EASTER 2022: I am the Resurrection and the Life

EASTER 2022

I am the Resurrection and the Life
April 17, 2022


John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”


• How do we get to the place where we can , “I am truly alive!”?


Ephesians 2:1, 3 - Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins… 3 …following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. NLT


Ephesians 2:4 - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy


Rich in mercy means: Overabounding, without measure, unlimited.


Ephesians 2:5-6 - … made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ…


John 10:10 – “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” CEV


• So what is this life that Jesus offers?


1. Alive with hope.


Ephesians 2:6 - And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…


John 11:43-44 - When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”


2. Alive without .


There are three types of regrets that haunt all of us…


1. Regrets of – things we wish we hadn’t done.


2. Regrets of – things we wish we had done.


3. Regrets of – things someone else did to us and we have to react to it.


Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.


3. Alive with a clear .


Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”


Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


Because Jesus is alive, I have a purpose for living. He has prepared good works for me to do! That longing I feel to live a life that matters was placed in us by Him. And He invites me to join Him in restoring His dreams for our world.


Challenge: today to truly live


John 10:10 – “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” CEV


Each one of us has a decision to make:


• Will I keep trying to find life on my own OR will we let Jesus make me alive and truly live?


• Will I keep searching for life in money, in that promotion, in that relationship, in that new ? Or will I let Jesus bring me life?


Today can be the very first day you decide to truly live.


Three simple ways:


1. I want to personally invite you to become part of Laurel Ridge Church. Sign up for Next Steps on the back of the Communication Card.


2. Commit to coming back the next five weeks for our series, “People and Relationships.” We will discover how to handle unique relationships and how to handle relationships in a Godly way.


3. Invite Jesus into your life to make you TRULY ALIVE.


People and Relationships:
April 24: Types of People That Drive you Crazy.
May 1: Knowing Your Expectations.
May 8: Unresolved Emotions Never Die.
May 15: How do you Fight?
May 22: How to Have Godly Wisdom.