Living Hope Church
5 Apr Easter Sunday
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  • The Wonderful Cross
  • Forever (He is Alive)
  • He Lives (Ackley)
  • Seas Of Crimson
  • Moving Forward
  • I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
  • Moving Forward
  • I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
  • Majesty
  • Majesty
  • “Living Hope: What Will You Do With the Resurrection?”**

    1. The Tension: A Holiday or a Holy Day?

    We have holidays to commemorate many things throughout the year. Two stand out as the most significant to our faith. Christmas and Easter.
    But what is the true significance of these days?
    Are they just another celebration, or do we value the meaning?
    Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth. There were many others who claimed to be the Messiah, so our celebration of Christmas is only validated by Jesus’ resurrection.
    1 Corinthians 15:12–15 NKJV
    12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.
    While Paul is explaining that we will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns, verse 14 and 15 are critical in the way we see Easter Sunday.
    TRANSITION: Let’s look at Paul’s declaration in Philippians
    Scripture: Philippians 3:10–11; 1 Peter 1:3
    Philippians 3:10–11 NKJV
    10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
    Do you see the connection Paul makes in both passages between Jesus death and resurrection and our being raised to life in Christ?
    Peter also declares the hope we have through Jesus’ resurrection.
    1 Peter 1:3 NKJV
    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
    But our culture, over time, has made this day of little effect. Many don’t even know what we are celebrating anymore.
    The Cultural Easter:
    Bunnies, eggs, candy, pastel colors
    A celebration of spring, not a Savior
    A holiday that asks nothing of you
    **WALMART STORY**
    The Biblical Resurrection:
    Power that raises the dead
    Fellowship with a suffering Savior
    A moment that demands a response
    Driving Question: Will you settle for a holiday, or will you embrace the holy power that changes everything?

    2. The Resurrection Confronts Us With a Choice

    Scripture: Philippians 3:10 — “That I may know Him…”

    A. Do you want to know Him for who He is… or only for what He brings?

    Many want His blessings, not His Lordship
    Many want His comfort, not His cross
    Many want His resurrection, not His suffering
    But Paul says: To know Him is to know both the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.

    B. The Resurrection is not a symbol — it is a summons

    A summons to surrender
    A summons to transformation
    A summons to mission
    The resurrection is not passive. It pulls you into purpose.

    3. The Resurrection Has Power — But Will It Have Power In You?

    Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven to redeem us back to God as we see in John 3 16
    John 3:16 NKJV
    16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
    His work on the cross and victory over death is complete in Himself
    Scripture: Romans 8:11 — “The same Spirit that raised Jesus…”
    Romans 8:11 NKJV
    11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

    A. The resurrection can be of “no effect” in someone’s life

    When it is reduced to tradition
    When it is treated as a story instead of a Savior
    When it is acknowledged but not applied

    B. The resurrection becomes powerful when it becomes personal

    When you surrender your will
    When you lay down your sin
    When you embrace His call
    When you step into His mission
    The resurrection is not just an event to believe — it is a power to live.

    4. Living Hope: What Makes Our Hope Living?

    Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3 — “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection…”
    1 Peter 1:3 NKJV
    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

    A. Our hope is living because our Savior is living

    Not a dead prophet
    Not a fallen leader
    Not a historical figure **Walmart book “who WAS Jesus”
    A risen King

    B. Our hope is living because His power is active

    He still saves
    He still heals
    He still restores
    He still resurrects

    C. Our hope is living because His mission continues through us

    We are carriers of resurrection hope
    We are ambassadors of the risen Christ
    We are witnesses to a living Savior

    5. The Call to Action: What Will You Do With the Resurrection?

    This is where the message turns from proclamation to invitation.

    A. Will you continue celebrating a cultural Easter…

    Comfortable
    Cute
    Convenient
    But powerless

    B. Or will you embrace the resurrection that demands transformation?

    To know Him deeply
    To walk with Him sacrificially
    To serve Him faithfully
    To share Him boldly

    C. The Resurrection Response Options

    — “It’s just a story.” Reject it
    — “It’s a tradition.” Respect it
    — “It’s my salvation.” Receive it
    — “It’s my mission.” Release it
    Only one of these leads to a Living Hope.

    6. Final Appeal: Step Into the Power of the Resurrection

    Jesus didn’t rise so we could remain the same
    He didn’t conquer death so we could live in defeat
    He didn’t open the grave so we could stay bound
    The resurrection is God’s invitation to live again. To hope again. To rise again.
    Living Hope Church — we have a living hope because we have a living Savior. What will you do with Him today?

      • 1 Corinthians 15:12–15NIV2011

      • Philippians 3:10–11NIV2011

      • 1 Peter 1:3NIV2011

      • John 3:16NIV2011

      • Romans 8:11NIV2011

      • 1 Peter 1:3NIV2011

Living Hope Church
pastor@livinghopecogop.org
325-500-4763
http://livinghopecogop.org
4 members