Why Be A Christian? (Easter Sunrise Service)

Scripture Passage

Mark 16:1–8; Galatians 5:22–26 (NLT)

1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” 8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened...

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Focus Statement

The original ending of the Gospel of Mark has the women, because of fear,

not share the good news of the resurrection.

Mark’s first readers knew the women ultimately told the story,

but Mark’s ending reminded them and reminds us

that the resurrection story changes the world when we choose to let it change us.

Point of Relation

For me, being a Christian means not only believing in and worshiping Jesus once a week...

Rather, it means that I have taken on Christ’s character…his teachings…his way of being…and his death and resurrection...

As my own identity.

Not that I think I am Christ…but that I seek to imitate him...

and be transformed by him into who God created me to be.

Paul tells us in Galatians what this looks like:

People who imitate Christ…who are Christian…are filled with the Holy Spirit and

by the power of the Spirit...

Become more and more Christlike each day...

Bearing the essential fruit of the Spirit:

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness,

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

and self-control.

Truthfully, when I think of someone in my life…well there are several...

But my mom is on the top of that list...

Oh she wouldn’t necessarily see it in herself...

but it is her witness that not only brought me to Christ...

But SHOWED me what it means to be a Christian.

Things to Consider

Often people have great anxiety and fear about witnessing to their faith

because they feel they “don’t know the Bible”

or they “won’t have the right answer” to a question someone has.

Theology and biblical knowledge are very important

because being grounded in Scripture and tradition helps root a faith that could produce fruit.

However, people are drawn to Jesus through the grace they see in our lives more than the amount of facts we can share.

Think about what fruit of the Spirit people would most see in them?

What Scripture Says

The earliest copies of the Gospel of Mark end at Mark 16:8

8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.

Mark’s original ending has always been a puzzle.

Why end a gospel with fear and silence?

The first readers of his gospel knew that the women ultimately did tell the resurrection story.

Otherwise, the story would have ended right there and they, themselves, would not be Christian.

The women in Mark 16:8 ultimately did not live in fear \

but allowed the power of the resurrection to change them.

Paul in his letter to the Galatians states the same belief.

Dying and rising with Christ changes us.

The resurrection has changed everything.

Paul believes we now have the Holy Spirit within us

and through the Spirit’s power,

the fruits of the Spirit can be the reality of our lives.

The only thing that can stop it is us.

In chapter five of Galatians there are clear echoes of Deuteronomy 30:19 :

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”

Moses reminds the people of Israel of their choice before they enter the Promised Land.

Mark and Paul seem to believe the same choice has been given to the believer.

The question for you then becomes:

Are you going to embrace the resurrection: to die and be raised with Jesus?

Are you willing to really change at every level?

Or are you going to keep living in fear?

What This Means for You?

Living in the power of the resurrection is a daily choice.

God wants partners not slaves.

The power of the Spirit is in us, but we have to allow the power to change us.

The Wesleyan tradition understands the power of the Spirit to work in us, change us through various “means of grace.”

Examples of means of grace are Holy Communion, reading the Bible, daily prayer, and serving those in need.

What are the means of grace that you embrace throughout your week?

What are the means of grace this community of faith provides each week?

What This Means For Us

This Resurrection Sunday

let us stop living in fear!

Let us begin to spread the Gospel through sharing and inviting.

Share your faith with others…using your God-given gifts...

Let our goal be for each of you here to share your faith and invite 6 people to church over the course of 6 months.

Let’s also begin to step up out of fear into the mission field...

and challenge ourselves to get more involved in Christian mission in our community.

The resurrection is not just a moment in history,

it is a living existence we are called to be a part of

and be transformed by

into the very image of the risen Christ.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Amen.