GBC Community Update: Who's got the body?

Good morning! I hope you’re making this a great week! Greetings from sunny Florida! Jennifer, Esther and I are taking some time away in Orlando, our first since before Covid. I’m thankful for this opportunity.  See you when we get back!
 
 
Connecting with our Care Ministry
For those who call Guelph Bible Chapel their home church, our Care Ministries can provide spiritual and/or physical support in times of need.   Please reach out if you need support through prayer, a visit from one of our pastors or elders, or practical help after surgery, childbirth, or a sudden change in your life situation. 
 
As a reminder, Care Ministries is the umbrella term for 6 ministries: Prayer Chain, Visitation, Meals on Wheels, Compassion Fund, Property/Physical Needs, & Health Matters.   You are welcome to call/email CM Coordinator, Helen Martini, or connect directly with the leader(s) of each ministry. More details are in the brochure/directory.
 
As our GBC family is growing, our needs will be growing also. Please call Helen if you would like to chat about opportunities to share your time & talents to benefit our church family. 
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we prepare for Easter
We shift focus from our series on Romans to the essence of the firm foundation our faith stands on- what happened that first Easter weekend nearly 2000 years ago.
This year we will be sequentially following several key elements of the Easter story culminating in our celebration service on Easter Sunday, April 9.
This Sunday Patrick will be speaking about what happened after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and how it ties to Easter.  Find out how this Sunday.
If you’d like to prepare, you can read John 11:45-57
If you can’t make it you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE.
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? 
                                     …an examination of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
For we who are followers of Jesus this may be something we don’t even think about. Yet in the world around us this is an important and legitimate question. Why is this important?  It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of Christians have lived and died for a hoax.  You may say, ‘but Chris, I believe’. Great!  But lots of others don’t. So, as we seek to let our light shine, and engage with the world around us with the Good News of life in Jesus, I’d like to share some evidence for the resurrection.  Let’s take a look.
 
Facts always speak louder than opinions. Let’s examine some of the historical evidence for the resurrection and see where the facts lead.
 
One preliminary consideration: countless scholars–among them, the apostle Paul, Augustine, Sir Isaac Newton and C. S. Lewis–believed in the resurrection. We need not fear committing intellectual suicide by accepting it as well since we’re in great company.
Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians that “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He was raised on the third day. He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom remain until now.” 
Understand that this was written about 20 years after the event so could have been researched and refuted then, yet it wasn’t.  That’s what we’d call contemporary historical evidence.
 
Speaking of evidence, consider this: the explosive growth of the Christian church
Within a few weeks after the crucifixion a movement arose which, by the later admission of its enemies, “upset the world.” Something happened to ignite this movement a very short time after its leader had been executed and it’s been going ever since. Things like that don’t happen, and more importantly last, without a lasting, tangible stimulus. I’ll look at this further next week as we continue to prepare for Easter.  Until then, we can be confident that what we believe on faith has a solid foundation in fact and history. I hope that’s an encouragement to you today.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris