedule will look like on Easter weekend. I’ll tell you some things we know for sure. First, there will be no breakfast. Second, remember- Easter is not really the Sunday that our Lord arose. In fact, if you notice the calendar- it’s not even the same weekend as Passover most years. It was a weekend established in the western church centuries ago using a formula based on the moon that would make it a standardized observance in the church. It was a good idea- but it isn’t inspired!

With that in mind- I want you to know that when this is all over we are going to schedule our own Resurrection Sunday weekend- and it’s gonna be a party! We’ll kill the fatted calf (metaphorically), worship and praise our Risen Lord and have a rip roaring good time! So, hold your horses- good things are yet to come.

Have a blessed remainder to your week. Stay in touch with each other and “encourage one another daily, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching!” We love you all.

Because of grace,
Tim

The post Easter’s Anticipation appeared first on EBCSV.

The Apostle John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos- a tiny, barren island off the coast of modern Turkey.
A penal colony for political prisoners, Domitian had sentenced him to hard labor in the mines for his testimony that Jesus was Lord.
At the same time, the most vicious persecution to date was falling on the Church. It was a time of dark turmoil and tribulation.

On the Lord’s Day, as John was worshipping his Savior, the Lord suddenly appeared to him. Not since the transformation on the Mount of transfiguration had John seen Jesus in such glory.
John, who at the last supper had leaned back upon Jesus to ask him which disciple would betray Him, is overcome and falls before Him as a dead man.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. ~ Revelation 1:17-18

“Don’t be afraid” is Jesus bold proclamation. This is a message of hope to a persecuted, perplexed people. Uncertain of their fate, facing an ignominious end in a Roman Coliseum; this is a game changer! “Don’t be afraid”- I am with you to the end of the age!!

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, man has been gripped by fear before a holy God.
When angels announced His birth to shepherds outside of Bethlehem, they too proclaimed: “Don’t be afraid.” And so to us today He says: “Don’t be afraid!”

Why? Because he is the Living One who has defeated death, banished Satan and is ushering in the Kingdom. He holds the key’s to eternal life- a door that now stands open; and death- a door that He controls.
He holds the key to the lock that binds Satan and will one day confine him to the bottomless pit. Moreover, He holds the key that unlocks the mysteries of life and the answer to your deepest questions.

So death now holds no fear for us. We are overcomers’ because of Him who lives forevermore!
Trust Him- Are you all in?

Because of grace,
Tim

Listen to the related message below.

The post Fear Not appeared first on EBCSV.