Apr 1, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Luke 24:1-12
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
REFLECT:
- Everyone was surprised that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. Think about a time when you thought something was going to happen, only for it to happen another way.
- Why do you think some doubted that Jesus would raise from the dead (as he said he would)?
- Why is Jesus’ display of power over death such a big deal? What does it mean to our lives today?
- Do you think there is any miracle too big for Jesus?
- How can we best celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (both today and everyday)?
RESPOND: Worship and celebrate the resurrection today as a family!!! Join us for one of our 6 Easter services at Sugar Hill Church. For service times, locations, go to sugarhilleaster.com.
Mar 31, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Luke 23:50-56
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
REFLECT:
- How do you think Joseph of Arimathea felt giving over his family tomb to Jesus?
- How do you think Jesus’ followers felt seeing him die?
- While Jesus had openly stated that he would rise from the dead, many were unsure or did not understand. How do you prepare to remember and celebrate the death / burial of Jesus knowing the resurrection is coming?
RESPOND: Take a walk as a family and share how you think Mary and the women felt as they were walking to the tomb to help prepare Jesus’ body for burial? Pray for your neighbors who may not know the good news that Jesus rose from the dead.
*Prepare to wake up a little early tomorrow to watch the sunrise. Think about the beauty, hope, and joy that sunrise brings and the beauty, hope, and joy we have because Jesus is alive! Also prepare to bring your neighbors / friends to one of our 6 Easter services at Sugar Hill Church. For service times, locations, go to sugarhilleaster.com.
Mar 30, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Luke 23:26-46
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
REFLECT:
– What do you know about the crucifixion?
– Why do we call it Good Friday when Jesus died?
(Payment for our sins – Without the cross, there could be no resurrection.)
– Discuss the different reactions of the two criminals to Jesus.
RESPOND: Think about the things Jesus experienced on the cross. Consider how he died for your sin, and paid the penalty for your sin so that you could have eternal life by trusting in him. Spend time today thanking Jesus for the wonderful sacrifice he made.
Make plans to attend the Good Friday Service at Sugar Hill Church at 7:00pm. (en Español a las 7:00pm).
www.sugarhilleaster.com
Mar 29, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Luke 22: 39-44
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.[a] 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
REFLECT:
- Do you think the disciples understood what Jesus was saying when he said remember me?
- How do we remember people?
- When Jesus broke the bread, what did that represent?
- What did the cup of wine represent?
RESPOND: Schedule a time tonight for your family to participate in the Maundy Thursday online guided Communion Service at live.sugarhill.church.
Communion is a special remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus, observed by those who have made a commitment to Christ. This is a great opportunity to talk to your children about their relationship with Jesus. Enjoy this time of worship and remembrance together as a family.
Mar 28, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Luke 22: 39-44
Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”
41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
REFLECT:
- Have you ever asked for something that you didn’t get? If so, how did you act?
- What did Jesus ask God to do for him? What was his response if it didn’t happen?
- Why do you think Jesus was in such agony as he prayed?
While Jesus was certainly mindful of the physical pain that lay ahead, what had to hurt most was the thought of bearing the ugliness of our sin, guilt, and shame.
- Have you ever considered that Jesus thought of your sin when he prayed that prayer?
- Knowing the pain that it would cause Jesus, why was God’s will that he die on a cross?
RESPOND: Jesus was willing to endure the most painful thing in the whole world because He loved us and wanted to save us. What are you willing to endure in order to love other people well? Who can you make an extra effort to love sacrificially today?
Mar 27, 2018 | Easter Devotional 2018
READ: Matthew 26:14-16
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
REFLECT:
- Do you think Judas Iscariot understood the worth of who Jesus was?
- Have you ever hurt someone who loves you?
- How do you think Jesus felt, being betrayed by one of his disciples?
- What are some ways we hurt the heart of Jesus today?
Take some time to think about all Jesus was getting ready to go through and how he must of felt being sold out for money by one of his disciples. Yet, Jesus still loved and sacrificed, even though he was betrayed.
RESPOND:
In our passage today, Judas talked to others to betray Jesus.
How can you talk to others to communicate the true worth of Jesus?
Identify another family that you can communicate the worth of Jesus to by inviting them to church this Easter.
As a family, pray for them today, and each day this week.
Easter service times at Sugar Hill Church:
7:30 Sunrise Service (at Sugar Hill Bowl)
9:30 Main Service, Classic Service
11:00 Main Service, Classic Service, Sugar Hill Español
Go to www.sugarhilleaster.com for more details.
