Resurrection Sunday | Craig Curtis
He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Resurrection Sunday
"Talk to me, Goose."
"I am your Father."
"They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!"
1 Corinthians 1:17 NLT
17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high-sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ.
Matthew 28:1-10 NIV
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
I. Jesus redefines what is possible.
Romans 4:25 NIV
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Justification - being made right with God
His death and His resurrection redefine what is possible for us.
Nobody expected there to be no body.
I. Jesus redefines what is possible.
II. Jesus doesn’t always meet our expectations.
The first followers struggled with:
- Disappointment
- Doubt
- Discouragement
Disappointment, doubt, and discouragement won't keep Jesus away from you!
Matthew 28:5 NIV
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Matthew 28:8-9a ESV
8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”
"Greetings" - "peace be upon you"
Romans 8:11 NIV
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
His resurrection made a way for your resurrection.
I. Jesus redefines what is possible.
II. Jesus sometimes doesn’t meet our expectations.
III. Let Jesus be as original with you as He was with others.
John 20:24-28 NIV
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
"I will believe it when I see it."
Be honest about where you are in your faith today.
John 15:13 NIV
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Be open to a new route – a new life in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
What moves you?