2026 Wk 14 EASTER

OPENING SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:5–6 NLT

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

SONG

Crown Him With Many Crowns

Easter Sayings:

“Darkness had its moment—but light had the final word.”

“They sealed the tomb—but they couldn’t stop the power.”

“The enemy wrote ‘finished’—God wrote ‘risen.’”

“The resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate—it’s something we live.”

LETS LIFT OUR VOICES TOGETHER AND SING OF BEAUTIFUL GARDEN HE HAS CREATED US FOR OUT OF OUR GRAVE

SONG

Graves Into Gardens

Holy Forever

GENEROSITY

Today as we prepare to give, I want to remind you of what God says in Malachi 3:10—that when we bring our tithe to Him, He promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing.

However, the New Testament also shows us the heart behind it.

In 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver. That means this moment isn’t about pressure—it’s about trust and worship.

1 Chron 29.14 says, Everything we have already belongs to God.

We’re simply returning a portion and saying, ‘Lord, I trust You as my provider.’

So today, as you give,

don’t give out of obligation—give out of faith. Believe that God sees it, honors it, and will take care of you.

Let’s pray…

UPDATE

MidWeek - Summer Fun is Coming 630p

Word, fire pit, Word, games, Word and so much more

Our Daily Bread

Grab it-Read it-Share it

Easter is here

Egg Hunt after church in the Tab Brown High 5 Park.

Current series kicking off today is Jesus Our Storm Chaser

Pick up your booklet at the back door after the service

LESSON

People instantly understand “help lines,” and they naturally open the Door for Help.

Today I want to help you find a clear path to hope and salvation that brings a powerful and stronger way to live each day

LIFE CARD:: Sermon Title

“Who You Gonna Call?”

(Jesus Our Storm Chaser)

Intro:

Everybody’s Got a Number to Call

We live in a world full of help lines:

911 for emergencies

988 for emotional support—a Crisis number when life feels overwhelming

811 for information before digging

211 for much needed Community Resources and other numbers for Customer service when something breaks

Who are you going to call?

But here’s the truth:

No matter how many numbers you have… some storms in life don’t respond to those calls.

You can call people and still feel alone

You can call for help and still feel stuck

👉 WHY?

That’s because some storms aren’t physical—they’re spiritual.

Point 1: Life Has Real STORMS

Scripture: Mark 4:37-38

Mark 4:37–38 NLT

37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

The disciples were in a storm

Experienced fishermen… but this storm shook them

Lets Bring this home - Can we rip this off the page and make it real today ?

Q: WHAT REAL LIFE STORMS DO WE EXPERIENCE TODAY

Storms of fear

Storms of addiction

Storms of broken families

Storms of guilt and shame

“Some of you walked in here smiling—but you’re in a storm nobody knows about.”

Point 2: They Had Jesus in the Boat… But Didn’t CALL on Him

Jesus was present—but asleep

The storm kept raging until they cried out

Mark 4:38 NLT

… “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

👉 The storm didn’t stop when they panicked 👉 The storm didn’t stop when they worked harder 👉 The storm responded when they called on Jesus

Q: When did the storm respond? When they CALLED on Jesus

Point 3: JESUS Is the Storm Chaser

Storm chasers run toward storms, not away from them

“Jesus doesn’t avoid your storm—He steps into it.”

He walked on water (Matthew 14)

He stood in the middle of chaos and he said, “Peace be STILL!”

The wind and the waves still know his voice.

He went all the way to the CROSS

👉 The cross was the greatest storm ever faced

Waves of…

Sin

Death

Separation from God

And Jesus didn’t run from it… He ran straight into it—for us.

Q: What chaos could you ask Jesus to say, “Peace be STILL!”

Point 4: Easter Is the Proof He Still ANSWERS

They thought it was OVER on Friday

There was Silence on Saturday

BUT Sunday came…

The stone was rolled away

Jesus was GONE! Death was defeated Hope got back up

Revelation 1:18 ESV

18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

👉 The resurrection proves: There is NO storm too strong for Jesus

Cause:

Q: “Death doesn’t hold the keys anymore—Jesus does.”

Point 5: When Do You Need to Make the Call? — TODAY!

Romans 10:13 NLT

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”*

Illustration

(get out your cell phone)

Look at it…

“If your life was a phone screen… who have you been calling? Who have you been turning to for advise and help.

Who have you been calling?:

You’ve tried calling friends — venting

You’ve tried handling it yourself — no change

You’ve tried ignoring it — it’s still there

HAS IT BEEN WORKING?

Q: Who have you been calling? There’s one more call to make

“Heaven has a help line—and His name is Jesus.”

