"How They Got To Church”

“How They Got To Church”

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Matthew 16:18-21

Intro: Today is Easter Sunday. It is the Day of Resurrection.

Today it is estimated that over 140 million Americans will attend church for Easter.

That is about the same number of people who turned out to vote

both Democrats and Republicans in the last election.

They will gather in one room churches

They will gather in to beautiful sanctuaries like this one

to proclaim that Christ is risen.

They will be joined by millions of others around the world

who proclaim Christ as Lord and Saviour.

It is really something when you think about it.

I have never been to an Easter service without feeling humbled and a deep deep sense of awe.

What a wonderful and wondrous day it is…, that we share together.

Of course there were no great gatherings of millions at churches that first Easter.

Only a few women went to the tomb and found it empty.

And when they told the eleven disciples

Who were back hiding in an upper room…, scared for their lives

They considered it an idle tale…,

The report must be false.

Luke’s Gospel says that when the women told the story to the disciples what happened at the tomb

It sounded like “nonsense” they did not believe it.

Just the imagination of some women with too much time on their hands.

Hopeful wishing, that something had happened…, that this could be true.

That’s how it all started. That’s how it began.

Except for one disciple who was there in the group.

His name was Simeon Peter.

The bible says Peter got up and went.

He ran to the tomb.

Stooped down and looked.

He saw the empty wrappings of Jesus’ grave clothes.

Peter went home again…, wondering what had happened.

The Gospel of Mark includes in interesting phrase from the angel at the tomb

The angel tells the women

Do not be surprised. You are looking for Jesus of Nazarath who was crucified.

He is not here!

He is risen from the dead!

Come see the place…, where his body lay.

Now go and give this message to the disciples…,, including…, Peter;

It is important to note that Peter was singled out among the other disciples.

He is named specifically as one who was to be told this news.

Jesus had said that it would be through Peter that the church would get its start.

What Peter did do on that first Easter Sunday?

PETER GOT UP AND WENT

That’s what brought you here today.

You got up and came.

That’s the first thing you have to do to get to church.

It is get up and go.

That can be one of the hardest things to do.

To take those first steps.

There were a lot of people who have promised to be at church every Sunday.

That’s what membership means.

They had good intentions.

They even talked about getting up and coming to church last night.

But by the time the morning rolled around.

To get up…, and get here…, to much to ask…, it was impossible.

The one thing Easter should cause us all to do is to come back Next Sunday.

If Easter means anything.

It means I will be here next week.

Jesus is the risen Lord today. He will be my risen Lord tomorrow…, and Next Sunday.

There is no reason good enough.

No excuse for not being in worship of the Saviour next week.

You simply need to get up and be here.

You will make time for what is really important in your life.

Sports. No excuse

Work. No excuse

School. No excuse

Church?

Missing Church can be a bad habit that is hard to overcome.

The first decision is to just get up and go.

Peter, along with a band of 120 or so people, changed the world with one message:

Christ is risen; Christ is risen

All of us know that the longest journey begins with a single step.

All of us know how difficult that first step really is.