Finding True Life Through Christ's Resurrection
Summary
So often, we show up looking put together on the outside while carrying brokenness within. The invitation is to bring that hidden pain and disappointment to Jesus, not expecting a magic fix, but trusting that he meets us in the midst of our struggles and brings a kind of healing we never anticipated. The resurrection is not just a distant hope for eternity, but a present reality that God is in the business of bringing new life—again and again—in all the places we feel stuck, lost, or empty. The empty tomb is the ultimate sign that God has the power to do something about the things that weigh us down, and that Jesus is not just an idea, but a living presence who changes everything.
Many of us find ourselves drifting from God, sometimes by just a degree, until we wake up and wonder where he went. The good news is that Jesus never left; he’s been pursuing us all along, waiting for us to turn and find him right there. We chase after satisfaction in things, achievements, or status, but these pursuits always leave us wanting more. Jesus offers a different kind of life—life to the full, both now and forever. This fullness isn’t found in what we accumulate or accomplish, but in living as citizens of God’s kingdom, seeing the world through “Jesus-colored glasses,” and experiencing the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives.
The resurrection is the foundation for this hope. It’s not just a story or a metaphor, but a historical event with real evidence and real implications. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything he said and did matters supremely. The call is to stop chasing after life on our own terms and to receive the life that has been chasing after us all along. Jesus invites us to go—to step out in faith, even when we’re afraid, trusting that as we go, we will see him at work. And as we receive this life, we’re called to share it, letting it overflow from us to the world around us. The challenge is simple but profound: live as if it’s all true, and see what God will do.
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity Before God: It’s easy to present a polished exterior while hiding our pain, but God invites us to bring our real, broken selves to him. The resurrection means Jesus meets us in our mess, not just in our victories, and offers healing that doesn’t always look like a quick fix but is always transformative. We don’t have to pretend with God; he already knows and loves us as we are. [01:01]
- The Subtle Drift and God’s Pursuit: Our distance from God often happens gradually, almost imperceptibly, as we get distracted or turn our focus elsewhere. Yet, no matter how far we wander, Jesus is relentlessly pursuing us, waiting for us to turn back and discover he’s been there all along. The story of the lost sheep reminds us that God rejoices over every return, no matter how lost we feel. [04:10]
- The Futility of Chasing “Fullness” Apart from Christ: We are conditioned to believe that satisfaction comes from achievements, possessions, or status, but these things never truly satisfy. The cycle of chasing the next thing only leads to emptiness, because what we’re really longing for is the fullness of life that only Jesus can give. True life is found not in what we gain, but in who we become as we follow Christ. [05:35]
- Living in the Kingdom Now: The resurrection ushers us into a new reality—the kingdom of God—which is present even as the world remains broken. By seeing with “Jesus-colored glasses,” we begin to notice God’s work all around us and are invited to participate in it. This kingdom life is marked by love, joy, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit, and it’s available to us here and now, not just in the future. [11:54]
- Faith in Action: The call is not to have every step mapped out, but to “go” in faith, trusting that as we move, we will encounter Jesus. Fear doesn’t disappear, but it no longer controls us; joy and courage grow as we step out. As we receive the overflowing life of Christ, we are sent to share it, letting it spill over to others, confident that God is with us always. [16:43]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - The Clean Slate: Looking Good, Feeling Broken
[01:13] - Jesus in the Midst of Our Brokenness
[01:41] - The Hope of Resurrection for Everyday Life
[03:04] - The Resurrection Changes Everything
[03:35] - Drifting from God: The One-Degree Shift
[04:41] - Chasing Satisfaction: Stuff, Status, and Emptiness
[06:05] - Jesus’ Invitation to Real Life
[07:37] - The Two Kingdoms: God’s vs. the World’s
[11:54] - Seeing with Jesus-Colored Glasses
[14:00] - The Easter Story: Matthew 28
[15:16] - Afraid Yet Filled with Joy
[17:04] - Why the Resurrection Matters Most
[18:35] - Evidence and Objections to the Resurrection
[20:28] - The Power of Resurrection in Our Lives
[21:10] - The God Who Chases After Us
[22:41] - Prioritizing God and Receiving Life
[23:53] - The Great Commission: Go and Share
[24:48] - Overflowing Life: Receiving and Giving
[25:33] - What Needs Resurrection in You?
