Mission Resurrection

WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to our sunrise service. As the first light lifts over and the horizon brightens, we gather where creation itself seems to be waking up — a fitting place to remember the morning that changed everything. Whether you come with a long history of faith or you’re simply curious about what this story means, you are welcome here. Breathe in the salt air. Watch the sun lift the darkness. Today we stand at the empty tomb and hear the command that sends us out on a mission.

INTRO STORY

There was a man in town who was famously not a morning person. Everyone knew it. If the sun wanted to see him, it usually had to wait until at least 10 AM.

One Easter, his church announced a sunrise service on the beach. He told his wife, “If Jesus can rise from the dead, I can rise from the bed.” She wasn’t convinced.

The next morning he showed up — hair sideways, coffee in hand, eyes half‑open — and plopped into his beach chair just as the sky started to glow. A jogger ran by, took one look at him, and said, “Rough Mourning?”

He said, “No… it’s resurrection morning.”

The jogger nodded slowly and said, “Well… you look like you’re still working on it.”

But as the sun finally broke over the water, something hit him. He said later, “I realized the whole world was waking up — and that’s exactly what the resurrection is. God waking the world up. God saying, ‘Light wins. Life wins. Hope wins.’”

This morning, as the sun rises, we’re not just watching a new day begin — we’re remembering the day everything began again.

Text: Matthew 28:1–20

THE MIRACLE

(Matthew 28:1–4)

Main idea: God breaks the final barrier so we can see the truth.

Revelation

The angel, the earthquake, and the rolled‑away stone show that God has interrupted history to overturn death’s claim.

Rom 6:9 “Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”

Hope

Because death’s dominion is broken, the resurrection becomes the foundation for real hope — not wishful thinking but a divine act of God that changes everything.

Transition

God’s public act doesn’t leave people the same; when heaven breaks in, ears are primed to hear a life‑changing word.

THE MESSAGE

(Matthew 28:5–8)

Main idea: The angel’s announcement turns terror into trust.

Comfort

The angel’s first word, “Do not be afraid, shows God meets terror with peace.

Isa 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you.”

Seed

The declaration “He is not here, for he has risen” is not just news; it is the seed of new birth and a living hope that moves people from being mourners to being witnesses.

1 Peter 1:3 — He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Transition

Words can change minds, but truth becomes power when the risen Jesus shows up in person.

THE MASTER

(Matthew 28:9–15)

Main idea: The risen Lord meets people personally and sends them out.

Encounter

Jesus greets the women, calls them by name, and commissions them — the resurrection is personal and relational.

John 20:16–17 — Jesus calls them Mary by name and sends her to tell the others.

Vindication

Attempts to bury the truth only prove how threatening the resurrection is to false systems; opposition underscores the reality of the event.

Acts 5:39 — If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it.

Transition

When Jesus meets you, it’s never just for comfort — it’s a call. Being face to face with the risen Lord moves you from wonder to work.

THE MISSION

(Matthew 28:16–20)

Main idea: The risen King sends His people with authority and presence to make disciples.

Authority

Jesus’ claim, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” shows the mission is a royal command, not a suggestion(Ambassadors).

Daniel 7:14 — Dominion and glory given to the Son of Man.

Empowerment

The command to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach is backed by the promise of the presence and the power.

Acts 1:8 — You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.

Transition to closing

The stone was shattered, the message declared, the Master met us — now the world waits for the church to move.

Application

Evangelistic Appeal

The empty tomb answers the deepest human questions: — death is defeated. — forgiveness is offered. — new life and purpose are given in Christ. The gospel is simple and urgent: — turn from what separates you from God and trust in Jesus who rose for you. What about death? What about guilt? What about meaning? repent and believe

If you are searching

Hear this plainly: The resurrection is God’s proof that He can make all things new. If you want to receive that new life today — to repent, to trust Jesus as Lord, to begin following Him, ````````````````````We will pray with you and help you take the next step. Jesus died for sinners and rose to give life to those who trust Him.

If you are a follower

The resurrection reshapes your witness. You are sent under His authority and with His presence. Let your life be a testimony: speak the message, live the message, and invite others into the same life.

Practical next steps

Tell one person this week: Jesus is risen and He changes lives.

Invite someone to church or to a conversation about Jesus.

Pray for boldness and for the Spirit to use you as a witness.

CLOSING - Call For Communion

STORY

Before dawn, a small coastal town would sit in the hush between tides. For years the lighthouse on the headland had been dark. Storms had driven the keeper away and the lamp had been allowed to go out. One spring morning a group of children dared each other to climb the hill and peek inside. They expected dust and silence. Instead they found the keeper there, polishing the lamp and preparing the light for the first time in decades.

When asked why he had returned, he said, “I realized the light was never mine to keep dark. It was meant to shine for ships in the night.”

He lit the lamp. Boats that had avoided the coast returned. People who had given up hope began to rebuild. One small light, re-lit at dawn, changed the life of a whole community.

The resurrection is not abstract; it is the power that turns despair into hope, loss into reunion, fear into courage.

The risen Christ says to you today: I have authority over death. I offer you new life. Will you receive it?