Resurrected implies something is dead

1. The gospel is the story of good news – juxtaposed to bad news
2. It was good
3. Our choice – we get to make one
4. Not good –death –what kind of death

The choice God made
1. He had heaven already –He wanted heaven with us
2. He chose to allow sin and hold the world together –why?
3. Its only in our living in it do we discover the death that it brings
4. His hope
5. He chose to come

John 3:16–18 (NIV) — 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

A. The cross –reveals who He is and our choices – facing it –it looks like sin –He hates sin

B. Behind it –arms open wide –He loves us

C. The empty tomb –

1. What Jesus said is true.
2. Gods acceptance of the sacrifice for those who believe
3. Gods power to resurrect –something better –eternal life
4. There is more to you than the Body
5. You were made in His image and you will be resurrected to live in eternity, which destination will you choose?

Daniel 12:2 (NIV) — 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Isaiah 53 (NIV) — 1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

A resurrected life –application:
 If this is true –Jesus is who we say He is—then what He says is right and anything that contradicts Him is wrong – if we want light we can now have it – (knowing what is true is important if you really want the truth)
 No matter what happens –even the worst of things –God resurrects the dead and the
proof is in the empty tomb
 Until He returns we can have a foretaste of His life
 We have hope for eternity
 Those in the new garden will now live forever as it should have been

Questions for Discussion:
Passages to consider: Ephesians 1:17-19; 1 Peter 1:8-9; Colossians 3:1-2, Philippians 4:8
Ice Breaker: What brings joy and delight – when do you feel the most alive?
Sermon Reflection – From the sermon share what was meaningful or thought-provoking to you?

Questions to discuss:
1. Read Luke 24:1-12 and Acts 2:14, 22-39. What do you see in these passages about Jesus,
God’s activity and resurrection?
2. What impact did Jesus’ resurrection have on different people in these passages?
3. What have you experienced because of Jesus’ resurrection?
4. Look at Ephesians 2:1-5 & Hebrews 9:11-15. What did Jesus’ death and resurrection do for
those who believe and trust him?
5. In what areas do you need to experience resurrection life? A) What is your next step?
6. Who, in your relationships, needs resurrection life? A) How can you be a part? Be intentional.