|
« April 4, 2006 | April 4, 2006 | April 4, 2006 » Pastor's PagePosted on April 4, 2006 ...
Among the guests in our morning worship last Sunday was a couple traveling through our town. As they came into Bradley County, they stopped long enough to search for a congregation with which to worship. I am grateful that their quest led them to North Cleveland Baptist. It was pleasant to dialogue briefly with them and even give directions back to the interstate. I admire that they wanted to pause during their travel to find a place for worship before their journey home. Whenever I am out of town over a Sunday I enjoy experiencing another congregation. One of the benefits of visiting other churches is that it gives me a greater appreciation of North Cleveland Baptist. It also enables me to better understand what it feels like to enter into an unfamiliar sanctuary full of folks I do not know. I remember the story of a man who was visiting a church for the first time and parked his car toward the front entrance. Another car pulled up nearby, and the irritated driver said to him, I always park there. You took my place. The visitor went inside and found that the worship service was about to begin. He found a space on a nearby pew and sat down. A member soon approached him and said, That is my seat! You took my place! The visitor was troubled, but said nothing. Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to be present with them, the visitor stood and stepped before the church. Suddenly his appearance began to change. Scars became visible on his hand and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation spoke out, What happened to you? The visitor replied, I took your place. This Sunday we turn our attention toward the cross of Jesus Christ and the amazing love for us that He demonstrated there for us. May we remember in this special season that our hope for forgiveness and heaven is built solely on the reality that it was on the cross that Jesus took our place. I look forward to sharing a monologue sermon with you Sunday. Please join me on this journey to the cross. Jay |
||
North Cleveland
Baptist Church · 2815 North Ocoee Street · Cleveland,
Tennessee 37312 · (423) 476-8524 |
||
