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Welcome to our Easter Celebration.

Today is a special day as you probably know.

I want to start today by reading part of the historical account of Easter.

We can see right here how the first resurrection made a huge difference to the women who saw it, but it took a bit longer for Peter and the others to process the significance.

I think we can find ourselves in this today.

The resurrection made a huge difference to the women who saw it, but it took a bit longer for Peter and the others to process the significance.

That applies to us here today as well.

IF you were to ask people, that’s what surveys do, they find that a large portion of people believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

It’s an historical fact....in fact.

The issue is that most people don’t understand the effect it has on their lives.

IF you were to ask people, that’s what surveys do, they find that a large portion of people believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

It’s an historical fact....in fact.

The issue is that most people don’t understand the effect can have on their lives.

Today I hope that you leave here knowing why it matters, so the next time someone questions the point of it all, you will be able to tell them the significance of the Empty Tomb.

I hope you come back over the next several weeks as we work through a series of messages labeled RUNNING ON EMPTY.

Many people these days are tapped out but life goes on…How do we keep going on?

Each week we are going to look at a particular facet of our lives and look to discover what caused us to run empty and how Jesus and the Bible teaches us that we can be refilled.

But first

Video

So what?

1 The pastor makes the following statement to the CONGREGATION:

What difference does the resurrection make in my life, in your life.

L: Brothers and sisters in Christ:

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of empty promises.

I’m tired of politicians who don’t deliver on promises.

I’m tired of products that never look as good at home as they do on TV.

I’m tired of batterys that aren’t as EVER ready as they claim.

But it’s not just others.

I’m tired of failing people.

I’m tired of not delivering with the same passion that I promised.

Empty promises are real and frustrating.

For many people, they consider the promise of Jesus and the church an empty promise.

What difference does it make in my life?

L: Through the Sacrament of Baptism

How can it make a difference in my life?

L: We are initiated into Christ's holy church.

Today I hope that you leave here knowing why it matters, so the next time someone questions the point of it all, you will be able to tell them.

What difference does the resurrection make to your life.

I’d say, it depends.

L: We are incorporated into God's mighty acts of salvation

L: And given new birth through water and the Spirit.

What difference does the resurrection make to your life.

I’d say, it depends.

L: All this is God's gift, offered to us without price.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of empty promises.

I’m tired of politicians who don’t deliver on promises.

I’m tired of products that never look as good at home as they do on TV.

I’m tired of batters that aren’t as EVER ready as they claim.

I’m tired of failing people.

I’m tired of not delivering with the same passion that I promised.

Empty promises are real and frustrating.

For many people, they consider the promise of Jesus and the church an empty promise.

I’d say, it depends.

It depends on how you would answer 3 questions.

Don’t you hate it when people answer questions with questions?

I do too.

But in this case it is necessary.

I’ll try to walk us through all three.

L: Through confirmation,

First, What do you need?

L: And through the reaffirmation of our faith,

Second, Who do you say Jesus is?

L: We renew the covenant declared at our baptism,

Finally, Have you trusted in his grace?

L: Acknowledge what God is doing for us,

What do you need?

So what difference does the resurrection make?

Well what difference do you need in your life?

The resurrection doesn’t solve all of life’s problems.

Believers will get sick.

Believers will make mistakes.

Believers will get hurt and hurt others.

This first question though gets to the root of who we believe we are.

Think about your life.

IF you were to give your life a score on a scale of 0-100 for how perfect it has been, what would your score be?

How perfect is your life?

By perfect, I mean free from flaws, mistakes, pain, error.

I doubt any of us would rank ourselves much higher than a 70 or 80 and most of us much lower.

But assuming you think you are a nearly perfect person.

You are awesome you scored yourself 80% perfect.. Then even you, as great as you are, still admit you need at least 20% of improvement.

I would say that my score was much lower.

When I think back at all the times in my life that I have gotten away with things that I shouldn’t have, it’s sort of sad.

I would say that I’d struggle to get to a 50.

I’ve taken things that didn’t belong to me, I’ve lied about things that didn’t really matter, I’ve cheated, I’ve committed adultery with my eyes.

I”m a thieving, lying, cheating adulterer…and I have no excuse.

But we aren’t much different.

What about you?

What is your need?

Do you need help being made right before God or are you able to do it on your own.

If you can live a perfect life or convince God of your innocence when you make mistakes, then you don’t need Jesus.

But if you can’t, the difference the resurrection makes in your life is this forgiveness.

What difference does the resurrection make in your life?

Ask yourself, what do I need?

Then ask yourself,

Second, Who do you say Jesus is?

Who do you say Jesus is?

This is a big question.

Somehow many people are able to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, but not understand who Jesus was? Was he just he son of a carpenter and his teenage girlfriend?

Was he just the kid from Nazareth who grew up to be a wise rabbi who’s teachings are still relevant to day? Was he a great healer who lived such a great life everyone decided to split the calendar between BC and AD because of him?