Embracing the Power of the Risen Christ
Summary
Easter is a time of profound significance, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of our faith. The resurrection is not just a historical event but a living reality that empowers us to face each day with confidence and hope. The empty tomb is a testament to Jesus' victory over death, affirming that He is alive and active in our lives today. This truth transforms our understanding of life, giving us the courage to confront our fears and uncertainties.
Reflecting on John 20:1-18, we see Mary Magdalene and the disciples grappling with the reality of the empty tomb. Despite witnessing the evidence, the disciples initially returned home, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the resurrection. This mirrors our own struggles with faith and confidence. Often, we limit God by our lack of faith, perceiving Him as too small to handle our challenges. Yet, the resurrection assures us that Jesus is a "big God," capable of transforming our lives and circumstances.
The resurrection is not just a past event but a present reality that assures us of God's power and presence. It is a reminder that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face tomorrow with confidence. This truth is foundational to our faith, as Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 15. Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain, but because Christ is risen, we have hope and assurance of eternal life.
The resurrection also challenges us to examine our faith. Like the man clinging to the bush in the story, we often struggle to let go and trust God fully. Yet, Jesus calls us to have faith, to let go of our fears, and to trust in His promises. The resurrection is a call to live boldly, knowing that Jesus is with us, guiding and empowering us.
As we celebrate Easter, let us remember that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face today and tomorrow with confidence. Let us respond to His call, embracing the life and hope He offers. Jesus is our all in all, and with Him, we have everything we need.
Key Takeaways
- The resurrection of Jesus is a living reality that empowers us to face each day with confidence and hope. It is not just a historical event but a present assurance of God's power and presence in our lives. [11:01]
- Our perception of God often limits His work in our lives. By recognizing God as a "big God," we open ourselves to His transformative power, allowing us to grow spiritually and face life's challenges with confidence. [13:05]
- The resurrection challenges us to examine our faith and trust in God. Like the disciples, we may struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the resurrection, but Jesus calls us to have faith and trust in His promises. [17:20]
- Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain. Paul emphasizes that the resurrection is foundational to our faith, assuring us of eternal life and the truth of God's promises. [21:43]
- Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face today and tomorrow with confidence. He is our all in all, and with Him, we have everything we need to live a meaningful and hopeful life. [28:08]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:06] - The Significance of Easter
- [11:01] - The Reality of the Resurrection
- [13:05] - Confidence in a Big God
- [15:10] - The Disciples' Struggle with Faith
- [17:20] - Trusting God Fully
- [19:41] - The Purpose of the Resurrection
- [21:43] - The Foundation of Our Faith
- [24:33] - The Empty Tomb
- [28:08] - Jesus is Our All in All
- [30:57] - A Call to Respond
- [32:00] - Closing and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 20:1-18
- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
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#### Observation Questions
1. What was Mary Magdalene's initial reaction upon finding the empty tomb, and how did she communicate this to the disciples? [11:01]
2. How did the disciples respond after visiting the empty tomb, and what does this reveal about their understanding at that moment? [15:10]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the empty tomb for believers today? [24:33]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the resurrection of Jesus challenge the disciples' faith, and what does this suggest about the nature of belief? [17:20]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our perception of God can limit His work in our lives? [13:05]
3. How does Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 describe the implications if Christ had not been raised from the dead? What does this mean for the foundation of Christian faith? [21:43]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to believe in God's promises. How did you overcome that doubt, and what role did the resurrection play in strengthening your faith? [17:20]
2. The sermon mentions that we often perceive God as too small to handle our challenges. Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you begin to see God as a "big God" in this situation? [13:05]
3. How does the reality of the resurrection empower you to face your personal fears and uncertainties today? Share a specific fear and how you plan to confront it with the confidence that Jesus is alive. [11:01]
4. The sermon calls us to live boldly, trusting in Jesus' promises. What is one area of your life where you need to let go and trust God more fully? [17:20]
5. Consider the statement, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." How does this truth impact your outlook on the future, especially in uncertain times? [28:08]
6. How can you actively remind yourself of the resurrection's significance in your daily life, especially when facing challenges? [24:33]
7. The sermon ends with a call to respond to the living Jesus. What is one practical step you can take this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [30:57]
Devotional
Day 1: Resurrection as a Living Reality
The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a historical event but a living reality that empowers believers to face each day with confidence and hope. It serves as a present assurance of God's power and presence in our lives. The empty tomb is a testament to Jesus' victory over death, affirming that He is alive and active in our lives today. This truth transforms our understanding of life, giving us the courage to confront our fears and uncertainties. By embracing the resurrection as a current reality, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God, allowing us to grow spiritually and face life's challenges with renewed strength. [11:01]
1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
Reflection: In what ways can you allow the reality of the resurrection to influence your daily decisions and interactions with others today?
Day 2: Recognizing God as a "Big God"
Our perception of God often limits His work in our lives. By recognizing God as a "big God," we open ourselves to His transformative power, allowing us to grow spiritually and face life's challenges with confidence. The resurrection assures us that Jesus is capable of transforming our lives and circumstances. Often, we limit God by our lack of faith, perceiving Him as too small to handle our challenges. Yet, the resurrection is a powerful reminder that God is greater than any obstacle we face, and His power is at work within us. [13:05]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have limited God. How can you begin to trust Him more fully in that area today?
