Today is Palm Sunday in our build-up to Easter Sunday. This is the day when the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem beginning his final week of ministry before His sacrifice and death on the cross. What began with jubilation would end, in just 5 short days, with hate filled condemnation and cruelty. It is amazing how the people changed their minds and attitudes so quickly.
 
Today, I will be preaching about how the multitude, who praised Jesus on Palm Sunday, turned on Him shouting lies and blasphemy while He suffered on the cross. Words can hurt as much as clenched fists or metal spikes.
 
Why are people so hateful?
Why do people say things so easily that slash and put others down?
 
The truth is that harmful words come out of people who have troubled hearts. Remember what Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34). When you hear vile and hurtful words, you know that the person speaking them has a heart problem.
 
Jesus did not throw bad words back at those mocking Him. He prayed for them. He said, “Father, forgive them.” Imagine that. In at storm of shouting and cursing, Jesus prayed and forgave. It must have been like that moment in the boat when He spoke to the wind and angry waves, “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39). The difference was that the wind and waves obeyed, but the crowd didn’t. The mob kept on shouting and Jesus kept on praying. I think He’s still praying and asking God to forgive us for our mindless words toward others that are harmful and unbecoming.
 
I learned a song when I was a kid:
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O be careful little tongue what you say,
O be careful little tongue what you say;
For your Father up above is looking down in love,
O be careful little tongue what you say.
 

The cross speaks to us about the words we use and the thoughts we think about others. Let’s be careful to not use words that cause harm to others or become a stumbling block to the Lord’s work. The Bible says, “…by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37)
 

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The beautiful cross created by Scott Sturgill demonstrating the first point of the gospel as set forth by the apostle Paul now stands straight and tall between the upper and lower buildings on our church property. The cross is more than a word to us.  It is testimony to the truth of the gospel. Every time we drive onto our church property we will see and remember that Jesus gave His life for the forgiveness of our sins.
 
This cross is like no other in our area. It is constructed of solid cedar. It is preserved by 5 coats of polyurethane lacquer. It stands 16 feet tall from top to bottom. It is the first tangible evidence of our year-long emphasis: 2021 THE YEAR OF THE GOSPEL.

As you look at the cross remember:

• Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 15:3)
• He was buried in a borrowed tomb (1 Corinthians 15:4a)
• He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4b)
• He appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

 
This amazing symbol of Christ’s love and sacrifice will be located in the GOSPEL GARDEN surrounded by beautiful roses and ornamental shrubbery. Flowers will adorn the landscape. Interlocking blocks will beautify the area along with memorial bricks that our membership may purchase in memory of family members and loved ones. Our garden will keep the truth of the gospel alive in our hearts as week utilize this space as a memorial and quiet spot to commemorate our love for Jesus and pray for one another.
 
Thank you, Scott Sturgill for your love of Jesus and your creative labor in building our cross.
Thank you, Deacons and Men’s Ministry for your donations and for your labor this week to raise and secure our cross so that it can be seen all the way to Mundy Mill Road.
 
We are people who are saved because of what Jesus did at the cross. We are a people who believe in and practice what Jesus taught us at the cross, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
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​Is it OK to celebrate a little bit and be happy?
 
Butter Cups are blooming in my front yard. Trees are beginning to bud. Days are getting a bit warmer, and Spring Baseball is underway in Florida. I want to be happy, hold up my hands and shout – “YEA!!!”
 
Easter is on its way. Only 27 days to go before we get to say to each other:
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We are tentatively planning our Good Friday Service for Friday, April 2nd at 6:30 pm.
 
Saturday, April 3rd, will be our Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Flower Branch Park from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
 
Then on Easter Sunday, April 4th, we will greet the new day at 7:30 am in Sunrise Service. Sunday School will gather at 9:45 with worship to begin at 10:45.
 
I can’t wait to celebrate resurrection together with all my beloved church family.
 
While we all are past ready for Spring to arrive and Easter Sunday to lift us from the darkness of winter and COVID’s heavy handed grip, we must still recognize that we are not yet completely free from its danger. Just this past week, 5 cases have emerged within our church family. My oldest son tested positive on Wednesday of this week. The threat is still real, and the danger continues to be with us.
 
We are continuing to maintain our diligent safety measures. We will practice our socially distanced set up each Sunday. Please continue to be faithful with your masks. Our church welcomes guests and members who have not yet ventured out to attend in-person services. Our cleaning crew is on the job sanitizing every chair, mopping floors, and wiping down every hard service with anti-covid cleaner. Our work includes doorknobs, crash bars, bathroom fixtures, microphones, and music stands. Our great volunteers are going the second and third mile every week to make the facilities as safe as possible. I am grateful for the sacrifices and cooperation from our people who are committed to keeping our services open and at the same time responsibly safe for everyone.
 
I just want to say it out loud,
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during our yearlong fight against this COVID menace. Our people have not let down their guard. We have limited our ministries and closed our in-person services when necessary. We have prayed for each other, prepared food for one another when sickness infected our families, called, and contacted those who could not attend, and basically maintained a unified sweet and compassionate spirit all along.
 
I want to CELEBRATE Grace Baptist Church. We have been good and faithful patriots this year. We have been faithful to our calling to serve the Lord in both good times and the hard times. So, lift-up your hands and join me this morning to celebrate by saying:
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Someone said of Mr. Walters that he earned the nickname “Big Jim” because he was “…larger than life.” He deserved the title because he did so many good things for so many people. He made things happen. Places like the Hall County YMCA, the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Lakeview Academy, Lanier Technical College, and Brenau University would not be what they are today except for the love and commitment of this great man to serve their cause by doing good on their behalf.
 
The Bible says, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life…” (John 5:28-29b)
 
Surely, Mr. Walters when he hears the voice of Jesus calling his name, he will rise for the good that he has accomplished in this life.
 
I came to know Mr. Jim because of his love for our church and the good he did for us making the current place of ministry come to be. As you remember, we were in rented space next door to Loretta’s restaurant. Rent was going up annually and we were praying about God making some new location available where we could move to a place of our own. We wanted a place where people would feel good about coming to church. We prayed for a place that we could afford. Mr. Jim heard about our prayer through Carol Childers, his CPA and faithful 40-year executive employee. Ken Pethel, Carol’s brother, appealed our case and cultivated his interest. With God’s help, Mr. Walters made this current location at 4026 Mundy Mill Road not only affordable for us, but, pledged his support to make the purchase possible.
 
The first time I met Mr. Jim, I asked him to tell me about his relationship to Jesus. He talked to me about his childhood love for Jesus and the life he enjoyed growing up in church. He assured me that he believed in Jesus and trusted him to be his savior. When Mr. Jim first spoke to our church, he asked me not to call him a philanthropist, which he certainly is, but to refer to him as a steward of God’s resources. I really liked that about him. Here at Grace, Mr. Jim Walters is more than a donor, or a person you name buildings after. This great man is a trustee and steward of the influence and blessings God placed in his keeping. Our church is a recipient of and a beneficiary of his love, commitment to Jesus and the generosity of his personal stewardship.
 
How can I help but practice good stewardship when God placed such a faithful person in my path?
 
I will forever be grateful to God for the testimony of and love Jim Walters extended to me and our church family.