The Heart Matters: Easter Sunday

SERMON BUMPER

WELCOME GRAPHIC

Introduction

Good morning — and Happy Easter! I’m so thankful you’re here.

Zakk Ad-lib welcome & QR code.

There’s an energy in this room that you just don’t find on any other day. And whether you’re here because you’re a member of this church — or because of family tradition — or curiosity — or just because you were promised the best Easter dinner of your life later today — we’re thrilled to have you here.

For those who are just joining the story and aren’t familiar with why we’re celebrating Easter — here’s the “lightning round” version of how we got here. Last Sunday — Jesus entered Jerusalem to a victory parade. Everybody was excited because they thought He was coming to liberate them from an oppressive government. By Friday — though — the world seemed to go dark as He gave His life on a Cross to pay for our sins. But the story didn’t stop at the grave — because today — we celebrate the fact that the light of the world came back — and it’s brighter than ever.

The good news of today is that whether you’ve been a Christian for years — or if you’re not sure about any of this — Easter holds space for all of that. And here’s why: Easter is not primarily about how strong our faith is.

“EASTER IS ABOUT” GRAPHIC

It’s about how strong God’s love is.

That’s been the heartbeat of this entire season at The Turning Pointe. For the past several weeks — as a church family — we’ve been learning about how The Heart Matters and we’ve been talking about our heart posture toward God:

Our honesty,

our priorities,

our distractions,

and our need for grace.

“HE IS RISEN” MAIN GRAPHIC

But today — Easter shifts the focus. Today isn’t about our hearts toward God. It’s about God’s heart toward us. And the resurrection of Jesus tells us something unmistakable about that heart.

Me

For me — Easter is the ultimate “reminder” day in my life. See — in my own life — I’ve found that it’s so easy to get caught up in the to-do lists — and the stress of the week — and the noise of the world. My brain usually has about 47 tabs open at once… and at least three of them are playing music I don’t recognize.

I’ve had seasons of life where I’ve felt like I had to do all the right things so God would be pleased with me. I’ve had to work hard to earn His love or His approval. There have also been seasons where it’s felt like I’ve spent my time running away from Him. There have been those times where it felt like He was distant. And times I’ve even wondered if He still cared about me. Maybe you’ve had similar thoughts.

But every year — this morning hits me like a fresh breath of air. It reminds me that God isn’t sitting in Heaven — with His arms crossed — waiting for me to get it right. He’s a God who specializes in making things new. And one of the things that I think make this morning so beautiful — is that the same heart that beat for the world 2,000 years ago is beating for us right now this morning.

We

This morning — we’re not here to dwell on the dark. We’re here because we believe the best is yet to come. While the outside world might tell us to focus on things that are broken — things that feel like they’re falling apart — and things that make us feel like there’s no hope left — Easter tells us to look at the heart of a Father who is rebuilding everything.

And He didn’t just do this for “good” people. He didn’t just do it for people who feel like they have it all together. He didn’t just do it for the people who think their life is going great. He also did it for the broken — and the hopeless — and the beat down.

Which is why this matters so much:

“EASTER BEGINS WITH” GRAPHIC

Easter doesn’t begin with confident faith. It begins with faithful presence. It begins with people who show up in the dark — not knowing what they’ll find. See — God meets us in the dawning light — just like He met two women on the very first Easter.

God

If you have your Bibles — turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew — Chapter 28. If you’re new to the Bible — Matthew is the very first Book of the New Testament. And what we’re about to witness is more than just a moment of history. It’s even more than a moment that changed history. It’s a moment that changed the history of every person in this room.

Take a look with me — Matthew Chapter 28 — starting in Verse 1:

Matthew 28:1 CSB

1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.

It’s early — and it’s quiet — and it’s still dark. This isn’t a triumphant walk. This is a grieving walk. Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother Mary aren’t going to witness a miracle — they’re going to mourn a loss.

But before they arrive — God moves. Look at Verse 2 with me:

Matthew 28:2 CSB

2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.

This isn’t background noise. It’s not a gentle tremor. It’s an earthquake. The earth is shaking. Because resurrection isn’t subtle.

Heaven is breaking into earth. Death is being undone. And creation is responding!

This verse says an angle comes down — rolls back the stone — and sits on it. And that detail matters. The stone isn’t rolled away so Jesus can get out — He’s the Master of all Creation — he doesn’t need any help. The stone is moved so the women — and eventually us — can see in.

God isn’t hiding what He’s done — He wants the world to know that Jesus is alive.

