BRAND NEW DAY: RESURRECTION SUNDAY
INTRO TO TOPIC: What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to us today?
• “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18).
THE BIG IDEA: God wants us to experience a brand new day! His plan for us includes a new beginning, new hope, and new faith. In Christ Jesus, all things will become new.
• ILLUSTRATION: The resurrection is like spring time after a long winter, or like a beautiful butterfly emerging from a cocoon.
OPENING STORY:
“1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ’The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ " 8 And they remembered His words.
• This morning, I have come as a messenger to remind you of those words: “He is not dead, but is risen!”
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” (Luke 24:1-12).
Two different responses to the story of the resurrection:
1. to some, it will seem like idle tales – foolishness
2. to others, you will respond like Peter and run towards Christ
KEY TEXT:
“13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
• These two disciples represent many believers today.
• They had followed Jesus, but after His death on the Cross, they were discouraged.
• In the midst of their sadness, Jesus appeared to them and was walking with them.
• When we go through hard times, Jesus is always right there with us!
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
• Notice how they were talking about Jesus in the past tense: “Jesus was a prophet…” “We were hoping that it was He…” They had lost their hope.
• “Today is the third day.” Sometimes we feel like God is late with His promises.
• The women had reported to these two disciples that Jesus was alive, but they didn’t believe it.
• Here we are on Easter Sunday, the pastor is proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is alive, but there are still those who don’t believe!
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
• Notice Jesus’ gentle rebuke to His disciples. Sometimes we doubt, too!
• When we get discouraged and doubt, that’s when we need to go back to God’s promises!
• If you doubt Jesus today, then go and search for Him in the Scriptures until you find Him
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!.” (Luke 24:13-34).
• The disciples were transformed from being ‘slow of heart’ to having ‘burning hearts’.
• They went from being doubters to being believers.
• They went and proclaimed the good news, “The Lord is risen, indeed!”
• Jesus had brought them new life and had given them a brand new day.
ILLUSTRATION: Some time ago I saw a painting of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy: "Hush child, God ain’t dead!" (James DeLoach, associate pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Houston, quoted in When God Was Taken Captive, W. Aldrich).
• That painting to me is a great picture of the hope of the resurrection of Jesus!
PREACH IT:
• Jesus is alive! God wants to take our old and broken lives and make all things new!
• Are you a sinner? He died on the Cross to pay the price for your sins to be forgiven.
• Are you depressed? He wants to give you joy unspeakable and full of glory!
• Are you discouraged? God wants to set your hearts on fire anew and afresh!
• Come to Jesus all you weary and heavy burdened and find rest for your souls!
• “If that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you - He will give life to your mortal bodies!”
• “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and he talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” Easter is PERSONAL!
CLOSING TEXT:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun.” (NLT).
ALTAR CALL FOR SALVATION
PRAYER FOR NEW BEGINNINGS – “BRAND NEW DAY”
CHALLENGE: To share the good news of the resurrection with everyone you meet!
For more sermon outlines or audio sermons, visit:
www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
