Easter: Celebrate

Opening Song

“We gather to be formed in God’s presence so we can be sent into our community”

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today & The Joy

Greeting

After greeting prayer: “Lord, open our eyes this week to those who are curious about faith.”

Announcements:

We’re not spectators here, we’re participants. Giving and filling out a Connect Card are practical ways to let us know you’re with us on mission.

You can complete a Connect Card at sangamonvalley.net/ConnectCard or by using a green outlined paper Connect Card today.

Giving: You can give in the box, online, through the app, or by mail.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: ____

These are not events to attend — it is an environment to build relationships.

Prayer for...

Sermon

THE TENSION

All week we’ve walked through the weight of the cross.

Sin, suffering, silence.

But today feels different. Today, the tone shifts.

This is not a quiet reflection. This is a celebration.

Because what was buried… didn’t stay buried.

Many people live as if the resurrection is true historically, but not powerful personally.

We carry heaviness, fear, and defeat Even though the grave is empty

Core Problem: We know the story of resurrection, but we don’t live in the joy of it.

BIG IDEA

The resurrection doesn’t just change eternity, it fills today with joy that overflows.

ILLUSTRATION (Balloons / Joy Visual)

BALLOONS

A balloon filled with HELIUM rises—it’s light, lifted

A balloon without HELIUM just lays there—same material, different reality

The resurrection fills us with something we didn’t have before

Joy isn’t pretending life is light. It’s being filled with something stronger than what weighs us down.

THE SCRIPTURE

(Context, Characters, Read)

The women come expecting death

They encounter life

The first response isn’t duty, it’s joy (FOCUS ON V. 8)

Matthew 28:1–10 “1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

THEY LEFT with fear and great joy

THE DISCOVERY

(What We See Unfolding — 3 Movements: What does this reveal about God? - What does this reveal about us? - What lie is being confronted?)

1. The Stone Was Rolled Away—Not Just for Jesus, But for Us

(Matthew 28:2–6)

We often assume situations are sealed when God is still working

God removes what we thought was final

Lie Confronted: “It’s over”

The stone wasn’t moved so Jesus could get out

It was moved so we could see in…TO SEE the story WASN’T OVER

2. The Empty Tomb Produces Overflowing Joy

(Matthew 28:7–8)

We are invited into joy, not just belief

God brings joy out of places of death

Lie Confronted: “Joy is optional or personality-based”

“Fear and great joy” AT TIMES exist together (v. 8)

Joy is not the absence of struggle—it’s the presence of resurrection

3. The Risen Jesus Sends Us With Joy

(Matthew 28:9–10)

We are carriers of resurrection, not just observers

Jesus meets us personally before He sends us missionally

Lie Confronted: “Faith is private”

They encounter Jesus

They worship

Then they are sent

IDENTITY SHIFT

(Who does this reveal God to be? Who does this reveal us to be?)

We are: People filled with resurrection joy and sent to bring it to others

God is: Alive, victorious, and still moving

The message we bring is not obligation, it’s good news.

PRACTICE OBEDIENCE

(Next Steps - Application)

1. Receive Resurrection Joy

Let go of what’s been weighing you down

Ask: Where am I still living like the stone is still in place?

2. Celebrate Intentionally

Joy grows when it is expressed

Worship fully

Engage the moment

Let celebration be visible

3. Share the Joy

Just like the women ran to tell others

Invite someone

Text someone

Share what Jesus has done

TRANSITION TO MUSIC/RESPONCE:

At the center of all of this—the cross, the empty tomb, the joy—is love.

Not abstract love.

Not distant love.

But a God who saw you…

knew you…

and chose to come for you.

And some of us today— we’ve been living weighed down, carrying things we were never meant to carry.

Shame. Fear. Sin. Exhaustion.

But the same POWER that raised Jesus from the dead is calling you out of that place today.

Not to perform. Not to fix yourself first. But to come to Jesus.

So in a moment, we’re going to open the altar.

And this is what the altar is: It’s simply a place where we respond to the love of God.

If you need to receive that love for the first time

If you need to lay something down

If you need to be filled again with His joy

You come.

Because resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate, it’s something we step towards in surrender.

The stone has been rolled away.

The grave is empty.

And the love of God is still reaching for you.

So come.

Worship Thru Music

Cammy Lead:  Love of God - CHORUS ONLY

 Lexi Lead:  O Come to the Altar 

Janie Lead:  What a Beautiful Name

TRANSITION:  Cammy, Jayden, Bill, Hannah, Nathan, Andrew, Doug, Janie, Lexi.  Alison and Kim will join the singers before last song Death Was Arrested, bringing a brown paper package to represent bringing our ordinary, sinful lives to Jesus in surrender.  Singers will give them a hug as they "Join the song of all the redeemed".  Janie and Lexi will give their microphones to Kim and Alison, but will stay on stage to sing the last song.  

Cammy Lead:  Death Was Arrested 

Commissioning:

This week, build one relationship. Pray for one person far from God.

As you depart…Take one step toward discipling someone.