J - E - S - U - S !

Today, Jesus is saying—Call Me.”

Altar Call (Simple & Direct)

Don’t overcomplicate this—this is the moment:

“If you’re in a storm…

if you feel far from God…

if you need a fresh start… Today is your day.

You don’t need perfect words—just a real honest call.”

Something like this…

“Jesus, Hello — I need you. I can’t fix this on my own. I believe you died for me… and rose again. Forgive me, change me, save me. I’m calling on you today. Amen.”

Closing: First Punch Line

This is Easter Sunday

I’m not making light of this Day that is filled with Resurrection Power — talking about cheesy 911 Calls

BUT THIS CALL WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL—

God placed our sin on Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t just dying—

He was removing everything that stood between us and God.

Our sin.

Our shame.

Our past.

Our pride.

Every failure.

Every mistake.

Every hidden thing.

Everything past down from your fathers.

As He carries the cross, He’s not just carrying wood—

He’s carrying our sin, our father’s sin, and the sin of the world !

Illustration w/ Audrey

(BACKPACK & BRICKS)

put backpack on the person

Place bricks inside for sin, negative events, addictions… “we are human”

Mickey put on white robe - Jesus

Person CALLS ON JESUS

JESUS removes the backpack — not just the bricks

Jesus has dealt with our human nature and has given us Life Evermore

You are a child of the King

A new creation!

The QUESTION:

Do you believe He carried away your backpack, your sin, and recreated you as a new person?

Here’s how you know:

Have you confessed your sin?

Have you trusted Him with it?

Because when you do—your sin is no longer on you.

It’s been placed on Him and Carried away.

ALL THE WAY TO CALVERY

So don’t rush past this moment.

See Jesus walking to the cross—for YOU.

Don’t just feel sorrow—

Receive the freedom He came to give.

Expect to feel Freedom—His Love, His Acceptance, and His Forgiveness!

Final Punch Line

John says.… John 11:25–26 (NLT)

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

“When life hits you with a storm… don’t just panic—make the right CALL.”

Expect to be rescued!

Let Me Lead You in that simple but honest Prayer: (repeat after me)

“Jesus, I need you…

I can’t fix this on my own…

I believe you died for me…

I believe you rose again for me…

Forgive me…

change me…

save me…

I’m calling on you today… Amen!

With your eyes closed and still inwardly looking at the cross— Did you pray that prayer?

Put your hand up in front of you

Get my attention

Was it a first time coming to Christ (salvation)?

or was it rededication?

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!!!

Now, Look up here… what’s your next move?

NEXT STEPS

Tell someone what happened, how you responded to Jesus today, April 5, 2026

Plan to comeback next Sunday, Plan to receive more from God!

Begin to Desire more of God —

try reading the Book of John this week

21 chapters in John

that’s 3 chapters per day.

an average of 120 verses per day

Approx 15-20 min out of your morning

What we read changes us — so keep reading

Keep talking to God and others that know him!

?Prophetic & Prayer?

Let’s Stand and say… “Because He lives, I live.”

PtL

Egg hunt in the back!

Resources:

Chat

Charles Stanley article:

https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/help-with-praying-to-god-from-jeremiah-33/

=====================

ME 3-29-26 ( rewrite and summary)

Hebrews 5:8 NLT

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

Jesus, the One who saves us, walked through suffering—and through it, He fulfilled His purpose. So we shouldn’t be surprised when our own lives include hardship. If Christ wore a crown of thorns, we can’t expect a life of constant comfort. If He paid such a great cost, we’re not called to walk an easy road.

But here’s the hope in all of it: Jesus understands.

He doesn’t stand far off from our pain—He stepped into it. He knows what it feels like to suffer, to struggle, to carry heavy burdens. Because of that, He meets us in our hardest moments with real compassion and strength.

So when life hurts, hold on to this truth: you’re not alone. His presence gives you the strength to endure.

And more than that, your suffering isn’t wasted. In God’s hands, it becomes something meaningful. It shapes your faith, deepens your trust, and draws you closer to Him. What feels like a burden can actually become a mark of honor—because it means you’re walking the same path as Christ.

The early believers understood this—they even rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Him. So don’t run from difficult seasons. Embrace what God is doing through them. What feels like pain now is preparing you for something greater.

Because if we share in His suffering, we will also share in His victory.

Thus….

Hebrews 5:8 — Summary Jesus suffered, so we should expect hardship too. But He understands our pain and gives us strength through it.

Our suffering has purpose—it grows our faith and honors our walk with Him, leading ultimately to victory with Christ.

ME 3-30-26 (rewrite and summary)

Jesus chose to be counted as a sinner so He could stand in our place. When we are guilty, He defends us by pointing to His sacrifice, which fully paid for our sins.

