Introduction: The Journey Begins

• Start by setting the stage for Holy Week as a time of introspection, repentance, and renewal.
• Briefly recap the series' intent, emphasizing the journey towards an authentic practice of faith, grounded in the teachings and love of Jesus.
• Touch briefly upon last week (Confusing)

1. Personal Story
   1. Kairos preparation, not really paying attention, believing I had one more week until Palm Sunday.
   2. I let my secular life disrupt my spiritual duties.
   3. This has not only happened to me, it’s happened on MULTIPLE occasions within the bounds of the church.
   4. Historical Context: The Church's Growth and Drift

• Early Christian Community (1st Century): Highlight the early Christians' communal life, characterized by simplicity, shared resources, and a direct, personal relationship with Jesus, as depicted in Acts 2:42-47.
• Constantine and the Milvian Bridge (312 AD): Explain how Constantine's conversion and the Edict of Milan marked Christianity's transition from a persecuted minority to a state-endorsed religion. This brought wealth, power, and a shift towards a more hierarchical and institutionalized Church.
• The Monastic Response (4th-5th Centuries): Introduce figures like Antony the Great (c. 251–356 AD), who sought solitude in the desert to live a life of prayer and asceticism, emphasizing a personal relationship with God amidst growing secular influences in the Church.

• • Quote from Anthony - "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, 'What can get through from such snares?' Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Humility.'"

• St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – 547 AD): Mention Benedict’s establishment of a monastic rule that balanced communal life with personal spiritual discipline, aiming to recapture the early Church's spirit. This represented a structured approach to resisting the secularization of Christian life and faith.

• "Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may He bring us all together to everlasting life."

1. The Contemporary Drift: Our Secular Lives

• Personal Reflection: Share a personal story or reflection on how easy it is to prioritize worldly concerns over spiritual growth and the relationship with Jesus.

• • Reflect a bit on just how easy it is to get drawn into things and pursuits that don’t really matter.

• Church Today: Draw parallels between the historical drift of the Church away from its roots and the modern congregation's challenges in navigating secular distractions.

• • The Church today is engaged in a host of pursuits

• • • Our own denomination has chosen to fight for things while leaving behind it’s job of spiritual training.

• • • • TELL THE BOB JACK STORY HERE

• • • • • “I’d send them to the Baptist church.”

1. Holy Week: An Opportunity for Renewal
   1. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE A WONDERFUL DO OVER.

• The Meaning of Holy Week: Emphasize Holy Week as a time to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross, His sacrifice, and His example of humility and service.
• Monastic Wisdom for Today: Suggest that the congregation consider Holy Week as a "monastic retreat" in the midst of their lives, dedicating time to prayer, reflection, and reorienting their lives towards Jesus.

1. Application: Living in "DO OVER" Mode

• Surrender of Sin: Encourage congregants to practice confession and repentance, letting go of those things that separate them from God.
• I really want to linger here.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

• Close by reminding the congregation that Holy Week offers a unique time to reset and redirect our lives towards Christ.
• Offer hope and encouragement that, through the disciplines of prayer, fasting, service, and community, we can all experience a "do over" in our spiritual lives, coming closer to the heart of our faith.