Matthew 28:3 CSB

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

This angel’s appearance is terrifying. And the guys who are supposed to be guarding the tomb — these trained — armed Roman soldiers — they freeze. Look at what Matthew said about them in Verse 4:

Matthew 28:4 CSB

4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

You ever been so afraid of something you passed out? Have y’all ever seen those videos of people on rollercoasters who get so freaked out they just faint? That’s what’s happening here.

Here’s the irony of Easter: The ones assigned to guard death look dead. And they don’t know it yet — but the One who was dead is alive. Because the heart of God overturns everything we think is final.

…So get you some of that, Satan.

And then the angel speaks. Not to the guards — but to the women. Look at Verse 5:

Matthew 28:5 CSB

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

…I love this verse. The first thing the angel says is “Alright — nobody freak out.” Meanwhile — the guards are over here passed out because they were so afraid. And I can’t say I’d blame them. Do y’all know what the angels actually looked like in the Bible?

ANGEL PICTURE

The angel says “Don’t be afraid,” and I’m like, “Uhh… that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”

If I see something like that — I’m gonna probably pass out, too!

And yet — this is almost always how God meets us:

Not with explanation.

Not with correction.

But with comfort.

SHOW VERSE 5 AGAIN

Don’t be afraid — the angel says — because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

Notice this. God doesn’t minimize what happened. He doesn’t pretend the Cross didn’t hurt. He doesn’t rush past the suffering.

Jesus was crucified. The pain was real. The death was real. The loss was real.

But friends — that’s not the end of the story. God doesn’t end His story with death. He doesn’t walk away defeated. Even Jesus’ death on the Cross had a purpose. And the angel continues in Verse 6:

Matthew 28:6 CSB

6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

This statement changes everything. Jesus didn’t escape death. He defeated it. The resurrection isn’t God changing His mind at the last minute. It’s God keeping His promise. And then the angel invites them closer.

“Come and see the place where he lay,” the angel says.

God always invites honest examination.

“Look at the empty space. Look at what’s missing. Look at what even death couldn’t hold.”

And if you’re in that place today — if you’re searching — or seeking — or maybe not even sure what you believe — hear me when I say this: the heart of God isn’t asking you for blind faith today. It invites us to see what grace has done. See God isn’t a God of secrets — He’s a God of revelation who invites us all to “come and see.”

Then comes the invitation that pushes everything forward. Look at what the angel says next:

Matthew 28:7 CSB

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

“Go quickly and tell His disciples…”

Resurrection is never meant to be hoarded. It’s meant to be shared.

But notice how Matthew describes the women when they leave. Verse 8:

Matthew 28:8 CSB

8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.

They depart quickly — with fear and great joy. Both at the same time. That’s important. Resurrection doesn’t erase fear instantly. It reframes it.

They’re still overwhelmed. Still stunned. Still trying to process what this means. I have to imagine at some point they stopped and looked at each other like, “Did that really just happen!?”

And that’s okay. Because joy doesn’t require full understanding. It only requires hope.

And then — as if the story couldn’t get any better — Jesus meets them. Look at Verse 9 with me:

Matthew 28:9 CSB

9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

“Greetings!?” If I’m here in this situation, I’m thinking, “After everything — that’s what you say!?”

But see — this isn’t just a casual hello. In fact — in the original Greek — the word here is a command that literally means “REJOICE!” Jesus isn’t just saying hi after a few days — He’s telling these women, “Everything I told you is true. Everything that I have gone through happened so I could defeat death — and hell — and the grave.”

The risen Savior stands in front of them — not distant — not triumphant in an untouchable way — but present. They fall at His feet. They worship. And they hold on.

Can you imagine this scene? What they’re feeling. They are holding on to Jesus — probably as tight as they can. And I imagine they’re weeping. Just a few days ago — on Friday — they’re weeping because Jesus died. But today — they’re weeping not just because He lives — but because He has Risen.

And then Jesus repeats what the angel says:

Matthew 28:10 CSB

10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

“Don’t be afraid.” Because the heart of God revealed in the resurrection isn’t intimidating. It’s reassuring. Jesus doesn’t scold them. He doesn’t rush them. He sends them.

He says “Go and tell my brothers…”

What an impactful word. Brothers.

After betrayal. After denial. After abandonment. He still calls them family. Because resurrection doesn’t just conquer death. It restores relationship.

It restores relationship with the people who feel like they’re too messed up.

It restores relationship with the people who feel like they’ve done too many bad things.

It even restores relationship with people who have turned their backs on God — and feel like He would never want them back.

