Stoneybrook Community Church of God

07/20/2025

04/04/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Easter Sunday, read Matthew 28:1-10 (or Luke 24:1-12 or Mark 16:1-8 or John 20:1-18)

What seemed like the end was the start of something new and amazing. Jesus died, but he didn’t stay dead.

The perfect God-man showed the world that he is more powerful than even death. THIS is why we can have hope and joy, it is why we celebrate Easter, it is what makes Christianity different.

Joy to the world, he is risen, hallelujah!

04/03/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week

Saturday, sometimes called Holy Saturday/Black Saturday. Everything was still - the disciples mourned.

After the death of Jesus on the Cross, the weight of grief falls heavy. For the disciples perhaps it felt like the story was over, a failed hope and broken dream of who Jesus was supposed to be.

Spend time getting into the mindset of Christ's followers. Sit with the hurt, the feeling of abandonment, the pain of that loss. What must they have been thinking/feeling? Spend time in silence and allow God to speak to you.

“Your only Son no sin to hide
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God

Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as he died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God”

04/02/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Good Friday, read Matthew 26:36-27:66

It is so vital that we don’t skip over the darkness of Friday to get to the victory of Sunday.

Allow yourself to be truly present to this story: Let your emotions move from Jesus’ anguish in the garden, to the disciples distress when he got arrested, feel their fear as Jesus stands before the Sanhedrin. Allow yourself to feel the desperation of Peter when he denies Jesus, the deep sorrow of Judas.

And then slow down and read the events leading up to the death of Christ. Feel what is happening, as well as you might know the story, try to feel it fresh. Don’t let yourself be numb to what happened. Don’t be numb to what God did for humanity.

Let yourself be overwhelmed (and grateful!) for what this allowed for us - “our sin upon his shoulders.”

“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

04/01/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Maundy Thursday, read Mark 14:12-25 or Matthew 26:17-35. It is from these events in the upper room that we understand the importance of communion and foot washing.

Maundy Thursday is maybe my favorite church day. I love what is behind these services, I love remembering what Jesus did with his disciples, I love the discourse in John, and I’ve always loved participating in the Maundy Thursday services. Having communion together and washing each other’s feet...it’s awkward, but in a beautiful way. It’s personal and intimate and communal and Godly.

This year you might not have the opportunity to participate in a Maundy Thursday service, but consider the mandate of Christ, “I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

If you have time, listen to John 13-17, find it on YouTube or your Bible app and LISTEN to the words of Christ. There is literally so much in these few chapters it’s impossible to cover in a post, but spend time with it and be present to what Christ spoke to the disciples...but also to us. Pray that God will give you understanding of these things you have heard.

03/31/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Wednesday, Read Matthew 26:3-5 and 14-16. This, for me, is such a sad and heart wrenching read. It’s so short but also so poignant. Judas walked with Jesus, learned from him, ate with him...we heard more about Judas a few weeks ago, now we can contemplate his story more fully.

We tend to judge Judas, but are any of us really so different? Have we not betrayed Christ? Sit in the knowledge that we are no better than Judas. Rather than judge him, allow yourself to be heartbroken for this man. How did he get to this point? Did the knowledge of what he did weigh on him?

Pray for understanding and compassion for Judas’ actions. Ask God to bring to mind times that you have betrayed God. Ask for forgiveness and thank God for amazing grace.

03/30/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Tuesday, read Mark 11:27-13:37. It’s a lot to cover but this is where Jesus is debating with the religious leaders and teaching in the temple, and then in chapter 13 we see an eschatological (doctrine of last things) discourse.

What questions would you have for Jesus if you sat and listened to him teach these things? Which parts of this cause you discomfort? Within this reading we also have the Greatest Commandment (Mark 12: 28-31). How is this foundational for all that Jesus teaches?

03/29/2021

Walk with Jesus through Holy Week:

Monday, read Mark 11: 12-19. Read slowly and stop and think about each section (cursing the fig tree, clearing the temple, priests plotting in the temple, return to Bethany).

Allow for small moments today to think about these things. Pray for deeper understanding of Jesus and of the disciples. What might the disciples have been thinking through this day and during each of these events? What do you think Jesus was feeling this day?

03/28/2021

Holy Week Devotional: Palm Sunday, A celebration of prophet, priest and king.

I always want to remember the significance of the events of this week and get caught up in the emotion of it, not just the end, but all of it. The danger for me, and for anyone else who has been in the church their whole life, is that it’s so easy to half listen because I know what’s coming.

To resist that, for the last decade or so, I have participated in a Walk Through Holy Week: a deliberate time of reflection and reading the story of Jesus’ week. It’s been so powerful for me.

If you want to join me this year, you are more than welcome, and I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Today is Palm Sunday: Read Mark 11:1-11. Be still and imagine being there, in the crowd, caught up in the energy. What must the people have felt? What would it have been like to be in that crowd? What are you feeling right now? Imagine what the disciples were experiencing.

Take a moment to pray, to thank God for the humble king on a donkey.

03/27/2021

Tomorrow is the start of Holy Week, an important week in the life of the church. Along with our regular sermons, we are also going to be posting devotionals every morning this week. Look for the first one tomorrow morning!