IVINS — Crowds at the yearly Calvary Chapel Easter Sunday services filled half the stadium at Tuacahn Amphitheatre during two separate sessions Sunday morning. Live worship music echoed through the outdoor stadium while white fluffy clouds hung in the clear blue skies above. With a backdrop depicting the empty tomb site in Jerusalem, Senior Pastor Rick Nerud gave a sermon with a resurrection theme.
Nerud cited Bible scriptures about the resurrection of Jesus. He then asked the congregants to consider Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth. Nerud also said that he has visited the Jersulem site and that the tomb is empty because Jesus rose from the grave.
Nerud spoke of Calvary Chapel. He mentioned that all people are welcome and the church does not have membership. Then he expressed the importance of religion, noting that religion does not add to what is necessary in order to have eternal life with God.
He said that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. With humor, he said: “So we thank Jesus for dying on the cross and then say, ‘thanks! We’ll take it from here!’”
Nerud, who served in the military, also spoke of loving his country: Every soldier that serves knows that he or she could die for their country, he said. He then compared that to the ultimate love that Jesus has for us, a love that Jesus has proved by dying for us.
At the end of the service, Pastor Nerud invited those who had decided to accept Jesus as their Savior to come down to the front and be prayed for and loved on. Several people, including children, came forward.
Ed. CORRECTION: Nerud said that religion does not add to what is necessary in order to have eternal life with God; the “not” was inadvertently omitted on first publication.
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Pastor Rick did a great job of teaching about and clarifying the reasons for The Resurrection. He backed it all up with Bible verses and stressed that it’s not about “The Church” or Religion” it’s about your own personal relationship with Jesus. It was very moving when he invited those who wanted to ask Jesus into their life to join in prayer and receive His free gift. It’s no wonder so many raised their hand and were saved today. It was a wonderful message given at a spectacular venue. It kinda makes one want to come back next year. 🙂
I did not attend the service at Tuacahn today. However, I have to doubt that Pastor Rick would mention the importance of Religion or the need of religion in ones life. As Calvary Chapel is not a religion, they do not focus on rules of man(religion). Calvary Chapel focuses only on the Bible and helping to lead individuals to a relationship with Christ, through His word.
Thank you Heather, there was an error and it has been corrected.
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