Here is a recap of our message from this weekend...

Easter Sunday: The Great Exchange of Jesus

This Easter, we reflect on the evidence of our life and the undeniable traces of our pasts. Just as the story of Barrabas is a reminder of God's endless grace, so is ours. Through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, we are offered a new life, free from the past's labels and mistakes. Our baggage, exchanged with Christ's sacrifice, becomes our blessing, inviting us to choose a life of purpose and fulfillment in Him.

It Was Me

The sermon opened with a warm a personal story about Pastor's youthful experiment with fire, setting the stage for a message about mistakes, identity, and transformation.

Centering on Matthew 27:16-26, the sermon pulled out parallels between the our life and the story of Barabbas, emphasizing the themes of choice, exchange, and restoration. It challenged the congregation to confront the "evidence" of their past and to recognize the transformative power of God's grace.

Weekly Bible Study List

1. Matthew 27:16-26 - The story of Barabbas and Jesus' crucifixion.
2. Galatians 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'"

3 Things We Learned from Barrabas:

1. Our Baggage Can Become Our Blessing: Reflecting on our pasts and the choices that define us, the sermon underscores the liberating exchange offered by Jesus—our freedom for His sacrifice. Through Jesus' willingness to take our place, we are given the opportunity to see the very thing that has crippled you become your greatest blessing.
2. We Must Finish the Exchange: We studied the original greek word "Antallagma"which means a mutual giving and receiving. This was explained using a powerful illustration of how the nails that were driven into Jesus were first pulled out of us. Pastor then went out to explain how it wasn't just three nails that held Jesus to the cross, it was all of our sin that held them there. To finish the exchange that Jesus started, we must be willing to give him our obedience, not just our sin.
3. We Must Choose: Barrabas was given a choice on what he would do next with his new found freedom. In the same way, we also have a choice to make on the next step we take in our faith. We can choose to continue living our old life or we can accept the new life Jesus offers us. The choice is yours.

From Sermon to Action

Concluding with a powerful call to embrace a new life in Christ, the sermon uses the metaphor of a chess piece to symbolize that far too many people show up to church on Christmas and Easter. The challenge was to use the chess piece as a reminder this week to come back to church the following week.

Worship Setlist

1. Jehovah
2. Reckless Love
3. Reckless Love/Great Are You Lord
4. Nothing But the Blood
5. Thank You Jesus for the Blood

Notable Sermon Quotes to Repost on Social Media

1. "Sometimes, we need someone to see something in us beyond our mistakes and flaws."
2. "When we trace the steps of our lives, we will come face to face with the evidence of our past."
3. "If you don't find Jesus, Jesus will find you."
4. "No matter how broken you think you are, you are not beyond God's grace and forgiveness."
5. "It wasn’t just Barrabas who was freed. It was us."
6. "God's love is transformational. It takes the brokenness of your life and transforms it into blessing."
7. "It wasn’t Barrabas that put Jesus on the cross, it was me."
8. "You are a son. You are a daughter. You are a saint."

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