Antioch Odessa
Wednesday Nights Summer 2026
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    We want to welcome you to our “Remember the Cross” service. There are many churches who have a Good Friday service so this is much the same. If you are here tonight and our new to church we have this service to remember the death of Jesus and what He did for our sin. We call this Good Friday even though I know it is Wednesday because it truly is good, and wonderful, and so precious. Tonight is a reminder of the greatest sacrifice in all of human history and a reminder that because of our sin problem we so desperately our in need of a Savior.
    Scripture tells us that because of peoples stubborn and hardened hearts they are storing up wrath or building up wrath for themselves.
    “There is nothing more offensive to God’s holiness than our sin.” In other words, people who do not see that their sin offends God and who never confess their sin to God will someday experience the wrath of God because he is a just God. On the other hand because of God’s mercy those who run to God and seek forgiveness from their sin will find forgiveness through the gospel. This means that we are to repent of sin, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him to be our Lord and you will be saved.
    This is the heart of the Christian message! Jesus the Son of God became a man and died for sinners so that God’s justice was satisfied and sinful men can be reconciled to God. Please hear me tonight. There is a huge problem that many people have not come to fully understand. There are many folks today who walk around saying, “I just feel like I can’t do enough good works.” I just feel like there is something more that I need to do. You can never do enough good works to enter into heaven. You will never be good enough. That is why Jesus came to atone for you sin. Until you recognize that you are a sinner and you desperately need Jesus to take care of your sin you will continually try to earn your salvation and therefore you will always feel empty and come up short.
    The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the sole means by which God offers forgiveness to the world.
    John 14:6 ESV
    6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
    Acts 13:38 ESV
    38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
    In Jesus Christ we can have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.
    The saving of sinners was the entire reason why Jesus came to this earth and His mission would not be deterred.
    Luke 19:10 ESV
    10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
    Nothing happens without having faith or trust in God. True faith in Christ means that there comes a time in your life where you relinquish trust in yourself and transfer that trust to Christ. Genuine faith, according to God’s Word, always involves surrender to the will of God. When Jesus came to this earth his message was never about being a better leader or positive-thinking psychology like what we see so much of today. His message was turn from your sin and believe in me. Saving faith counts the cost and humbly cries out to God, as did the tax collector in the Lord’s parable in Luke 18 and verse 13, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
    -Is your faith real?
    -Do you have true life changing faith in God?
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    Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 18. Tonight we are going to take a look at Lukes account of the final days of Christ leading up to his death and the cross.
    Luke 18:31–33 ESV
    31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
    As the Lord draws close to Jerusalem He heals blind Bartimaeus, He shows kindness to Zacchaeus, and shares a parable about Him coming to judge the earth. In chapter 19 of Luke we read that Jesus now comes into Jerusalem to the wild and triumphant cheers of the crowd.
    Let’s look at some of the events that happened during this passion week.
    -On Monday Jesus went to the temple, cleansing it of the merchants and money changers. We see this at the end of chapter 19.
    -On Tuesday, Jesus walks into the heart of this enemy territory by having an argument about His authority. Jesus also took time on Tuesday to teach the crowds who had made their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. While in the temple that day Jesus noticed a poor woman who made a tremendous sacrifice because she had given everything she had. He took time to point out her sacrificial gift. Then Jesus preached and prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem.
    -In Luke 22:3-6 we learn that Judas joined the the Jewish leaders to come against Jesus.
    Luke 22:3–6 ESV
    3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
    This event likely happened sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday.
    -On Thursday of the Passion week Jesus gathered together with His disciples to celebrate the Passover and then instituted this new meal called the Lord’s Supper, which was intended to commemorate the new covenant in His blood.
    I find it so interesting that the Passover was a very special day in Israel which marked the time when the Hebrew people were redeemed from the Egyptians and their bondage to this people. Passover began back in Egypt when Israel sacrificed a lamb and put the blood of that lamb on their doors. At some point in Israel’s history it was customary to slay the lamb at about 3:00 in the afternoon. And down through history again and again the lambs were to be sacrificed because this was only a temporary fix to mankind’s sin problem.
    We read about the Passover and the institution of the Lord’s supper in Luke 22:7-23.
    After the Supper had finished up Jesus then led several of his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was late Thursday night where Jesus got alone to agonize in prayer before He was arrested.
    -Sometime early Friday morning Jesus was handed over to Pilate since the Jewish leaders lacked the legal authority to pronounce the death penalty. There a civil trial was held and it was there that Jesus was sentenced to death and led away for public execution at a place called the Skull.
    Let me take a moment tonight to read to you the details of the Lord’s crucifixion. Turn with me to Luke 23.
    Luke 23:26–49 ESV
    26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
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    As we have taken a look at this Passover week there are several brief reflections that I want to point out to us tonight.

    1. We are to be distinct from the world.

    Throughout the Lord’s ministry the religious leaders despised his teaching and were frustrated at his healing of people on the Sabbath. Very early on they were looking for a way on how they might kill him. However, they feared what the people thought of them. If you have a genuine faith in Christ, there will come times where you will bear some of the reproach that Christ himself bore. Why is that??? Well because Christianity and the message of the gospel confront the system of the world by being distinct from it. It exposes sin so it can point to the remedy which is Jesus. If we are truly committed to Christ our lives will definitely be distinct from the world. Even though we are trying to reach the world for Christ we are called to live differently not to blend in and hide with them.

