Dr. Montia Setzler, Senior Pastor
Easter, March 27, 2016
Series: March to the Cross
The Impact of the Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-20 (HCSB)
- EXPERIENCE THE EMPTY TOMB FIRSTHAND
v 6 “He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.”
- No one believed Jesus was the Son of God until Easter.
- The evidence of the empty tomb is an invitation to join God on a powerful journey.
- Jesus’ resurrection is the down payment of my own resurrection.
- SHARE YOUR STORY RIGHT AWAY
v 7 “Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
v 10 “Then Jesus told them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.’”
- The gospel message is all about “good news.”
The angels announced it
Luke 2:10 (HCSB)
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people…”
Jesus preached it
Matthew 4:23 (HCSB)
Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
The early church preached it
Acts 11:20 (HCSB)
But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Paul preached it
Acts 14:15 (HCSB)
“Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.”
- OVERCOME YOUR FEARS
v 5 But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.”
v 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
- Fear is the greatest deterrent to obedience.
2 Timothy 1:7 (HCSB)
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
- The power of the Resurrection gives me strength to overcome fear in my life.
- FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE
vv 19-20 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Making disciples is the mandate for the church.
- Jesus remains with us always because of the Resurrection.
The Resurrection of Jesus has the power to change lives even today. We are challenged to come and see what God has done and then go and tell others without fear as we make disciples.