Because of this, we don’t have to be afraid to come to Him—we can be honest and receive grace. In a great exchange, He took our sin, and we receive His righteousness and new life.

So we should rejoice and live like people who have truly been changed.

ME 3-31-26 (rewrite and summary)

Here’s a clear 4-point summary:

1. Jesus suffered deeply — He was brutally beaten and wounded, enduring intense physical pain.

2. His suffering was love-driven — Though innocent, He chose to suffer in our place.

3. His wounds brought our healing — He took our sin and brokenness so we could be restored.

4. Our response matters — We should live with gratitude, remembering His sacrifice and drawing close to Him daily.

Thus we see, Jesus endured brutal suffering and was severely beaten, experiencing deep physical pain out of love for us. Though innocent, He took our place, and through His wounds we receive healing.

His sacrifice should move us to both sorrow over our sin and deep love for Him.

We are called to carry that awareness throughout our day, remembering what He endured and drawing closer to Him in gratitude.

ME 4-01-26 (rewrite and summary)

Song of Solomon 1:2 NLT

Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.

This verse shows a bold, deep love. There’s no hesitation, no formal introduction—just a heart that longs for Him above everything else. That’s what real love for Jesus looks like: direct, passionate, and unafraid.

Throughout our walk with Him, we experience His love in different ways. There was the moment we first received forgiveness—that sweetness of being made right with God. Then comes the ongoing assurance that we are accepted, not because of what we’ve done, but because of His grace. And beyond that, there is daily closeness—those moments where we truly feel His presence, His peace, and His nearness.

Faith is what keeps us moving forward, but intimacy with Jesus is what refreshes and restores us along the way. It’s the difference between walking the journey and actually enjoying His presence in it.

That’s what our hearts should long for every day—not just belief, but real connection

So today, let your heart reach for Him. Ask Him to meet you in a real and personal way—to fill your need with His love, to draw close, and to remind you that He is not distant, but near.

ME 4-02-26 (rewrite)

“He answered him not even one word.” — Matthew 27:14

Matthew 27:14 NLT

But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

Jesus had all the right words when it came to healing, teaching, and loving people—but when He was accused, mocked, and put on trial, He chose silence.

He didn’t defend Himself.

He didn’t argue.

He didn’t try to escape.

Why? Because He had already made a decision—to give His life for us. His silence wasn’t weakness; it was surrender. He willingly stood there, taking on the weight of our sin, without resistance.

That silence also teaches us something powerful: not every attack needs a response. In a loud world full of opinions and accusations, sometimes the strongest thing you can do is stand firm and stay quiet. Truth doesn’t always have to argue—it can stand on its own.

Jesus also showed wisdom. He refused to give fuel to those who wanted to twist His words. Sometimes less is actually walking in greater strength. Like an anvil that withstands repeated blows, quiet strength can outlast the loudest attacks

And in His silence, He fulfilled prophecy from the Book of Isaiah:

“Like a lamb led to the slaughter… He did not open His mouth.”

Jesus proved He is the Lamb of God—not just by what He said, but by what He chose not to say.

Today, let’s remember:

• Trust God enough to stay silent when needed

• Walk in strength, not reaction

• And listen for His voice in the quiet

Prayer:

Jesus, teach me when to speak and when to be still. Help me trust You enough to surrender, just like You did. In the quiet of my heart, let me hear Your voice. Amen.

ME 4-03-26 (rewrite 2 min version)

“They took Jesus, and led Him away.” — John 19:16

John 19:16 NLT

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.

Jesus had already suffered all night.

He was passed from one trial to another—Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and back again.

He was exhausted, beaten, and given no rest.

Still… they led Him away.

They placed the cross on His shoulders and marched Him toward death.

It’s a heartbreaking scene.

And if we really see it, it should move us.

But this moment isn’t just painful—it’s powerful.

In the Old Testament, there was a scapegoat. The priest would lay the sins of the people on it, and it would carry those sins away—gone.

Now look at Jesus.

He stands accused, though He is innocent.

And God places our sin on Him.

Every failure.

Every mistake.

Every hidden thing.

As He carries the cross, He’s not just carrying wood—

He’s carrying our sin.

The question is:

Do you believe He carried yours?

Here’s how you know:

Have you confessed your sin?

Have you trusted Him with it?

Because when you do—your sin is no longer on you.

It’s been placed on Him.

Carried away.

So don’t rush past this moment.

See Jesus walking to the cross—

for you.

And don’t just feel sorrow—

Receive the freedom He came to give.

ME 4-04-26 (rewrite and summary)

Here’s