April 17th - Creating Space for God: Celebrating and Anticipation

Creating Space for God: Celebrating and Anticipation
Scripture Passages: Genesis 1 and Matthew 28:1-10

Slide 1

We Made It!
Lent
The Spiritual Disciplines
Creating Space for God

Slide 2

Celebrating and Anticipating
Where is your focus?
What have we learned?
Making space for God

Slide 3

What Comes First?
4 “God saw that the light was good"
10, 12, 18, 21, 25 "And God saw that it was good"
31 "God saw all that God had made, and it was VERY good"

Slide 4

The Shadow of Genesis 3
Fallen people
Misguided focus
Space for God

Slide 5

Where Easter Begins
4 "The guards were so afraid of him..."
8 "So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid..."

Slide 6

The Easter Focus
5 "Do not be afraid...He is not here; he has risen."
8 "So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy"
10 "Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid.'"

Slide 7

Not a Passive Celebration
10 "Then Jesus said to them...'Go...'"
The Great Commission

Slide 8

So What Does This Look Like?
"Through the faith practice of celebrating, we delight in circumstances, relationships, and occasions that help us remember and anticipate God’s abundant goodness, creativity, faithfulness, beauty, and love." (CRCNA)

Slide 9

Questions to Ask
When, where, and with whom do I catch glimpses of God’s declaration that God’s creation is very good?
When, where, and with whom do I encounter
a foretaste of the new creation?

Slide 10

Go Celebrate!!!
An Easter People
Already (even if 'not yet')
A reason to celebrate