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Christ is Risen. Luke 24:5-6 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!. Christ is Risen …. He is Risen in Deed!.
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Christ is Risen Luke 24:5-6 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
Christ is Risen …. He is Risen in Deed! This morning we have gathered 1,000’s strong to Celebrate His Life…because it is our Life.
Did this really happen? My problem is not believing that Christ rose from the Dead… My problem is grappling with the meaning that this event has for me in my time, life and struggles.
A symbol of death in our modern world… the casket: • His Resurrection has Opened every casket… • His Resurrection shattered death’s hold and sin’s sting against us.. • The Casket is full of flowers representing life • He lives therefore You and I Have Abundant, Powerful Life! He LIVES!
Easter is the Day Death Died! “We live in a world ruled by the God of Exodus and Easter. He will do things in you that neither you nor your friends would have supposed possible. He is not limited by anything you think you know about Him.”
Luke 7:11-16 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Luke 7:14-17 • 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. • 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
The raising of Dead things … The Facts: A very human story (God always meets us where we are…no matter what) Jesus encounters a funeral procession … Do not take our Eyes off the One Who is Raised from the Dead.
All Hope lost The last straw crushed … No future and no help … Dead hopes and dreams … Dead identities …
God’s intervention in our daily journey… • His heart went out to the woman • He spoke words of life and compassion • He touched the coffin • He spoke with resurrection power
Easter is an open Tomb demonstratingKingdom Entrance The empty tomb lets us know today that it is not “All Over” and that Our impossibilities are swallowed up in His resurrection power…
The Tomb is not Empty today Grave clothes in tact demonstrating His powerful resurrection life… Angels proclaiming His glory and His mission continued in you and me. Astounded on lookers … gazing on an Open casket or Rock tomb…
What about us … ??? If we’re honest we’ll admit there is some “Deadness in all of us.” Easter is about Encountering the Living One
Romans 8:31-36 (The Message) So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.
