The Apostle Paul had a problem.  It was Jesus’ death.  Jesus died as criminal, nailed to a cross on the Hill of Calvary, between two other criminals, until he died.

According the Jewish tradition the Jewish Messiah would be a descendant of King Dave.  He would liberate the Jewish kingdom from the occupiers, in this case the Romans.  He would usher in a period of peace and prosperity.  He would be a great leader and political genius, but he would not be divine.

In Jewish tradition the concept of dying on a tree, as seen in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, was seen as cursed and a public humiliation, a sign of judgement from God.  To Paul it was only natural that this cult which had developed around the Jesus story needed to be removed, hence Paul’s active persecution of the Jesus followers.

It was not until during his journey to Damascus to prosecute Christians, when Jesus appeared to Paul, Acts 9.  There was a blinding light.  Paul was thrown from his horse and he heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Why are you persecuting me?’

It was then Paul converted and became the Apostle who took Christianity to the Gentiles.

In Paul’s eyes what happened was that on the cross Jesus took on the sins of all humanity, Jesus was cursed, and dyed for those sins.  He was the ultimate sacrifice.  Because God brought Jesus back to life, that met Jesus had been forgiven, and blessed.  Paul’s message was that forgiveness came to us through the acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice and our life eternal came to us through acceptance of Jesus’ resurrection.  It was a matter of immersing ourselves in the actions of Jesus, done for us.

Which brings us to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 2:8-9.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Join us for our July 27th Worship Service.

Photo:  Our Musicians and Praise Team

Gathering Music:                                      Christina Eiler

"Great is Thy Faithfulness"

"Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us"

Announcements:                                          Rod Thompson                

Call To Worship:                                                             Cheryl Letterman

Songs of Praise:                                                              Praise Team

 "Good, Good Father"

"Since Jesus Came Into My Life"

Congregational Prayer:                                  Pastor Rob Schleef

Scripture:                                       Pastor Bob Ramos

John 10:10-13

Message:                                                                          Pastor Bob

"The Significance of a Good Shepherd"

Dedication of Offerings:                                                         Jodi Ponce

Doxology:                                                                   Praise Team

Closing Hymn:                                                                          Praise Team

"I Thank God"

Blessing:                                                              Pastor Ron

Ron Urzua, Pastor

Bob Ramos and Rob Schleef, Commissioned Lay Pastors

Music Director: Aleeya Flores

Accompanist: Christina Eiler

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