Embracing Resurrection: A Journey of Spiritual Renewal

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Christ Consciousness for Renewal

Easter is a time of renewal, a celebration of the Christ consciousness rising within us, inviting us to embrace new beginnings and spiritual growth. This journey is not about adhering to traditional narratives but about understanding the resurrection as a personal and collective awakening to divine potential. Each day offers us a resurrection, an opportunity to rise above our challenges and embrace the light. The tombs we find ourselves in—whether they be struggles with health, relationships, or personal growth—are not the end. They are the beginning of a new chapter, where love and divine presence guide us toward transformation. [02:43]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel stuck in an old pattern? How can you invite Christ's renewing presence into that area today?

Day 2: Resurrection as a Present Reality

The resurrection is not just a historical event but a present reality. It calls us to awaken to the divine potential within, to live with courage, love, and hope, even amidst life's trials. This awakening is a journey of becoming, where we trust in the divine light within us. As we embrace this journey, we find that the stones blocking our path are rolled away, and we are empowered to live in the fullness of our true selves. [19:20]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a "stone" in your life that feels like an obstacle. How can you trust in God's power to help you move past it today?

Day 3: Transformation through Divine Guidance

The tombs we find ourselves in—struggles with health, relationships, or personal growth—are not the end. They are the beginning of a new chapter, where love and divine presence guide us toward transformation. The resurrection is a call to rise above limitations and embrace the new. In unity, we understand that the resurrection is about living in the consciousness of Christ, where love, forgiveness, and courage triumph over fear and despair. [20:06]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current struggle you are facing. How can you invite God's love and guidance to transform this situation?

Day 4: Living in Christ Consciousness

In unity, the resurrection is about living in the consciousness of Christ, where love, forgiveness, and courage triumph over fear and despair. It is about recognizing that we are not alone, that we are connected to a divine source that continually renews and uplifts us. As we rise each day, we embody the resurrection, bringing light and hope to the world around us. [27:07]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody Christ's consciousness in your interactions today, especially in challenging situations?

Day 5: Trusting in Divine Unfolding

As we rise each day, we embody the resurrection, bringing light and hope to the world. This journey is not about achieving something but allowing the divine unfolding within us, trusting that the stones blocking our path are rolled away. We are empowered to live in the fullness of our true selves, connected to a divine source that continually renews and uplifts us. [39:50]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of control and trust in God's unfolding plan? How can you practice this trust today?

Sermon Summary

On this Easter morning, we gather to explore the profound significance of the resurrection, not just as a historical event, but as a living, transformative experience within each of us. Easter is a time of renewal, a celebration of the Christ consciousness rising within us, inviting us to embrace new beginnings and spiritual growth. This journey is not about adhering to traditional narratives but about understanding the resurrection as a personal and collective awakening to divine potential.

As we delve into the Easter story, we recognize that each day offers us a resurrection, an opportunity to rise above our challenges and embrace the light. The tombs we find ourselves in—whether they be struggles with health, relationships, or personal growth—are not the end. They are the beginning of a new chapter, where love and divine presence guide us toward transformation. The resurrection is a call to awaken to the Christ within, to live with courage, love, and hope, even amidst life's trials.

The resurrection is not merely a past event but a present reality. It is an invitation to rise above our limitations, to let go of the old, and to welcome the new. This spiritual awakening is a process, a journey of becoming, where we learn to trust in the divine light within us. As we embrace this journey, we find that the stones blocking our path are rolled away, and we are empowered to live in the fullness of our true selves.

In unity, we understand that the resurrection is about living in the consciousness of Christ, where love, forgiveness, and courage triumph over fear and despair. It is about recognizing that we are not alone, that we are connected to a divine source that continually renews and uplifts us. As we rise each day, we embody the resurrection, bringing light and hope to the world around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Easter is a celebration of renewal and the rising of Christ consciousness within us. It invites us to embrace new beginnings and spiritual growth, recognizing that each day offers a resurrection, an opportunity to rise above challenges and embrace the light. [02:43]
2. The resurrection is not just a historical event but a present reality. It calls us to awaken to the divine potential within, to live with courage, love, and hope, even amidst life's trials. This awakening is a journey of becoming, where we trust in the divine light within us. [19:20]
3. The tombs we find ourselves in—struggles with health, relationships, or personal growth—are not the end. They are the beginning of a new chapter, where love and divine presence guide us toward transformation. The resurrection is a call to rise above limitations and embrace the new. [20:06]
4. In unity, the resurrection is about living in the consciousness of Christ, where love, forgiveness, and courage triumph over fear and despair. It is about recognizing our connection to a divine source that continually renews and uplifts us. [27:07]
5. As we rise each day, we embody the resurrection, bringing light and hope to the world. This journey is not about achieving something but allowing the divine unfolding within us, trusting that the stones blocking our path are rolled away. [39:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Introduction to Easter
[01:53] - Prayer for Protection
[02:43] - Easter as Renewal
[04:22] - Announcements
[09:17] - Easter Affirmation
[10:07] - Daily Word: New Life
[11:36] - Personal Journey with Faith
[15:44] - Historical Jesus
[17:07] - Metaphysical Interpretation
[19:20] - Easter as Present Reality
[22:22] - Resurrection as Divine Life
[23:57] - Love's Final Word
[25:36] - Transformation through Resurrection
[27:07] - Christ Consciousness
[30:01] - Spiritual Practices
[32:24] - Embracing the Christ Within
[33:11] - Meditation and Reflection

