A Risky Royal!

Hi,
Welcome to Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Today is about risk taking. Imagine coming into the capital city of an occupied country with the population proclaiming you as a king!

Jesus is told by the Pharasees to 'keep it down', both by those who were scared of the Roman reaction against the people and those who feared for Jesus if the Romans took action.

Are we afraid to proclaim our King? Does he disturb our life-style? Do we want only a great teacher, where we can pick and choose from His words, are are we just too comfortable in our own world?

Listen to Pastor Johns message about the risks and rewards of proclaiming our King.

Download and listen to: A Risky Royal!

Illawarra Lutheran Parish
1st April 2007
Palm Sunday

Prayer of the Day

Loving Father of all, your only Son came as a servant and was obedient all the way to his death on the cross. Make us humble like Christ, and bring us to be with him in his glory. For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer Points

• Give thanks that God sent Jesus to be your King.
• Give thanks that Jesus rules in our lives through love and forgiveness.
• Pray for the courage to proclaim Jesus as Lord in difficult circumstances.
• Pray for Christians throughout the world who suffer persecution for their faith on a daily basis.
• Pray for the ability to respect other cultures and religions but at the same time holding true to Jesus as the only way to the Father.
• Pray for those in our community suffering illness: Fritz Tysar, Wolfgang Gutjahr, Helga Schulze, Spodra Muldins, Wendy & Hardy Blaas, Ellie Nassap.
• Pray for Pastor Peter Ausserwinkler and the German Lutheran congregations in Sydney.
• Give thanks for the work of Turning Point Ministries and in particular Tanya Paschke and Aimee Macgregor who have touched the lives of so many young people over the years.
• Pray for the young people who will attend Easter camp this coming weekend that they would be given a deeper understanding of what Jesus has done for them.
• Pray for safety on the roads during the holidays.
• Give thanks for those in the police force who help to maintain law and order.

Todays Readings
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Phillipians 2:5-11
Luke 19:29-40

Notes on the Readings.

ISAIAH 50:4-9: This suffering servant song of Isaiah characterises a faithful prophet of the Lord who is both persecuted and hailed before court. The section portrays his life-long daily learning from the Lord, his readiness willingly to undergo spiteful, degrading and violent treatment in obedience to the Lord, and his rock-solid firmness, despite all, to trust implicitly in his ultimate public acceptance as righteous. He can therefore confidently rise above the seeming victory of his accusers. Jesus again fits the conditions of the prophecy.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11: St Paul uses Christ as an example of humility for the Philippian Christians. He who existed in full measure as God did not hesitate to lay aside his rights and majesty by assuming human form. This he did in order to undergo the humiliation and curse of human death, thus to serve the greatest need of humanity. After the cross, however, comes the crown. He now exercises every power, prerogative and glory of the Godhead which is his rightful due. Every knee must bow, whether in wondrous gratitude for free salvation, or in facing final judgment upon its persistent rejection. This reading conveys both the humble majesty of the entry to Jerusalem and the purposeful assumption of rejection and the sorrows of his passion.