Resources on the Cross

Resurrection Day is just around the corner. It certainly presents great opportunity to reach the CEO church attenders of Grand Prairie (Christmas and Easter Only). For that I am thankful, and look forward to the opportunity to share the Gospel. For Christians, Resurrection Sunday is a time to further strengthen our commitment to love, serve, declare, meditate on, etc… Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. It's not that March 24^th, 2008 is more special than any other Sunday, or that we are less committed to the Gospel the rest of the year (as we tend to be regarding the birth of Christ), but we take time to remember specific events of the final week of Jesus' life. So here are a few cross-centerd resources that I can recommend:

This is a combination of The Cross Centered Life and Christ Our Mediator. C.J. Mahaney has made it his goal in life to pass on his passion for the cross and I can't think of a better resource to recommend as we approach Resurrection Day. Though I've read it before, I am taking the time to read it again over the coming weeks. There are more technical books that I'll could recommend that deal with substitutionary atonement and are heavier reading, but Living the Cross Centered Life is very readable, engaging and thoughtful. You'll be reminded to rejoice at the unique benefits for believers because of Christ's work on the cross. There is great opportunity to pause and reflect on the depth of the love our Lord for us and the immense pain he bore. It is a great reminder of why I love Jesus. So, in addition to reading and re-reading the Gospel accounts, read this book.

 

J.S. Bach is usually my favorite composer. He was intentional with every note from a musical standpoint, but even more so from a theological standpoint. I can't think of any other work of his that this is more true of than his St. Matthew Passion (you can purchase the physical cds or purchase mp3s for immediate download). It does focus on the passion of Christ- his suffering- so make sure and follow up with something on the resurrection. In addition to the cd set, you'll want to click here to find some background info. and a side-by-side translation of the lyrics (courtesy of the Minnesota Public Radio site). This is the best recording that I've heard. So, in addition to reading and re-reading the Gospel accounts, listen to this.

 

My top recommendation is to pick up your nearest Bible and read eye-witness accounts of Jesus as he bore your sin on the cross. Read it slowly and let the truth of God's word impact your heart and stir your affections for him.