No matter where you’ve gone — or what you’ve done — or how bad you think you’ve been — His desire is always restored relationship.

This is the heart of God. A heart that moves toward fear. A heart that keeps its promises. A heart that turns graves into beginnings. And a heart that meets us while we’re still on the way.

Easter isn’t just proof that Jesus lives. It’s proof that God’s heart toward us is life — forgiveness — and hope. And that changes everything.

Because the resurrection restores relationships — it means the invitation Jesus gave to His disciples — is the same one He’s extending to every person in this room right now.

You

And because of that — Easter isn’t just a story we admire — it’s an invitation we’re meant to respond to.

No matter why we walked into this room today — Easter is speaking directly to each of us.

Maybe you came today full of faith — and this is a celebration. You believe the resurrection. You’ve trusted Jesus for years. If that’s you — it’s my hope that Easter reminds you that your faith is anchored in something real — something victorious — and something alive.

But maybe that’s not where you are. Maybe you’re here today and you’re curious — but you’re just not sure. You’re open — but cautious. Hopeful — but guarded.

Or maybe you came today carrying grief. Loss that still aches. Questions that haven’t gone away. A version of life you didn’t expect to be living.

And Easter doesn’t ignore that.

What is the “grave” in your life you’ve been protecting — thinking God couldn't possibly move the stone?

The good news is that the resurrection doesn’t tell you to “get over it”. It doesn’t rush your healing. It doesn’t pretend that pain isn’t real. Instead — this story of Easter tells us this:

“GOD SEES YOU” GRAPHIC

God sees you — God knows you — and God moves toward you.

The women didn’t go looking for hope that morning — but hope found them anyway. And the same is true today.

The resurrection tells us that sin is real — but it’s not final. That brokenness is real — but it doesn’t get the last word. And that death is real — but it has been defeated.

In Colossians 2:13 and 14, the Apostle Paul tells us:

Colossians 2:13–14 NLT

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

He canceled the record — and He took it away! That means we don’t have to earn anything. We don’t have to achieve anything.

And we don’t have to “get ourselves together” before coming to God. You don’t have to have all the answers or pretend your faith is stronger than it is.

God invites you to come honestly — to come as you are — to come trusting that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring new life into you.

This story of Easter invites you into a relationship of trust:

To trust that Jesus really is who He says He is.

To trust that His death really paid the price for sin.

And to trust that His resurrection really does change everything.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether God’s heart toward you is distant or disappointed — Christ’s resurrection answers that question. God’s heart toward you is full of grace. It’s full of mercy. Full of life.

And the invitation is personal. Not someday. Not once you’ve got everything figured out. But today.

We

So then what’s this mean for us? Because Easter isn’t meant to stay in this room. It doesn’t end with a song — or a sermon — or a celebration. It follows us home. It walks with us into Monday morning. It sits with us in conversations with other people. And it shows up in the places where life still feels unfinished.

Resurrection doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes easy. It means everything is different. Because when Jesus walked out of that tomb — He didn’t just defeat death — He changed what’s possible.

It means that fear no longer gets the final word in our life.

It means our failures don’t define us.

It means shame doesn’t own us.

And it means that although loss is real — it’s not ultimate.

Imagine what life begins to look like when we truly believe that. When we wake up knowing that even if today is hard — hope isn’t gone. Imagine facing your past without being trapped by it — and carrying grief without being crushed by it. Imagine trusting that God is still at work — even when we can’t see the full picture yet.

That’s what resurrection life begins to shape in us. Not perfect people. Not pain-free lives. But people who live with hope deeper than circumstances.

People who can say, “This is hard — but God’s not done.” And this isn’t something that’s reserved for a few spiritual overachievers. This is the shared invitation of Easter.

We become a people who live differently because we believe something different.

We carry light into dark places.

We show grace where bitterness would be easier.

And we choose hope when despair feels more natural.

Not because we’re strong — but because Christ is alive.

Call to Repentance

If you’ve never trusted Jesus with your life — Easter is an invitation to begin. To believe that He died for your sin. To believe that He rose again to offer forgiveness and new life. To believe that God’s heart toward you is grace — and not condemnation.

And maybe you have trusted Christ before — but somewhere along the way — the hope faded. Fear crept in. Faith became an afterthought. Easter invites you to come back to what is true.

Today you can respond to Christ — you can ask for forgiveness — you can ask for new life. And whether this is your first step of faith — or a step back toward hope — Easter reminds us that God meets us here.

With grace. With life. And with love. Thanks be to God.

Prayer

Communion