April 4th, 2021
Easter 2021- Do it Again.
Pastor Justin Garland
1. He is not here; He is surely alive!
*Matthew 28:1-7 ESV
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 tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
*2. **8 words that change everything. *
“HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN”
*3. Jesus didn’t come for the healthy. *
Luke 5:31-32 ESV
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
- He didn’t come to create a select group or a club, but He came to heal the sick, encourage the weary, strengthen the weak- and breathe life into the dead things of your life!
*4. It’s time to celebrate and breathe again. *
John 20:15-16
“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?’ She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
Are you so busy, or caught up in the drama and trauma of life, that you cannot even recognize Jesus?
5. Remember your chains, receive God’s Grace and ask Him to “Do it Again.”
Colossians 4:17-18 ESV
“See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
6.It’s not to late.
*Luke 23:39-43 ESV
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In order to save us- Jesus refuses to save himself.
1 John 4:10 NLT
This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Romans 3:23-25 NLT
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past.
Prayer Focus:
Pray for those in your life to have a fresh encounter with God.
Discussion Questions:
1- What do the words “He is not here, He has risen” mean to you?
2- Describe a time in your life, that it was hard to recognize God moving in your life, but now looking back, it is obvious that God was at work?
3- What is one area where God is calling you to “breathe again” and celebrate in?
4- Read Colossians 4:17-18. Why was Paul asking the church to remember His chains? How does seeing what God did for someone else help us?
5- Read Luke 23:39-43. Why did one criminal receive Jesus and the other didn’t? What kept the one from receiving?
6- What is one way this week that you can thank God for His love?