Untitled Sermon (2)

Easter

Are you excited about Easter?

-Cadbury Eggs

-New Outfit

*Egg Hunt - excitement

-Family gathering - brother

"Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness." Floyd Tompkins

I contend...

the story of Easter should bring us encouragement

Encouragement of Easter...

*Jesus made a choice for you

-he was obedient to his Father in heaven, but he also make a decision which gave you and me a chance

John 10:17–18 “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.””

Max Lucado

“The battle is won. You may have thought it was won on Golgotha. it wasn’t. You may have thought the sign of victory is the empty tomb. It isn’t. The final battle was won in Gethsemane...For it was in the garden that he made his decision. He would rather go to hell for you than to go to heaven without you.”

READ Matthew 28:1-8

*Crucifixion (vs 5)

The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson)

Sam Brown

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

imputes his righteousness

propitiation sacrifice of Jesus satisfies the wrath of God

Romans 5:9 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

expiation reconciled to God because our sins have been covered or cleansed

John Stott

unlikely symbol

“The Christians choice of a cross as a symbol of their faith is the more surprising when we remember the horror with which crucifixion was regarded in the ancient world. We can understand why Paul’s message of the cross was to many of his listeners foolishness, even madness (1 Corinthians1:18,23). How could any sane person worship as a god a dead man who had been justly condemned as a criminal and subjected to the most humiliating form of execution?

*Invitation (vs 6)

Come and see

Matthew 19:12–14 “For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.””

Matthew 11:28–30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

empty tomb, eyewitness testimony, transformed lives of the disciples, spread of Christianity

historical writings about Jesus

Tacitus roman historian

Josephus historian Jewish

Pliny the Younger

Suetonius

Ignatius

Polycarp

*Celebration (vs 8)

Joy

He is risen, he is risen indeed

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”