Amazed

Last night Third Race went really well. We had a few new students which is always a plus, so we are staying right around the 35 student mark. I love coming to church on Wednesday nights. There is so much energy and positivity, that I think God is really moving within the student's lives.

Last nights message was about the clearing of the temple (Mark 11:15-19). Usually when people read that or you might hear it preached, you hear all about the actions of Jesus rather than the intent of why of he was mad. I used the word "amazed" as the jumping off platform into the reason for Jesus teaching. The Jews were amazed at his teaching, why? Because Jesus was opening the way for all people to come and worship God with no strings attached.

I wanted the students to walk away with a sense of amazement at what Jesus had done for us on the cross. That this story is a picture of grace and that is why the Jews were amazed. So we talked about grace for a little bit. Also though I gave a warning that we can be like the Pharisees and other leaders too, we can place things in people's lives that hinder them from being able to worship God!

To drive home the point even further, we broke off by ourselves and we wrote letters...either to ourselves or to God. Asking God to remove whatever we may place in our lives or others that hinders them from coming to worship God or about reflecting on the grace that God has given us. It was a good night of worship, in a good community, with good students! I couldn't ask for a better place to be serving right now!