Amazing Grace, Pt.2 (Easter Sunday)

WELCOME

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Grace is victorious!

INTRO

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive! The grave could not hold Him, and because He lives, we have the promise of eternal life

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 (ESV)

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55  “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Consider the words that Paul said to Timothy in his encouragement to endure any sufferings:

2 Timothy 2:8 (ESV)

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,

'The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.'

1 Chronicles 17 Breakdown:

I. God’s Grace Is Revealed through David (17:1–15).

II. God’s Grace Is Realized in Jesus (17:7–15).

III. God’s Grace Is Redemptive for Us (17:16–27)

Celebrating the Fulfilled Promise

1 Chronicles 17:16 – 'Who am I, O Lord God… that you have brought me thus far?'

The resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise.

We remember where we were before Christ and celebrate His transforming power.

When we look at the story of King David in 1 Chronicles 17, we find a man who, despite his shortcomings and flaws, was deeply loved and favored by God. David was a shepherd boy turned king, an unlikely candidate for greatness. He had an earnest desire to build a house for God, a noble intention, yet marred by the realities of human imperfection. As 1 Chronicles 17:1-2 recounts, "Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, 'Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.' And Nathan said to David, 'Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.'"

A longing marks the human condition for something greater, yet we often fall short of our noble intentions because of our limitations and imperfections.

Like David, we desire to serve and honor God, but our best efforts can never truly match the greatness of God's plans.

ILLUS: funeral home in VA

Fear for the church today, we think too much in terms of dead grace. not saying move on from the cross, realize that this grace is alive, embodied in a risen savior and that changes everything about today!

Don’t turn the church into a mosaleum, or funeral home

The Power of Resurrection in Our Lives

1 Chronicles 17:9 – 'I will appoint a place for my people and will plant them…'

The resurrection changes everything—it brings new life.

NT Passage Connection to Davidic Covenant & Resurrection

Acts 2:29–36 David foresaw the resurrection as God’s way to seat his heir on the throne.

Romans 1:1–4 Jesus is Son of David and Son of God, confirmed by resurrection power.

Acts 13:22–37 Resurrection fulfills the “sure mercies of David” (Isa. 55:3).

Revelation 5:5; 22:16 The risen Christ is the Root of David, now reigning.

2 Timothy 2:8 The gospel centers on the risen Davidic King.

‘ Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail… I shall possess… a life of joy and peace.'

Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus—it’s about what happens in us.

ILLUS: Shark Diving - connect to Newton’s experience at Sea. The abyss of our sin issue the issue, not the wind, waves (or sharks!)

all aspects of our being having been infected with the deadly disease of sin.

Morally, we have a “total inability” to respond to God in and of ourselves

this leads to a “total dependency” on the glorious grace of God!

Eternal Hope in Christ

1 Chronicles 17:23 – 'O Lord, let the word that You have spoken… be established forever.'

Just as David trusted in God's promises, we hold onto His victory.

'God, who called me here below, will be forever mine.'

Jesus' resurrection secures our future—eternal life in Him.

Dead grace is an ending grace. 

Risen grace empowers to endure. 

It is important to note is the fact that the Lord taught David about grace and mercy by lavishing upon him even more grace and mercy.

Such divine generosity brought Israel’s king to his knees, taught him to boast in the greatness of God (1 Chron. 17:17–27), and gave him the courage to pray (v. 25).

APPLICATION

let the power of the resurrection give you courage to pray (1 Chr. 17:25)

Celebrate belonging in a kingdom defined by resurrection life.

Share the message of grace that fulfills all promises with others.

Live confidently in your identity as citizens of a risen King’s kingdom.

Spread the good news, nurturing hope in a world longing for eternal promises.

Embrace daily transformation that resurrection power initiates.

Allow grace to shape your identity and mission in the world.

CLOSE

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your amazing grace, a grace that turns our sin and shame into Your eternal promise.

We are grateful for the gift of Jesus, who fulfills every promise made to David and to us.

Help us understand this grace and live according to Your will. May our hearts be Your dwelling place now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Christ Is Risen

Communion

Matthew 26:26–29

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

[26] Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

[take/eat]

[27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, [28] for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

[take/drink]

[29] I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (ESV)

[eternal hope]