WHAT IF YOUR LIFE COULD BE
Scotch Plains
7PM
1251 Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ
ASL Interpretation will be Available
Woodbridge
7PM
48 Berkley Blvd, Iselin, NJ
Service will be livestreamed at evangelchurch.live, & Spanish translation + ASL interpretation will be available.
Scotch Plains
8:30AM, 10AM, 11:30AM, 1PM
Deaf | 10AM Breakfast, 11:30AM Service
Español | 1PM
1251 Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ
Woodbridge
10AM, 11:30AM, 1PM
48 Berkley Blvd, Iselin, NJ
10am and 11:30am services will be livestreamed at evangelchurch.live & Spanish translation is available at 11:30 ONLY
Evangel Scotch Plains
1251 Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 Servicio en Español
Holy Week is more than a story—it’s a call to transformation. Join us for daily devotionals that will challenge, inspire, and draw you deeper into the meaning of Easter. Each day, engage with thought-provoking reflections that bring the journey of Jesus to life in a powerful way. Don’t just celebrate Easter—live it.
Are you ready to be Forever Changed?
Easter is not just an event to celebrate; it is a reality that redefines everything. From the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem to the empty tomb, every step of His journey was designed to change us—forever. This week, we will walk with Jesus through His final days, confronting the weight of our sin, the cost of the cross, and the power of His resurrection. Each day, we will be challenged to examine our hearts, surrender fully, and step into the transformed life Jesus offers. Because of Him, we are not who we used to be. We are forever changed.
Scripture
He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” –Mark 11:17
Teaching
When Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover, He found the temple filled with people exchanging money instead of seeking God. Like a tree that appeared healthy but bore no fruit, Israel’s worship had become empty—religious activity without spiritual life. What was meant to be a sacred space for encountering God had become a marketplace. Instead of a house of prayer, it had become a house of profit.
Jesus, overcome with righteous anger, overturned the tables, driving out those who had turned His Father’s house into a den of thieves. He then declared: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). The temple was meant to be a place where all people could encounter God, yet instead, it had become an obstacle.
However, the problem in the temple wasn’t just about tables—it was about the hearts leading the temple. Jesus would need to cleanse the hearts of His followers to make them a place for His Spirit to dwell. Through His death and resurrection, He established a new temple: the hearts of His followers. As the Apostle Paul later wrote, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).
Jesus still comes to examine our hearts today. Are we a dwelling place for His presence? Or have we allowed distractions, selfish desires, or misplaced priorities to take over? Jesus doesn’t cleanse the temple to condemn—it’s an invitation to be forever changed. He calls us to clear out whatever keeps us from Him, so we can become a true house of prayer—a place where His Spirit dwells, transforming us from the inside out.
Key Truth:
“Jesus cleanses the temple to cleanse us and call us back to what we were meant to be—a house of prayer, a dwelling place for His presence.”
Think & Talk About It:
- What tables would Jesus overturn in my heart today? Are there distractions, habits, or misplaced priorities keeping me from my true purpose?
- How does my life reflect that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit? Am I a place where God’s presence is evident to others?
- Have I been treating prayer as a priority or an afterthought? What steps can I take to make my life a true house of prayer?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
If Jesus walked into my life the way He walked into the temple, what would He see? Write down any areas He might be calling you to cleanse, surrender, or reorder. Then, ask Him to fill you with His presence so you can be a true dwelling place for Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You desire a heart fully devoted to You—a life that reflects Your presence. Forgive me for the times I have allowed distractions, sin, or selfishness to take priority over seeking You. Come and overturn anything in my heart that does not honor You. Cleanse me, renew me, and make me a dwelling place for Your Spirit. May my life be a true house of prayer, where You are always welcome. In Your holy name, Amen.
Scripture
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” –Matthew 22:36
Teaching
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the tension with the religious leaders began to intensify. Jesus was declaring that God’s Kingdom had arrived, and with it, the old order would be turned upside down. The religious leaders, threatened by His growing influence, constantly tried to trap Him into saying something that would diminish His authority.
