The Risen Christ has called us to love ourselves. We should first be humble before Him in order to love ourselves as He commanded us. What spiritual exercises does God want us to practice to cultivate and maintain humility?

Jesus Christ demonstrated God’s unconditional love for us through His death and resurrection; nothing, not even death, can separate us from God’s steadfast love! As Easter people, how do we respond to this priceless love of God? What is the first step God calls us to take to participate in God’s ongoing transforming power and love?

When Mary finds the tomb empty, she stands weeping at the vacant grave. Jesus, mysteriously appearing as the gardener, asks her: “Why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” On this Easter morning, who (or what) are we looking for? What kind of Jesus are we looking for? Who/what do we see in the living Christ? As we journey into Eastertide, in what ways will we continue to look for Jesus in the world?

When looking into the context of the story of the first Palm Sunday, we uncover how two parades are occurring at once. Jesus’ unconventional and unexpected entry into the city parallels the extravagant parade of Pilate, the Roman governor. As they enter the city for the Passover, they embody different directions. Pilate commands military dominance and imperial power; Jesus ushers in the kingdom of God and the way of peace. Which one are we following? In the midst of opposing forces, which way will we go?

Do we believe that new life can come after death? Can we find hope when things are bleak? Can we truly trust in God’s power of resurrection in the midst of a valley of dry bones where all hope seems lost? This Sunday, we will explore what the Bible has to say about these questions.

When it comes to faith, there are sometimes questions that are formed by assumptions and questions that lead us to judgement. In this week’s Scripture reading, we will observe various groups of people asking such questions, and we will examine what questions we pose. During our Lenten journey of seeking, what assumptions do we carry? What is our intent? When seeking clarity or understanding, what questions can we ask without assumptions or judgements?

Jesus crosses cultural, religious, and societal boundaries by leading His disciples through Samaria. In the heat of midday, He seeks out connection with a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well. His command to her is also a question and an invitation to a new way of life: Go and get your husband. For the woman, to respond is risky but life-changing. How would you respond to Jesus’ boundary-breaking question and invitation?

In Genesis 12, God commands Abram to leave everything – his country, his family, his father’s household – to begin again. Like Abram and his wife Sarai, how do we follow God’s calling to begin again? When does a new beginning invite you to be a blessing to others?