Worship Service for March 28, 2021
Palm Sunday

WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to CrossPointe Community Church’s on-line worship presentation. I thank God for all of you and for the opportunity to spend these moments with you. If you’d like to reach out to me, I’d love to hear from you. You can e-mail me at randykmeyer@hotmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Today, as we record this, it is Friday. By now, Sunday morning, we will know how much money was raised by the Chippewa Lake Lions Club Where’s Chippy? Fundraiser. As of Wednesday, CrossPointer’s were responsible for 82 tickets. That equals $4,100! I thank each and every one of you who purchased and/or sold tickets. A special shout out to CrossPointe’s Alan Robbins, who heads up the entire project and has spent countless hours going back to last year planning this event along with his team of fearless Lions! And to his wife, Vanna, for being lost Chippy who was found and then jumped in the swimming pool at SHC. I also want to thank Annie Dean for her efforts to communicate all the pertinent information about what the Lions do for our community, how much they have given to CrossPointe and how we have used those funds over the last several years to accomplish many mission goals.

As it concerns Easter worship, I am still trying to decide on whether to add a 9am service. So far 19 persons have e-mailed me to say they plan on being in worship on Easter at 10:30am. I know there will be more than that. We have been averaging 40 since we re-opened. And we can accommodate 60 safely. SO, please let me know if you plan on attending so I can plan accordingly.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that these things had been done to Him.

John 12:12-16

OPENING WORSHIP SONGS

Sing

Sorensen, Taylor

I rise up in the morning
Joy is there in the morning
I stay awake through the midnight
Hope is there in the midnight
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna

When the mountains sing their praises
I will sing all the louder
Hear the tree as its voice raises
I will lift my voice higher
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna

Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
Or the trees will get to sing hosanna
Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
All the earth will get to sing
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna

Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
Or the trees will get to sing hosanna
Or the rocks will get to sing hosanna
All the earth will get to sing
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Sing, sing, sing hosanna
Or the rocks will get to sing.

©Lil’ Yella House Music, Couchboy Style Company Publishing,
Clumsy Fly Music, Dayspring Music LLC CCLI License No. 1843349

Majesty (Here I Am)

Smith, Martin & Garrard, Stuart

Here I am, humbled by Your Majesty.
Covered by Your grace so free.
Here I am, knowing I’m a sinful man,
Covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Now I’ve found
The greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life,
The greatest sacrifice.
Majesty, Majesty,
Your grace has found me just as I am,
Empty handed but alive in Your hands.

Here I am, humbled by the love that You give,
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I am, knowing that I’m Your desire,
Sanctified by glory and fire.

Now I’ve found
The greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life,
The greatest sacrifice.

Majesty, Majesty,
Your grace has found me just as I am,
Empty handed but alive in Your hands.

Singing Majesty, Majesty,
Forever I am changed by Your love
In the presence of Your Majesty, Majesty.

©2002 Kingway’s Thankyou Music
CCLI License No. 1843349

Majesty

Hayford, Jack

Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority, flows from His throne
Unto His own, His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

©1981 Rocksmith Music (Mandina/Rocksmith Music [c/o Trust Music Management, Inc.])
CCLI License No. 1843349

OPENING PRAYER

God Most High, gracious and glorious, blessed is the one who comes in Your name. Blessed are you, God in highest heaven! How humbly You entered our world to reign: in Christ Jesus on a dusty road, riding a donkey. As we worship You on this Palm Sunday, and recall the events of Holy Week in the life of our Lord, lead us on the road that leads to the cross. May we follow with faithfulness and joy, shouting hosanna in the highest heaven; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, amen.

HE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

I will be at the church today until 12 noon if you would like to bring your offering. Or you may send it in to:

CrossPointe Community Church
PO Box 126
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215

As we consider once again, the call upon our lives as Christ followers to give as Christ has given to us, here’s a verse to think about: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (Matthew 6:24).

PRAYER SONG

I Come to the Cross

Somma, Bob/Batstone, Bill

I come to the cross
Seeking mercy and grace,
I come to the cross
Where You died in my place.
Out of my weakness
And into Your strength,
Humbly, I come to the cross.

Your arms are open,
You call me by name.
You welcome this child
That was lost.
You paid the price
For my guilt and my shame.
Jesus, I come,
Jesus, I come,
Jesus, I come to the cross.

