The Label Was Wrong

Opening Framework:

Prayer

Welcome everyone

Series Intro: Easter People

Message Title: The Label Was Wrong

ME: Kat’s McDonald Spanish Moment

Story of McDonald’s this week.

It’s funny but here’s what happened. He put a label on her based on what he knew about me.

If we’re honest that’s how labels work right… - Sometimes people label you based on one moment that happended - Based on something they know about you - Or sometimes you label yourself and that’s often the stickiest kind of label.

Once a label is stuck it’s hard to know if its true.

We: We came in today carrying labels…

Labels from others: - You always…

Labels from moments: - Addiction / Failures / Shortcomings

Labels from yourself: - This is who I am and how things go for me…

Alot of us didn’t walk in here curious about who we might be… we walked in here already convinced.

God: Resurrection changes the labels

Moment 1 - The Label

John 19:41-42 -

Jesus in the tomb

Silence - Judgement

Assumption

People saw a moment and they made a conclusion.

Labels arn’t always wrong… but they’re never the full picture

Moment 2 - The Turn

John 20:1-8 -

Stone rolled away - Empty tomb

Confusion but then realization - The story wasn’t over

It proved that just because something looks final doesn’t mean it’s final

It’s interesting what they thought was the end was actually the beginning of something.

Meaning… The resurrection changes everything… - Sin DEFEATED - Death DEFEATED

Sin and death always FELT permanent… until the resurrection.

You: So what does that mean for you?

The label you’ve been carrying… It’s not the full picture.

That thing that you think defines you… It’s not your entire story

The moment you can’t move past in your life… just because it looks final doesn’t mean it is.

Listen if we put our trust in the one who died and rose then we receive… - Foregiveness - Salvation - A new life

BUT!!!!!!!!!

YOU ALSO GET… A NEW IDENTITY.

You don’t have to live under labels that Jesus already defeated! Christian and non-Christian a like in this room.

GOD HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS. - New life when everything looks dead.

Ezekiel’s vision set up

Ezekiel 37:7 - Dry bones = completely dead… suddenly coming to life.

Ezekiel 37:10 - Where God is involved life and change always follows

The same God that… - Made dry bones live… - Made Jesus rise from the dead.. IS THE SAME GOD FOR YOU TODAY IF YOU ALLOW

You know what’s crazy about the resurrection story… PETER & what the angel said

Peter Friday back story

Mark 16:6—7 - AND PETER

The one who assumed he was out. The one who had every reason to put a label on himself… THATS THE ONE JESUS MADE SURE TO INCLUDE

Listen no matter what your label has been. No matter how big it is… No matter how long it’s been there… AND YOU… AND YOU…

We:

We’ve all had labels. We’ve all believed things about ourselves. We’ve all had moments we thought defined us…

Thank God for what Jesus did

Because this isn’t just about Peter It isn’t just about the people in the bible. THIS IS FOR ALL OF US.

- God wants to redefine you - Resurrection offers all of us a fresh start

The work on the cross and the resurrection allow us to leave today WITHOUT the labels we carried in.

Alter Call:

Different kind of moment today…

1. Salvation If you’ve never put your trust in Jesus… I believe this is your moment.

2. Believers carrying labels If you’ve put your trust in Jesus but kept a label… I believe this is your moment

3. Praise / Response If you’re just so grateful for the resurrection and thankful for the new labels God has given you… I believe this is your moment to praise

If any of those are you…