A Shocking Way to Start the Week | Easter Sunday

Devotional

Day 1: The world of resurrection is a startling new reality.

The women went to the tomb expecting death, but they encountered a world utterly transformed by God's power. They crossed a border from a world of cynicism and despair into a world defined by hope and new life. This shift was not something they accomplished, but a reality God had already established. We are invited to live within this new reality, where nothing is hopeless and God is making all things new. [34:49]

Matthew 28:1-6 (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 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."

Reflection: Where in your life have you been living with a sense of cynicism or low expectations, as if the old world of death and despair is the only reality? How might the truth of the resurrection invite you to see that same situation with new eyes and a new sense of possibility?

Day 2: The risen Christ meets us on the way.

The women were running, filled with a mixture of fear and joy, trying to process the angel's message. It was in this state of movement, in their obedience to go and tell, that the risen Christ himself appeared to them. He did not wait for them to have everything figured out or to be completely fearless. He met them on their journey, offering his presence and repeating the call to not be afraid. He comes to us in the same way, amid our own fears and uncertainties. [37:41]

Matthew 28:8-10 (ESV)
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Reflection: As you go about your daily tasks this week, where do you sense the risen Christ might be seeking to meet you? What would it look like to move forward with your responsibilities, even with a degree of fear, while being open to his surprising presence along the way?

Day 3: We are called to be agents of resurrection hope.

The resurrection was not merely a past event to be celebrated; it was a commissioning. The women were sent as the first human link to carry the good news into the world. In the same way, we are sent out as agents of the new life and hope that God is bringing into the world. Our mission is to represent this reality, not in our own strength, but with the promise of Christ’s abiding presence with us. [39:10]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Reflection: What is one specific, practical way you can be an "agent of resurrection" this week—bringing a sense of Christ's hope, healing, or new life into a relationship, a workplace, or a difficult situation you are facing?

Day 4: Worship realigns us with God's new creation.

We gather on the first day of the week not out of mere habit, but to remember and re-enter the reality of the resurrection. Just as God spoke light into darkness on the first day of creation, God brings new life out of death on this new first day. Worship is the journey where we intentionally cross the border from our routine world of low expectations into the startling world of God's ongoing work. [40:06]

Genesis 1:1-5 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Reflection: As you prepare for worship this coming Sunday, what "border" do you hope to cross? What aspect of your week or your perspective do you need to leave behind in order to more fully enter into the hope and new life God offers?

Day 5: The resurrection sends us out with purpose and expectation.

The celebration of Easter does not end when we leave the gathering; it equips us for the week ahead. We cross back into our daily lives, but we do so changed—carrying more joy, more hope, and a renewed sense of purpose. We go with our eyes open, watching for where the risen Christ is already at work in our world, ready to join him in his mission. [42:06]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Reflection: As you look ahead to your "manic Monday" and the rest of your week, what difference will the resurrection make in your daily tasks and interactions? How can you cultivate a sense of holy expectation, watching for where Christ might show up in the ordinary moments of your life?

Sermon Summary

The empty tomb erupts as the decisive event that reframes life and worship. The women who go early on the first day find the stone rolled away and cross from a world of cynicism and closed endings into a startling world of resurrection, hope, and new possibility. The resurrection demands weekly remembrance: worship on the first day reenters that new world, reminding the community that Easter is not a single day but the defining rhythm of life. Fear and joy collide at the tomb; terror meets promise, and the command “Do not be afraid” punctuates the encounter with the living Christ. That tension—fear mixed with joy—pushes the faithful forward to tell the story and to look for the risen Lord wherever life unfolds.

The resurrection also reshapes mission. The living Christ sends agents into the world to embody resurrection hope, not as conquerors but as servants who lay down life in love. The link between Good Friday’s self-giving and Easter’s new life becomes the model for discipleship: service, forgiveness, and sacrificial love form the means by which the kingdom advances. Sunday gatherings create a border crossing back into the resurrection world; shared worship sharpens eyes and ears so that ordinary days become places to expect Christ’s presence.

