Dream on...
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsThe Burial of Jesus by two fearful men. Not as fearful however, as the disciples...
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
What do my hearers NEED to know?
What is NICE for them to know?
Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)?
Keep it at 45min which is 3000 words (Murder the Darlings)
What is the “Elevator Speech”?
Make sure you have a compelling hook! Why should they listen to you?
Introduction
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
Greet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)
What do my hearers NEED to know?What is NICE for them to know?Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)? Keep it at 45min which is 3000 words (Murder the Darlings) What is the “Elevator Speech”? Make sure you have a compelling hook! Why should they listen to you? IntroductionGreet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)Attention (Why should they listen to you?)What is the Hearer’s problem? What is the Biblical Solution? What do the hearers need to know? Main Textual Idea:Main Sermon Idea: Interrogative:Transition: Body (Satisfaction)Division 1 Statement: Explanation - Illustration - Argumentation - Application - Review - Division 2 Statement: Explanation - Illustration - Argumentation - Application - Review - Division 3 Statement: Explanation - Illustration - Argumentation - Application - Review - Division 4 Statement: Explanation - Illustration - Argumentation - Application - Review - Division 5 Statement: Explanation - Illustration - Argumentation - Application - Review - Conclusion (Visualization)ReiterationAction
Invitation
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
Just before Angie and I had Alex, our firstborn daughter, some dear friends of ours went into the hospital to deliver their firstborn daughter...
Nine months of promise only to deliver forth death!
t
Three years of promise after promise from this man called Jesus. Was He truly the Messiah they had longed for? Would He be the one to finally deliver them from the oppression of Rome? They hung on his words. They believed his promises. They trusted that He was who he claimed to be. Only to see him arrested, mocked, beaten beyond recognition, hung on a cruel, criminal, cross left to die like an animal.
Three years of promise only to deliver forth death!
Did Jesus fail? Did he not keep his promises? Sometimes we only hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see! That was the disciples’ problem and that is our problem today!
There is an old saying that goes like this, “It is always darkest before the dawn.”
Sometimes the circumstances we face can seem so dark and so bleak that we begin to believe that God has forgotten us and abandoned us. That everything we have been taught about our God is just a farce and a bunch of foolishness. Life’s challenges, whatever they are, are simply too much for me to handle and that God doesn’t really care all that much.
You need to know that “It is always darkest before the dawn.”
You need to know that no matter what you are facing, if you are Christ’s, He WILL deliver on His promises. He will deliver you!!!
In our text this morning we see a rather hopeless situation. Jesus has been crucified and He is hanging, lifeless on a Roman cross. The Sabbath is fast approaching and something needed to be done. Most all the disciples ran away and are hiding for their own lives.
But God had a plan...
Driven by compassion, two fearful guys muster up the strength and courage to properly care for the dead body of Jesus. This was not done in faith for their dreams had just died on a Roman cross.
And I can hear these two men say...
Main Idea: Our Dreams are Dead and Sealed in a Tomb! Now What?
Interrogative: What do we do when our dreams die right in front of us?
Transition: There are three ways we see a dream die in this passage and the first is...
1. Our Dreams of Strength are Reduced to Weakness (vs. 38)
Our story starts off with a man by the name of Joseph. And Joseph, dreamed of the day when the Messiah would come and reestablish the Kingdom of David just like the Old Testament promised. And if there was anyone who met the qualifications to be Messiah, Jesus was it! He fed the hungry, healed the lame, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, and even raised people from the dead! But now? The dead raiser was dead as could be!
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
We really don’t know that much about Joseph other than a few things that the Scriptures tell us...
He was from Arimathea - “…Arimathea, perhaps twenty-five miles away in the hill country of Ephraim.” (Pentecost pg. 491)
Explanation -
He was part of the Sanhedrin - “a respected member of the council” ()
“…Arimathea, perhaps twenty-five miles away in the hill country of Ephraim.” (Pentecost pg. 491)
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
He was wealthy - “When it was evening, the came a rich man from Arimathea...” ()
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
I want you, as best you are able, to put yourself into this story and see if you might be able to feel, even on a small scale, the hopelessness of this man, Joseph of Arimathea.
He was a disciple of Jesus - “…named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.” ()
He feared the Jewish leadership - “...but secretly for fear of the Jews...” ()
Remember, Joseph had reason to fear. They could and would cast him out of the synagogue!
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;
2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
Joseph’s courageous public action in going to Pilate and securing Jesus’ body for burial is therefore exemplary and indicates that he has moved out of the category of covert follower and is willing to put devotion to Jesus before consideration of human honour or prestige (cf. 12:43).
Andrew T. Lincoln, The Gospel according to Saint John, Black’s New Testament Commentary (London: Continuum, 2005), 484.
He didn’t consent to kill Jesus - “who had not consented to their decision and action...” ()
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
He was looking for the Kingdom of God - “and he was looking for the kingdom of God.” ()
who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
He was becoming bold - “…took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” ()
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
And while this doesn’t give us a complete picture of this man, there is something about Joseph of Arimathea that I believe we can all agree on. He was broken hearted!
I want you to put yourself into this story and see if you might be able to feel, even on a small scale, the hopelessness of this man, Joseph of Arimathea.
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;
John
He was a disciple of Jesus who was “waiting for the Kingdom of God”
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
He boldly went before Pilate, taking his life into his own hands and asked for the body of Jesus. He risked his own reputation by procuring the body of Jesus no doubt alienating himself from His contemporaries. After all, Jesus was crucified under the charge of sedition.
Why do you think Pilate gave in so easily to his request?
First, Joseph was a respected member of the council...
Because of His position on the council, Joseph of Arimathea was granted his request by Pilate. He gave Him Jesus’ body!
Second, Pilate didn’t think Jesus was guilty in the first place...
Even though in the past he was a secret disciple of Jesus, He, unlike the rest of the Apostles, stepped up and stayed to care for the body of Jesus.
Think about this. God providentially used Joseph to give Jesus’ body a proper burial.
What would they have done with the body of the Lord without Joesph’s intervention?
For the Romans the normal process with someone hanging on a cross was to be left to be eaten by birds and simply decompose. They didn’t care...
The Jews on the other hand, would be concerned about following the Law which said...
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Deut
But just because they would have gotten Him down off the cross didn’t mean he would have received a proper Jewish burial...
In the lectures of Ellicott, the professor says the following,
The heat of the climate in the East has led to the custom of burial following almost immediately after death, but there were special reasons for that of Jesus being hurried. It was the eve of he great Passover Sabbath, and no corpse could be left unburied to defile the ceremonial purity of the Holy City, on that day. It was necessary, therefore, that our Lord be buried without a moment’s delay, for sunset, when the Sabbath began, was rapidly approaching.
Bodies of Jewish criminals seem to have been buried with ignominy, in the valley of Hinnom; known, known from this reason, as the Valley of Corpses — amidst the unclean dust-heaps of the city, and the ashes of the burned offal of the Temple sacrifices. They could not be laid in the graves of their fathers — the common burial-place if the community — for the guilty could not be buried with the just — but were huddled out of sight — the beheaded, or hanged, in one spot; the stoned, and burned, in another. But such an indignity was no to befall the sacred form of the Saviour.
Had not Joseph been moved to perform this pious office, it would seem that the Lord’s body would have been removed to one of the common sepulchres reserved for those who had suffered capital punishment.” (Pentecost, 491)
By the way, if Jesus would have been buried there, it would have been a violation of Scripture. But it didn’t happen and thus fulfilled the words of the Prophet Isaiah...
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Isaiah
“Took away his body” - Removed the nails, lowered His body to the ground, and removed the crown of thorns from the blood soaked head of Jesus.
Why do you think Pilate gave in so easily to his request?
First, he was a respected member of the council...
Second, Pilate didn’t think Jesus was guilty in the first place...
Even though in the past he was a secret disciple of Jesus, He, unlike the rest of the Apostles, stayed to care for the body of Jesus.
Remember, Joseph had reason to fear. They could and would cast him out of the synagogue!
(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
“Took away his body” - Removed the nails, lowered His body to the ground, and removed the crown of thorns from the blood soaked head of Jesus.
