Sunday Morning Worship April 5, 2025 "He Has Risen

Christ’s resurrection stands at the center of the account: women visit the tomb at dawn and find it empty, an angel descends with an earthquake, and the angel proclaims, “He is risen.” Creation itself responds—darkness and earthquakes bookend the death and rising—and the angel’s bright, snow-white appearance underscores divine holiness that terrifies sinful humanity yet brings life. The women are both afraid and overjoyed; they hurry away to tell the disciples and are met by the risen Christ, who bids them not to fear and commands them to tell his brothers to go to Galilee.

The narrative highlights the integrity of multiple eyewitness accounts, the surprising ways God uses the lowly (women and shepherds) as first witnesses, and the contrast between faithful witnesses and those who choose fear of people over fear of God. Soldiers who encounter the angel and empty tomb accept a bribe to invent a lie, showing that seeing does not guarantee believing. The resurrection proves that sin, death, and hell have been defeated—“he has risen”—and that Jesus goes ahead of his people, calling them to follow.

Practically, the resurrection reshapes daily living: fear loses its finality because Jesus promises presence and help; believers are invited to do life with Jesus rather than for him, inviting his presence into work, relationships, and restless nights; joy becomes the habitual posture—rejoicing in the Lord rather than in circumstances; and faithful witness follows from a life marked by reliance on Christ, steady joy, and obedient proclamation. The account also urges persistent prayer for unbelieving friends and persecuted believers worldwide, reminding that God surprises his people with life from death and calls his followers to respond with worship, courage, and testimony.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The resurrection defeats sin and death The empty tomb and angelic announcement declare that the final enemies—sin, death, and hell—no longer hold ultimate power. That reality reframes suffering: present trials remain real, but they exist under the reign of a risen king who has broken the curse. This truth frees believers to live in hope and perspective, pursuing holiness and mission without being driven by ultimate fear. [34:18]
• 2. Heaven and earth witness Christ's triumph Creation moves at both crucifixion and resurrection—darkness over the land, then an earthquake as the angel descends—so the cosmic order testifies to Christ’s work. Such signs show that redemption affects more than human souls; it renews the created order and calls all things toward restoration. This invites worship that recognizes God’s sovereignty over both spirit and matter. [48:16]
• 3. Do not be afraid—Jesus helps The command “do not be afraid” appears as divine permission and promise: fear requires God’s help, not merely human willpower. When fear arises, the remedy is not brute self-mastery but turning attention to Christ’s presence, promises, and the power of the Spirit. Practically, that means carrying fears to Jesus in prayer, Scripture, and the community that calls one back to trust. [58:22]
• 4. Go and tell with hurried obedience The women exemplify hurried obedience—afraid yet joyful, they run to proclaim what they have seen—and are met by the risen Lord. Witness springs from immediate, obedient testimony rather than careful calculation; urgency underscores the gospel’s gravity and grace. Believers who live out that urgency become contagious carriers of hope in a world prone to fear and falsehood. [54:35]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:25] - Children invited for prayer
• [26:52] - Joy Club and treats
• [28:47] - Prayer for children and surprise
• [29:52] - Equipping the persecuted (cause)
• [33:34] - Corporate prayer and intercession
• [38:31] - Reading: Matthew 28 begins
• [42:44] - Empty tomb and angelic proclamation
• [48:16] - Heaven and earth respond
• [54:10] - Women hurried; Jesus meets them
• [62:23] - Soldiers bribed; the deception
• [65:49] - How resurrection shapes daily life
• [70:34] - Closing prayer and hymn

Based on the sermon summary, the primary Bible passage is Matthew 28:1-10. Additional passages that support the themes of resurrection, fear, and witness are also included.

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:1-10 (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.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Observation questions

1. According to the account in Matthew, what two emotions did the women experience as they left the tomb?
2. What specific actions did the women take when they encountered the risen Jesus?
3. The angel and Jesus both give a specific command to the women. What is it?
4. How did the guards react to the appearance of the angel, and how did their response differ from that of the women?

Interpretation questions

1. The women were both afraid and filled with joy. How can these two seemingly opposite emotions exist at the same time in a believer's life, especially when encountering God's work?
2. Jesus tells the women to go and tell "my brothers," even though those same brothers had recently abandoned him. What does this reveal about Jesus' character and his view of his followers despite their failures?
3. The soldiers witnessed the same angel and empty tomb as the women but accepted a bribe to lie about it. What does this tell us about the difference between simply seeing evidence and having genuine faith?
4. The resurrection was accompanied by an earthquake, just as the crucifixion was accompanied by darkness. What might the involvement of creation in these events communicate about the scope and power of Christ's work?

Application questions

1. The command "do not be afraid" is a divine permission that requires God's help, not just human willpower. [58:22] What is a specific fear you are currently facing, and how can you practically turn your attention to Christ's presence and promises this week instead of trying to master it on your own?
2. The resurrection means we are invited to do life with Jesus, not just for him. [01:06:31] What is one ordinary part of your daily routine (e.g., work, chores, commuting) where you could consciously invite Jesus to be with you in it?
3. Joy is meant to be the habitual posture of a Christian, rejoicing in the Lord rather than in circumstances. [01:09:06] When you find yourself complaining or focused on a difficult situation, what is one truth from Scripture (like Psalm 23:1) you can recite to redirect your heart to rejoice in who God is?
4. The women responded to the good news with "hurried obedience," running to tell others. [54:35] What often holds you back from sharing the hope you have in Christ with others? Is it a fear of rejection, of not having the right words, or something else?
5. We are encouraged to pray persistently for unbelieving friends. [01:04:52] Who is one person in your life who does not know Jesus, and what is one specific way you can pray for them this week, trusting that God can bring life from spiritual death?
6. The truth of the resurrection reframes our suffering, reminding us that present trials are real but exist under the reign of a risen king. [34:18] How can this perspective change the way you walk through a current challenge or hardship?