For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

There is nothing more important than the gospel of Jesus Christ. We remember and celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection each Sunday, and we do so in a focused way this time each year.

Since this week is also the week of our monthly Lord’s Supper gathering, we have the opportunity to gather as a church on three separate days. We would encourage you to make plans to participate in each service, and to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join along.

To help you prepare, here are details and sermon texts for each of this week’s services.

Lord’s Supper, March 27 (6:30 PM)

On Wednesday night (tonight!) Ryan will preach from Matthew 26:36-56 where Jesus prayed to his Father in the garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.

Good Friday, March 29 (6:30 PM)

On Friday evening Ryan will preach from Matthew 27:32-44, the account of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Childcare will be provided for children four years and younger.

Easter Sunday, March 31 (7:30, 9:00, and 10:45 AM)

On Easter Sunday Ryan will preach from Acts 2:22-41, a record of one of the first proclamations of the resurrection of Christ.

Notice that we are hosting an early 7:30 AM service on this Sunday. Child care will be available only at the two later services.

Now about that 7:30 AM service. If your situation allows, please make plans to join us for the 7:30 AM service. Historically our later two services have been quite full, and we have needed to ask many of our guests to attend the service in the overflow room (Youth Room). Joining us at 7:30 AM will help ensure that visitors to our later services feel welcome and have a place to sit, even if they show up a bit late. Thanks for helping us be hospitable.

Our next Elders Q&A will take place on the last Wednesday of this month, September 26, at 6:30 PM.

Every important relationship includes some question asking and some question answering. As part of their leadership here at DSC, our elders are always available to answer questions in person, and once a year these men make themselves available to answer questions in a church-wide setting.

Since this is a Q&A, you are invited to submit questions for our elders to answer in the course of the evening. You can do this in three ways:

1. Submit your question using your bulletin Comment Card next Sunday and drop that in an offering box.
2. Email your question to info@desertspringschurch.org.
3. Show up with your question on the 26th. Ryan will be taking some questions from a mic in the course of the evening. Of course, we appreciate your questions early. This helps us notice recurring themes and spend our time in a way that best serves the congregation.

Any questions that are not addressed at the Q&A will be answered through the DSC Blog or email.

Asking good questions encourages unity among our body and helps all of us pray more specifically for our church and its maturity in Christ.

To help you better pray for these men, consider Peter’s words to elders concerning the wonder and weight of their calling as shepherds from 1 Peter 5:1-5:

I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Get acquainted with DSC’s elders by reading their biographies on the Leadership Page. Also, audio from previous Elder Q&A evenings is available at our Messages Page under the topic “Elder Q&A.”

This past weekend we hosted a Saturday Seminar with Jerram Barrs, “Barriers and Bridges: Loving Others to Christ.”

The audio is now available for his two Saturday talks. Jerram was also kind to allow us to post pdf files of the notes he used throughout the weekend.

• “Impossible Converts: Zaccheus,” Luke 19:1-10 (Notes)
• “Impossible Converts: The Samaritan Woman,” John 4:1-42 (Notes)
• “Q&A with Jerram Barrs“
• “An Even Greater Kindness,” Ruth 3

If Jerram’s visit with us whet an appetite for more of what Scripture has to say about how we can lovingly reach our lost friends and neighbors, check out one or both of Jerram’s books on the topic: The Heart of Evangelism, and, Learning Evangelism From Jesus. These books along with two others, The Heart of Prayer, and, Through His Eyes: God’s Perspective on Women in the Bible, are available at the Resource Center.

If you enjoyed Jerram’s teaching, check out his messages from 2009 when he was at DSC for our Prizing the Privilege of Prayer weekend.

Vacation Bible School begins on Monday! Hundreds of children from our own church and from the neighborhood will be with us each evening from 6:00-8:30 PM, learning about God and about salvation in Christ through the Scriptures. The first chapter of the book of Ephesians tells us that God’s purpose in all of his saving work is “the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Pray for our children at VBS, that they would know God as he has revealed himself in his Word, that they would trust his saving promises in Christ, and praise him with their lives.

To help you pray for the children, here are the themes they will be focusing on each day and several verses that they will be hearing and learning.

Monday: Praise God for His Greatness

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
–Isaiah 40:28

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
–Psalm 145:3

Tuesday: Praise God for His Authority

For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
–Psalm 47:2

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
–Philippians 2:9–11

Wednesday: Praise God for His Providence

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
–Psalm 121:1–4

This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
–Acts 2:23–24

Thursday: Praise God for His Power

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
–Romans 1:16

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
–Philippians 3:20–21

Friday: Praise God for His Love

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
–Romans 5:8

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–Romans 8:38–39

Register your children for VBS online here, and don’t forget to extend an invitation to your neighbors and friends who have VBS age children. They are welcome to register on Monday night, if that is best for them.

Also, if you would like to serve in VBS but can’t be a part of the action during the week, perhaps you could serve our volunteers by helping provide for the daily volunteer meal. There is still a need for several meal items, including napkins, carrots, bell peppers, potato salad, grapes, and a few other things. Please email Nicole Arredondo if you are interested, at beenrshnitzl@hotmail.com.

If you’ve known conflict in any relationship and you believe the Bible, Peacemaker Ministries is a ministry worth knowing about. Ken Sande, the organization’s founder, has written several helpful books, including, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Peacemaking for Families, and The Peacemaker, Student Edition: Handling Conflict without Fighting Back or Running Away. These have become first go-to books for conflict resolution in the world of Christian publishing. In addition to publishing, Peacemaker Ministries helps churches mediate conflict and settle disputes that might otherwise go to the courts.

Peacemaker Ministries also has a number of fine conference speakers that speak around the country. Two of them will be with us in the next several weeks.

Women’s Seminar: “Fear Not: Finding God’s Comfort For My Fearful Soul,” February 25

Tara Barthel, author of Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict, will speak at the Women’s Seminar this Saturday at DSC, hosted by The Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Rio Rancho. The event is $25 and will go from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM.

Tara Klena Barthel formerly worked as an attorney and director at Peacemaker Ministries. Currently, Tara serves her family as a homemaker while regularly mediating and teaching on biblical peacemaking. To learn more about her speaking and conciliating services, friend her on Facebook or visit her blog at tarabarthel.com.

Here’s a description of the topic of this seminar:

Peace and rest are great concepts in the abstract—biblical, Christ-centered, even pleasant and healthy. But if we are honest, most Christian women do not experience much peace in their day-to-day lives. What hope is there for us to find true comfort in the midst of our worries? Join us and see how common your fears are—you are not alone! Be encouraged by biblical and practical ways to experience God’s rest even in the busyness of your life.

Visit the Women’s Seminar page to learn more about this conference and how to register.

Clarus Saturday Special Session: “Resolving Everyday Conflict,” March 10

Rick Friesen will be with us for a special Saturday afternoon session at Clarus, from 1:30 – 3:00 PM.

Rick serves Peacemaker Ministries as Director of Ministry Relations. He works with non-profit and denominational leaders around the country, assisting them in developing a culture of peace within their respective areas. He also does consulting and assists individuals and churches in conflict. Rick is passionate about helping people live out the gospel in their everyday lives and learn to treat others as God treats them.

Here’s a description of this session:

Are you weary of the conflicts and “difficult people” in your life? Every day is filled with conflict because ours is a fallen world. But through Christ, God has made peace with us and He’s making a people who know how to make peace. In this session, we will learn how to apply the Bible’s teaching to the challenges of everyday situations and so reflect the glory of our redemptive God. 

Visit the Clarus page for more information or to register for this year’s conference.