Easter- The Power Of The Cross

Easter - THE POWER OF THE CROSS

INTRODUCTION:

Have you heard of the book called

“The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook?”

It’s a survival manual, based on interviews with experts (You can view this book online at Amazon.com)

Here are some of the subjects covered in the book:

• How to escape from quicksand

• How to jump from a building into a dumpster

• How to perform a tracheotomy

• How to break down a door

• How to hot-wire a car

• How to fend off a shark

• How to leap from a motorcycle to a car

It has sold over a million copies.

If you read it you will find that some of the advice is quite predictable.

Like in the part how to deal with a charging bull,

Rule 1 “DO NOT ANTAGONIZE THE BULL.”

Don’t say, “You stupid bull.” That seems fairly obvious.

But sometimes the advice is quite difficult

“How to survive if your parachute fails to open.”

“First, signal to a jumping companion.”

My question is what if you’re not jumping with a companion.

Let me give you a little test of your survival skills:

What should you do if confronted by an angry mountain lion?

A, run;

B, play dead;

C, make yourself look bigger by opening your coat;

D, sing a gentle, happy song.

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS C--

make yourself look bigger by opening your coat.

“The principle behind this book is a simple one.

You just never know.

You never really know what life will throw at you,

You never know what’s waiting for you around the corner

You never really know when you might be called upon to choose life or death with your actions.

But when you are called,

You need to know what to do.

That’s why this book is written.”

And that’s why this book was written

That we might know what to do now to be prepared for the life to come…

Lets take a look inside…

TEXT - 1 COR. 1:17-18

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

My purpose this morning is to boast in the Power of the Cross

To tell you that all those who reject the message of the cross

Are lost and dying and headed for hell

But that there is still time JESUS will save all those who come to Him through the Power of the Cross

Prayer…

I. WE LIVE IN A RELIGIOUS WORLD

I went on line the other night and found a list of websites for major denominations…Here is a sample

Adventists

American Baptists

Anglicans

Apostolic

Assembly of God

Baptist southern

Bible fellowship

Brethren

Byzantine

Calvary Chapel

Charismatic Episcopal

Church of God

Evangelical free

Friends

Foursquare

Greek orthodox

Mennonite

Missionary Baptist

Orthodox

Pentecostal

Primitive

Reformed

United Methodist

And Wesleyan

So many, many denominations

How many_______ does it take to change a light bulb?

1. Charismatics: Only one, since their hands are always in the air anyway.

2. Presbyterians: None. God has predestined when the lights will be on. And off.

3. Catholics? None. They always use candles.

4. Episcopalians: Ten. One to actually change the bulb, and nine to say how much they liked the old one.

5. Church of Christ: None. There was no evidence in the New Testament that light bulbs were ever changed.

6. Baptists: CHANGE?!?

7. Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

As I said we live in a religious world

II. BUT REALLY THERE ARE ONLY TWO RELIGIONS

There is Religion A and Religion B.

RELIGION A

IS “FAITH” IN NAME ONLY

As described by

2 Tim. 3:5

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

It is baptisms and

Eloquent speech

It is ritual prayers

And good works

Ceremony

Customs

And Tradition

It’s the practice of attending church

Without genuine faith in the living Lord.

In fact many who have religion A

know nothing about God or the BIBLE

And have no assurance of heaven

And no belief in HELL

Religion A focuses on the outward appearance and is concerned with what other people can see

Religion A looks for loopholes in scriptures in order to avoid obeying them

Religion A honors the past and rejects that God could be active in the present

Religion A always seeks for some deeper truth, but only in order to control people

THE SECOND IS RELIGION B,

RELIGION B

Is Faith that is based upon a right relationship with God