Traditional | Double Vision: Lead Courageously

On Easter morning the original ending of Mark is read: women come to the tomb, find the stone rolled away, see a young man in a white robe, and are told that Jesus has been raised and will meet the disciples in Galilee. The women flee in terror and say nothing, leaving Mark with an abrupt, open ending that forces a question: what will be done with the story? Several reasons for the abrupt close surface—an attempt by some to bury the testimony given by women, Mark’s taste for ambiguity, and the real danger in proclaiming a crucified criminal as Lord in hostile political climates.

The teaching pushes against timid faith. Proclaiming a savior who loves all and who sets aside power runs counter to dominant cultural messages, and many feel fearful about declaring that love publicly. Institutional hesitancy shows up in a revealing statistic: United Methodists invite others to church at an extremely low rate, and the word “witness” only recently joined formal membership vows. The sermon reframes courage: fear does not disqualify someone from leading; courage requires fear and moves forward anyway.

Practical encouragement follows. Memorizing scripture proves unnecessary for faithful witness; telling the story of Jesus—welcoming the outcast, feeding the hungry, resisting evil, inviting all to the table—provides the substance needed to share good news. Two real-life acts of mercy, paying a stranger’s prescription balance and later covering a family’s groceries, model how small, visible risks of love open human hearts and disarm suspicion. These stories show that naming the motive—loving neighbor because of Jesus—can sometimes bring healing rather than rejection.

Mark’s ending becomes a “choose-your-own-adventure” challenge: the reader must decide whether to hide the news or to tell it despite fear. The call lands plainly: lead courageously by pushing through fear and offering God’s inclusive love. The service also recognizes new leaders, shares community announcements, invites participation in traditions like the Hallelujah Chorus, and closes with a benediction that declares the congregation already courageous because God’s love has poured into them.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The empty tomb demands action The empty tomb in Mark does not allow neutral observation; it issues a summons to tell others. That summons places responsibility on ordinary people to move from shock into speech and service. Choosing silence protects comfort; choosing witness risks conflict but advances new life. [15:48]
• 2. Women's witness cannot be buried All four Gospels consistently locate the first testimony in the hands of women, challenging cultural assumptions about authority. Attempts to downplay that testimony reveal anxieties about who may carry God’s message. Recognizing unexpected witnesses enlarges imagination about how God works in the world. [18:24]
• 3. Courage arises from feared obedience Fear precedes courage; bravery means acting despite dread, not in its absence. Small acts of costly love—stepping forward to pay a bill, to reach out—train courage and reshape communities. Repeated practice softens the shock and strengthens the will to love when it costs. [24:59]
• 4. Tell the story, not scripture proofs Witness centers on narrating the gospel’s pattern—welcome, inclusion, feeding, resisting death—rather than on debating verses. Narrative grounds conviction in embodied acts and invites others into the story. This approach frees hesitant people to share what they know and live. [27:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:22] - Online Greetings and Participation
• [04:07] - Easter Call to Worship
• [14:43] - New Series: Leading Courageously
• [15:18] - Reading: Mark’s Original Ending
• [17:50] - Why Mark Ends Abruptly
• [21:36] - Methodist Hesitancy and Witness
• [23:04] - Acts of Mercy: Walgreens Story
• [24:59] - Fear and the Nature of Courage
• [29:07] - Acts of Mercy: Walmart Story
• [36:52] - Commissioning New Leaders
• [57:49] - Hallelujah Chorus and Traditions
• [60:11] - Benediction: Go Love Courageously

Bible reading:
Mark 16:1-8 (ESV)
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Observation questions

1. What specific instructions did the young man in the tomb give to the women?
2. What was the immediate reaction of the women after hearing the news?
3. What detail does the passage provide about the stone at the tomb’s entrance?
4. According to the sermon, what is the "terrifying story" to proclaim in the twenty-first century? [20:38]

Interpretation questions

1. Why might the original ending of Mark’s Gospel, which concludes with the women fleeing in fear, be considered a powerful narrative choice?
2. The sermon mentions that “fear is a prerequisite to courage.” [24:59] How does this idea challenge common assumptions about what it means to be brave?
3. What does the inclusion of women as the first witnesses tell us about how God often chooses to deliver important messages?
4. The sermon suggests that sharing the story of Jesus is more about narrating a pattern of welcome and inclusion than quoting scripture. [27:11] Why might this approach be more effective and accessible?

Application questions

1. The empty tomb issues a summons to move from shock into speech and service. What is one small, practical way you can “tell the story” of Jesus’ welcome and love this week without needing to quote scripture?
2. Fear often precedes courageous action. [24:59] When was a recent time you felt afraid to show love or speak up? What would it have looked like to “push through it and love anyway” in that moment?
3. The sermon shared two stories of paying for a stranger’s items at a store. [23:04] [29:07] What is one “small, visible risk of love” you could take that would feel like a courageous step for you?
4. The ending of Mark’s Gospel places the responsibility on the reader to decide what to do with the news. [28:20] In your current relationships, who is one person you feel called to “go and tell” through your actions or words?
5. The sermon noted that “institutional hesitancy” can make us reluctant to share our faith. [21:36] How can you personally help create a culture in your community where sharing stories of God’s love feels more natural and less intimidating?
6. Courage arises from practice. [24:59] What is one recurring situation in your life where you could practice pushing past fear to extend love?
7. The benediction declared, “You are already courageous because God’s love has poured into you.” [01:00:11] How does believing that God’s love is the source of your courage, and not your own bravery, change how you approach sharing your faith?