Easter

“What if Jesus is still dead?” – Matthew 28:11-15

Matthew 28:11-15

“While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

1 Cor 15:14

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

“What if…?” That small phrase is as scary as clowns and ghosts in the dark. It can alter an entire life. What if we did something different earlier that would better or worsen today? Regrets, dreams, and even disasters surround “what if.” Paul gives us a taste of this phrase in 1 Corinthians 15:14, where he says, “What if Christ has not been raised?”

If Christ is still dead then our faith is in vain. Why believe in a dead God? If Christ is still dead, our sins are still unforgiven. If Christ is still dead, life has no meaning. If He is still dead, humanity would have nothing to live for.

If Christ is still dead, God has no use for the world other than wrath. Can you imagine that God would keep a world that has no relationship with Him? If Christ is still dead, there would be no heaven. There would be no second coming to rid the world of sin. There would be no one to prepare a place for people to live in eternal joy. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor 15:19)

If Jesus Christ did not rise, He would not be sitting on His throne to take care of human affairs. God’s love would never be experienced. God’s holiness would never be satisfied.

But, praise God that our Lord Jesus Christ is very much alive! Every “what if” can be put to rest. Jesus is alive! Because He is alive, His Spirit is alive, His people are alive and His church is alive. Christ is still saving, encouraging, and leading. Celebrate and keep serving!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What are some “what ifs” you need to surrender to God? 
  • Do you have some “what ifs” about Jesus and His resurrection? Check out some of the resources from yesterday’s post to help answer your “what ifs.”
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams 

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“That You May Have Certainty” – Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1-4

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

As the early church moved further from its inception and spread among cultures foreign to what had unfolded in Jesus’ ministry and mission, church leaders realized that they had to be more intentional with how the gospel message would be carried forward.

Among the Jewish followers of Jesus, there were common accounts of his ministry that had been shared by word of mouth from eyewitnesses and his closest followers. But it was time to put these accounts in writing and frame them in a way that would communicate best to the intended audience. So we have four accounts (gospels) in our Bible from different authors, writing to different audiences, emphasizing different elements of Christ’s ministry but all culminating on the cross.

Because of the efforts of these authors, we can have confidence in the truth we find in their pages. When antagonists ask for scientific proof of Jesus’ life and resurrection, they misunderstand what they’re asking. Scientific proof relies on a controlled environment that allows for the proof to be shown over and over. Historical proof, however, is shown through a different set of qualifiers.
  • The amount of time between when something happened and when it was written about
  • The number of copies we have of the manuscript and their closeness in similarity
  • An agreement with other historical documents and archaeological findings
  • The integrity of the author of the account
In each area, the validity of the New Testament’s account of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection, is historically reliable and its evidence overwhelming when compared to other ancient events that we have record of. In fact, several of the resources I have listed below were written by people who set out to disprove the claims of Christianity (specifically concerning Jesus’ resurrection) and became believers through their research.

If you’d like to dig into this further, you’ll be excited about what you find! 
Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s passage: 
  • Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
  • Explain – what does the passage mean? 
  • Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

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“More than a Story” – 1 Cor. 15:1-11

1 Cor. 15:1-11
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”


“Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.”
Loyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle in a 1988 Vice Presidential debate

There’s nothing like a first-hand witness to stop an opponent in their tracks. The Bentsen quote above is one of the most iconic “mic drop” moments among political debates. Dan Quayle never recovered politically from that verbal kill shot, and certainly never compared himself to Jack Kennedy again.

Paul used a similar technique to encourage the believers in Corinth. He reminded them that the gospel they had accepted was far more than just a philosophy or set of religious beliefs. The gospel was a man, that walked the earth, taught eternal truth, died to pay a debt that we couldn’t, and defeated death by rising again three days later. The gospel hinged on the God/Man, Jesus, not an idea. And because of this, Paul was able to point to the historical Jesus and to the many people still alive that had witnessed firsthand all that had been told them. 
Our enemy has done a good job in the current culture of relegating Jesus to a holiday mascot on par (but not as fun) as Santa, or the Easter Bunny. We are tempted, because it was so long ago, in such a foreign place, and such an unbelievable story to allow Him to shrink in status and relevance. 
When April and I got the opportunity to go to Israel a few years back, one of the thoughts that kept occurring to me (embarrassing for a minister) was, “Wow! This is a real place, not just a setting for some stories in an old book.” That’s not exactly what I thought, but it might as well have been. As we sat and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, walked along the Via De La Rosa, kneeled on the very cobblestones where the Roman soldiers would have whipped Jesus, and stood in the tomb where he rose from the dead, there was no getting past the actual history of this place. Men and women witnessed these things and many died for their testimony to the fact. 
This year as you focus on the Passion Week and what Jesus did for you, know that you are part of a movement that at its core celebrates the Eternal God, stepping into history to show His unfathomable love for us.

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s passage: 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Jon Price, Associate Pastor 

“More than a Story” – 1 Cor. 15:1-11 Read More »

“How to Party with the Father” – Luke 15

Luke 15:1-2 

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15:22-24

 
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Luke 15:31-32


“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Do you ever struggle with getting jokes or finding the point of a story? Most of the time, knowing the background helps, so I want to give context for this passage before we look at it further.

The Pharisees were upset because Jesus ate with sinners and they didn’t believe that God the Father would approve. Yet, Jesus gave three examples of the value of those who are lost. He further demonstrated the Father’s joy in the return of the lost son.

In the end, Jesus compared the older brother to the Pharisees. The brother was mad because the Father celebrated the prodigal’s return while he had been “the good son” remaining at home. But the Father told him to get over it and celebrate with them.

The point is, the Father wants the lost to be rescued and restored. The Father wants the whole house to celebrate the prodigal’s return. So, follow the Father’s lead. Don’t follow the son into the far country, but be there when he returns. Be a place for the lost to find help when they have spent all and come to the end. Celebrate their return as God celebrated ours.

I Thank God that He didn’t throw me away. He cleaned me up and organized a party with His people to celebrate my salvation.

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s passage:  
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Pastor Stephen Williams 

“How to Party with the Father” – Luke 15 Read More »

“Hanging with a Rough Crowd” – Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with the above passage today: 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

 

“Hanging with a Rough Crowd” – Luke 15:1-10 Read More »