Jesus, the God of the Living and Resurrection Hope

Today, we gathered as one family in Christ, reminded of the incredible gift of belonging to a community that stretches across time and around the world. We gave thanks for the freedom to worship openly, recognizing that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ do not share this privilege. As we confessed our faith together using the ancient words of the Nicene Creed, we stood in solidarity with believers everywhere, affirming the unchanging truth of our God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our focus turned to the words of Jesus in the Gospel, where a question about marriage in the resurrection was posed by the Sadducees. Their intent was not genuine curiosity, but an attempt to trap Jesus and undermine His authority. Yet, Jesus redirected the conversation to what truly matters: the reality of the resurrection and the nature of God as the God of the living. He reminded us that our hope is not in the fleeting comforts or achievements of this world, but in the promise of eternal life that He alone secures.

Reflecting on the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we considered the reality of death and the regrets that can surface as we face our own mortality. Bonhoeffer’s calm assurance in the face of death—declaring, “This is the end. For me, the beginning of life”—points us to the hope that is ours in Christ. Death is not the end, but the doorway to a life more glorious than we can imagine.

Jesus’ response to the Sadducees challenges us to lift our eyes from the temporary to the eternal. He is the great “I Am,” always present, always active, and always bringing life. The resurrection is not just a future event, but a present reality that shapes how we live, grieve, and hope. In Christ, we are given a new identity as children of God, forgiven and made whole, called to share this good news with a world desperate for hope.

As we confessed our sins and received forgiveness, we were invited to lay down our burdens at the cross, trusting in the grace that Jesus freely gives. We were reminded that even in the midst of brokenness, there is beauty, community, and the promise of a life to come that far surpasses anything we experience here. Let us live with confident hope, sharing the love and life of Jesus with those around us, knowing that what lies ahead is even better.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God is the God of the Living God’s identity is not tied to the past or to the dead, but to the living. He is always present, always active, and always bringing life out of death. This truth transforms our understanding of both our present struggles and our future hope, reminding us that our relationship with God is vibrant and ongoing, not limited by the boundaries of this world. [46:37]
• 2. The Resurrection Shapes Our Present Hope The resurrection is not merely a doctrine for the future, but a reality that gives meaning to our lives now. It reframes our grief, our regrets, and our daily choices, calling us to live with courage and purpose. Knowing that death is not the end, we are freed from fear and empowered to love boldly, serve generously, and endure suffering with hope. [47:51]
• 3. Earthly Achievements Pale Before Eternal Life The pursuits and comforts of this world, while good, are only a “blip” compared to the life to come. Our true inheritance is not found in wealth, reputation, or even the best relationships here, but in the fullness of life that Jesus promises. This perspective invites us to hold earthly things loosely and invest ourselves in what truly lasts. [48:27]
• 4. Confession and Grace Lead to Wholeness Bringing our brokenness, sin, and regrets to Jesus is not an act of defeat, but of faith. In Christ, we are met with forgiveness, healing, and restoration. This grace not only assures us of our place in God’s family, but also moves us to extend that same grace to others, becoming agents of hope in a hurting world. [54:23]
• 5. Our Calling: Share the Good News of Life The world around us often lives as if this life is all there is, or as if God is distant and inactive. We are called to bear witness to the living God, sharing the hope of resurrection and the reality of His love. This mission is urgent and compassionate, inviting others to discover that in Christ, the best is yet to come. [59:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [10:05] - Announcements and Community Life
• [10:39] - Honoring Veterans and Freedom to Worship
• [17:08] - The Ancient Creeds and Our Global Family
• [17:36] - Confessing Faith with the Persecuted Church
• [32:17] - Opening Prayer and Surrender
• [33:02] - Addressing Questions About Heaven
• [34:39] - Reflections on Death and Bonhoeffer’s Story
• [38:19] - Who Were the Sadducees?
• [42:16] - The Sadducees’ Challenge to Jesus
• [44:06] - Jesus, the Living Word
• [45:22] - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• [46:37] - God of the Living, Not the Dead
• [47:51] - The Resurrection and Our Hope
• [49:12] - The Promise of New Life
• [50:42] - The Hope at the Graveside
• [52:06] - Bonhoeffer: The Beginning of Life
• [53:42] - Living with Confident Hope
• [54:23] - Confession and Receiving Grace
• [57:32] - Communion and Prayer
• [76:17] - Blessing and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

Luke 20:27-40 (ESV) — > There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. And the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
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> And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Exodus 3:6 (ESV) — > And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

1 Corinthians 15:16-19 (ESV) — > For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 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.

Observation Questions

1. What question did the Sadducees ask Jesus, and what was their real motive behind it? ([42:16])
2. How did Jesus use the story of Moses and the burning bush to answer the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection? ([45:22])
3. According to the sermon, what did Jesus mean when He said God is “the God of the living”? ([46:37])
4. What was Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s attitude toward death, and what did he say in his final moments? ([52:06])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the Sadducees’ focus on earthly status and legacy (like having their name remembered) was so important to them, and how does Jesus’ answer challenge that mindset? ([40:22])
2. What does it mean for God to be “the God of the living” in the context of our daily lives and struggles? ([46:37])
3. How does the reality of the resurrection, as described by Jesus, change the way believers view suffering, regret, or loss in this life? ([47:51])
4. In what ways does Bonhoeffer’s statement, “This is the end. For me, the beginning of life,” reflect the hope that Jesus offers? ([52:06])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how easy it is to get caught up in the “blip” of this life—chasing comfort, achievements, or recognition. What is one area where you find yourself holding too tightly to something temporary? How might you begin to “hold it loosely” this week? ([48:27])
2. When you think about your own mortality or regrets, do you tend to focus on what you missed out on, or on the hope of what’s to come in Christ? How can Bonhoeffer’s example help you reframe your perspective? ([52:06])
3. Jesus said that God is always present, always active, and always bringing life. Where in your life right now do you need to trust that God is “I Am”—present and working—even if you can’t see it? ([46:37])
4. The sermon emphasized confession and receiving grace as a path to wholeness. Is there a burden, regret, or sin you need to bring to Jesus this week? What would it look like to lay it down at the cross? ([54:23])
5. The world often lives as if this life is all there is. Who in your life needs to hear the hope of the resurrection? What is one practical way you can share that hope with them this month? ([59:23])
6. The sermon reminded us that we are part of a global family of believers, some of whom cannot worship freely. How can you stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians this week—through prayer, advocacy, or another action? ([17:36])
7. After receiving forgiveness and grace, how can you extend that same grace to someone in your life who needs it? Is there a relationship where you need to offer forgiveness or hope? ([54:23])