Stained Glass Cross

Why a window in the shape of a Cross?

Because a Cross no matter where it is seen, reminds us of Jesus Christ, His Blood; His Suffering; His Death; His Resurrection; the Price that He paid for you and me. We must never forget who He is, what He did for us or who we belong too.

1) Storm clouds at top moving away

a. Storms of life always pass on

b. God takes the weight, the burden, the heaviness, the dark clouds off of the believers shoulders

Ps 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Ps 55:22 - Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Matt 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

2) Rainbow

a. A sign that the earth will never again be destroyed by flood

Gen 9:12-15 - And God said, “This is a sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. (NIV)

3) Dove

a. Symbol of the Holy Spirit

Matt 3:16, Luke 3:22, John 1:32 - As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. (NIV)

4) Dove with olive branch in beak

a. Sent out of the ark by Noah [returned with olive branch or leaf]

Gen 8:10-11 - He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. (NIV)

5) Plowed Field

a. Gods way of doing things

b. Secrets of the Kingdom

Matt 13:10-11, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10 - The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (NIV)

c. Parable of the Sower

Matt 13, Luke 8

d. First the blade then the ear

Mark 4:3-20, 26-29 - 26 And he said, So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (KJV)

6) Field celery colored or white [Manna]

a. God’s provision for the people of Israel

Exod 16:14-15 - When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. (NIV)

7) Yellow Field > Mustard > [mustard seed]

a. Smallest of seeds

Matthew 13:31-32 - He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” (NIV)

b. Faith as small as

Luke 17:6 - He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard see, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. (NIV)

8) River of Living Water

a. Samaritan woman meets Jesus at Jacob’s well

John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, “If you know the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (NIV)

b. Flow of the Holy Spirit from within

John 7:37-39 - On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (NIV)

9) Tree Planted By River

a. Continuous provision, Protection, Fruitfulness

Ps 1:1-3 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV)

10) Grass > Fertile Ground > Good Soil

a. Good Seed; Fertile Ground; Abundant Crop

Matt 13:23 - But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)

Luke 8:15-16 - 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. (NIV)

11) Hummingbirds - Birds of the Air

Matt 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (NIV)

Luke 12:24 -- Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! (NIV)

12) Flowers > Lilies of the Field

a. Demonstration of Gods Provision & Protection

Luke 12:27-28 - “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (NIV)

Summary

At the foot of the Cross is where we find Life. At the foot of the Cross is where we Receive Life. There is no Life except in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This window in the shape of a Cross automatically reminds us of Jesus Christ, His Suffering, His Shed Blood, and His Death; all for me and you.

The window itself demonstrates for us scriptural word pictures, that show us His provision, His Protection, and His Promises. Show someone this picture of Life. Use it to share Jesus Christ and have a Life Saving Conversation. The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. Jesus is Life.