290 - The Risen Christ

Illustrate Humor: An older couple had trouble remembering common, day-to-day things. They both decided that they would write down requests the other had, and so try to avoid forgetting. One evening the wife asked if the husband would like anything. He replied, Yes. I’d like a large ice-cream sundae with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry on top.¨ The wife started off for the kitchen and the husband shouted after her, Aren’t you going to write it down?¨ Don’t be silly,¨ she hollered back, I’m going to fix it right now. I won’t forget.¨

She was gone for quite some time. When she finally returned, she set down in front of him a large plate of hash browns, eggs, bacon, and a glass of orange juice. He took a look and said, I knew you should have written it down! You forgot the toast!¨

Sermon Study 290 THE RISEN CHRIST

The significance of the empty tomb:

Key Passage: Mat 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Mat 28:2 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. Mat 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Mat 28:4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. Mat 28:5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. Mat 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Mat 28:7 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." Mat 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Mat 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Ill Story: A Muslim in Africa became a Christian and some of his friends asked him, Why have you done such a thing?¡¨ He answered, Well, its like this: Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn’t know which way to go; and there at the fork were two men one dead, and one alive which one would you ask to show you the way?¨ (from a sermon by Bruce Howell, The Gospel Vs. Religion.)

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST PRODUCED:

1. PURPOSE to preach, have faith, and freedom from sin

* 1 Cor 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

*1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

2. POWER - the same Spirit which raised Christ lives in you

Il Humor: Pope speaking engagement at the UN ¡V the shofer would not speed, the Pope demands to drive, the Pope gets pulled over by police for speeding, the police returns to his car astonished, the passenger was higher than the Mayor, Governor, President¡K b/c the Pope was his shofer

* Rom 8:11 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 through his Spirit, who lives in you.

3. PROMISE of an eternal heavenly inheritance

Ill Story: One night a colonel of the army offered President Abraham Lincoln a shot of whisky, but he declined, then he offered him some tobacco, but he declined, then he was asked why and told the colonel that before his mother died, she made him promise that her would never drink whisky or use tobacco, and he kept his promise.

* 1 Pet 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,