Palm Sunday worship preview

Dear Saints:   This Sunday we begin Holy Week.  Our opportunity during this time is not just to remember the most important events in human history, but to enter into them in a way that changes our lives.  God doesn't just want to remind us of what He did, but to invite us into what He continues to do through the love and grace of Christ.   Our worship on Palm Sunday will be one that focuses on the invitation we have been given to have the same attitude as Christ.  This invitation is one that is key to us experiencing the kind of power, love, and freedom that God desires for us.  The apostle Paul describes and marvels at this attitude in his letter to the Philippians:    5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  6Who, being in very nature God,       did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  7but emptied himself,       taking the very nature of a servant,       being made in human likeness.  8And being found in appearance as a man,       he humbled himself       and became obedient to death—          even death on a cross!   We will focus on this aspect of Christ emptying himself.  It was this incredible choice that put in motion all the events that led to his death and resurrection.  Unless Jesus made the choice to empty himself, there would have been no possibility for us to be redeemed by the love of God.    As you prepare for worship, I would ask you to ponder and reflect on this passage.  You might ask yourself what it means that Jesus emptied himself.  What did he empty himself of?  Why was this so crucial to his mission?  What would having this attitude look like in your life?   I look forward to worshiping with you as we begin this sacred week together.   In Christ,   Bryan