One such attempt came when a Pharisee asked, “Which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus responded with a truth that would shake their understanding of worship and righteousness: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This, He said, is the first and greatest commandment. But Jesus didn’t stop there; He continued, “A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” He explained that the entire law and the teachings of the prophets hang on these two commandments.
For Jesus, fulfilling God’s law wasn’t about ritual or strict rule-keeping—it was about being led by love. Love for God and others was the heartbeat of His Kingdom, and His followers were meant to embody this radical shift. Worship, Jesus showed, isn’t about a transaction to earn God’s favor; it’s a heart surrendered to Him, pouring out in love for others. The religious leaders clung to regulations to prove their righteousness, but Jesus flipped the script: true faith is love in action.
This love isn’t cheap–it’s the kind Jesus lived as He marched toward the cross, redefining everything. When we embrace this, it redirects our priorities from self to God, our relationships from rivalry to service, and our purpose becomes His Kingdom, not our own. The love Jesus calls us to is sacrificial and self-giving, and as we follow His example, we are forever changed. We begin to reflect His Kingdom, not just in our actions but in the way we love God and others with our whole hearts.
Key Truth:
For Jesus, love rewrites our lives toward God and others.
Think & Talk About It:
- Do I ever possess that Pharisaic tendency to gain God’s approval by what I do, rather than how I am loved by God?
- How would my relationships change if I loved others as Jesus loved me?
- What’s one way I can let Jesus’ love reshape my priorities this week?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
Take a moment to reflect on your current relationships—both with God and others. What needs to change in order for you to love more sacrificially? Write about any obstacles or areas of your life where God is inviting you to love more like He does.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You showed us what love really means—not rules, but a heart fully Yours, poured out for others. Thank You for going to the cross to make that love possible, to change me forever. Search my heart—show me where I’ve settled for less than Your love. Teach me to love You with all I am and to love others as You do, even when it costs me. Let Your Kingdom shine through me this week and beyond. Amen.
Scripture
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. –Mark 14:3
Teaching
In the final days before going to the cross, Jesus sat at a table in Bethany, sharing a meal with those whom the religious elite deemed unworthy. As the meal unfolded, a woman approached, carrying an alabaster jar of costly perfume, so costly that it was worth an entire year’s wages. Without hesitation, without a word, she broke open the jar and poured it over His head. The room filled with its fragrance, but those at the table questioned the wasteful extravagance of her act. She could have sold the perfume and given the money to the poor, what was she thinking?
Yet, the disciples still didn’t get it! They didn’t understand where they were in the story. Jesus saw what they couldn’t, this was a prophetic act to prepare Him for burial! Jesus knew this was so significant He said, “I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:9).
This wasn’t a rash decision; it was worship in its purest form. The woman didn’t calculate the cost; she poured out everything she had to honor Jesus. Where others saw only excess, Jesus saw devotion. They looked at the outward appearance, but Jesus saw the heart. In that moment, He redefined worship as an extravagant act of love that holds nothing back.
True worship is costly. It is an extravagant response to who Jesus is and what He has done. Even now, He is still seeking our alabaster jars. He wants our best, our all, poured out for Him, following the example of this woman.
Key Truth:
True worship is an extravagant act of love that holds nothing back.
Think & Talk About It:
- In what areas of your life might Jesus be calling you to “break your alabaster jar” in worship?
- How does worship, when it is truly costly, change and shape your relationship with Jesus?
- How do I react when others’ love for Jesus looks ‘wasteful’ to me?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
Spend time reflecting on what costly worship means in your life. Is there something Jesus is asking you to surrender in an act of devotion? Write about what it would mean to fully pour yourself out for Him.
Prayer
Jesus, You are worthy of my best, my all, my everything. I don’t want to offer You leftovers or hold anything back. Teach me what it means to worship You with reckless devotion, just like the woman in Bethany. Show me where I have held onto things instead of pouring them out for You. May my life be a fragrance that brings You honor. Amen.
