The Easter Story Begins with a Baptism
by Jordan Easley
Most of the time, when we tell the Easter story, we talk about it as being a 3-day event. Good Friday (the day Jesus was crucified) ... Holy Saturday (the day where Jesus laid in the grave) ... and Easter Sunday (the day when Jesus rose from the grave). But this week, as I was thinking through the timeline of the Easter story, I realized something new: Before there was a crucifixion... And before there was a resurrection... there was a baptism. 3 years before Jesus died... Jesus was baptized...
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Our Easter Legacy
by Richard Bradley
What is a legacy? A legacy is like a birthright or an inheritance. It's what comes to us at a certain time because of who we are. This event may occur after the death of a parent or a spouse or at some other time such as when someone reaches a certain age. Our legacy is not something we earn or even deserve. It's something that is bequeathed to us because of what we are to someone else...
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Easter Is Here!
by Joe Alain
This sermon was preached on Easter Sunday as a three-part sermon with various worship elements interspersed between each part. Song: ‘‘Hallelujah, God Is Here!’’Part 1: ‘‘Then Jesus Came’’ (Jn. 20:19-24)‘‘Hallelujah, God is Here!’’ The first Christians discovered that on the first Easter. Here’s their story. (Read John 20:19-23). It was the first Easter at evening when ‘‘Jesus came’’ to the huddled disciples in the upper room. This upper room would become the center of spiritual power in just a few days but now it is far from that. The disciples were behind closed doors ‘‘locked because of their fear of the Jews’’ (v.19)...
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Easter
by Fred Lowery
Easter is my favorite day of the year and over a billion people are celebrating Easter today. It's the cornerstone of the Christian faith and you and I know why it is. Easter answers life's greatest questions. Easter solves life's greatest problems and that's why this day is so special and that's why this service is so special this morning. You know as I think about people and life and questions and answers. I think that basically all people seek the answer to three questions. Simple questions but we all seek answers. The first one what will bring me fulfillment in life? See we have a selfish nature and we don't want to just go...
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The Meaning of Easter
by Scott Maze
Had you chosen to visit the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem today to celebrate Easter, you would no doubt want to visit the central shrine that is all probability the place of Jesus' death, burial, and Resurrection. And while no one is absolutely certain that this is indeed the location of the first Easter, archeology and history lend substantial support to the site's authenticity. From the outside, the site fails to impress as the old alleyways of the old city hide the site from street level view...
Easter Peace
by Dave Gustavsen
Good morning! I want to talk specifically about how the event of Easter relates to the concept of peace-something we desperately need in our world, don't we? So let's look at one of the most famous accounts of the resurrection. It's in Matthew chapter 28-the last chapter of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 28, starting in verse 1, we read this: 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. The first thing we see here is The Absence of Peace. Think about what had just happened. Jesus had been crucified on Friday morning; he'd been taken off the cross and...
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The Easter Equation
by Nelson Price
Jesus Christ is the only person to have His epitaph announced by angels. Weeping women and mournful men came to the tomb in which His lifeless body had been placed. They came to bury their hope. They were there to say farewell to a dream, embalm the past, and to weep and mourn. These defeated and dis-spirited followers of Christ were representative of all of humankind hope. They were met by angels at the tomb who said: ‘‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.’’ It is always a joy to visit that empty tomb in Jerusalem. On the door recently placed at this...
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The Easter Example
by Zach Terry
Peter is writing from Rome to Christians of Asia Minor - the same regions and churches reference in the book of the Revelation. These believers lived in a context that was extremely hostile to christianity. Some had probably fled Jerusalem following the murder of Stephen, others following the killing of James. Israel and Rome were growing increasing violent toward followers of Jesus. From the time this letter was written over the next 250 years that follow, Christianity would go from being the refuse of society to witnessing the conversion of Caesar himself, to becoming the national religion of the Roman...
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The Earthquake of Easter
by Jeff Schreve
The life-changing power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ allows us to experience the transformation that comes from recognizing Jesus is risen, understanding that anyone can be forgiven regardless of their past, and realizing that true change and a purpose-driven life are possible through the Holy Spirit.
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The Elegance of Easter
by Steve Jones
The word elegant, in general, is an adjective meaning of fine quality. Refinement and simplicity are implied, rather than fussiness, or ostentation. An elegant solution, often referred to in relation to problems in disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, and programming, is one in which the maximum desired effect is achieved with the simplest effort. Engineers, for example, seek the elegant solution as a means of solving a problem with the least possible waste of materials and effort. The elegant solution is also likely to be accomplished with appropriate methods and materials - duct tape is...