Day 3: Examining Our Faith
The resurrection challenges us to examine our faith and trust in God. Like the disciples, we may struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the resurrection, but Jesus calls us to have faith and trust in His promises. The story of the disciples grappling with the reality of the empty tomb mirrors our own struggles with faith and confidence. Often, we cling to our fears and uncertainties, hesitant to let go and trust God fully. Yet, the resurrection is a call to live boldly, knowing that Jesus is with us, guiding and empowering us. [17:20]
Mark 9:24 (ESV): "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Reflection: What is one specific area of your faith where you struggle with doubt? How can you invite God to strengthen your faith in that area today?
Day 4: The Foundation of Our Faith
Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain. Paul emphasizes that the resurrection is foundational to our faith, assuring us of eternal life and the truth of God's promises. The resurrection is not just a past event but a present reality that assures us of God's power and presence. It is a reminder that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face tomorrow with confidence. This truth is foundational to our faith, as it assures us of eternal life and the truth of God's promises. [21:43]
1 Corinthians 15:17-19 (ESV): "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."
Reflection: How does the assurance of the resurrection influence your understanding of eternal life and your daily walk with God?
Day 5: Living with Confidence in Christ
Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face today and tomorrow with confidence. He is our all in all, and with Him, we have everything we need to live a meaningful and hopeful life. The resurrection is a call to live boldly, knowing that Jesus is with us, guiding and empowering us. As we celebrate Easter, let us remember that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can face today and tomorrow with confidence. Let us respond to His call, embracing the life and hope He offers. [28:08]
Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to live more confidently in the truth that Jesus is alive and active in your life?
Quotes
``"The resurrection is just as real today as it was 2,000 years ago. Time doesn't change the fact. Jesus is just as real, just as alive, just as powerful today. He brings just as much meaning to our lives as he did to people back then. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. The resurrection means I can face tomorrow with confidence. In fact, we can face today with confidence. Someone wrote, Confidence is a word we all use, but many of us barely think about." [00:11:28] (49 seconds)
"I will say that the surest way to live confidently is to have what I call a big God. Many of us at different times in our lives have a very little God. But make no mistake, it's us that limits him. But if you think of a big God, if you pray to a big God, if you act like there's a big God, you will grow big spiritually. And in every other way, You will be a partner of a big God." [00:12:22] (38 seconds)
"Jesus repeatedly told them that he would die and rise again. They just didn't get it. And now on Easter Sunday, they'd heard the report from Mary. The tomb is empty. Peter and John had seen the evidence for themselves. The tomb is empty. And verse 8 tells us that when John went into the empty tomb, he saw, he believed. The tomb is empty. The tomb is empty. Surely, he's alive. Yet what does verse 10 tell us? The disciples returned to their homes. Can you believe it?" [00:15:14] (49 seconds)
"When faced with the most earth-shaking, life-changing fact in history, what did they do? They went home. What an anticlimax. Almost on the level of West Brom winning the Champions League. And Andy turning around and saying, I haven't had me meat pie and chips today. They all went home. They needed confidence for today and hope for tomorrow. Thankfully, they got it when Jesus showed up in the flesh. And Jesus has shown up here this morning." [00:16:15] (52 seconds)
"And the message is still the same. Because he lives, we can face not just tomorrow, but today with confidence. Thank you. Thank you. It took a while for it to sink in with the disciples. They didn't have the faith to believe the tomb was empty. They couldn't face tomorrow because they did not see, really, the tomb was empty. And for a period of several hours and even days, they were like, and I'm sorry if you've heard this sort of illustration before, but they were like a man who walked too close to the edge of a cliff." [00:16:43] (45 seconds)
"But before we criticise this guy or even the disciples, we have to take a look at ourselves. How much faith do I have in God for tomorrow? How much faith do you have for God, in God, for tomorrow? Tomorrow. It's always easy to point at the other person for their struggles, isn't it? But to be honest, I'm often no better than the disciples. And maybe that's true for you too. But because he lives, I can face tomorrow." [00:19:25] (52 seconds)
"Remember that Jesus said that his Father is not a God of the dead, but of the living. And that's why Paul says at the beginning of this chapter, if there is no resurrection, then he goes on to say, our preaching is in vain. Paul tells us, if Jesus is still dead, then all preachers have wasted their time proclaiming the message of the resurrection. We might as well shut up shop and go home now. If Jesus is still in the grave, then everything we preach is false, foolishness." [00:21:03] (40 seconds)
"Paul tells us that if Jesus is still dead, then you'd be as well off worshipping a rock or a pot plant. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we're all victims of the most cruel hoax ever played on humanity. And the Christian faith is the biggest joke of all time. And he says, if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, our witness is in vain. Paul tells us that if Jesus is still dead, all those who share the message of hope of the cross are liars and false witnesses." [00:21:41] (40 seconds)
"And if that's not enough, Paul says, that if Jesus did not rise, then the Bible lied about the resurrection. And you and I can believe nothing that this book tells us. But thankfully, Paul didn't end his writing there. Verse 20, But now, Christ is risen from the dead. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future. And life is worth the living just because he lives." [00:23:17] (58 seconds)
"And the disciples heard those words and on a few short days later, they were on a journey of a lifetime where life often was not good but God was always good. They had little financial security, popularity, praise or the stability of a permanent home or job but they had Jesus and for them Jesus was enough. friends if we have the risen Jesus that is enough. No matter what else we do or do not have in life, Jesus is more than enough." [00:28:06] (55 seconds)
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