Sermon Clips

"New is good. New is growth. New is evolution. So our talk title today is rising above living the resurrection. So we're going to look at Easter from what it means to be part of unity but also learn how the resurrection plays out in each and every one of us." [00:00:42]

"Easter is an interesting day. It allows us to celebrate the renewal of spring, the rising of the Christ consciousness, to be able to be present with each other, to be with family and friends. And it's a time to slow down for a moment and to adjust and to know that the shadows, the tombs that we were in are now starting to see the light." [00:02:30]

"Every each and every day, each and every morning is a resurrection. We are rising to a new opportunity and it's up to us to grab onto it and to make it our own. So it's with gratitude I say thank you for all of us meeting today here in this time and space, wherever you're tuning in from." [00:03:13]

"I rise in the power of divine life. I release the old. I welcome the new. I am resurrection in motion. Let's say that again. I rise in the power of divine life. I release the old. I welcome the new. I am resurrection in motion." [00:09:27]

"Easter is the dawning of hope and the promise of resurrection and new life. Today I celebrate the victory of divine love, new life, and the resilience of my overcoming nature. Everything is made new through the dynamic power and glory of the Christ within me. I am freed from fear and limitation." [00:10:30]

"I learned that Easter is not about a past event. Yes, that historically happened. It is written in several different places outside of the Bible that this, that he existed and that he was crucified and this did happen. But Easter is about now. So let me explain. It's not about something that happened a long time ago." [00:18:45]

"Resurrection is the awakening of Christ consciousness. It's the divine potential that's in each and every one of us. So it's the eternal truths that we know and we share no matter how deep the tomb is for us. So how mire broke, how we are pulled into that mireer of life where we are slogging through and struggling." [00:19:51]

"Good Friday, which happened just a couple days ago, it was another representation of the metaphysical idea that we all struggle. So there he, Jesus, on that night, he witnessed, he experienced betrayal and abandonment and injustice and there was grief involved with that and he represented what it is that we experience in our human lives." [00:21:14]

"Charles Filillmore, the co-founder of Unity, wrote, 'The resurrection is the lifting up of the whole person, spirit, soul, and body into the Christ consciousness of life and of wholeness.' So Jesus showed us that the divine life cannot be crucified, that love can't be buried, that spirit cannot be contained by this, the blocks that we put in front of us." [00:22:25]

"Brian McLaren was one of those authors that I met. And so he said, 'The resurrection is not an ending. It's a beginning. It's an uprising of hope, an insurrection of love. So Easter is about resuscitation. It's about transformation. The resurrection of Jesus wasn't just a divine rescue mission for him only. It was a radical declaration that death doesn't win." [00:23:30]

"The late Marcus Borg, another author I saw, he said, 'The truth of Easter is not dependent on what happened to Jesus's body. The truth of Easter is that Jesus lives on and that we can experience him and the Christ consciousness as a risen presence.' So let's ask ourselves today on this Easter morning where in my life am I being called to rise." [00:24:34]

"The cleanup starts with us. It starts with our ability to choose love over bitterness, forgiveness over resentment, and courage over despair. And yes, it's really hard. We live in a world where we see crucifixion happen each and every day, literal and symbolic. Crucifixion of dignity, of justice, of compassion." [00:25:43]

"The resurrection doesn't erase pain, but it transforms it. It doesn't promise us that we are going to lack suffering. It promises us a new life. Diana Butler Bass said, 'Resurrection doesn't erase the wounds, it transforms them. The scars remain, but they become sacred.' So even the risen Christ in the story bore the marks of the nails." [00:26:16]

"Every time you choose love over fear, you are rising. Every time you forgive or heal or serve another or stand up or show up, you are living the resurrection. So there are often times that we forget that it shows up, that we don't even notice. So it looks like a parent who keeps showing up for their troubled child." [00:27:51]

"Resurrection isn't loud. It's not always hallelujah and big fanfare that happens when you see the risen Christ. Sometimes it's a quiet breath in the early morning. Sometimes it's just the light that makes it so you can see your next step. But over time, your life will return. No matter what struggles you have, no matter what stones are in your way." [00:28:49]

"Unity gives us these spiritual tools to keep us rising each and every day. So we can do that through prayer, using denials and affirmations, through meditation, through sacred service and connection with our community. And these are not rituals for ritual's sake. They are practices. That means that they have to happen on a daily basis." [00:29:35]

"These practices that we use each and every day, they help us to move through the fear and look to faith, to move from grief and to find some gratitude, and to go from ego to focusing on our true essence or our true selves. So let's go back to our affirmation that we had earlier today." [00:30:07]

"Easter is not a single day on the calendar. It is a spiritual season, a state of consciousness, a way of living. The first Easter happened in the darkness, but there was an invitation to walk to the light. That invitation came to me several years ago again to revisit that spiritual essence of who I was." [00:30:56]

"We are invited. We're invited to take a new perspective, to understand that we are able and can and will rise above. We move from fear to faith, from heartbreak to healing, and from death to new life each and every day because Christ within us is risen every day. And Christ consciousness is alive at all times." [00:31:41]

"Know that resurrection is not something you have to achieve. It's something you allow. It's already unfolding within you and through you. And so as you move through this Easter day, carry this truth. The stone is rolled away. The light has come and you, my beloved, are rising. And so it is." [00:42:44]

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