Risen for My Future | RISEN

Intro

A. Series Question:

There have been a lot of civilizations/empires/peoples. A lot of legends, myths and god’s. *None have had the tenacity of the so-called myths in the Bible

Especially… that a man came, called Himself God, let Himself be crucified, and after 3 days He rose from the dead and we still talk about it 2000 years later.

Heartbeat: If this is true, it would change everything.

B. Recap

Risen for My Past: Event, Evidence, Experience

Risen for My Present: Jesus has a mission statement

>>> RISEN FOR MY FUTURE

One big ask: Lay down preconceived ideas about God, creation, faith, religion, Jesus, the church

Can pick them back up when you leave — if you want.

You don’t have to suspend reason and intellect to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

Evidence Pt 3

Almost unanimously, scholars—even atheist—agree that Jesus was a real person who died on a real cross

Question is… what happen to the body?

Empty tomb

Disprove Christianity — find Jesus’s body (Paul) … 2000 yrs

… 2000 yrs

Theories

Disciples ran away - Didn’t have the desire nor the means to take body

Religious leaders wouldn’t take it — got guards to protect it

Made up stories about the body. Said the disciples stole it. Proves the tomb is empty.

Why didn’t they just take people to the tomb and show them the body?

Disciple turnaround — Scared to Bold/Courageous

Peter questioned by little girl — “Girl, I don’t know the man”

40 days latter… Pentecost = Huge crowds, 1000s from all over

acts2.

Acts 2:22–24 NLT

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

What would give them the audacity to do this?

What would give them the audacity to do this?

ILLUS: Put yourself in their shoes. What if I claimed to be the messiah… and eventually died. What would cause you to come back and boldly declare I am who I said I was—A risen body!

Disciples would go on to die for their claims. Would you die for a lie?

4. Conversion of Saul>Paul and James

Paul claimed over 500 witnesses (many still alive)

5. Within 5 weeks of the resurrection more than 10,000 Jews abandoned thousands of years of religious tradition

ILLUS: I made up a new birthday song. How long would it take to spread?

We’re talking about their faith system... How they were made right with God. How they worshipped. Changed overnight.

>>> If you can have confidence in the resurrection, than I can have assurance about my future.

Entertain the thought...

Risen for My Future

Preparing a Place

John 14:2–3 NLT

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

jn14.

Heaven is home for the believer.

Jesus Himself has gone to prepare a place for you. And when it’s time, He will come and get you.

There’s more to this life. Your destiny isn’t a box.

Gives me hope. I can endure whatever life throws at me.

A better place — no pain, weeping, etc.

>>> One day, heaven will be my destination. I will be with Jesus forever and when I’m with Him…

I Will Be Like Him

1jn3.2

1 John 3:2–3 NLT

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

This is an incredible promise. We will be like Him. Co-heir.

Not enough > More than enough / Defeated > Victorious / Weak > Strong / Stained > Clean / Ashamed > Righteous

Keep ourselves pure… Christ is worth giving it up.

A Greater Testimony

A Greater Testimony

1jn5.9-

1 John 5:9–13 NLT

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

If you can believe your uncle…

eph1.

Ephesians 1:20–22 NLT

that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

Can’t you believe a greater testimony.

The one who create life has the power to take it back up again.

The one who formed the heart has the power to make it beat again.

The one who wove together your DNA has the power to breath life into you again.

Ephesians 1:19–22 NLT

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

Over all I know

This is why I’m not afraid of science… new fossil discoveries… etc.

Christ is over it all!

Song: Over All I Know

Close

You don't have to suspend reason to believe in the resurrection. The evidence and over 2000 years of experience affirms that Christ did in fact rise from the dead. This confidence gives us assurance that our future is secure--that we will be with Him and we will be like Him. Christ is over all and I have confidence that He was risen for my future.

Prayer

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 NLT

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19 NLT

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

lk22.19

1cor11.

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 NLT

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

1cor11.

Luke 22:20 NLT

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.