STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

April 7, 2025

A Point from pastor

Calvary Covers it All

There is no greater message in the entire world than the message we have received in our hearts of how Jesus atoned for our sin. Atonement is the idea that our sin has been covered over. "Jesus alone for my sin did atone!" Calvary covers it all.

That brutal night, Jesus was beaten. Literal "stripes" appeared on His back as flesh was removed by the whip. The thorn placed on his head would have been excruciating itself as blood, mixing with sweat, would have poured down his face into his eyes. How much more we understand His mercy and love to us through the pain He experienced. Our immediate response as a repentant sinner should be to bow in shame. Cry out to Jesus! "My heart bowed in shame as I called on His name." Calvary covers it all.

There is nothing to compare to the grace that we might have seen on the face of Jesus as He hung on that cross! He is Lord! That grace is still without equal if we will look to Jesus. As we look to the cross, it cries out that we have been redeemed! A great exchange happened as we were pardoned by His punishment. Again, we bow. We must bow at His feet to accept this great gift. "My redemption complete I then found at His feet." Calvary covers it all.

We are blessed to be forgiven and free from sin and its shame. Our souls were bought by Christ. Has your soul been bought by Christ? Even more so, what a blessing to think that we will belong to Christ in heavenly glory as well?!??!! Imagine the astounding songs we will sing in that great heavenly choir! "Where with gladness and song I'll be one of the throng." Yes, Calvary covers it all!

Taken and modified from "Calvary Covers it All" by Mrs. Walter G. Taylor

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

Gym Night - Our Wednesday night Kidz Club will be in the elementary school gym after the meal (6:45 to 8:10pm). This is a few weeks earlier than normal. Our final club night is May 7th!

Interested in Knowing the Word? - The next class on memorizing God's Word will begin on April 13th (postponed one week) - talk to Ken Begg if interested.

Art of Marriage - Begins this Friday night! Friday night from 7-9, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon (until 2:30pm) are three sessions on the "Art of Marriage." This is about building into your marriage and improving it. Whether it's already good... or possibly struggling, this will help. May God be glorified by the art of your marriage. You may register HERE. Registration as a couple (cost per couple that pays for the set of workbooks). Childcare as well as lunch on Saturday is provided.

Palm Monday Kidz - The annual program with our Sunday school kids presenting will be this Sunday, Palm Sunday, during the worship service. Parents - your kids likely have practice sheets... please help them as you can.

upcoming events

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

Men - Two simultaneous opportunities to help coming up: After the men's breakfast on Saturday, April 19, we would like to have a work time for guys at church (So about 8:30ish to maybe noon). At the same time, we'd like to get a couple of guys to head south of town to help clean up at the Gerdes property for sunrise service.

Passion Week Services: In addition to the Palm Monday Kidz program this Sunday, 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 Night - Join us Saturday evening, April 26 at 7pm for a special night of music and worship. You won't want to miss this!

Quote 1

Quote 2

Quote 3

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

- Psalm 130:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

- Ephesians 1:7

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

- Galatians 3:13

the Lord's day

We celebrated at the Lord's supper table yesterday morning as we were "reminded to remember" His affliction. There were two calls: both a call to the cross for repentance and a call to the table for remembrance. We sang, "He Lives," "Heaven Came Down," and "Good, Good Father" to open our worship time. All drawing us to the God who provided a living Savior, a God who has drawn us to salvation and a God who remains a good, good Father.

In preparing for Communion, we began in Luke 22 as Jesus told us to eat the bread in remembrance of Him. We then moved to Lamentations 3:19-24. We spoke of the great promises of God's love, mercies and faithfulness but the entry way to that hope was through Christ's affliction. Thus, we recounted much of the physical affliction. It was brutal. In one way, a communion service is a time of mourning. But we are not left in mourning... "this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope" (Lam. 3:21). We are not in despair - Jesus went to the cross but, three days later, the TOMB WAS EMPTY! We remember the hope we have in the resurrection. There is hope in Christ’s finished work!

View Past Worship Services

Did You Know?

Life Groups are your connection to a smaller group of SSB believers. These usually meet twice a month for prayer and Bible study. This is so important as a means of serving one another in small pockets of prayer and ministry. These help you to stay accountable and give you an opportunity to serve a few in a very meaningful way. Reach out to Pastor Ken W to visit on different LG's available (or maybe we start a new one?).

This Month in Christian History

April 2, 306
In 303, the four Caesars ruling the Roman Empire issued edicts requiring Christians to sacrifice to idols and offer libations. In Caesarea, those who refused were imprisoned and tortured. When the prisons overflowed, graffiti suggests prisoners were held in a large underground cistern.

Eusebius eventually fled to Egypt to escape persecution but witnessed the heroic death of one of his pupils, Apphianus, a young man from Berytus. Disowned by his wealthy parents for converting to Christianity, Apphianus came to Caesarea to study under Eusebius.

One day, Apphianus interrupted Governor Urbanus as he prepared to sacrifice to idols, grabbing his hand and pleading with him to stop. Urbanus had him beaten and thrown into the cistern. The next day, Apphianus was tortured again, his feet burned to the bone. On the third day, after he remained steadfast, soldiers cast him alive into the sea.

Eusebius recorded that:
As soon as they had cast this truly sacred and thrice-blessed youth into the fathomless depths of the sea, an uncommon commotion and disturbance agitated the sea and all the shore about it, so that the land and the entire city were shaken by it. And at the same time with this wonderful and sudden perturbation, the sea threw out before the gates of the city the body of the divine martyr, as if unable to endure it.

Caesarea had four city gates, one opening onto the sea—likely where Apphianus’s body was cast ashore. No archaeological evidence of an earthquake from that period has yet been found.

“The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He word told His mercy and love evermore; And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name, and Calvary covers it all.”

- Mrs. Walter G. Taylor (Ethel Taylor)

Prayer Prods

Wynelle is with Jesus! Phil and family in mourning.
Nancy S back at Methodist - knee troubled
Tami N's cancer journey
Joyce N, Ron M, Kathie P, Peggy O, Joe R - Cancer
Passion Week celebrations
Becky, Steve, and Mike as they continue recovering
Gerald B is more tired and weak these days - Joanie and Gerald are moving to Symphony Pointe in Elkhorn
After the ladies' retreat and the mens' shed event - that they are impacted

Weekly Prayer Prods