[26:37] - The 30-Day Challenge: Live Like It’s True
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living the Resurrection Now
---
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20
(The resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission)
- John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
- Matthew 18:12-14
(The parable of the lost sheep)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 28:1-10, what emotions did the women experience as they left the empty tomb, and how did Jesus respond to them? [15:04]
2. According to John 10:10, what does Jesus say is his purpose for coming? [06:37]
3. In the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14), what does the shepherd do when one sheep wanders away? [21:10]
4. The sermon mentioned that the resurrection is not just a future hope but a present reality. What examples were given of “mini-resurrections” or places where we long for God to show up in our lives? [01:41]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The women at the tomb were “afraid yet filled with joy.” What does this combination of emotions reveal about following Jesus, especially in uncertain or new situations? [15:04]
2. The sermon described how people can “drift” from God by just a small degree at a time. What are some subtle ways this drift can happen, and why might it go unnoticed for a while? [04:10]
3. Jesus says he came to give “life to the full.” According to the sermon, why do achievements, possessions, or status fail to provide this fullness? [05:35]
4. The parable of the lost sheep shows God’s heart for those who wander. How does this shape our understanding of God’s pursuit of us, even when we feel far away? [21:10]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about showing up “looking good on the outside but broken on the inside.” Is there an area of your life where you feel you’re hiding pain or disappointment? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Jesus this week? [00:19]
2. Have you noticed any “one-degree shifts” in your relationship with God—small distractions or choices that have led you to feel distant? What is one practical step you could take to turn back toward him? [04:10]
3. Think about something you’ve been chasing for satisfaction (like a new achievement, possession, or recognition). Has it left you feeling empty or fulfilled? How might you shift your focus toward the “fullness of life” Jesus offers? [05:35]
4. The sermon described “Jesus-colored glasses”—seeing the world through the lens of God’s kingdom. What is one situation in your daily life where you could intentionally look for God’s work or respond with the fruit of the Spirit? [11:54]
5. Jesus’ resurrection is described as a real, historical event with real implications. If you lived as if it were all true, what is one thing you would do differently this month? [17:04]
6. The call to “go” in faith means stepping out even when you don’t have all the answers. Is there an area where you sense God nudging you to take a step? What’s holding you back, and how can you move forward with courage? [16:43]
7. The sermon ended with a challenge: “Live the next 30 days as if it’s all true.” What would that look like for you? Is there a specific habit, relationship, or area of your life you want to approach differently in light of the resurrection? [26:37]
---
Devotional
Day 1: The Resurrection Brings Hope and New Life
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event to be celebrated once a year; it is the foundation of our hope and the assurance that God has the power to bring new life into every broken and weary place in our lives. No matter what burdens or struggles you carry, the risen Christ meets you in the midst of them, offering healing, presence, and the promise that your story is not over. The empty tomb means that God is not distant or indifferent—He is actively working to bring resurrection and restoration, both now and for eternity. [03:04]
Matthew 28:1-7 (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.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels hopeless or dead right now? Ask God to bring His resurrection power into that place today.
Day 2: Jesus Offers Life to the Full
So many of us chase after satisfaction in things like achievement, possessions, or status, only to find ourselves empty and exhausted. Jesus invites us to a different kind of life—a life marked by rest, renewal, and abundance that cannot be found in the world’s pursuits. He promises not just survival, but fullness: a life overflowing with meaning, joy, and peace, both now and forever. When we come to Him, we discover that what we’ve been searching for all along is found in relationship with Him. [06:37]
John 10:10 (ESV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Reflection: Where have you been seeking fullness of life apart from Jesus? What would it look like to turn to Him for true abundance today?
Day 3: The Kingdom of God Changes Our Perspective
Faith in Jesus gives us a new way of seeing the world—like putting on “Jesus-colored glasses” that reveal the reality of God’s kingdom all around us. In the midst of a broken world, we are invited to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, embodying love, joy, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit. This new perspective helps us recognize God’s presence and activity in everyday moments, and calls us to participate in His work of renewal and hope. [10:54]
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Reflection: In what situation today do you need to put on “Jesus-colored glasses” and see with the eyes of faith? How might that change your response?
Day 4: Jesus Pursues Us with Relentless Love
No matter how far we wander or how lost we feel, Jesus never stops pursuing us. He seeks out each one of us with a love so personal and persistent that He would leave the ninety-nine to find the one. Even when we feel unworthy or distant, His heart is for us, and He rejoices over every step we take toward Him. Life is not just about us chasing after God—it’s about realizing that He has been chasing after us all along. [21:23]
Matthew 18:12-13 (ESV)
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you sensed God pursuing you? How might you respond to His love and invitation today?
Day 5: We Are Sent to Share the Life We’ve Received
The life Jesus gives is not meant to be hoarded, but shared. As recipients of His grace and resurrection power, we are called to go—to step out in faith, even when we feel afraid or uncertain, and to share the good news with others. Jesus promises to be with us always, empowering us to make disciples and extend His kingdom wherever we go. Our lives become vessels overflowing with His life, blessing everyone around us. [24:07]
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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: Who is one person you can encourage or share the hope of Jesus with this week? What step can you take to “go” and let God’s life overflow through you?