Joseph’s courageous public action in going to Pilate and securing Jesus’ body for burial is therefore exemplary and indicates that he has moved out of the category of covert follower and is willing to put devotion to Jesus before consideration of human honour or prestige (cf. 12:43).
Andrew T. Lincoln, The Gospel according to Saint John, Black’s New Testament Commentary (London: Continuum, 2005), 484.
“Took away his body” - Removed the nails, lowered His body to the ground, and removed the crown of thorns from the blood soaked head of Jesus.
Crown of Thorns, Crown Him in ...
stephanos (στέφανος, 4735), primarily, “that which surrounds, as a wall or crowd” (from stepho, “to encircle”), denotes (a) “the victor’s crown,” the symbol of triumph in the games or some such contest; hence, by metonymy, a reward or prize; (b) “a token of public honor” for distinguished service, military prowess, etc., or of nuptial joy, or festal gladness, especially at the parousia of kings.
diadema (διάδημα, 1238) is never used as stephanos is; it is always the symbol of kingly or imperial dignity, and is translated “diadem” instead of “crown” in the RV, of the claims of the Dragon, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12. See DIADEM.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
They lowered the beam to the ground and removed the nails from the beam or removed Him from the nails.
They removed the crown of thorns that was imbedded in His head...
They carried His body, defiling themselves before the Sabbath and the Passover celebration.
Illustration - Avengers, Infinity War - Hulk starts to beat the tar out of the nemesis, Thanos. It appears as if the Hulk is going to take him out easily only to be knocked out cold by Thanos! Nobody knocks the Hulk out! But Thanos did and for the rest of the movie Thanos defeated hero after hero.
Argumentation - Nobody is supposed to beat the Messiah! He is the concurring King! He promised to overcome the WORLD! Yet whatever strength he supposedly had turned out to be nothing but weakness!
Our dreams of Strength are reduced to Weakness! Now what?
Application - Folks, there are times when God doesn’t, from our finite perspective, to be all that strong. Don’t believe it! Not for a minute...
Review - Our Dreams are dead and sealed in a tomb! Now what?
1. Our Dreams of Strength are Reduced to Weakness
2. Our Dreams of Vitality have Sunk into Decay (vs. 39-40)
The next character who John identifies is someone who you might be familiar with. Take a look...
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Nicodemus, the Jewish leader that came to talk to Jesus at night to find out more information from this mysterious man from Galilee...
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Well, these words no doubt cause Nicodemus to think long and hard about the truth of God...
Later we see that God had moved in his heart and his curiosity about Jesus turned into a defense for Jesus.
shows up to help Joseph with the dead body of the Christ.
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Like in Joseph, we see a developing boldness coming from Nicodemus. From timid and fearful to someone who is willing to risk it all for the care of Jesus.
And instead of coming by night, he now comes before sundown to give Jesus a proper (albeit quick) burial. It seems that Joseph took care of the legal obtaining of the body, Nicodemus’ role is the priestly preparation. And that preparation took spices and linen cloths.
John says that Nicodemus procured around 75 lbs. of materials to prepare the body of Christ.
The goal was not embalming or mummifying like the Egyptians do, but rather to mask the inevitable stench that decay of the body would bring....
Folks, this is why I think this action was not an action of faith for one who would rise, rather it was an act of compassion for the one who, like all the other Messiah wannabes, let them down.
Joseph and Nicodemus were anticipating decay and the inevitable corruption of Jesus’ body. If they were not, they would not have bothered preparing the body if they believed that in 3 days he would rise again.
But they didn’t believe that Jesus would rise from the dead and so they prepared...
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 19
The spices most likely were laid on the entire length of the strips of linen which were then wound around Jesus’ body. More spices were laid under the body and perhaps packed around it. The sticky resin would help the cloth adhere.
The resin MacArthur is referring to is the result of combining the myrrh and aloe. This combination produced a sticky resin that would hold the cloth and the cloth stips down...
This was the Jewish custom. Another aspect of the Jewish burial custom included the washing of the body prior to applying the spices and cloth wrapping.
