I’m so excited to share what our theme will be for our 4th season at Avalon Beach Church:
Each Sunday through September 24th, we will gather on the 30th Street beach in Avalon, NJ to worship Jesus, pray and study together a verse from the Bible that comes from a 3rd chapter and the 16th verse.
Last week we looked at Matthew 3:16: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”
We looked at the amazing RESTRAINT of Jesus. His baptism launched him into public ministry, and he waited until he was 30. That means that this man, who knew who He was, patiently waited through adolescence and young adulthood. He waited until it was in His Father’s “fullness of time.” This is a guy who could walk on water, and only did it once!
We looked at the admirable RESPECT of Jesus. John the Baptist knew that he baptized with water, but the one he was preparing the way for would baptize with fire. When Jesus approached him for baptism, John said “not a chance! I need to be baptized by you!” But Jesus respected John’s ministry and said that it was necessary. Even more, Jesus was baptized out of respect for you and for me. He came to fully identify with humanity’s sin. Ultimately, he would do this fully through his death on the cross. Jesus experienced John’s baptism for the repentance of sin out of respect for our human condition.
We looked at the awesome RELEASE of love and power at Jesus’ baptism. The Father gushed from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And the Holy Spirit descended onto Jesus like a dove. The whole Trinity was involved in this very special day. Jesus would rely on the Father’s timing and the power of the Holy Spirit for the rest of his ministry on earth.
In this “Summer of 3:16,” we will patiently wait on the Father, engage in Christ’s deep passion to identify with our sin and suffering and believe for an awesome outpouring of love and power; RESTRAINT, RESPECT and RELEASE.
THIS WEEK’S 3:16 is from Mark: “These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)”
I can’t wait to share with you the significant things I see from Christ changing Simon’s name to Peter!
Join us this Sunday at 9am on the 30th Street beach in Avalon – bring your beach chair and your whole family – it’s going to be epic!
Avalon Beach Church 