Hope for a New Beginning
Hope for a New Beginning
Pastor Keith Hassell
Foundation Scripture: Mark 14:27-31, 66-72; 16:1-8
I. Easter: What does it mean?
A. It is the victory of Christ’s resurrection after the crucifixion and burial.
B. It represents the Father’s approval of Jesus Christ the Son.
C. It signifies that Christianity is not just another religion.
D. It represents the Lordship of Christ over death, hell, and the grave.
E. It represents the defeat of Satan and his kingdom.
F. It represents the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all obstacles.
G. It represents the power to live a new life in Christ (Romans 8:11)
H. It represents the hope of resurrection when this life is over.
I. It represents the hope of reunion with loved ones and saints who have gone on before us.
J. It represents the hope that our life lived for Jesus on this earth has an eternal inheritance and reward.
K. It represents a reason to live and die for something bigger than ourselves.
L. If Jesus is alive, then He is still working in and through His people today.
M. If Jesus is alive, then what He said of Himself is true.
N. If Jesus is alive, He is coming back one day to judge the living and the dead.
O. If Jesus is alive, then we should live our lives as if He is alive.
P. For those who are living for Jesus Easter is a time of joy and celebration.
Q. For those who are not living for Jesus, Easter is a sober reminder that they are living their life on thin ice and they have failed to live worthy of the love of Jesus.
II. Have you failed to live up to Jesus’ love for you?
A. Have you failed to live as if Jesus is alive?
B. Have you failed to follow Him faithful with your life?
C. Have you done things that you told the Lord you would never do?
D. Have you broken promises and vows that you made to the Lord?
E. Have you slipped back into the same sin from which He once delivered you?
F. Have you committed sins in secret that are now beginning to enslave you?
F. Have you stopped serving the Lord and doing what He has commanded?
G. Have you stopped going to church and use the Lord’s day for your own pleasure?
H. Have you resisted the Lord’s call on your life to give your life to Him that you might be saved?
I. Do you wonder if your sin is beyond Christ’s ability to forgive?
J. Have you cursed Him and even denied Him before others?
J. Do you wonder if your relationship with Jesus could ever be the same again?
K. If you have felt this way, then you are not alone. Look at Peter.
III. A new beginning for Peter
A. Peter was a faithful follower of Jesus
B. Peter professed his willingness to die for Jesus
C. Peter did something he never thought he would do---he denied the Lord not once but three times.
D. Peter wept bitterly and felt Jesus would never be willing to forgive him
E. When Jesus rose from the dead He sent the women to tell the disciples of His resurrection and specifically mentions Peter as assurance of forgiveness and restoration after his denials
F. Peter was not only restored but was used by God to give the great sermon on Pentecost Sunday whereby 3,000 people were saved.
IV. Resurrection Day: The hope of a new beginning for you!
A. If Jesus is alive, then we have hope today.
B. Like Peter, Jesus can forgive us of our sins.
C. Like Peter, Jesus can wipe away our tears of shame.
D. Jesus can restore our relationship with Him.
E. Like Peter, Jesus can give us a new beginning to live for Him.
F. Like Peter, Jesus will turn our failures into a testimony of His mercy and love.
G. Like Peter, Jesus will reestablish destiny in our lives.
V. What will you do with this Jesus?
A. Will this be another denial of Christ?
B. Will this become a day of new beginnings?