Communion anchors that calling. The Lord’s table recalls both the broken body and the poured-out life that make service possible; it gathers people to receive and then to go as agents of hope. The “now but not yet” posture receives Easter’s promise while acknowledging ongoing brokenness in the world. Worship sends the gathered back into daily routines with renewed purpose: to notice where the risen Christ shows up, to act with humility and love, and to be present to the needy. Practical invitations—care for children, pastoral guidance, and active participation—underscore that resurrection life moves through ordinary practices as worship, service, and shared meal. The final charge issues a simple summons: return Sunday after Sunday, let worship reforge expectation, and go into the week watching for resurrection in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Resurrection reorients weekly worship Worship on the first day does more than mark time; it reenacts the shift from darkness into new life, creating a habitual crossing into resurrection expectation. Regular gathering trains attention to see hope where resignation once ruled, making Sunday a formative practice that resets vision for the week. This rhythm keeps the community attentive to God’s motion in ordinary life. [13:08]
2. Crossing borders into new life The journey to the tomb models a literal and spiritual border crossing from a closed, cynical world into one opened by surprise and grace. Such crossings require leaving familiar expectations and embracing disorientation as the prelude to revelation. The encounter at the border provokes both fear and mission. [34:30]
3. Fear and joy can coexist The early witnesses run with fear and fledgling joy intermingled; fear does not negate faith but clarifies it. Naming fear alongside hope prevents sentimentality and readies the heart for authentic courage in service. Courage born from trembling becomes a faithful engine for witness. [37:41]
4. Agents of resurrection serve sacrificially The resurrection sends people out not to triumphalism but to service rooted in Christ’s self-giving—love shown in small acts as well as large commitments. Communion and footwashing link remembrance with action, calling people to lay down private wills for neighborly care. Mission flows from liturgy into life as patient, costly love. [53:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:08] - Empty Tomb and Easter Proclamation
[14:09] - Easter: Worship Every Week
[34:30] - Journey to the Tomb: Crossing Borders
[35:31] - Earthquake, Angel, and Surprise
[37:41] - Encounter: “Do Not Be Afraid”
[40:52] - Gathering Reorients Expectation
[41:37] - Community Reminds and Strengthens
[45:53] - Sent as Agents of Hope
[53:50] - Communion: Remembering and Sending
[51:55] - Now-but-Not-Yet: Hope in Brokenness
[69:08] - Closing Hymn and Commission

Bible Study 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. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Observation questions

What specific emotions did the women experience at the tomb, and what actions did they take as a result?
What two distinct times were the women told “Do not be afraid” and who said it to them?
What was the specific mission or instruction given to the women after they encountered the empty tomb?
The sermon mentions that the women "crossed a border" from one world into another on their journey [34:30]. What characterized the world they left and the world they entered?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think the command “Do not be afraid” is repeated in this resurrection account, especially when the situation was clearly terrifying?
The women’s fear and joy existed simultaneously. How can these two conflicting emotions coexist in a moment of divine encounter?
What does it mean that worship on the first day of the week is a “habitual crossing into resurrection expectation” [13:08]? How does this act differ from simply marking time?
In what ways does the resurrection reshape our understanding of mission from being “conquerors” to being “servants” [53:50]?

Application questions

The resurrection sends people out as agents of hope, not with triumphalism but with service rooted in Christ’s self-giving love [53:50]. What is one practical, small way you can lay down your own will this week to serve a neighbor or family member?
Worship is meant to sharpen our eyes and ears to expect Christ’s presence in our ordinary days [42:51]. What is one routine part of your week (e.g., commute, errands, work) where you could make a conscious effort to look for where the risen Christ might be at work?
Fear does not negate faith but can clarify it and lead to authentic courage [37:41]. What is a situation that causes you fear or anxiety right now? How could the reality of the resurrection reframe your perspective and give you courage to move forward in it?
We are called to live with a “now but not yet” posture—holding onto Easter’s promise while acknowledging the world’s brokenness [51:55]. Where do you see this tension between hope and brokenness most acutely in your own life or community? How can you be an agent of Christ’s hope in that specific area?
The journey to the tomb required leaving familiar expectations and embracing disorientation [34:30]. Is there a “border” God might be calling you to cross—a place where you need to leave behind cynicism or resignation to embrace new possibility? What would taking the first step look like?
Gathering weekly with God’s people is meant to reforge our expectation [43:13]. How can you prepare your heart before you arrive next Sunday to better “cross the border” from your routine world into the startling world of resurrection?

Sermon Clips

38s

#EasterIsAlive

“As someone once said, the wonderful news of Easter is that Jesus is alive and out and about and is risen. And the terrible news of Easter is that Jesus is alive and is out and is about and we might find him anywhere. Because nothing is nailed down anymore. Nothing is close ended anymore. Nothing is hopeless anymore, and it's troubling if we don't then act accordingly.”

37s

#ResurrectionShift

“But somewhere along the way, they crossed the border and they entered into the startling world of resurrection and life and new life and hope and promise. And it seemed to have been rather a a shocking experience for them. An earthquake rippled a seismic shock through the world and the fault lines of life and history had shifted dramatically toward grace and hope and new life.”

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A Shocking Way to Start the Week | Easter Sunday | April 5, 2026