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Resurrection that Restores
Resurrection Life, Week 6
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Resurrection that Restores
The kindness of Jesus always precedes our repentance and is the power of our restoration.
This message looks at:
1) The kindness of Jesus
2) The depth of repentance
3) The power of public restoration
4) Application: A call to kindness
5) A beautiful truth: Kindness leads up to repentance
Gone Fishin'
When we are inclined to hang up the Gone Fishin' sign and escape, the resurrected Jesus greets is with his gentle words and bountiful provision to give us confidence in the mission.
Move Out or Miss Out
Guest Speaker Steve Spencer brings a challenge to be open to divine interruptions where we think we are headed in one direction but God closes that door and opens another based on Paul's experience in Acts 16:6-10. Paul wanted to go to Ephesus. But God wanted him to go to Z Macedonia. And from there, take the gospel to Europe. When we experience those divine interruptions, we have opportunity to move out in obedience or miss out on the mission of God.
Do Not Doubt, Only Believe
In this message from John 20:24-29, we see that "Doubting Thomas" is the most unfortunate nickname of any character in the Bible. Instead, he is a guy who missed our on Jesus' first resurrection experience. During a week where the others disciples were experiencing exuberant joy, he was unraveling inside.
And then Jesus appeared, not condemning Thomas, but with kindness and gentleness. Seeing the resurrected Jesus, Thomas declared, "my Lord and my God."
A Trinitarian Plan
And what does Jesus reveal about the character of God and the heart of God in his first appearance to the disciples after his resurrection? John 20:19-23 teaches us about:
The Peace of God: We can only experience peace with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Plan of God: In the Covenant of Redemption, before the foundation of the world, God had a plan to redeem us from our sins.
The Three Persons of God: God is three persons and one God. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The same in substance and equal in power and glory. And yet distinct persons of the Trinity.
First Contact
When we meet the risen Christ:
Jesus honors our tears and meets us in them
Jesus reveals himself as Shepherd, Teacher, and Savior
Jesus calls us to testify to others that we have met the risen Christ
He Must: Be Lifted Up (Die), then Rise from the Dead
He must die. And he did.
He just ride from the dead. And he did.
You must be born again. Will you?
A Terrible Death
In this message from John 19:16-30, we see 3 important aspects of the crucifixion:
1) The sour wine Jesus drank
2) The phrase "to fulfill the Scripture" and
3) The inscription above Jesus' head.
The summary: Jesus bore the full weight of sin on the cross to rescue us and to proclaim himself King over sin, over death, and over us, his people.
Sorrow into Joy
How do sorrow and joy co-exist? Sorrow - with its accompanying grief, sadness, lament, pain, and suffering - can squash happiness. But not joy. Because joy is grounded in the character of God, the work of God, and the presence of God.
Abide: Friend vs Hated
We can endure being hated by the world because we abide in the promise of being a friend of God.
In this message from John 15:12-27, we discover what it means that Jesus would call us his friends.
1) Jesus chose you: He loves you, he likes you, and he chose you to be his friend.
2) Jesus appointed you: He gave you a task to bear fruit by inviting others to become friends of Jesus alongside of you.
3) Jesus died for you: No greater love has anyone that he lay down his life for his friends. And that is what Jesus did for you!
Alone vs Helped
Jesus promised us he would not leave us alone but sent the Holy Spirit to:
Be our Helper
Give us life
Give us union with God
Be our Teacher
Give us peace
Convict us of sin
Bring glory to Jesus
Deny vs Know
Peter's denial of Jesus is an invitation to look in the mirror at how we can be inclined to deny Jesus. And how do we resist that?
The antidote to denying Jesus is to know and believe more deeply - to know the character of God, the plan of God, and the promises of God.
Betray vs Love
Judas betrayed Jesus. But we are not Judas. So what do we do will the account of that betrayal? Judas' betrayal does become an invitation for us to ask:
1) How have we been betrayed and what wounds are still open, maybe many years later, because of that betrayal?
2) What loved once have you betrayed that God may be calling you to go in humble repentance to?
3) How have you betrayed God?
Our hope is not to avoid betrayal in this life. But that Jesus, our God, has experienced betrayal. He knows your pain, your hurts, your sorrow. And he is best to the broken hearted.
The most true thing about you is not your sin, or who has betrayed you or even who you have betrayed. The most true thing about you is that you are loved by God.
Radical Hospitality
Radical Hospitality is a command.
Radical Hospitality is an invitation to exceed expectations and surprise people with God's kindness.
Radical Hospitality is rooted in the work of Jesus who didn't just carry a bag an extra mile, but carried the cross to Calvary for us.
One Body: Ministry is a Team Sport
Building from Romans 12 and the picture of the church as one body, Pastor Steve explores our 4th core value: Ministry is a Team Sport.
Ministry as a Team Sport means:
1) Delegating
2) Developing people and providing opportunities
3) Everyone!