This Changes Everything - Easter Sunday

Call to Worship: 1 Peter 1:3 (Christ is risen / He is risen indeed)

Song: Come People of the Risen King

Point 1 — God welcomes anyone (Acts 10:34–35)Talk 1: 

Interviews

Song: Great Big God

Point 2 — God has sent Jesus (Acts 10:36–41)Talk 3: 

Song: Man of Sorrows

Point 3 — Jesus is judge and offers forgiveness (Acts 10:42–43)Talk 4: 

Prayer

Song (Final): Mighty Mighty

Song: Christ Our Hope

Benediction: Hebrews 13:20–21 (Christ is risen / He is risen indeed)

Call to Worship

1 Peter 1:3 NIVUK

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Christ is risen / He is risen indeed

Song: Come People of the Risen King

Talk 1 - God welcomes anyone who turns to him

Intro - What changes everything?

What’s something that completely changed everything for you?

Maybe…

moving house

starting a new school

a new job

a new baby in the family

Those are big changes, aren’t they?

They don’t just change one thing—they change lots of things.

Well today, we’re thinking about something that doesn’t just change your week… or your routine…or even just lots of things.

Jesus’ resurection - Him rsing from the dead - changes everything.

We’re looking at a part of the Bible where a man called Peter is speaking.

And he’s speaking in the house of a man called Cornelius.

Now that might not sound important—but it’s huge.

Because Cornelius is not Jewish.

And up to this point, most people thought that God’s salvation was mainly for one group—the Jewish people.

But Peter suddenly realises:

God is doing something much bigger.

POINT 1 — God welcomes anyone who turns to him (v34–35)

PRAY

REading 1

Acts 10:34–35 NIVUK

Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

.Peter says:

“God does not show favouritism…”

In other words:

God doesn’t have favourites

Not just one nation

Not just one type of person

“He welcomes people from everywhere who fear him and want to do what is right.”

Now what does that mean?

It doesn’t mean people are perfect.

It means they are beginning to realise:

God is real

God matters

I need to take him seriously

To fear God means to realise:

“I haven’t lived the way I should.”

And I will have to answer to God why not!

To do what is right, is to turn back to God and ask for forgiveness and strive to follow him.

Big question

Have you ever had that moment?

Where you realise that something you did Isn’t right before God”

If you ignore those feelings and carry on ignoring God!

That is to not fear God - and to Not do right.

But it you say sorry, and turn back to God - that

That is what it means to “fear God” and do right.

And Peter has now seen that God is welcoming EVERYONE - because of Jesus! Who fears God and does what is right,

Not just Jews - not just people like us - everyone and anyone!

And that’s still happening.

—God is bringing people from completely different backgrounds and places into his family.

I can prove it right now.. look around…

Interview section — 3–4 minutes total

(Ask each person:)

You don’t look Jewish, where are you from?

Did you grow up a Christain or become one when you were older?

Before you trusted Jesus—what did you believe or what was life like?

What made you realise you needed Jesus?

What difference has Jesus made?

Interpret the interviews

Thank you—that’s really helpful.

Did you notice something?

Very different people… very different stories…

But the same need.

Each of them realised:

“I haven’t lived the way I should… and I need Jesus.”

And that’s exactly what Peter is showing us.

God welcomes anyone who turns to him

But simply fear of God and trying to do right isn’t enough.

We need forgiveness and saving - so next Peter will tell us all about Jesus.

Song: Our God is a Great Big God

Talk 2 — God has sent Jesus (v36–41)

Acts 10:36–41 NIVUK

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. ‘We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

We learn the essential details of Jesus and His Gospel, the good news in those verses:

1. Jesus lived perfectly

Peter says:

“He went around doing good…”

Jesus always did what was right.

Every moment. Every decision.

He lived the life we haven’t and can’t

2. Jesus died

“They killed him by hanging him on a cross.”

The only person who truly did what was right…

was treated like he had done everything wrong.

3. Jesus rose again

“But God raised him from the dead on the third day!”

This is the centre of everything.

Jesus is alive!

What day is today?

(Easter Sunday)

That’s what we’re celebrating.

Not just a nice idea…

Not just “his memory lives on”…

He really came back to life.

And that’s our 4th point:

4. Jesus REALLY rose again!

Peter says:

“We ate and drank with him after he rose.”

It’s an odd detail to include - but his point is simple - Jesus really is alive!

You can;t eat a drink with people who have died!

People saw Jesus. Spoke with him. Ate with him.

This actually happened.

So here’s the point:

Fearing God and Turning to God is right…

But we still need Jesus to save us.

He lived perfectly when we have not,

He died when he didn’t deserve too and we do.

And he really rose again.

So, after our next song - we’ll find out why and how this all works…

Song: Man of Sorrows

POINT 3 — Jesus is the judge—and offers forgiveness (v42–43)

Acts 10:42–43 NIVUK

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

1. Jesus is the judge

Peter says:

“He is the one God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”

That means one day—

every single one of us will stand before Jesus.

Not just people who ignore God…

Even people who try to seek him.

And before a perfect and holy God - it wont go well for us.

Jesus warned repeatedly in his lifetime about those who refuse him and the coming judgement:

Matthew 25:46 NIVUK

‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’

2. So what do we need?

We need forgiveness.

Because we haven’t lived the way we should.

3. So Here is the best news

Listen to this:

v43

“Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Everyone.

That means:

Not because we’ve done enough right…

But because Jesus did.

Not because we’ve fixed our lives…

But because he died…

His perfect life in exchange for ours.

OUr judgement upon him.

and Jesus rose again.

So we can enjoy his eterneal life with him in glory.

Let’s put it all together.

God doesn’t have favourites.

Anyone can come to him.

But he does only have one way to be saved:

Jesus.

Jesus lived the life we haven’t…

died the death we deserve…

rose again…

and now offers forgiveness…

to everyone who believes.

Different stories…

Same need…

Same Saviour.

So what should we do?

1. Turn to God

Take him seriously.

Repent and believe he died for you,

And becasue he’s alive, risen - priase and enjoy him forever.

Prayer

Song : Mighty Mighty Saviour

SONG: Christ our Hope

Benediction: Hebrews 13:20–21

Hebrews 13:20–21 NIVUK

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(Christ is risen / He is risen indeed)