Christ Alone – Easter
April 9, 2023
Pastor Ricky Smith
Sermon Notes
I. Life out of Death
Matthew 28:1-8
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples
Easter confronts our fears and offers us joy
II. New Purpose in Familiar Pain
A Proper Response to Easter is Faith
Romans 10:8-13
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Trust Jesus to Take the Old and Make it New
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Next Steps
- I confess my sin and trust Jesus as my Savior and King for the first time.
- I choose to take hold of joy instead of fear.
- I will trust Jesus to keep shaping me to be the person He desires.
Deep Dive
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does it mean to be “in Christ”?
- Why do you think we have to become new creations in order to experience the fullness of Christ?
- What are some old ways of living that God needs to take from us? What are some new ways of living that God needs to manifest in our lives?
Springboards
- Has someone ever offended you by their brutal honesty? Why did it hurt you?
- Share a time when someone went above and beyond to help you.
- Read Galatians 4:12-14. How did Galatian genuinely love Paul?