Scripture
“So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” –John 13:4-5
Teaching
On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus knew the end had arrived. John tells us, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). He’d fulfilled the Father’s mission up to that moment, and soon He’d return to God with all authority in His hands. So Jesus gathered His closest followers for one last meal—not to mourn or retreat, but to show them what His Kingdom is all about.
If you knew today was your last day, what would you do? Spend it with loved ones, chase a thrill, or reflect alone? Jesus knew His hours were numbered, and what did He do? He washed feet. The King of all creation “got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him” (John 13:4-5).
Think about that. Hours from betrayal and the cross, Jesus could’ve demanded honor or clung to self-preservation. Instead, He knelt, scrubbing dirt from feet that would soon abandon Him.
Jesus wasn’t just cleaning their feet; He was showing them what love looks like. For Jesus true love serves. Jesus’ act of service redefined for the disciples what it meant to be great in the Kingdom, as He would say, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15) To follow Jesus means to love as He loved, to serve as He served, and to kneel as He knelt, because power is not found in position.
Think & Talk About It:
- Where in my life do I chase position or recognition instead of serving like Jesus?
- Who in my world needs me to ‘wash their feet’, to serve them humbly?
- What am I doing right now that is preventing me from serving others?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
Write about a time when someone’s humble act of service impacted you deeply. How did it change your perspective on leadership and love? What would it look like to follow Jesus’ example in a practical way this week?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You picked up a towel to wash feet when You could’ve claimed a throne—thank You for showing me what love really looks like. Teach me to love like You. To serve without pride, to give without seeking recognition, and to humble myself for the sake of others. Help me to see the places where I need to lay down my rights and take up the towel. May my life reflect Your heart, that I may be known not by what I gain, but by how I give. Amen.
Scripture
“And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.” –John 19:19-20
Teaching
The sign above His cross read King of the Jews in three languages. It was a public taunt from Pilate, warning that this is what Rome does to would-be kings. Instead of ascending to a golden throne, Jesus was enthroned upon a splintered cross—nails driven through His hands and feet, a crown of thorns pressed into His brow. Beaten, mocked, and paraded in defeat, He hung there, the cruelest spectacle of Roman power. Crucifixion crushed its victims under their own weight, each labored breath a struggle as they lifted themselves for a fleeting gasp of relief.
The King of the Jews, on display for all the world to see. Beside Him were two other would-be rebels, their dreams of an uprising snuffed out. With Jesus’ last breath, the dreams of the Kingdom ruled by love were swallowed up as the clouds went dark in sadness, and a spear was thrust through His side.
But this was a different kind of King, and He was bringing a different kind of Kingdom. The cross wasn’t His end—it was His victory. His Kingdom would not be built on strength, but on sacrifice. Jesus redefines power, turning defeat into triumph. The Apostle Paul, writing about Jesus’ death retells the story, reminding us that in that moment God forgave all of our sins by nailing them to the cross, and “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Col. 2:15) When the powers thought they were conquering Him, He was conquering them. When they mocked His crown, He was claiming His throne.
Good Friday redefines everything as the death of Jesus defeats our sin. His broken body and poured-out blood set us free. What seemed like an end was actually the beginning. The cross didn’t strip Jesus of His power—it revealed it. His love was stronger than death, His grace greater than our sin. Because He died, we can truly live.
Key Truth:
Jesus reigns as King through sacrifice, defeating sin and redefining power on the cross, so His death becomes our freedom.
Think & Talk About It:
- How does the irony of the cross challenge your expectations of God’s kingdom?
- Where do I look for power or victory in my life that Jesus redefines through His cross?
- How does the irony of the cross challenge your expectations of God’s kingdom?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
“Picture the sign above Jesus’ cross: ‘King of the Jews.’ Now imagine it reads ‘King of [Your Name].’ Reflect on what it means that Jesus hung there for you—His thorns, His nails, His last breath. How does His victory on the cross rewrite your story? What’s one step you can take to live under His reign today?”
