JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the testimony of Jesus’ disciples to His resurrection.

In John 20:25, the disciples told Thomas, who had not yet seen Jesus alive, “We have seen the Lord.”

One of the compelling pieces of evidence that Jesus rose from the dead is found in the Bible.  There were witnesses, and those witnesses were the disciples of Jesus. 

Tim Keller explains why this is significant in his book “The Reason for God.” “Virtually all the apostles and early Christian leaders died for their faith, and it is hard to believe that this kind of powerful self-sacrifice would be done to support a hoax.”

Even though Thomas did not initially believe this report, he too would be convinced after seeing Jesus with his own eyes one week later.

Focusing on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 20, verse 1.

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”

Peter Marshall is quoted as saying, “The stone was rolled away from the door, not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in.”

What did they find when they went into the tomb? Peter and another disciple saw strips of linen lying there and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. But there was no body. John 20, verse 8 records that the disciple who reached the tomb first saw and believed when he went inside. The biggest piece of evidence to make the case for the resurrection of Jesus was what was missing at the tomb of Jesus when the stone was rolled away. Jesus’ body was missing, but He later appeared to His disciples alive. Jesus told His followers in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.” 

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of faith and resurrection hope in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Happy Easter Sunday!

This morning we are celebrating Resurrection Day with a themed playlist! See the lineup below, including “Jesus Paid It All” by Kim Walker-Smith, “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship, “Living Hope” from Phil Wickham, “Death Was Arrested” by Seth Condrey, “Resurrection Day” by Rend Collective and more.

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com 
On Instagram & Facebook Highlight Playlists: Spotify Podcast: Spotify/Apple Podcasts

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the Father’s will.

Jesus said in John 6:40, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

The Bible tells us that salvation is found in no one else. Jesus is the name given to mankind by which we must be saved. He is God’s precious gift from heaven. As we look to Jesus with a believing heart, He will be our source of righteousness and salvation. He will be our source of peace in times of conflict; He will be our source of confidence in times of crisis.  

Focusing on Jesus as the reason for our hope gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Revelation 1:18.

Jesus said to the Apostle John,  “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

The resurrection of Jesus means that His followers live by faith in a Risen Savior, NOT a dead Christ.

His resurrection means that we can live in relationship with Him today. His word is living and active to guide us in the truth of God’s plan. He is alive and available to hear our prayers.

His resurrection also means that our faith overflows with hope, because Jesus has released His followers from the power of death and hell.

The words of Jesus inspire us to celebrate the miracle of the resurrection in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Word Worship Team gathered information from national worship leader surveys, CCLI, and PlanningCenterOnline to create a list of the top songs for Easter 2019. 

The results are in!

1.  Living Hope – Phil Wickham
2.  Resurrecting – Elevation Worship
3.  Who Could – Meredith Andrews 
4.  The Lion And The Lamb – Big Daddy Weave
5.  My Victory – We Are Messengers 
6.  Death Was Arrested – North Point 
7.  Glorious Day – Passion
8.  Ashes – Dara Maclean 
9.  The Cross Has the Final Word – Cody Carnes 
10. Because He Lives (amen) – Matt Maher

Click on the songs above to find lyrics and resource links to lead them in your church.  Click below to listen through the top 10 songs as well as some other favorites.

YouTube Playlist
Spotfiy Playlist

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Romans 10:9.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The Gospel is the good news of what Jesus did for us when He went to the cross and rose from the dead three days later. This is the defining moment in history that gives us hope. No longer will God hold our sins against us if our faith is in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Our failures are not fatal. Our faith is not futile. Death is not final. The resurrection of Jesus was a game-changer. His grace freely given is a life-changer.

Walking by faith in the resurrected Christ is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His good news.

According to Acts 13:32 and 33, God’s good news is linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.”

Without the empty grave, the Christian faith would collapse. But since Jesus did rise from the dead, we have a living hope by believing in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the gift of His grace, the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and an inheritance in God’s kingdom that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

The good news of Jesus is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His power as a miracle worker.

According to Psalm 77:14, God is a miracle-worker. “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”

The Christian faith is built on miracles, such as the Creation of the world, the virgin birth of Jesus, the miracle of His love demonstrated at the cross, and the raising of Jesus from the dead three days later.

There is another miracle worth noting-the miracle of God’s love to draw someone to faith in Jesus and to change a heart. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”

God’s power as a miracle worker is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the accusation against Jesus and the empty tomb.

In John chapter 10, some of the Jews were picking up stones, getting ready to throw at Jesus. He said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

They replied, “We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Some people today claim that Jesus never claimed to be God, but in John 10, His critics made that very accusation.

No other living person could have made the claim to be God and be right, but Jesus was different. According to First Timothy 3:16, Jesus appeared in a body and was vindicated by the Spirit. The voice of the Father at Jesus’ baptism, the miracles that Jesus performed, and ultimately, the empty tomb are significant indications that Jesus’ claims were true. Romans 1:4 says that through the Spirit of holiness, Jesus was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

So, the accusation of blasphemy explains the reason why His enemies wanted to kill him, but the resurrection reveals why we have a reason to believe in God’s Good News.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com