Untitled Sermon (5)

There is no Resurrection v12-13

Jonah

Lazarus - John 11

Jesus

Jonah was back, and to magnificent results in Ninevah!

Lazarus was brought back publicly after he had been buried for days

Jesus was seen by more than 500 witnesses

If Jesus resurrected, there is a resurrection (and a life beyond this!)

Empty Faith; Pointless Preaching v14-17

No resurrection = Jesus’ death was insufficient

You have been asked to trust in a resurrected man

The gospel becomes merely one opinion among billions; an empty idolatry from the imaginations of mankind

Except, the resurrection of Jesus vindicates the claims of God.

You are asked to trust in a living person, not a corpse

The gospel then truly IS the power of God unto salvation!

This Life Only? v18-19

Forget the hokey claims of folk religion, that is truly just idolatry of us; tribalism mixed with mysticism.

Forget the generic spiritualism that says what may be and denies nothing

Forget the mere sentimentality that is paper thin at best.

Take a long, hard look at this universe and this life.

Take a moment to remember what it is like to be alone with only your thoughts and awareness.

I submit to you now that you know this life is not all there is, and if you have let fear keep you from exploring that truth; then take this opportunity; take the extended hand of Christ and this community of faith and begin to find answers that are not empty. Find encouragement and community for the journey. Learn that our destination is perhaps not best described as saying we’re going to Heaven (though that is true), but rather our destination is a shared joy in THIS life that exceeds description, and lasts into the next.

If we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. Thanks be to God then, that we have an eternal hope in Christ that begins now, and will last forever!