Prayer
Jesus, You are the King who conquered through surrender. Thank You for redefining power, for conquering sin when it looked like sin won. My shame was nailed there; my freedom was won there. Forgive me where I chase strength over sacrifice. Show me how to live under Your reign—loving boldly, giving fully. Your death defeated death; let it remake me today. Amen.
Scripture
Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. –Mark 15:46
Teaching
With Jesus’ death, a heavy silence fell over His followers. The one they’d loved, followed, and pinned their hopes on was gone—betrayed by their companion Judas, conspired against by the Jews, and executed by the Romans. Defeat hung over the followers of Jesus. Doubt clouded their minds: Was this the end? Fear gripped their hearts: Would they be next, branded rebels, hunted down, and sentenced to crucifixion like their leader? Grief must have swallowed them whole.
Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, and buried Him in a tomb. But after that, nothing. No one records what happened that Saturday, the day after the cross. For them, it wasn’t a prelude to triumph—it was a tomb slamming shut on their dreams. For the first followers, this was a story without a known ending.
We all experience seasons of silence—times when God seems absent, prayers feel unanswered, and the weight of uncertainty presses in. We live in the tension of Friday’s sorrow and Sunday’s hope. But the silence of Saturday doesn’t mean God is absent. His plan is still unfolding, even when we can’t see it.
The truth is, God does some of His greatest work in the silence. When it seems like nothing is happening, we have to trust Heaven is moving. The disciples couldn’t see it yet, but Sunday was already on the way. The tomb was about to be emptied. Death was about to lose. Hope was about to rise.
If you find yourself in a Saturday season, hold on. The story isn’t over. Sunday’s coming…
Key Truth:
Jesus’ silence in the tomb redefines despair as the birthplace of hope, proving God works even when we can’t see Him.
Think & Talk About It:
- What ‘Saturday season’ in my life feels like a tomb—silent and hopeless—and how might God be working in it?
- What does it mean to trust God when you can’t see what He’s doing?
- What promise of Jesus can I cling to when I’m waiting for my ‘Sunday’ to come?
Going Deeper (Journaling Prompt)
Think about a time when you felt stuck between sorrow and hope. How did God show up in ways you didn’t expect? What would it look like to trust Him even when you don’t see the full picture?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You lay silent in the tomb, and Your followers wept, not knowing Sunday was near. I’ve felt that silence too—when fear and grief drown out hope. Thank You that even in the dark, You’re working. Forgive my doubt when I can’t see You. Teach me to trust Your plan, to hold on when it feels like the end. Your death bore my sin; Your rest promises my rising. Help me to remember that there are no endings for the God who raises the dead. Amen.
Easter is a time of excitement, joy, and celebration—especially for our kids! During our special Evangel Kids Easter services children will experience the incredible story of Jesus’ resurrection through interactive lessons, fun activities, and engaging worship designed just for them. They’ll learn about the power of Jesus, the victory of the cross, and the amazing love He has for them.
Evangel Kids on Good Friday will be available for ages 1 year old-6th grade
Evangel Kids services will be happening during all of our Easter Sunday services in both Scotch Plains and Woodbridge!
This season is all about hope, new beginnings, and the victory of Jesus over sin and death. A simple invite could be the first step for someone’s life to be Forever Changed.
Download our social media graphics below and use them to personally invite friends, family, and coworkers to join you this Easter. Let’s share the good news and make room for more people to encounter the life-changing message of Jesus!
Boxes of Hope: Easter Edition | April 16
Join us for this special opportunity to spread the hope of Easter to our communities this season!
Easter Outreach
This Easter, let’s go beyond the church walls and bring the hope of the resurrection to our neighbors.
Tooling Around the Township | April 26
Lend a helping hand with us as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our local community.
