Bethel AME Church of Ann Arbor - Resurrection Sunday Service, April 5th 2026

On Resurrection Sunday the congregation celebrates the truth that Christ is risen and centers worship on a morning filled with praise, prayer, and sacrament. The narrative draws directly from Matthew 28, highlighting Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as prototypes of "morning people"—disciples who rise early, move in the dark, and take responsibility for the work of mourning, anointing, and bearing witness. The account emphasizes the tension of the in-between: dawn arriving while night still lingers, requiring courage to act when visibility remains partial. Natural upheaval—an earthquake that rolls back the stone—signals cosmic disruption and divine intervention; yet the women press on and receive the angelic commission to go and tell others that Jesus is no longer in the tomb.

Practical spirituality emerges as a theme: being a morning person means more than an early alarm; it means disciplined habit, attention to the spiritual rhythms that prepare the day, and the readiness to do necessary tasks even when conditions are uncertain or dangerous. The text refuses to reduce faith to simple emotion by recognizing that joy and fear often coexist when encountering resurrection reality—running back to tell the news while wrestling with trembling awe. The communal dimension matters: the presence of two women models mutual support, and the call to "go and tell" makes testimony the logical response to an encounter with the risen Lord.

Worship life at the gathering unfolds ritually and relationally—call to worship, music, giving, prayer, confession, Holy Communion, and a warm invitation to belong—so that sacramental practice and everyday fellowship reinforce one another. The covenant of communion renews commitment and sends participants back into the world tasked with active service and faithful witness. The overall movement urges readiness: rise early in spiritual disciplines, learn to navigate in-between times, keep moving through disruption, and return to tell others the good news with both reverence and urgency.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Rise early and get things done Steadfast morning habits shape spiritual resilience; disciplined routines create openings for prayer, clarity, and service before the day’s noise arrives. Rising early becomes theological: an act of stewardship over time and a posture that prepares one to encounter God’s activity. Cultivate small consistent practices that prime the heart for faithful decision-making. [49:06]
• 2. Move faithfully in the dark Discipleship requires action when clarity is partial—learning to navigate "in-between" seasons where discernment and obedience outweigh visible certainty. The ability to move in the dark honors ancestral practices of perseverance and trusts that God guides by more than sight. Embrace courageous steps even amid uncertainty. [58:23]
• 3. Keep going through disruption Earthquakes and upheaval do not negate calling; they can precipitate divine movement that demands response rather than retreat. Continuing forward in crisis testifies to trust in God’s power to overturn tombs and break barriers. Let disruption catalyze witness, not paralysis. [60:14]
• 4. Tell others what God has done Encountering resurrection compels proclamation; bearing witness is the practical fruit of discovery and amazement. Testimony often arrives mixed with fear and joy, but both emotions fuel authentic witness that invites community into new life. Find a companion and run together to share the good news. [63:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:45] - Resurrection Affirmation
• [08:37] - Call to Worship & Hymns
• [30:44] - Announcements and Giving
• [33:55] - Prayer and Intercession
• [49:06] - Morning People: Theme Introduced
• [58:23] - Navigating In-Between Times
• [60:14] - Earthquake and Angelic Commission
• [63:02] - Joy and Fear: Run and Tell
• [68:26] - Invitation and Communion
• [82:35] - Fellowship and Benediction

Based on the sermon summary provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV)
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Observation questions

1. According to Matthew 28:1, what time of day did the two Marys go to the tomb, and what was their initial purpose for going?
2. What two strong, seemingly opposite emotions did the women experience as they left the tomb to obey the angel's command (Matthew 28:8)?
3. The sermon highlighted that the women moved forward "in the in-between times when it's not fully dark, but it's not fully light." [58:23] What specific event happened as they were being faithful in this uncertain time?

Interpretation questions

1. The angel told the guards, who were there to keep Jesus in the tomb, to "see the place where he lay," but he told the women to "go and tell." What does this difference in instruction reveal about the role of a witness versus the role of an opponent?
2. The women experienced both "fear and great joy" simultaneously. Why do these two emotions so often coexist when people encounter the reality of God's power and intervention in their lives?
3. The text says the women "ran" to tell the disciples. What does their immediate, urgent action suggest about the natural response to encountering the resurrection? What might have happened if they had decided to wait or process their emotions first?

Application questions

1. "Rise early and get things done" is about disciplined spiritual habits. [49:06] What is one small, consistent morning practice you could adopt this week to prime your heart for faithful decision-making before the day's noise arrives?
2. Discipleship requires action when clarity is partial—learning to navigate "in-between" seasons. [58:23] What is one area of your life right now where you are being called to trust God and take a courageous step forward even though you can't see the full picture?
3. Earthquakes and upheaval do not negate calling; they can be divine movement. [01:00:14] When a recent disruption or crisis rocked your world, what was your initial response? Did it catalyze your witness or cause paralysis? Looking back, how might God have been working in that shaking?
4. The presence of two women models mutual support. [01:05:17] Who is your "running partner" in faith—someone you can share your fears and joys with and who will run with you to tell others the good news? If you don't have someone like that, what is one step you can take to find or become that kind of spiritual companion?
5. Encountering resurrection compels proclamation; testimony often arrives mixed with fear and joy. [01:03:02] When was the last time you felt a mix of nervousness and excitement about sharing something God has done in your life? What is one piece of "good news" from your own journey that you feel compelled to tell someone this week?