    2. The Cross of Christ is the main point of our faith.

    It has always been so interesting to me of how many people where a cross as a necklace. I see many people famous people who clearly don’t believe in Jesus where a cross necklace. When you think about Jesus there may be different pictures that come to your mind. Some people think of Christ as a baby in a manger. Others think of Jesus as a wonderful miracle worker who healed blind and lame people. There are some who think of Jesus as a fired-up preacher who had a great impact on the crowds. But one of the images that stand out above the rest is Jesus on the cross. But why is this??? When we really begin to understand Jesus we think about what He did for us. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith if you have trusted in Him. Christ’s suffering on the cross is the focal point of the Christian faith. It is here that we see His deity, His humanity, His work, and His suffering and He did this for His people.

    3. Our hope then is in the Lord’s resurrection.

    We are definitely going to talk more about this on Sunday, but let me just briefly mention tonight that the resurrection of Jesus is the greatest even in history. No it’s not the Cowboys winning the Super bowl. It’s not us sending a man to the moon or scientists coming up with cures for diseases. The resurrection is the foundation to Christianity. Without the resurrection there would be no Christian faith, salvation, or hope. Our hope as believers can be summed up from this wonderful verse in John chapter 11.
    John 11:25 ESV
    25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
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    (Close in a word of Prayer)
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  • Holy Holy Holy
  • Tonight as we gather together I want to talk to you about the fact that Christians can so easily be blinded to common sins. When we go back to the very beginning of time, back to the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were blinded to sin. In Genesis chapter 3 everything started out very well but then the serpent came to Eve and said, “Did God actually say, you shall not eat of any tree in the garden? And Eve said God told them that they may not eat of the tree that is in the midst of the garden or they will die. Satan deceived Eve by telling her that she would not die and that she would be like God knowing good and evil.” So, she and Adam ate of the tree and sin entered into the world. Genesis chapter 3 calls this the “Fall.” Ever since the fall men and women have been blinded to various sins.
    God’s Word tells us much about sin and our sin problem. Turn with me to Proverbs chapter 6.
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    Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV
    16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
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    It is very interesting here that the sins of pride and being divisive are listed alongside of murder. We also see that this list is similar to the one that Paul gives us in Romans chapter 1 and even in 1 Timothy chapter 3 where Paul includes disobedience to parents and being ungrateful alongside of hating God and being heartless.
    My point here is that of course not all sins are of the same degree of wickedness. There are some sins that we know of that are more serious or heinous in themselves because they are sins that are contrary to nature like homosexuality and bestiality. However, we as believers must fight the tendency to emphasize certain sins and then overlook lesser sins as if they were not that bad. I want you too see here that every sin we commit makes us guilty before the face of God, which is why he tells us some very difficult news.
    Romans 6:23 ESV
    23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    Romans 3:23 ESV
    23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
    We have all sinned, and because of our sin the consequences or wages of our sin is death in hell for all of eternity. The good news however is if we confess our sin, Christ will forgive us and we will be made righteous in him and live with Christ eternally.
    Over the summer months we are going to take a look at some of the most common sins that we face. These sins may not seem like a big deal too many Christians, however these are commonly tolerated by many believers.
    -Neglecting Evangelism.
    -Envy.
    -Being Judgmental.
    -Laziness.
    -The Vain use of God’s name.
    -Anxiety.
    -Being Divisive.
    -Greed.
    -Gossip.
    Church, we cannot act as if these sins do not offend a holy and righteous God. We cannot ignore any sin even as some sins stand out to us more than others, because again every sin is a transgression against God and His law.
    I think that it can be very easy for us as believers to ignore the sins that involve our failing to act or to be obedient to what we are supposed to do.
    If you are like me than I think that we can all have the tendency to overlook our own sins while highlighting the sins of others. Sometimes we can get angry when we are around other Christians who sin differently than we do. In other words, it is easy for us to focus on the speck in our brother’s eye and overlook the log in our own eye.
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    Matthew 7:3–5 ESV
    3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
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    Church, as we think about our own life and the sin that we know that we are prone to do or that we struggle with we should always take a look first at our own lives and strive to hate our sins more than trying to find fault with other Christians who sin differently than we do.
    May we never overlook our own sins as we pray that God opens our eyes to see those sins that we may be blind to, always remembering that there is more grace in God than sin in us.
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    Tonight I want to take time to seek the Lord in prayer. One of the most important duties of the church is to pray. We want to be known as a praying church.
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    A.W. Pink said, “Prayer is the way and the means God has appointed for the communication of the blessings of His goodness to His people.”

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    John Newton said, “Jesus loves to answer prayer. He himself has bid you pray, rise, and ask without delay.”

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    Scripture gives us a wonderful example of how we should pray. Many people are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer. It is hear that we see Christ teaching his disciples on how to pray.
    Matthew 6:9–13 ESV
    9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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    (Read first line of What a friend we have in Jesus)
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    -Take time to explain the prayer book.
    -Matt will Read the call to Prayer.
    -We will read the Confession of Sin and the Assurance of Pardon together.
    -Then I will go over the requests part and explain to them to pray together for these requests.
    (Matt will Pray and dismiss groups to pray)
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      • Proverbs 6:16–19ESV

      • Romans 6:23ESV

      • Romans 3:23ESV

      • Matthew 7:3–5ESV

      • Matthew 6:9–13ESV

  • Take My Life And Let It Be
  • God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
  • We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
Antioch Odessa
acc.it@antiochchristian.org
432-366-5617
http://www.antiochchristian.org
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