©1996 Maranatha Praise, Inc./Meadowgreen Music Company
CCLI License No. 1843349

MORNING PRAYER

Jim Brandenburg

Would you please join me in a moment of prayer…

Our Great and Awesome Father, we thank you for the many blessings which you shower upon us every moment of every day. Thank you for the sun and moon and stars. The paintings in the sky that cause us to wonder of your greatness. Humbled by your majesty. Thank you for the trees and animals and nature. How you surround us with such beauty. You truly love your children. Calling us by name to come to you to receive your mercy and grace. We thank you, Father.

Lord, as we come before you in this time of prayer, may we humbly ask that you listen to the cries of our hearts. We have concerns and worries. We sometimes have fears. These can cause us to stumble. To lose our direction and focus on you. Let us proclaim with one voice, that you have authority over everything, and with that confidence, we ask that you take these stumbling blocks from us and restore us. And may all glory and honor be unto you, Christ Jesus.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, help us to focus on the message that you sent out into the world. Having received lashings, slaps, spat upon, mocked, and then the nails, which we provided through our sin, that held you to the rugged cross. The words that you spoke through all of that is, I love you. I will do anything to have you with me for eternity.

You left your throne in heaven to become a human and suffer for us. You took upon yourself the sins of the world. How many Kings would suffer and die for their people?
We come to the cross seeking mercy and grace. Both we do not deserve, but because of your great love for us, you freely give.

As Jesus enters on the colt this Palm Sunday, may we shout “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”

And we will sing out, Hosanna in the Highest, with all the angels of heaven, with the trees and rocks and with all the people of the earth. Your majesty has forgiven us so that we may forgive others. Your mercy has shown us what love really is. May we be empowered by the holy spirit, your helper that you sent, to go out into the world and proclaim your victory over sin and death and share the “Good News”.
We are not abandoned or orphaned. We belong to you. We love you too. Abba.

Through your Son Jesus, We pray and give thanks… Amen…

SCRIPTURE

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped Him across the face.

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring Him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find Him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”

When they saw Him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
“Take him yourselves and crucify Him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law He ought to die because He called Himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked Him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release You or crucify You?”

Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over Me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Then Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”
“Away with Him,” they yelled. “Away with Him! Crucify Him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by Himself, He went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed Him to the cross. Two others were crucified with Him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And He said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:1-30

THE MESSAGE

Randy K’Meyer

One Word . . . ‘Him’

Him, in Him, believes in Him; Jesus.

There have been many remarkable religious figures throughout human history,
but none like Him.

Love, compassion, mercy and grace flowed from Him and enveloped all people. He forgave the woman caught in adultery, He invited a hated tax collector to be one of His disciples, He was willing to reach out and touch the untouchables. Matthew says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Think about the masterful teachings that graced His listener’s ears: the golden Rule, the beatitudes, humility, servanthood, love for all people. Think of the stories of God’s grace: the Good Samaritan, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the Prodigal Son.

How about the precious promises of salvation that that come from this gospel alone:

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again.
Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:11

I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying.

John 11:25

Then there are the magnificent miracles that sealed the deal concerning His divinity: the healings of the blind, the deaf, the lame, the stilling of the storm, the feeding of the 5,000, the raisings of a little girl, a widow’s son and his friend Lazarus.

No wonder Mark says that on Palm Sunday, “the entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as He entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 19:38).

Surely, Jesus was the most extraordinary human being who ever lived, for the things that He accomplished and for the way He lived His life. And if those were the only things we could say about Jesus, it is more than enough for any human being to aspire to be like and follow Him.

However, far and away, above and beyond His miracles, His teachings, His great compassion, His precious promises, is the glory of His cross.

For it is on the cross that God absolutely did not only His best work, but His most consequential, His most essential work, His most indispensable work. This is why Paul writes In Corinthians:

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

Fleming Rutledge in his much heralded book, simply titled, The Crucifixion, writes,

There have been many famous deaths in world history; we might think of John F. Kennedy, or Marie Antoinette, or Cleopatra. But we do not refer to ‘the assassination,’ ‘the guillotining,’ or ‘the poisoning.’ But when we speak of ‘the crucifixion,’ everybody knows what it refers to. Even though there were thousands of people crucified in Roman times, only the crucifixion of Jesus is remembered as having any significance, let alone world-transforming significance. 1

All the religions of the world have their founders, their teachers, their heroes; but only the Christian religion offers their hero, and in this case God, on a cross. How absolutely unique! How scandalous!! How outrageous!!! How shocking!!!!

