For Real
Chris Seidman
Part of For Real: The Journey of Belief
April 10, 2023

Easter 2023

For Real
April 9, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Three Levels of Convictions in Our Lives

  • Public convictions: What we say we believe.

  • Private convictions: What we think we believe.

  • Core convictions: What we really believe at the present moment as revealed by our actions and/or behaviors.


John 2:19 (NIV)
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”


1 Corinthians 15:14 (NIV)
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.


John 20:1-8 (NIV)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.


John 20:29 (NIV)
“… blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Because He’s Risen For Real …

  • His identity is for real.

Romans 1:4 (ESV)
(He) … was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord … .


Romans 10:9 (NIV)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

  • What He says is for real.


Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

John 5:24 (NIV)
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

John 11:25 (NIV)
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die … .”

John 14:6 (NIV)
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 16:33 (NIV)
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 26:28 (NIV)
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Luke 24:46-47 (NIV)
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations … .”

  • Why not follow Him for real?