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Apr 09, 2023

Easter Sunday: The one day that changed everything

Easter Sunday: The one day that changed everything

Passage: Ephesians 6:21-24

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Song & Dance - The Gospel Melody that Moves in Ephesians

Though it’s been rightly and reasonably (but perhaps simplistically) said that one of the best reasons to pass on Christ is the example of Christians, the question remains: why are so many still speaking of Him, respectfully or disdainfully? Why do many who have deep arguments against the church unwittingly use the example and teaching of Jesus as the basis of their often justifiable critique? The simplest answer: the world is different because of Him.

Readings & Scripture

WELCOME & INTRO: Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

CENTRAL TEXT: Ephesians 6:21-24
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Eph. 6:23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

BENEDICTION: Ephesians 5:14

LEADER: Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.


ALL: Hallelujah!

Related Resources

Illustration:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Best day? Worst day? How does the resurrection mean to shape how you think about each?
  2. What are the basic connections between the big-idea words there in his closing: peace, love with faith, grace, love incorruptible/undying?
  3. What if anything has most stuck with you through this path through Paul’s letter?
  4. What steals your peace today? What shrivels your love? What makes you numb to the idea you are in need of grace? How does the idea of love incorruptible, established by the fact and hope of resurrection, respond to how you’ve answered any of the previous questions?

QUOTES: 

  • Up to a point it is good for us to know that there are people in the world who will give us love and unquestioned loyalty. I doubt, however, if it is good for us to feel assured of this devotion without the accompanying obligation of having to justify this devotion by our behavior. Eleanor Roosevelt
  • In Heaven there will be no anguish and no duty of turning away from our earthly Beloveds. First, because we shall have turned already; from the portraits to the Original, from the rivulets to the Fountain, from the creatures He made lovable to Love Himself. But second, because we shall find them all in Him. C. S. Lewis
  • …she finds the linen’s been thrown in the corner and the body is gone. Evidently anonymous burial isn’t quite anonymous enough, after all. She sits outside in the sun. The insects have woken up, here at the edge of the desert, and a bee is nosing about in a lily like silk thinly tucked over itself, but much more perishable. It won’t last long. She takes no notice of the feet that appear at the edge of her vision. That’s enough now, she thinks. That’s more than enough. Don’t be afraid, says Yeshua. Far more can be mended than you know. She is weeping. The execute helps her to stand up. Francis Spufford

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