Quotes
Jesus will be present with you in the midst of the broken stuff and he will bring healing in a way that you never saw coming. This is really a byproduct of the hope of the resurrection. God's in the resurrection business. Jesus wants to resurrect you again and again. I don't mean just for, you know, eternity someday. Of course, we mean that. But I mean in the thousands of many resurrections that you're waiting for, the thousands of places where you want Jesus to show up. [00:01:15]
Here's the good news about the resurrection is that the resurrection proves that God has the power to do something about it. In other words, Jesus isn't just a great idea that we wrote a book about Jesus rose from the dead. And that changes everything about today. Now, maybe you walked in here and you felt like at one time in your life you were good with God and now you're not so sure. [00:03:00]
If you're hiking, imagine you're hiking right next to somebody and you're walking along the trail and you're together, but then let's say at some point you both turn your direction so you're one degree apart, just one degree off from perfectly parallel. Now, for a while that won't really look like much. It just means like after a while you'll be on kind of opposite sides of the path, but you'll still be on the same path. [00:03:31]
What happens over miles and miles and miles is that you'll become so far apart you won't even see each other anymore. And you'll wonder what happened. Hey, we used to be close. Hey, we were on the same trail. Hey, what happened? This happens with us and God all the time. It's usually this subtle thing that happens. We just kind of turn a little bit and we wake up one day and we can't see God in our lives. [00:04:00]
The where we get into trouble is when those things own us. Is then we're just kind of living our life for the sake of the next thing that we think is going to satisfy. Or we're chasing status. We talked about this for a couple weeks. Status. If I just get enough likes, if I just get enough followers, if I just get that promotion at work, if I just get that status, then finally I will be happy. I will be satisfied. [00:05:11]
And what happens? No matter what achievement you hit, you're never satisfied. Okay, on to the next thing I think I'm missing. And it's this cycle just on repeat. And you wonder, why do I feel so empty when I have everything? because you don't have everything. We read this last week. It's a a translation from the message of Jesus's words in Matthew 18. Are you tired, worn out? [00:05:38]
Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. That's exactly what God wants to give you. That's exactly what a relationship with Jesus is meant to give you, life. He says it this way in John's gospel, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." Jesus wants nothing less for you than to have absolutely the fullest version of life you could possibly have. [00:06:32]
Life in the hereafter and life in the here and now. Life to the full. The very thing that all these other things we're chasing are robbing away from us, killing in us. How many times has God planted something in you only to be destroyed by fear, by chasing things that aren't God, by all the things that get in the way? And it's like that whole joy of that is robbed from us. Life itself is robbed from us because we just get distracted. [00:06:58]
Jesus wants you to have the fullest life possible. So where does that life come from? This is why the resurrection matters. Listen, there are a lot of things in life that we think are going to bring us life. I mentioned stuff and status. I also think we have a lot of trust in science that we're going to like science our way to some better health and we're going to live longer. Science can do some amazing things. [00:07:31]
This idea of the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of the world. That there's these two kingdoms that are at war with each other. The kingdom that we're born into, the kingdom of this world, which is on full display in its brokenness and sin and depravity. And then there's the kingdom of God. The kingdom that Jesus himself brings when he makes us new. When we come to faith and we come to new life in him, we become citizens of this kingdom. [00:10:32]
And this kingdom is the one that God well all of God's virtues are at play. All the fruit of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, all of it is lifted up. That's where we find real life. And yet, it's sort of like the invisible kingdom amidst the physical kingdom. And in order to see it, you come to faith in Jesus. And it's like you put on Jesus colored glasses and you can see the world as it really is. [00:10:52]
And I feel like this is what happens when we live a life of faith. We put on these Jesus colored glasses, if you will. They're like readers for the soul. And we can see the kingdom of heaven amongst us in our midst. Every time somebody does something in the name of Jesus, every time we pray and worship together, every time somebody self-sacrifices for the sake of their love in Jesus Christ, we see with the glass now, we see the works of the kingdom of heaven. [00:11:57]
And it's this kingdom that Jesus says he's going to bring fully and finally when he returns. And there will be no more kingdom of this world. No more tears, no more sin, nothing. And that's what the world is heading for. And you and I are called to live in this kingdom and tell others about it. What were Jesus's first words in the Gospel of Matthew were this? Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near. [00:12:20]
Turn away from sin. Turn away from the kingdom of this world. Turn towards Jesus and you will find life. But he didn't just leave us without any proof. I mean, there are signs, right? There are signs that the kingdom of God is near. That's one of my favorite series of memes, by the way, is the if I won the lottery, I wouldn't tell anybody, but there would be signs. I find these hilarious. [00:12:48]
There are signs that the kingdom of God is around us. There were signs that Jesus was who he said he was. What kind of signs am I talking about? Well, there were signs of miracles. There were signs of healings. There were you couldn't go anywhere with Jesus and not see the signs that the that he was the king who brought the kingdom. But signs are not. It all hinges on Easter. The only way you and I get out alive is if Easter is real. [00:13:29]
After the Sabbath, at dawn, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. [00:14:03]
The angels said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy. [00:14:32]
Isn't that just sort of like our experience of faith in life? It's not easy. We may be a little afraid, but filled with joy when we're walking with Jesus because we trust he is with us no matter what. It doesn't mean living your life of faith doesn't mean you never experience fear again. I've actually there are some Christians who think that because Jesus says, right, to not be afraid that perfect love drives out fear. [00:14:57]
Oh, well then, I'll never be afraid if I'm doing it right. Nonsense. But you won't let that fear stop you from doing what God wants you to do. Afraid yet filled with joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly, Jesus met them. "Greetings, he said." I can't even get my head around. I love the translation from the Greek into the English because it sounds so lame. You know what I mean? [00:15:23]
Do not be afraid. Go and you will see me. Do not be afraid. Go and you will see me. Do not be afraid. Go and they will see me. Do not be afraid. Go. Go. I feel like for us, we get so stuck in our own heads. It's the go part we struggle with. It's like, okay, I came to faith and now I need all the road mapped out for me by Jesus and then I'll take a step. That ain't how it works. [00:16:23]
I'm a Christian because of the resurrection. Because if he really died and rose again, it changes everything. And that's why I believe in his teachings. And that's why I care about his miracles, not the other way around. I'm a Christian because of the empty tomb. If if he didn't rise, none of it matters. And if he did, it matters to the highest degree it possibly could. It changes everything. [00:17:23]
Because God doesn't just care about your life's problems. He has the power to do something about it. He has the power to show up. And again, he's not just going to erase your problems, but he's going to show up in the midst of them in a way that you didn't see coming. In a way that trends toward life, and that to the full, that very thing you've been chasing the whole time. Do not be afraid. Go and you will see me. [00:20:31]
He died and rose again for you so you can have life in its fullness. I I love how Jesus talked about this in chapter 18. It sort of reveals his heart here. He says, "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the 99 on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the 99 that did not wander off. [00:21:01]
This is the amazing thing about the good news is that all this time we've been chasing after life only to discover life has been chasing after us. Some of you today, you know, Jesus has been chasing after you because he wants more for you. And there are things that have happened to you that you explain away and it's God talking to you but you're like no it couldn't be that it's my imagination. No, you feel it. [00:21:37]
Again, what Matthew tells us, you prioritize God and everything else falls into place. It's like everything's right size the way that it should be. We stop chasing. We start resting. because life finds us. Jesus has been there the whole time. We just turn and he's there. And maybe that's for you this morning. Maybe others of you, you feel like, "Yeah, I feel like my priorities have gotten a little out of whack." [00:22:33]
We put on the Jesus colored glasses and we say, "All right, Lord, show me where to follow your kingdom work today." And that's the thing. This is all for a reason. And I love in Matthew's gospel, this is how chapter 28 ends. He ends with the purpose for us. It's like, yes, we receive life, life to the full. Why? Here's what he says. The 11 disciples went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [00:23:16]
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go." There it is again. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. [00:23:50]
I extend my hands to receive life and life is just what comes pouring out of me and there's plenty to go around. So what about you this morning? What does it look like to follow to join God's mission to the world to go in order to see? Listen, it's all true. And maybe you're not there yet. It's okay. I think it's okay to be where you are. But I don't think God wants to leave you there because I think he's got something more for you. [00:24:55]
What needs to be brought back to life in you today? Where do you need the power of the gospel, the risen Jesus in your life? Is there a fear that's driving you? Maybe a fear of going to college, a fear of leaving college? a fear that maybe the job that you're in, you feel stuck in. You feel like you can't move and it's not doing it for you anymore. Maybe you feel that way about a relationship. [00:25:39]
But listen, Jesus shows up in the middle of it all if you let him. He will bring you back to life. He's not just fixing everything in your life. He's fixing you in the midst of everything in your life. What do you need in order to go and see of his goodness? I'll give you this. You may not know what to do with Jesus. That's okay. But I'll give you a challenge. Live the next 30 days as if it's all true. [00:26:17]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 20, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?