Here’s my favorite message for Good Friday. It has become a tradition to post it every year on this day:

“It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming” by Dr. Tony Campolo.

Here’s a link to where the famous tape can be downloaded.

The whole tape is great but the best part is toward the end when Tony Campolo recalls one Sunday when he had a little preaching competition with the head pastor at the church where he was attending.

Dr. Campolo tells how he preached the perfect sermon in every way and had taken the congregation to ‘the heights of glory’. As he sat down beside his pastor, Dr. Tony patted him on the knee and simply said, “Top that.” The older black pastor looked at him and said, “Boy, watch the master.” Then Dr. Campolo recalls for us the very brilliant message which followed.

The following is just a taste of what the climax is like in the 45 minute tape/sermon.  it doesn’t really do justice to the original but this printed abbreviated version is inspirational none the less:

It’s Friday But Sunday’s Coming—

It was a simple sermon, starting softly, building in volume and intensity until the entire congregation was completely involved, repeating the phrases in unison. The sermon went something like this:

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it’s Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking because now it’s Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it’s Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it’s Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It’s Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.

It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it’s Sunday.

At the end of the message the pastor shouts out:

It’s Friiidaaaay!

And the whole congregation responds:

But Sunday’s Coming!

*Top

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 25: 1-14:

25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

² It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,
⁷ for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
⁸ do not hastily bring into court,^[a]
for^[b] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
⁹ Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,
¹⁰ lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end. … –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 24: 23-34:

²³ These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
²⁴ Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
²⁵ but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips. …

³² Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
³⁴ and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man. –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 24: 1-22:

24 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them,
² for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble.

³ By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
⁵ A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
⁶ for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory. …
¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
¹⁸ lest the Lord see it and be displeased, 
and turn away his anger from him.  –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Happy Easter season 2019. Here’s some links to a few of our best questions and answers on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Easter from our Bible Q & A page:

1. -Easter Question: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? (Featured also in our last post)

Here’s a great article by William Lane Craig (professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA) looking at the facts concerning the resurrection of Jesus–a timely pursuit for the Easter season:

“To answer the question of Jesus’ resurrection from a historical standpoint, we must first determine what facts concerning the fate of Jesus of Nazareth can be credibly established on the basis of the evidence and second consider what the best explanation of those facts is. At least four facts about the fate of the historical Jesus are widely accepted by New Testament historians today.”

<Read the Whole Article>

2. -Still Celebrating Easter? 

A TV program claimed that the family tomb of Jesus, including bones and a wife and son, had recently been discovered. So one writer referenced the ‘discovery’ and asked: Why are you still celebrating Easter?

3. -Who Really Killed Jesus? 

Historically Jewish folks have been slandered as ‘Christ Killers.’ Why that is totally wrong.

4. -The Reactions of the Criminals Crucified with Jesus -Some Discrepancies?      

Reconciling the different Gospel accounts.

5. -Jesus: “Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise” 

Today? Wasn’t Jesus resurrected 3 days later so how can that be and exactly where is Paradise?

6. -Jesus- Who Do You Say He Is? 

Peter responded to the question: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:15). Jesus continues today to ask all of us the same question.

May you and yours be blessed this Easter season.               *Top

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 23: 19-35:

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise,
and direct your heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among drunkards^[e]
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and slumber will clothe them with rags.

²² Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
²³ Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
²⁴ The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
²⁵ Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe^[f] my ways. …–ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 23: 1-18:

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what^[a] is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
³ Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.
⁴ Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist. …
¹² Apply your heart to instruction
and your ear to words of knowledge.
¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
¹⁴ If you strike him with the rod,
you will save his soul from Sheol.
¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad.
¹⁶ My inmost being^[d] will exult
when your lips speak what is right.
¹⁷ Let not your heart envy sinners,
but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
¹⁸ Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.  –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 22: 17-29:

Words of the Wise

¹⁷ Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
¹⁸ for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
¹⁹ That your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
²⁰ Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of counsel and knowledge,
²¹ to make you know what is right and true,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? …

²⁹ Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men. –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 22: 1-16:

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
² The rich and the poor meet together;
the Lord is the Maker of them all.
³ The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.
⁴ The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.^[a]
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it. …
¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru Proverbs: 21: 16-31:

¹⁶ One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. ^…

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
²³ Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
²⁴ “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride. …
³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord. –ESV

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>