Stu Quackenbush // Rockford Campus // March 29, 2026
HOSANNA!
REMINDERS
There has been significant updates to our pastoral search process that we don’t want anyone to miss.
Please check out the update for this week’s news. For future updates be sure to subscribe to get the up-to-date communication about how God’s work here at Magnify Church.
Sojourner – A Modern Easter Drama
A modern young traveler embarks on a pilgrimage through unfamiliar territory. What is the mysterious future destination? Amid adventure, humor, and retro fun–what crises lie in the path? Is it wise to engage with the presence of a fellow sojourner?
Join us on a suspenseful journey through the cultural and moral challenges of recent decades, mirrored by Biblical events of 2,000 years ago.
Check out the website for more details and prayerfully consider who you may be able to invite to join you in coming to this powerful event!
You can keep up with all our current news and events through our online bulletin.
See the events page on the website for more updates.
NO DISCUSSION GUIDE THIS WEEK
On account of Easter Week celebrations, we will be pausing our normal Group Discussion plan for
Sunday 3/29 and 4/5.
A Note from Trent
I’m grateful that over the course of this past year, many of our groups have committed, week-in and week-out, to prayerfully pursuing God and each other. I’m thankful to hear stories of God’s work through groups to meet each others needs – not just the physical, but the spiritual as well.
As we look ahead to the Easter week there are many things that can get us excited about. So many things that God has done – especially on Calvary. Do not miss the opportunity that this can be for your own heart and group.
It’s a blessed gift to make time to reflect on the last week of the earthly ministry of Jesus.
To help you in your time in prayer and Scripture reading, memorization, and meditation this week, take a look at the below document. Starting the Sunday prior to Resurrection Sunday, this guide has daily reading to help understand not only the order of events, but also to draw your heart deeper to a better understanding of all that went into that final week.
HOLY WEEK READING PLAN
We hope this is an encouraging tool to help you dig deeper into the treasure-trove of the Bible.
One final devotional thought:
Don’t rush too quickly past the cross on Friday and Saturday’s darkness. In the grand narrative of God’s redemptive history, this ~36-hour period of time often is overlooked, but I think our hearts are better off for attempting to put ourselves in the shoes of those who were there.
Jesus had foretold His death and resurrection many times: “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” (John 2:19) But many didn’t understand what He was getting at, including those closest to Him (John 6:64).
So imagine yourself as one of Jesus’ followers as you saw your Messiah being crucified.
Imagine the confusion and pain – not just at watching a dear friend in his torturous death, but also the death of any hope you had of the world being changed through Him.
Imagine the darkness as the earth shook and the temple curtain tore into two pieces.
Imagine the grief of burying Him and seeing His physical body put away in the tomb.
Imagine then the anxiety, fear, and confusion in the following hours as Jesus’ followers were now at risk for having aligned with this “criminal”.
Imagine being in the Upper Room huddled up with friends wondering: “What just happened?…What comes next?…”
Don’t rush past this. This is an illuminating moment to who we think God is – this moment shines light on our trust in God.
YES we celebrate the resurrection and the hope Jesus offers us because of His death on the cross and rising from the grave.
YES we celebrate that death has been defeated and our hope is certain and guaranteed.
But don’t miss this:
Do you still believe this in your darkest and most confused moments? Are you able to still trust in the living holy God’s promises for you even if – right now – your circumstances have not improved? Are you able to say “He is Good All The Time” and “He is Risen, indeed!” when you are in the middle of your hardest challenges – not merely when you have come out the other side?
This is how focusing on Saturday has helped me. That even in my darkest and hardest moments – even when things seem to be going the exact opposite way I had prayed and hoped it had – God is still trustworthy and Good. He is still in control, even if the threats of death – or actual death – comes and doesn’t leave.
There are moments of testing our faith in God. Sometimes I think we equate this to “white-knuckle” grip of our own strength to hang on to hope in moments of challenge or weakness. We think of our own ability to hold onto the promises and truths of God. This is partly true, but it’s not the whole story.
“[God] is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
he does not value the power of a warrior.
The Lord values those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his faithful love.”
(Psalm 147:10-11, CSB)
The desire of our God today – and every day – is that we would give up on our own attempts to manufacture life apart from Him and to instead, with fear and hope, rest in His faithful love for us. Your faith is not grounded in how strong your grip is to hold onto the cliff-edge as you dangle over the abyss of hopelessness. It is rather the strength of the loving hands of Almighty God who hold you in the midst of every moment.
May God help you have eyes to see and trust Him today – regardless of what hopeless situation you may face. May He give you constant reminders of His kindness and goodness in small ways and in humility, may you receive them as they come.
Praise God the end of the story wasn’t Friday’s burial.
Praise the Father for not only sending His one and only Son, but also entrusting Him to be our sacrifice.
Praise God for His resurrection power to overcome our greatest fears and pains.
Praise God that even when we are too weak or unable to see His goodness, He is faithful to us and He will hold fast in His love for you and me.
Have a blessed Holy Week and I hope to see you all at the Easter Drama.
Hosanna!
Trent Heaton
Director of Groups Ministry at Magnify Church
PS – For a powerful song about the disciples’ response to Jesus’ death, check out this video: “Empty” by Dan Haseltine
TOGETHER IN PRAYER & ACTION
- Reflect on the forsakeness of Christ and the price of your salvation.
- Confess sin and rest in the unshakeable grace of God.
- Invite someone to church next Sunday to celebrate what comes next.
