Welcome to our blog series of the “7 Sayings of Jesus.”

For the days leading into Good Friday, we invite you to join us on a 7 day journey of remembering, partaking, and celebrating the cross of Christ.

Starting on Saturday, April 4 at 6pm (EST), for seven days, I’ll release a video centered upon a few of the words of Jesus that He spoke from the cross. Take a few moments to watch and then come back to this blog to engage in some sacred elements surrounding the Passion moment we are focusing on. You can use this checklist to create a daily pattern for reflection and participation in these powerful themes. Start off with recognizing some “wins” or things to celebrate in your life. I believe that gratitude and thanksgiving are the best way to start any spiritual engagement. Additional scriptures will be provided that follow the daily theme. From there, I’d encourage you to engage in a spiritual practice. A “spiritual practice” or spiritual discipline, is an action or activity done for the purpose of cultivating spiritual development. The spiritual practices are about tuning in to God’s heart and refining our focus so that our hearts match His already established will and nature. They were not designed to be used as a power play.  You may be familiar with some of the practices. Some of them may not be familiar to you (that’s okay). Lastly, be sure to access the daily worship playlist links on this blog. You’ll be able to listen from either Spotify or Youtube. The playlists are specially created by choosing particular songs to fit each day.

I would invite you to post some thoughts, prayers, songs, or graphics from each day to encourage others to engage with us. This is going to be a powerful week.

Day 5 – “I thirst.” John 19:28

Recognize some “wins.” What can you celebrate today?

• Before you move forward, write down at least 3 specific things you can celebrate. We do this as a response to Psalm 100:4 that says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!“

Other scriptures to consider:

• Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
• Psalm 143:6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
• Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
• 1 Peter 2:22-23 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Today’s Spiritual practice: Fasting

Fasting is more than “going without food” for a duration of time. Fasting is separating ourselves from different forms of distraction and replacing them with acute focus on our spirit man. Fasting helps us tune into God, not God into us. For example, from a place of fasting we might discover a clearer means of intercession. Choose something “normal” from your day to fast, or step away, from and devote that time to the Lord.

• Other spiritual practices to use:
  – S.O.A.P
  – Lectio Divina
  – gratitude
  – sitting in creation
  – journaling
  – worship

Click on the images below to access today’s worship playlist.

Get ready for Easter

On Easter, Kfirst will not be able to gather physically as we traditionally do. This is heartbreaking because COVID-19 has many people looking for answers to life’s deepest questions and wondering if there is any hope. This, more than ever, is the time for the church to rise up and proclaim the message of the resurrection. But how can we do this when we are not able to meet?

We believe this obstacle is actually an opportunity — an opportunity to share the gospel with far more people than we typically would on Easter and to empower you to be the primary heralds of that good news.

Imagine preparing and recording your ‘following Jesus’ story, then, on Easter Sunday, posting on social media with the hashtag #OurEasterStory. People all over our city, quarantined in their homes and scrolling on their phones, would see a flood of stories about how the resurrected Jesus brings purpose and meaning and hope. One click on the hashtag and they could see hundreds of people — just like them — talking about how Jesus changed the trajectory of their lives!

Selfie Guide: https://bit.ly/3bOR0XP

Here are some best practices for shooting yourself on your phone.
• Simple, clean backdrops are ideal – Avoid distracting backgrounds or crowed spaces.
• In natural light – Avoid backlighting. The main source of light should be facing you, not behind you.
• In artificial light – Avoid standing directly below an overhead light or anything else that creates hard shadows. Consider using a stand lamp several feet away for good indirect light.
• Shoot eye level – Shooting from above or below will make you seem diminished or imposing. Eye level communicates accessibility.
• Clean your camera – Make sure the lens of your selfie camera is clean before shooting.
• Shoot portrait – Align your phone vertically.