Think about this. They washed the body of the dead Jesus. They washed his blood soaked head…They cleaned the face, neck chest and even the deep wound in His side where the soldier thrust his spear...
They carefully wiped off His back that was lacerated from the inhumane whippings and beatings He received, where chucks of flesh were hanging or gone altogether. Joseph and Nicodemus scrubbed the blood that coagulated on His legs and especially his feet where the nails had thrust through His heal bone in order to fix Him to the cross of wood.
Illustration -
They washed and cleaned every inch of Jesus’ body and prepared Him for burial. They saw the wounds up close and personal. They knew before they laid Him in Joseph’s tomb, that He was dead and well beyond life. They of any of His disciples understood that there was no recovery possible for Jesus, the failed Messiah. The one who, from their perspective had turned out not to be the Son of God, but simply the son of a carpenter.
After all, they washed him and applied spices on and around him, they wrapped him not because He would rise up but that He would decay just like every other human has done since the begining of time.
No parent should ever have to bury their child…Mass shootings. Sending your child off to school only to soon be attending their funeral…The hopes and dreams that those parents had for their wonderful, beautiful children, now dashed and their last sight of their child is as the casket is closed for good...
Argumentation - My dreams of Vitality have Sunk into Decay! Now what? I cannot imagine what must have been going through the minds of Joseph and Nicodemus? The newly minted morticians of the would be Messiah must have been devastated as they carefully prepared Jesus for burial. It was so kind of them to do so because otherwise His body would have ended up in the garbage heap just outside of town. Their dreams of a vital and strong Messiah who would help rescue them from Rome and reestablish their position as the global powerhouse they once were, was now prepared to rot. The stench was inevitable. Their hope was gone...
Application -
Review - Our Dreams are dead and sealed in a tomb! Now what?
1. Our Dreams of Strength are Reduced to Weakness
1. Our Dreams of Strength are Reduced to Weakness
2. Our Dreams of Vitality have Sunk into Decay
3. Our Dreams of Life are Now Buried into Death (vs. 41-42)
The time has come. This finality of the death of Jesus was about to be a hard and cold reality. Soon Jesus’ body will be sealed in a tomb...
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
The hour was late, the task of preparing Jesus’ body and placing it in a tomb needed to be accomplished quickly before the Sabbath where no work is allowed. Providentially, there was a garden near by the crucifixion site and there was a tomb within the garden that was available. We know from the gospel of Matthew that this tomb was owned by none other than Joseph of Arimathea.
59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
What an act of generosity! Jesus, because of the crime of insurrection that He was accused of could not be placed in a tomb with other Jewish people lest their tomb be defiled. So, unless a tomb was provided for Him, He would be thrown into the garbage heap outside the city. Joseph would have none of that. Jesus would have a proper burial in a proper tomb. And while everyone else may have though Him guilty, Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t and Joseph proved it by allowing Jesus to be buried in his own future grave.
Unbeknownst to these discouraged disciples of Jesus, Jospeh’s act was also one that fulfilled prophecy!
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
He died a wicked man’s death even though He was not. He was laid in a rich man’s tomb, which Joseph was. He was the sinless one who died a criminal’s death.
Certainly for us it is amazing to see yet another prophecy be fulfilled and the culmination of the gospel come to fruition. But I want you, again, to put yourself in their shoes for a moment. Pretend like you have never heard about the resurrection of Jesus. Pretend that you don’t know what’s coming in chapter 20. Pretend, just for a moment what it must have been like to remove Jesus from the cross, clean his body, wrap it with spices to mask the stench of decay and place his dead corpse in a tomb carved out of rock. And not only place it there, but have a significantly sized stone rolled in front of the door and sealed up right in front of you...
59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
“...And he (they) rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.”
They went away, they had served God by graciously caring for the dead body of Jesus. They were God’s undertakers who buried out Lord. No one else stepped up to the plate! His disciples had ran off and hid (sans John and the ladies).
Two fearful men, overcame their fear and did right by Jesus.
But I can’t help but think how discouraged they must have been. All their hopes of a renewed Kingdom were now sealed up in a borrowed tomb.
Were they embarrassed that they bought into the delusion?