Speaking of shocking, the Franciscan University of Steubenville posted a series of Facebook ads to promote their on-line Master’s program. The next day Facebook notified the school they rejected and removed the ad for its offensive imagery that contained, “shocking, sensational, excessively violent content.”

Would you like to know what the offensive image was? It was the San Damiano Cross, often used by St. Francis of Assisi.

After receiving backlash from many sources, Facebook reversed its decision. Not before; however, the University ingeniously posted a blog actually agreeing with Facebook’s assessment:

Indeed, the crucifixion of Christ was the most sensational action in history;

Man executed his God. It was shocking, yes. And it was certainly excessively violent: A man scourged to within an inch of his life, nailed naked to a cross and left to die; all the hate of all the world poured out its wrath upon Him.” 2

Behold, His cross is shocking!

For on His cross we come face to face with the depth of humanity’s sin, and, at the same time, the love and grace of Jesus!

For it was upon the cross that, as Paul writes the Corinthians, “He who knew no sin became sin for us that we (that is, you and I) might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

Three-year-old Shawn accompanied his dad to church on Palm Sunday. The father wanted his son to understand the meaning of the Holy Day, so he tried to explain the significance of the cross which hung at the front of the church. He said, “Jesus died because people nailed Him to the cross.”
The little boy’s eyes widened as he scanned the church. He asked his dad, “You mean these people?”

And the answer is, yes, these people. For it is absolutely Biblically true that our sins required His crucifixion!

You know, it would be one thing for a Secret Service agent to ‘take a bullet’ for President of the United States. That’s what Paul was illustrating in Romans 5:7-8: “Perhaps for a good man, someone would dare even to die.” “But, (he continues), God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us.” Jesus “took the bullet” for us on His cross, not because we were noble or innocent people, but so that we would not have to pay the price for our own sin.

That would be like the policeman dying for the protester who was spitting in his face and burning the American flag. That would be like the fireman sacrificing his life to put out a fire started by an arsonist. That would be like a soldier laying down his life to save the very enemy who was trying to kill him.

Who does that? GOD does that! THAT is what Jesus did for us. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). If we don’t understand that yet, then we don’t really understand our sin or God’s grace.

His cross is the crux of the matter! His cross, His cross, His cross!

That’s why we sing, “I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace, I come to the cross where You died in my place.” 3

So my friends, I have to ask you the most important question anyone can be asked: ‘Have you come to His cross?’

I’m not asking you if you believe in God.

I’m not asking you if you were raised in the church.

I’m not asking you if you listened to a sermon or a meaningful song and were suddenly overcome with emotion and began to cry.

I’m not asking you if in the middle of a personal crisis, you cried out to God and felt a feeling of peace.

I’m not asking you if you come to church every Sunday.

I’m not asking you if you volunteer or serve God in some way.

I’m asking you if you have come to His cross!

Perceived experiences with God don’t matter, feelings don’t matter, when it comes to being saved from our sins. The only thing that matters when it comes to being saved from our sins is whether or not you trust in, rely on and cling to the cross . . . His cross!

I love that old hymn Rock of Ages, the third verse of which says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” 4

The Christian message is not a list of things that you and I can do for God. The Christians message is what God, in Christ, has done for us! The Christian message is that “God loves us so much He gave His only Son!” The Christians message is that on His cross Jesus died for our sins!

“Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine, since He laid down His life, the perfect sacrifice.” 5

No wonder Paul writes, “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

Oh my friends, the cross of Jesus is the crux of the matter. It’s the cross, the cross, the cross; His cross. It’s all about Him!

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

Have you come to His cross? What’s preventing you from coming to the cross this Palm Sunday?

On Palm Sunday, we recall the triumphal entry of Jesus.

But Jesus was not fooled by the actions of those praising His name. John 2:25 says, “No one needed to tell Him about human nature, for He knew what was in each person’s heart.” And He knew full-well that by Good Friday they would be calling for His death.

And yet He rode steadfastly on into Jerusalem with His eye on the cross. He knew that if He could get through suffering temporarily we could be spared from suffering forever.

Not that it was easy for Him. Consider His passionate prayer in the Garden just prior to His arrest: (Mark 14:36).