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Who Killed Jesus? (3 of 5)
by Jeff Strite
Open: (began with music theme of CSI - "Who Are You") The year was 1910. The place - Chicago, Illinois. The time - The early hours of the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hiller were lying in bed when Mrs. Hiller sensed something was wrong. She awoke to see that the gas light outside their bedroom door was out. She woke her husband and asked him to go investigate. Unfortunately, Mr. Hiller never got the chance to fix the night light. While he was out in the hall, he encountered a burglar and struggled with him at the top of the stairs. Several shots rang out, and Mr. Hiller ended up being shot twice… and died within moments...
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EASTER - The Only Explanation of Christianity
by Zach Terry
Faith - the conduit of God's Word through which every spiritual blessing flows. Whether we are talking about the answer to a simple prayer or the redemption of a person's eternal soul, - faith (what you deeply and truly believe) is the key to the storehouse of God's provision. Faith in the finished work of Christ is the very door to Heaven itself. Now if you think about - no aspect of the Gospel is terribly difficult to believe except the resurrection. It's not hard to believe that Jesus was unjustly tried and convicted. It's not hard to believe that Jesus was given the death penalty and sentenced to death by crucifixion. It's not hard...
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He Is Risen! Who Cares?
by Kenneth C. Kroohs
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!!! The Lord is Risen indeed! Hallelujah!!!Is halleluiah your real and honest answer? ... Or did you say it just because the book said to? ... Is your real answer: Who cares? .... What difference does it make in my life? ... No big deal.I suspect the second reaction is more prevalent than the first ... even among people who attend church. Time and time again I have heard people comment about the importance of Christian ethical behavior .... but never caring about Easter ... not concerned about Good Friday and not believing for a moment that Easter makes any difference in their lives.
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Prophetic Masterpiece of Easter
by Duane Bemis
I heard a voice calling me from on high and the Spirit said, ''Only a magnificent Creator, Elohim, could first paint the shadow of an object to define and point all to the real object. I want you to paint another Masterpiece through your words and your artwork about God's beloved Son, Jesus the Christ the Jewish Messiah. This time I want you to reveal to the reader, 'Prophetic Masterpiece of Easter.''' I answered, ''Lord, here I am. I am a man of common ancestry, but I am here with pen and paper to record Your message about the, Prophetic plan for Easter revealed through the verses of the Old Testament.'' As an...
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Missing Easter
by Jim Perdue
Last year I missed Easter. It was awful! I had gone through all the preparations for Easter that a pastor should undergo. I was ready, I was excited, I was pumped about Easter Sunday. The, the day before Easter, I came down with a horrible stomach bug. I called Patrick that evening and said, ''I'm sick, I don't think I'll be able to make it to church tomorrow.'' So Patrick, poor guy, had to take my notes and preach my Easter message. Because of being sick that day I missed Easter! I missed church, I missed one of the greatest Sundays of the year, I missed Jake's first Easter Egg Hunt and his brand new Easter outfit...all because I...
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The Impact of the Resurrection
by William Wyne
Matthew 28:1-10 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, ''Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and...
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The Hope of Easter
by Ernest Easley
If there was ever a day that gives us hope, it is resurrection Sunday! In fact ...that's why the church gathers week by week on Sunday, the Lord's Day for worship, rather than on Saturday, the Sabbath: to celebrate and commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! In fact, every Sunday is a celebration of the empty tomb! A celebration that Jesus is alive! It's the empty tomb of Jesus that gives us HOPE! Hope in the here-in-now and hope in the here-after! And don't get the idea that the HOPE I'm talking about is a HOPE-SO kind of HOPE. No-Sir-Ree! I'm talking about a KNOW-SO kind of HOPE! The HOPE...
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The Man Who Missed Easter
by Stan Coffey
We're going to study today THE FIRST EASTER SERVICE IN HISTORY. On that resurrection day, in the evening time, there was a service. And then we're going to talk about THE CASE OF THE MISSING DISCIPLE. John 20:19-31 ''Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be...
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The Four Crowds at Easter
by Chris Brown
Pastor Chris explained that God will let you be a part of any ''crowd'' you want. Which of the crowds that we looked at do you tend to find yourself in today? What have been some of the rewards and/or consequences of your choices? When someone decides to walk with the ''do whatever God wants'' crowd and follow Jesus, it will cost them something. In fact, anything worth much usually costs much. How do Jesus' words about the cost of following Him in Luke 14:25-35 fit with your spiritual journey and/or experience in following Him? It's amazing how God's Spirit can bring a fresh perspective or reminder to a text or Scripture...
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The Unfair Trial of Jesus
by Marvin D. Patterson
OPEN: A Jewish father was concerned about his son. He had not truly raised him to be grounded in the faith of Judaism… So, hoping to remedy this he sent his son to Israel so the boy could experience his heritage. A year later the young man returned home. He said, "Father, thank you for sending me to the land of our Fathers. It was wonderful and enlightening. However, I must confess that while in Israel I converted to Christianity.""Oh (groan) what have I done?" the father thought. So in the tradition of the patriarchs he went to his best friend and sought his advice and solace."It is amazing that you should come to me...
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