He is Risen - Resurrection Sunday - Handout (2)

He Is Risen! Celebrating the Victory of the Resurrection - Handout

I. Scripture Reading: The Resurrection Account - Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV) - Read Aloud During Sermon

Observations: The Word of God is enough — to save me, you, & the world. / This is the Good News! The women expected death, but found Jesus alive. This story has led to the salvation of every person who has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice & resurrection. / Scripture: 1 Peter 1:23–25 (ESV) - All Flesh is like grass but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

II. Why the Resurrection Matters More Than Anything: Everyone remembers Jesus’ death on the cross most clearly, Yet the resurrection of the God-man Jesus is even more important. All our hope hangs on it. & Without it we are promised death the very promise the women expected when they went to the tomb / Supporting Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:17–20 (ESV)“And if Christ has not been raised, We are to be pitied & 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV)“If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” / Connecting Thought: That promise of death first came through the fall of the first Adam.

III. The Source of Death’s Promise – The First Adam’s Fall - Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV)“…cursed is the ground because of you… till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Observation: Because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion the promise of death entered the world for all creation / Death is the enemy, & outside of Christ there is no defeat of it.

IV. Jesus’ Willing Choice – He Embraced Death to Conquer It: Jesus laid down His life willingly. John 10:17–18 (ESV)“I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” Conclusion: He died the death we deserved so He could take it up again, defeat death, & offer us life through Him.

V. How We Receive This Promise & The Thief on the Cross: True faith is more than mental assent. Encountering the true God shakes our whole world and produces real change of heart, mind, & spirit. / Scriptures: Luke 23:39–43 (ESV) - The thief turned & said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and received the promise / Matthew 28:2–6 (ESV) - The women had their world shaken! They went expecting death but encountered the living God. /John 8:58 (ESV) — Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” / James 2:14–26 (ESV) - True faith, as James teaches, is active and shown by works & is a heart response that changes everything.

VI–VII. From Slavery to Freedom Through the Resurrection: Many of us once lived lost and enslaved to sin, defining good and evil in our own eyes. / Scriptures: Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) — “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” / Romans 7:14 & John 8:34–36 (ESV) - We were slaves to sin / Now: When we seek the risen Jesus with fear and great joy, we find new life. / Scriptures: Matthew 28:7–9 (ESV) - The angel invited the women to “come and see” and then “go and tell” In the same way, Jesus goes before us. & Romans 6:6–11 (ESV) - “Our old self was crucified with him… so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin… consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

VIII. Justice vs. Grace – Final Invitation: We don’t want justice for our sins — we want Grace = undeserved favor. / We are given command to go & tell of Jesus’s resurrection / Scriptures: Matthew 28:10 (ESV) — Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, & they will see me.” & John 3:16–17 (ESV)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection & Discussion Questions: 1. Why does the resurrection matter more than anything else? / 2. In what ways do we still live with the “promise of death” from Adam’s fall? / 3. What does true faith look like according to James 2:14–26? / 4. How does the resurrection break the chains of sin and death? / 5. What does it mean to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus”? / 6. Who in your life needs to hear this Good News of the risen Savior?

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