“Abba Father, everything is possible for you.” (in other words, He was expressing) There is a way out; I need not endure the pain and humiliation after all everything is indeed possible, legions of angels await My command.

“Please take this cup of suffering away from Me.” (again, if I might interpret) There I’ve said it, the prayer has passed my lips, I give in, I give up, I cannot bear the torture of the whip, the horror of the cross, there must be some other way, I beg You Father if there is any other way.

“Yet I want Your will to be done not Mine.” (in other words) More than anything right now I wish to be rescued. Father, I know that’s what You desire too; rescue, not for Me, but rather for all who will choose to have faith in Me. I know Father we cannot have one rescue without surrendering the other, Therefore, I yield, Your greater will Father becomes mine.

That’s how much the Father loves us. His own Son was crying out for help; begging to be relieved of having to go through the agony He was facing. But for our sakes, the Father did not answer Jesus’ prayer for deliverance so that He could answer our prayer for deliverance!

“Have you come to the cross seeking mercy and grace
Have you come to the cross, where He died in your place.
Out of your weakness and into His strength,
Humbly have you come to the cross.
His arms are open, He calls you by name,
He welcomes you who were lost.
He paid the price for your guilt and your shame.” 6

Will you come to the cross of Jesus?

It’s all about Him. His love, His sacrifice.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him” (John 3:16). Him.

I close with a story of a dear saintly woman who was gradually losing her memory, as well as her life. The woman cherished the Word of God and had committed many verses to memory. Her favorite verse was II Timothy 1:12:

For I know in whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Eventually she was confined to a bed in a nursing home. As her family would visit, she would quote scripture, especially II Timothy 1:12. But with the passing of time, even parts of this well-known verse began to slip away along with her. “I know whom I have believed,” she would say, “He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him.”

As her voice grew weaker, the cherished verse grew shorter: “What I have entrusted to Him.”

As she was dying her voice became so faint family members had to lean very close until there was only one word of her life verse left: “Him.” She whispered it again and again as she stood on the threshold of heaven: “Him, Him, Him.”

That one word was all that was left.

But it was all that was needed.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord God, almighty, all-merciful, how great is Your love that You went down to the depths for us: into suffering, sin, and shame, into darkness, despair, and death. We trust in You, O Lord – we trust in You alone. As we turn to face the cross, show us Jesus, in all His suffering and glory, so that we may believe and have eternal life; through Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Amen.

CLOSING SONG

Worthy is the Lamb

Zschech, Darlene

Thank You for the cross, Lord.
Thank You for the price You paid.
Bearing all my sin and shame,
In love You came
And gave amazing grace.

Thank You for this love, Lord.
Thank You for the nail-pierced hands.
Washed me in Your cleansing flow,
Now all I know,
Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb,
Seated on the throne.
Crown You now with many crowns,
You reign victorious.
High and lifted up,
Jesus, Son of God.
The Darling of heaven, crucified.

Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.

Thank You for the cross, Lord.
Thank You for the price You paid.
Bearing all my sin and shame,
In love You came
And gave amazing grace.

Thank You for this love, Lord.
Thank You for the nail-pierced hands.
Washed me in Your cleansing flow,
Now all I know,
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb,
Seated on the throne.
Crown You now with many crowns,
You reign victorious.
High and lifted up,
Jesus, Son of God.
The Darling of heaven, crucified.

Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.

Worthy is the Lamb,
Seated on the throne.
Crown You now with many crowns,
You reign victorious.
High and lifted up,
Jesus, Son of God.
The Darling of heaven, crucified.

Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb.

©2000 Darlene Zschech/Hillsong Publishing
CCLI License No. 1843349

BENEDICTION

May God, whose arms were spread wide on the cross to embrace the entire world, help us this week to take up our cross and follow Him. Amen.

1 Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, [Grand Rapids, Michigan: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, © 2016), page 3-4

2 Facebook Rejects Theology Ad: ‘Cross is Shocking and Excessively Violent’
Rebecca Manley Pippert, Stay Salt, (Good Book Company, 2020) pp. 132-133
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2021/march/facebook-rejects-theology-ad-cross-is-shocking-and-excessiv.html

3 I Come to the Cross, 1996 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Admin. by Music Services) Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing).

4 Rock of Ages, Augustus Toplady, Public Domain

5 Majesty (Here I am) Martin Smith | Stuart Garrard
© 2003, 2004 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

6 I Come to the Cross, 1996 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Admin. by Music Services) Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing).