GBC community update: Why the need for Jesus sacrifice at Easter?

​Good morning! As was mentioned Sunday, we’ll be starting our Easter series this week as we prepare ourselves to remember the cross and the empty tomb. So, in order to help with this, my thoughts for the next 4 weeks will be centered around elements of the Easter story. I hope they are thought provoking and help in your personal preparation. He is risen, he is risen indeed!
 
 
Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow
Our next Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow night!  This event is for kids JK to grade 6 who invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and the next episode of our popular drama put on by the youth ministry.  O@M is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to remember how MONUMENTAL God is and celebrate his awesomeness.
 
 
Finance Update from our treasurer
Here’s the latest financial update from our treasurer, Ken Finlay.
General Fund Offerings - Year to Date end of February 2023
proposed Budget         $29,080
Actual                                   30,108
Surplus                                   1,028
(The Budget & Actuals above exclude contributions to the Pastor Fund)
 
Pastor Fund
Goal                                        $50,000
Contributions to date     32,760  (including the $27,550 contributed in 2022)
Still to be raised                 17,240
Thank you to all who gave!
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.1
At Easter we remember and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus. Have you ever wondered, though, why He needed to do this?
The prophet Micah wrote: “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness.” 
What does it mean to plead? Think of it this way: you’re caught. You’ve been arrested and charged. There’s not much point in resisting since you know you are guilty. You stand before the judge, ashamed and humiliated. What can you do? There is no way out of this unless someone pleads your case. But who would plead the case of someone who has already confessed to the crime? Actually, only one person could do such a thing – the injured party. The only person able to speak for the criminal is the victim.
That’s the scenario in Micah’s courtroom description: I have offended the Most High God. He is the injured party. Let’s personalize it now.  There is no question about my guilt. Therefore, only He is able to take up my case and bring about justice. The law demands punishment, but the victim can plead for mercy. If God doesn’t act on my behalf, there is nothing ahead but wrath and misery.
The Hebrew word we translate as ‘plead’ comes directly from the courtroom. It means to conduct a lawsuit, to contest and dispute in legal proceedings. God Himself uses this word to describe His accusation against idolatrous Israel in the Old Testament. Now Micah says that unless God takes up our verdict, we are lost. In the court of heaven, I need the best attorney in all creation, and that, of course, is the merciful Lord Himself. That’s why there was a need for a sacrifice. I’ll share more on this Thursday.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris