From Death to Life: Embracing Resurrection Power
Summary
Today, on this blessed Resurrection Sunday, I shared a message that delved into the profound implications of Jesus' resurrection and what it means for us as believers. We began by celebrating the baptisms that took place, recognizing the transformative power of Jesus who changed the world through twelve disciples and anticipating what He will do through the lives of those baptized today.
In our series "From Death to Life," we reflected on the truth that Jesus is the greater thing, not just a means to greater things. We don't follow Him for what He can do for us; we follow Him because of who He is. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was complete, and while we are grateful for His healing, deliverance, and restoration, our contentment lies in His finished work on Calvary.
We then turned to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, where we recounted the events of the first Easter morning. The women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body were met with an astonishing reality: He was not there; He had risen. These women became the first evangelists, tasked by Jesus to share the good news with the disciples. Their actions demonstrated that anyone who knows Jesus can make Him known, regardless of societal qualifications.
I shared about the skepticism of the disciples when they first heard the news from the women, and how Peter, despite seeing the empty tomb, still wondered what had happened. This illustrates that even when we are called by God, we may face disbelief from others, but our personal encounter with Jesus is undeniable and cannot be taken from us.
We also discussed Thomas' doubt and how Jesus, in His grace, provided Thomas with the evidence he needed to believe. This shows us that Jesus welcomes our questions and doubts and is willing to reveal Himself to those who seek Him earnestly.
I spoke about the reality that the Gospel is miraculous and beyond our full comprehension. We must sometimes surrender our intellect and accept the miracle of salvation through faith. The good news of Jesus is not about earning our way to heaven through good deeds but about receiving forgiveness through His sacrifice.
I emphasized that Jesus' offer is a trade: His life for ours. He died in our place, offering us the status of loved sons and daughters in exchange for our lost condition. This scandalous grace is available to everyone, regardless of their past or present state.
Finally, I declared that the power of the empty tomb is available to fill our empty lives. The resurrection is not just an event but the essence of who Jesus is. Jesus invites us to trade our fears, shame, guilt, and sins for His victorious life. Whatever our current situation looks like, it doesn't matter to Jesus because His resurrection power is available to us now.
Key Takeaways:
1. The resurrection of Jesus redefines our existence, transforming us from dead in sin to alive in Christ. This transformation is not about becoming good people but about being made alive by His power and grace. Our excitement and joy in this new life compel us to share the good news with others, just as the women at the tomb could not keep silent about the risen Lord. [10:45]
2. Doubt and questioning are not barriers to faith but can be the very soil from which a robust faith grows. Jesus does not dismiss our doubts; instead, He invites us to seek Him and promises to reveal Himself to us. Our journey of faith begins with a measure of faith, and as we pursue Jesus, He becomes an encountered reality in our lives. [18:04]
3. The Gospel is a miraculous truth that surpasses our understanding. We are called to believe in the miracle of salvation, which is not possible in the natural realm but is a reality in Christ. Our intellect must bow to the mystery of God's grace, recognizing that salvation is a gift we receive, not a puzzle we solve. [28:37]
4. Jesus' offer of salvation is a trade of His perfect life for our flawed existence. This scandalous exchange is the heart of the Gospel, where Jesus takes our place as sinners and grants us the status of beloved children. It is not about what we have built or achieved but about accepting the forgiveness He freely offers. [31:02]
5. The empty tomb signifies that Jesus has defeated death and offers us resurrection life. Our lives, once marked by death's stench, are now filled with the fragrance of His victory. We are called to leave behind the remnants of death—fear, shame, guilt, and sin—and embrace the fullness of life that Jesus provides. [23:56]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:1-10 - The Resurrection of Jesus
2. John 20:19-29 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples and Thomas
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the women when they found the empty tomb, and what did the angel instruct them to do? (Matthew 28:1-10)
2. How did the disciples initially respond to the women's news about Jesus' resurrection? (Luke 24:9-11) [11:22]
3. What evidence did Jesus provide to Thomas to address his doubts? (John 20:24-29)
4. According to the sermon, what does the resurrection of Jesus signify for our lives today? [23:56]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal His resurrection first to the women, and what does this say about His view on societal qualifications? [08:28]
2. How does Thomas' doubt and Jesus' response to it illustrate the relationship between faith and evidence in the Christian journey? [15:15]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of personal testimony in sharing the Gospel, and how does this relate to the actions of the women at the tomb? [09:01]
4. How does the concept of Jesus' resurrection power filling our empty lives challenge or encourage you in your current situation? [23:56]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced doubt in your faith. How did you seek answers, and what was the outcome? How can Thomas' story encourage you in future moments of doubt? [15:15]
2. The sermon emphasized that Jesus' resurrection redefines our existence. In what ways has your life been transformed by this truth, and how can you share this transformation with others? [10:45]
3. Jesus' offer of salvation is described as a trade of His perfect life for our flawed existence. How does this understanding impact your view of grace and forgiveness in your own life? [31:02]
4. The women at the tomb couldn't keep the news of Jesus' resurrection to themselves. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the good news. What steps can you take this week to share your testimony with them? [09:01]
5. The sermon mentioned that doubt and questioning can be the soil from which robust faith grows. How can you create a safe space in your small group or community for others to express their doubts and seek answers? [18:04]
6. The power of the empty tomb is available to fill our empty lives. What specific areas of your life feel empty or dead, and how can you invite Jesus' resurrection power into those areas this week? [23:56]
7. Reflect on the statement that "good people don't go to heaven; only forgiven people do." How does this challenge or affirm your understanding of salvation, and how can you live out this truth in your daily interactions? [29:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation Through Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the transition from death to life, offering us a new identity in Him. This transformation is not about self-improvement but about being reborn through His power and grace. As believers, we are called to embrace this new life, which is characterized by the joy and excitement of being made alive in Christ. This joy is not just for us to hold onto but to share with others, just as the women at the tomb could not keep silent about the risen Lord. The resurrection redefines our existence, and in this new life, we find our true purpose and calling. [10:45]
Romans 6:4-5 (ESV)
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."
Reflection: How can you live out your new identity in Christ in a practical way this week, and who can you share the joy of your transformation with?
Day 2: Embracing Doubt as a Faith Catalyst
Doubt and questioning are not signs of a weak faith but can be the foundation from which a strong faith emerges. Jesus does not turn away from our doubts; rather, He invites us to seek Him with our questions and promises to reveal Himself to those who earnestly look for Him. Our faith journey begins with a small measure of belief, and as we pursue Jesus, He becomes a tangible reality in our lives. This process of seeking and finding strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Christ. [18:04]
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV)
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Reflection: What doubts or questions are you currently wrestling with, and how can you bring them to Jesus in a way that strengthens your faith?
Day 3: Accepting the Miraculous Gospel
The Gospel is a miraculous truth that goes beyond human understanding. We are invited to believe in the miracle of salvation, which is not attainable through natural means but is a reality in Christ. Our intellect must yield to the mystery of God's grace, acknowledging that salvation is a gift to be received, not a problem to be solved. This acceptance requires faith to embrace the supernatural aspects of our belief, trusting in the work of Jesus on the cross for our redemption. [28:37]
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Reflection: How can you practice letting go of the need to fully comprehend the Gospel and instead embrace the mystery of God's grace in your life?
Day 4: The Scandalous Trade of Grace
Jesus' offer of salvation is a radical exchange of His perfect life for our flawed existence. This scandalous trade is at the heart of the Gospel, where Jesus takes our place as sinners and grants us the status of beloved children. It is not about our achievements or what we have built but about accepting the forgiveness He freely offers. This gift of grace is available to everyone, no matter their past or present state, and it invites us to live in the freedom of God's love. [31:02]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: In what ways can you let go of your past achievements or failures and fully embrace the identity of a beloved child of God?
Day 5: Living in Resurrection Power
The empty tomb signifies that Jesus has conquered death and offers us a life filled with His resurrection power. Our lives, once tainted by the stench of death, are now infused with the fragrance of His victory. We are called to leave behind the remnants of death—fear, shame, guilt, and sin—and embrace the fullness of life that Jesus provides. This victorious life is available to us now, and it empowers us to live with hope and purpose, no matter our current circumstances. [23:56]
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."
Reflection: What fears, shame, guilt, or sins do you need to trade for the victorious life that Jesus offers, and how can you begin to live in that victory today?
Quotes
1) "The reality of this truth of the Gospel, the reality of this God that we preach, it is so grand, it is so great, that it far exceeds our mental capacity. You will not wrap your little brain around the greatness of the Gospel, the greatness of this truth. It doesn't make sense, and that's why it's miraculous. Salvation is a miracle... it's only possible when we go beyond the bounds of what can be accomplished in this natural world." [28:37]
2) "People might not believe your testimony, people might discredit your witness, but when you've been called by God, there's no man that can take that away... Your testimony, it's your story. Somebody else might have an argument, but you have an experience. Somebody else might have something to criticize you with, but you've got a personal testimony of how God changed your life, and nobody can take that from you." [12:56]
3) "I don't know how my depression left me and incomparable joy entered in. I don't know how my addiction was broken and now I'm living in freedom... all I know is that it's true, it happened... Jesus is alive today, and I know that because he lives in my heart. How? I don't know, but I know that it happened." [20:58]
4) "He died instead of you. He took your place as a Lost Sinner and he gave you his place as a loved Son. That's the trade. Lost Sinner for loved Son... Jesus met me at that place when I was at rock bottom... Jesus is calling out to you... no matter how good your life is, it's not going to get you there, you too need forgiveness." [31:02]
5) "The aroma of Resurrection has rendered those things defeated... Resurrection isn't just some event that happened in history... it's who Jesus is. Because he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Resurrection life is still available in this room to us today... Jesus still holds the power to destroy the deadness lurking in our lives." [23:21]
6) "Jesus offers the power of the empty tomb for our empty lives... the empty tomb wasn't entirely empty, it's full of our fears, shame, guilt, sins, regrets... but the power of the empty tomb for my empty life means that they no longer matter because they're covered under the blood." [22:46]
7) "We don't come to Christ because we've made logical sense of the resurrection and figured it all out, we come to Jesus by faith alone... when we come to him with just a seed of faith, the Risen Lord becomes an encountered reality in our lives... add your measure of faith and watch how the encountered reality of Jesus will become a lived experience for you." [18:04]
8) "This gospel message... there's evidence... but there's a Thomas in all of us that will find a way around it. Today this evidence still does demand a verdict from us... He was a liar, a lunatic, or a Lord, and today you've been brought to a place of decision. What will you do with this Jesus who was crucified, went down into hell to conquer the enemy of your soul, and then rose on the third day?" [32:49]
9) "Whatever it looks like in your life today, it doesn't really matter to Jesus because resurrection power is available. The power of the empty tomb for our empty lives is still available to us today. Will you invite him to come and defeat death in your life once and for all? Will you make the trade?" [25:03]
10) "The grace of the Lord Jesus is required for every single one of us; none of us can get our way to God, none of us can make our way to heaven. That's why God sent Jesus to us, to do what we could never do. Christ willingly laid down his life for us... to redeem and restore every searching soul." [26:16]
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