FaithWestwood UMC FaithWestwood UMC

1 Peter 2:11-25

The world practices retaliation: eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. But Jesus modeled a remarkably different way. He had the power to punish his persecutors, but he left it to God’s final judgment. And one of the most radical ways we can follow in Jesus’s steps is by forsaking retaliation and leaving justice to God.

1 Peter 2:4-10

Imagine you’re a builder, creating a stone structure as a place of worship. You start with one well-chosen stone--the cornerstone. All other stones align with it. God is the master builder, Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are God’s chosen stones, built into his temple of priestly people. Welcome to the rock club!

1 Peter 1:13-23

Peter talks about faith and hope. In this we have a choice to make. We can either live our lives in quiet desperation and confused chaos, or we can live with hope-filled faith. Let’s choose the latter.

1 Peter 1:1-9

“But for now.” Those can be potent words, can’t they? As Jesus’s chosen people, we’ve received a new birth in this life, and we’re promised a glorious future in the life to come. But for now--for a little while--we suffer many trials. Our faith gets tested. It is purified and proven genuine, like gold refined by fire.

Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

The opening round was brutal for the challenger Life. Formerly undefeated and undisputed champion Death pummeled Life with blow after stinging blow. By mid-afternoon Friday, spectators were already dispersing, assuming the fight was over. Death celebrated that evening and throughout the second day. Then in the third, Life surprised even its biggest fans.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Matthew 21:1-17

On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus’s donkey ride into Jerusalem. The people laid down their coats before him, waving tree branches and shouting “Hosanna!” Then Jesus walked into the Temple courtyard, knocked over the money tables, and sent the buyers and sellers out of God’s house.

Jesus could get rough with religious people – conservative and liberal alike. By the way, on this Sunday one of our guests at FaithWestwood will be a real donkey. Come and see!