Were they angry that Jesus didn’t deliver?
Were they discouraged that they allowed themselves to get their hopes up?
Did they still have a shred of hope? Perhaps.
Now what? They’ve “come out of the closet” because of their support of Jesus. They would be ridiculed and mocked by the rest of the Sanhedrin! Would they let them back in? Would Joseph and Nicodemus even want to go back to a group that so heinously broke God’s law to kill an innocent man?
So many questions no doubt were running through their minds.
The one thing they new better than anyone - Jesus was DEAD and lying in a tomb! And as they walked away, they didn’t know what to do...
Illustration - Our Friends went into that hospital 26 years ago in hopes to leave with a little baby, instead they walked away with an empty hole in their heart! Now what?
Argumentation - Not to be morbid folks, but, because of the Fall of man and the curse of God, no one gets off of this big blue ball alive! This life inevitably results in death. And it is rather surprising to me that more people are not cynical and despairing than there are. And I think it is because of God’s common grace...
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
God build in every person the thought that there is something beyond this life.
And folks, if there were not anything beyond this life, then life would be meaningless!
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Application - The very fact that life can appear meaningless is reason enough to run after the only ONE who promises ultimate meaning!
Application -
Review - Our Dreams are dead and sealed in a tomb! Now what?
1. My Dreams of Strength are Reduced to Weakness
2. My Dreams of Vitality have Sunk into Decay
3. My Dreams of Life are Now Buried into Death
Conclusion
Explanation -
Illustration -
Argumentation -
Application -
Review -
Division 5 Statement:
Explanation -
Illustration -
Argumentation -
Application -
Review -
Conclusion (Visualization)
Reiteration
Action
Now What? There is always Hope!
This paragraph comes just before the host hope-filled verses in the Bible.
Ladies and gentlemen, I read the the next chapter in John! Jesus does not stay dead! He rises from the dead!
Was he dead? Absolutely! Was he buried? Without question!
Now what? He will rise, just as He said he would! This is the single greatest event in the history of the world.
Story of Wayne and Ev - Since 2004, my pastor’s wife has been battling cancer. Last Sunday she lost that battle and on Friday, they sealed her body in a coffin. The entombed her body in the ground...
Since 2004, my pastor’s wife has been battling cancer. Last Sunday she lost that battle and on Friday, they sealed her body in a coffin. The entombed her body in the ground...
You have to understand something about Wayne and his wife, Ev, he lit up every time she came into the room!
I’m not sure what you are facing, but if God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can and will deal with you challenges in His way and in His time...
Ultimately, you must understand this very important truth...
God solves every problem you have through the reality of the Gospel!
If you are poor in this life, in Christ you are eternally rich
If you are sick in this life, in Christ you are eternally healthy
If you are sad and depressed in the life, in Christ, you will experience eternal joy!
Whatever the tragic situation, bar none, it is resolved in the gospel...
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Ev Muri believed this and now she is dancing on the streets of heaven with her Jesus.
There is one tragic situation that the gospel cannot resolve for you. And it is quite serious. It is UNBELIEF!
If you reject the gospel and fail to believe that Christ died for your sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. If you reject the gospel, as many will do, perhaps even some in this room, well
Your next life will not only be poor, you will be eternally in need.
Your next life will not only be sick, you will be eternally dying!
Your next life will not only be depressing, you will be eternally longing for meaning and purpose but there will be none.
There will be torment, pain and anguish. There will be eternal punishment for the treasonous sins you have committed against God.
There will be no HOPE whatsoever!
But that is all resolved in the gospel! Won’t you believe the gospel today? Then ladies and gentlemen, your dreams will live on for all eternity!
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
What do my hearers NEED to know?
What is NICE for them to know?
Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)?
Keep it at 45min which is 3000 words (Murder the Darlings)
What is the “Elevator Speech”?
Make sure you have a compelling hook! Why should they listen to you?
Invitation
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
What stands out to you from this passage of Scripture?
What did you learn about Joseph of Arimathea? What can you apply to your life?
What did you learn about Nicodemus? What can you apply to your life?
Why was it important for Jesus to have a proper Jewish burial?
How does His burial give you hope?