STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

April 14, 2025

A Point from pastor

Art of Marriage was great. If you are one of our married folks and missed it, I'm disappointed. Not in you (some had other plans). Disappointed that you missed out . . . it was that good. Let's face it, "marriage" is a wreck in this country. There is very little in culture that truly builds into our marriage. We need encouragement, teaching, and help! MAKE time to build into your marriage; it is so worth it and so necessary. Married couples... find a couple to mentor you (PKW can help you find), gather a few couples together monthly for encouragement (LGs?!!!?!!), study the Word together, buy a marriage devotional (and then read it!), pray together, attend a Weekend to Remember, set aside time monthly to have a meaningful marriage conversation. Build into your marriage. God wants it to display Christ and His Bride to the world.

For those of you that attended... remember, when the cow drops, make steak!

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The kids did GREAT yesterday. One teacher commented, "how does that happen?" The question was about how we get done with practices and the kids seem to be struggling but then, when they really do get in front of you, they do well! Praise God! Thank you God. Thanks kids! Thank you teachers! Also, the high school class that gave us their observations and thoughts on Jesus, the cross, and resurrection were great. As I mentioned, they did this unrehearsed. I went into their classroom a few weeks ago unannounced (you can imagine how thrilled they were???!!!). But, there were so many good thoughts and observations. Thank you parents, LIGHThouse sponsors, and Sunday school teachers! Keep teaching!

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Yesterday we "kicked off" Passion Week celebrating Palm Sunday. That amazing day that Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Messiah and King. He was praised by the crowds. By the end of the week, He was then killed by the crowds. . . all were responsible. We look back on Palm Sunday but we look forward as well... there will be a truly Triumphant Entry when Jesus returns. Are you excited?

UPCOMING SCHEDULE for PASSION WEEK

Wednesday this week is a communion service for our adults (clubz and LIGHThouse will also be taking place). We will contemplate that week and review again the bread and wine of Jesus. . . and unpack the glorious blessings we receive from Him. This will be at 7pm. Our regular SupNer meal is at 6pm... you may come to just communion or come early for a full meal before our communion "meal."
Friday night is a special "Good Friday" service appropriately titled "Listen"
Saturday morning is our monthly Men's Breakfast (7:30am... study before @ 6:30am). This will be followed by a work-time for any guys that can help (here and at the Gerdes home to set up for Sunrise Service)
Resurrection Sunday (20th):
- Sunrise Service at Gerdes' place (16305 S Highway 31) @ 7:30am
- Sunday school @ 8:45am
- Resurrection Sunday Worship @ 10am
- "Recounting His Appearances" at 6pm with Pastor Ken Buttermore
Music Night "Worship Cont..." on Saturday, April 26 @ 7pm

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.- 1 John 4:10

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

Studies TONIGHT - Often on Monday nights is a study for Men as well as a gathering for our young adults (18-26). These are TONIGHT. Give us a call (MEN or YOUNG ADULTS) or send us a note for more info.

Passion Week Services: Join in the following:

Wednesday (4/16) @ 7pm - "Remember Christ's Passion," communion
Friday (4/18) @ 7pm - "Listen," Good Friday Service
Resurrection Sunday
- Sunrise Service, 7:30am, at Gerdes' property (16305 S Hwy 31, Gretna)
- Worship Service @ 10am
- "Recounting His Appearances," evening service at 6pm
Worship Continued - Saturday evening, April 26 at 7pm is a special night of music and worship.

Men's Study, Breakfast & Work Time - Saturday morning is a men's Bible Study (6:30am). After is our monthly men's breakfast (7:30am) with a special guest giving us encouragement. Following the breakfast (8:30am to maybe noon) if any guys can stick around and HELP, we would love to do some projects at church AND, we will ask a couple of guys to head south of town to help clean up at the Gerdes property for sunrise service.

upcoming events

Make note of the classes and events available in the near future

Baptisms - On Sunday, April 27, we will have baptisms at church. What about you? Talk to one of the pastors for more information.

Nursery Staff Meeting - Saturday, April 26, at 9am, is a staff meeting for all nursery and children's church workers who serve on Sundays.

Ladies' Brunch - Saturday, April 26 at 10am is a ladies' brunch... gals, invite a mother, daughter, sister, or friend.

Four the Master - Ministering at Richmont Village on April 26, 3pm. You may join our gospel quartet to be encouraged in this (and be an encourager).

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

- John 12:12-13

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

- Zechariah 9:9

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

- Isaiah 53:4

the Lord's day

We opened the service with a video of our youth explaining the cross, the resurrection and the significance of Jesus dying for us. After this, our Sunday school "Palm Monday" kids presented "Messiah is Coming" where they presented Jesus entering Jerusalem, cursing the fig tree, and cleansing the temple. They sang in anticipation of the Messiah, of giving our life to Him, and of praising Him... Hosanna!

We then worshipped together in singing to God Hosanna. We sang Praise. We sang of the Old Rugged Cross. We sang of this Amazing Love... we are forgiven because Jesus was forsaken; He died and rose again! What amazing love!

Our message took us to Mark 11 where we revisited the poor fig tree that the kids shared about in their program. Jesus cursed the tree, then cursed the temple, and returned to the withered tree the next morning. God is not pleased if we have the markers (leaves) that show fruitfulness but there is no fruit. The fruit comes from our being saved and following Christ. Our "fruitlessness," over time, damages God's reputation... it is taking His name in vain! Jesus was hungry and the tree was barren. People in this world are spiritually hungry - may we offer them spiritual fruit! Jesus finishes teaching from the fig tree that we should "Have faith in God," believe in the impossible, accept God's grace, and forgive others (Mark 11:22-25). Do we trust and have faith in what God says He did at Calvary?

View Past Worship Services

Be the Church

The First Step

Jesus preached “Repent and believe in the gospel” to the people of Galilee (Mark 1:15). He told Nicodemus that, “you must be born again” (John 3:7). He encouraged the Samaritan woman at the well to drink of the water He gives so that she “will never be thirsty again” (John 4:14). Obedience to Jesus begins with investigating His identity. Is Jesus the Messiah? Can He be trusted? Is He worthy of investigation and pursuit? And, most importantly, is He worth giving up everything for? Our obedience to God begins with exploring who Jesus is and the work He did. A disciple of Christ, in obedience, will move from this curiosity to a conviction of our sin and the subsequent judgment we are under. As we explore Jesus, the Spirit will convince us of salvation through Him. We then obey in committing our life to Christ, repenting of sin and turning to Jesus as Christ for salvation. This is the beginning of discipleship. We must all begin here… and help others do this as well. Be the church!

“After more than 700 hours of studying this subject and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I came to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon people, or it is the most important fact of history.”

- Josh McDowell

Prayer Prods

Continue prayers for the Bockman and McRae families.
Nancy S still at Methodist - Needing to move to rehab place
Nelson family navigating Tami's treatments
Joyce N, Ron M, Kathie P, Peggy O, Joe R - Cancer
Passion Week celebrations
Becky, Steve, and Mike continued recovery
Joanie and Gerald's move to Symphony Pointe in Elkhorn
Post marriage, men's and ladies' events.
High school seniors through banquets, presentations and final days of school

Weekly Prayer Prods