Africa Missionaries
- Kyle & Porscha Coffman | Mozambique
- Bill & Judy Kirsch | Africa
- Robin Malcolm | Togo, Africa's Children
- Andrea & Agenis Matos | Mozambique
- Marc & Kristen Pannell | Ethiopia
- 3 Sensitive Missionaries
South & Central American Missionaries
- Chris & Julie Abiuso | Mexico
- Timothy (Tim) & Deborah Anderson | Ecuador
- Alexandra Bishop | Colombia Deaf
- Michael (Mike) & Polly Brown | Bolivia
- Dale & Patti Coad | Caribbean
- Correia, Brian & Raquel - Colombia
- Mark & Jean Devine | Colombia
- Larry & Melodee Gruetzmacher | Mexico
- Paul & Sandy Kazim | Mexico
- Gerritt & Tara Kenyon | Panama
- Dan & Beatriz Klaehn | Nicaragua
- Noah & Melanie Lane | Mexico
- Ron & Esther Marcotte | Ecuador
- Carolyn Marton | Mexico
- Tara Matthews | Costa Rica
- Isaiah & Heather Mattocks | Columbia
- Steve & Jill Mccarthy | Uruguay
- Brooke Miller | Belize
- Miguel & Maria Morales | Panama
- Trent & Tina Morrow | Uruguay
- Richard & Cynthia Nicholson | Latin America
- Bob & Michele Perez | Cuba (S)
- Elizabeth Ramos | Belize
- Delonn & Valerie Rance | Latin America
- Paul & Kristi Robinson | Colombia
- Billy & Havilah Roman | Antigua/Barbuda
- Terry & Bridget Rosch | Panama
- Doug & Susan Sayers | Bolivia
- Melissa Sederwall | Mexico
- Stephen & Kim Sobey | El Salvador
- Tim & Nicole Strange | Costa Rica
- Don & Terry Triplett | El Salvador
- Angelo & Stepphany Viera Ramos | Mexico
- Convoy of Hope Haiti
European Missionaries
- Sonia Alanya | Spain
- Chris & Nasim Ali | England-Global Univ
- Zach & Carrie Brinegar | Austria
- Richard & Tori Brooks | Belgium
- David & Karmi Buckley | Hungary
- Michael & Laura Clark | Central Europe
- Paul & Mechthild Clark | Germany
- Mircea (Mike) & Ana Dascalescu | Romania
- Kurtis & Amy Denton | Italy
- Jason & Sheila Fisher | England
- David & Julie Goldschmidt | Scotland
- Peter & Courtney Good | Greece
- Mike & Tina Hook | Scotland
- Bill & Diane Jackson | Spain
- Tom & Jenni Keating | France
- Kent & Leslie Linneweh | Netherlands
- Pat & Brenda Mahar | Italy
- Judith Mensch | Spain
- Kevin & Karen Prevost | Spain
- Doug & Jackee Raught | IMM
- Sherry Sabella | Southeast Europe
- Scott & Leah Schesser | Germany
- Tony & Jamie Sebastian | Greece
- Joel & Gail Van Briggle | Belgium
- Steven (Steve) & Christina Walent | Finland
- Richard (Rick) & Lori Wislocky | Southeast Europe
- Kevin & Annie Folk | Spain Global University
- Bob & Lynne Rose | Global University Europe
Asia Pacific Missionaries
- Anders, Nathan & Tara - Papua New Guinea
- Melinda Baker | Thailand
- Kevin & Sandy Barner | Thailand
- Ed & Sherry Benish | Philippines
- Daniel & Sara Bricker | Cambodia
- Justin Canavan | Japan
- Mark & Kim Gardner | Fiji
- Jeff & Liz Hartensveld | Myanmar
- Alexander & Kathryn Humphreys | Japan
- Mark & Joy Kwong | Philippines
- Dan & Deanna Klepel | Thailand
- Diane Laws | Pohnpei
- Stephen & Kristen Mcknight | Philippines
- Jacob Minsal | Japan
- Antonio (Tony) & Christine (Christy) Rios | Western Samoa
- Troy & Lisa Tabor | Cambodia
- Solomon & Lori Wang | Philippines
- Convoy Of Hope | Philippines Disaster
- 5 Sensitive Missionaries