Your Part Matters | Week 4 - Open Hearts & Hands | Pastor Harlie Raethel from Buda Kyle Campus

Your Part Matters - Open Hearts & Hands THEME - The Gospel accounts that tell us the story of Jesus also include imperfect people (like us) who are used by God because they have hearts for Him and hands that are willing to serve Him. Bad reality #1 = We think that the universe should center on us Bad reality #2 = We think we are insignificant and meaningless Different reality = We are not the center of the universe but we are significant Luke 23:50-53 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. Matthew 27:57 - 57 When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. What we know about Joseph of Arimathea He was an important person in Jerusalem He was wealthy He followed Jesus Joseph’s heart was changed by Jesus Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. As our heart is miraculously softened by Jesus we ask… How do I live for God? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. John 19:38 - After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Matthew 10:32-33 - Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. What did a step of faith look like for Joseph? Using what God had given him Getting his hands dirty Luke 23:53 - Taking it [the body] down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. Matthew 27:​​59-60 - So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Do you have a heart open to God? (That has been changed by God?) Are your hands willing to serve Him? If so, what does that look like?