March 24, 2024
March 24 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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This coming week is the Passion Week. The Lord's Day is Palm Sunday. The following Friday is Good Friday. Next Sunday is Easter. It is called the Passion Week because the word "Passion" means to suffer. Thus we are very sharply reminded of the terrible pain that Jesus bore in our place, his humiliation, and, finally, his agonizing death. There are, therefore, undeniable tones of sorrow and grief as we reflect upon the passion of our Lord.
Still, there is more than sorrow. Hebrews 12:6 exhorts us to look to Jesus, "the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…" Indeed, there is a palpable sense of exuberance in the ways that Scriptures talk about the passion of our Lord.
Psalm 118 begins "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" Of course, that is what a psalm should say. Isn't it? But as we continue to read Psalm 118 we realize that it is speaking of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and that this was the Psalm that Jesus, no doubt, himself sang and prayed as he entered Jerusalem. Ps 118:20 "This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it." The Jerusalem gate was built for the Lord Jesus to enter through with his righteousness. 118:22–24 "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone … This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus sang with joy as he entered into Jerusalem. Indeed, Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame". Ps 118:28–29 "You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
What does this mean? It means that Jesus was eager, even happy, to lay down his life for you. Can you not sense something of Jesus' deep love for you in his joy to suffer and die? May his peerless love lift up our hearts and we will rejoice.
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Growth Resources
12 for 24: Please see the full list of 2024 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
March 2024: We are reading "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of:
- We encourage you to make use of 12 for 24 and read 12 books that will help us grow.
- Past sermons are available on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
March 24 (Lord's Day): Please join us for the annual congregational meeting for the purpose of adopting a new budget for the fiscal year 2024–25. All communicant members are requested to attend.
March 29 (Friday 6 PM): Please join us for Good Friday meditations at the Suchoski home.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
April 7 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for Sunday School lesson on Antinomianism. Also April 21 (Assurance of Salvation).