Christ Wesleyan Church
Join us for our primary worship service each weekend.
Matthew 28:6 NLT
A. Sunday morning comes...
1. Mary, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and other women come to the tomb. But, no one thinks about who will roll the stone away.
Luke 24:1 NLT
2. There is an earthquake, the second in only a few days. The stone rolls away. The guards faint. The two angels appear.
Matthew 28:2 NLT
3. The angels speak to the women to go tell the disciples and Peter.
Mark 16:7 NLT
4. Peter and John run to the tomb. John outruns Peter, but Peter steps in first.
John 20:3-6 NLT
5. Then it dawns on them! He is supposed to rise from the dead!
John 20:8-9 NLT
6. The guards tell the priests what happens (instead of Pilate) and they bribe the guards with a story, promising to back them to the governor. The story spreads quickly.
Matthew 28:11-15 NLT
7. Jesus appears to His disciples and over 500 eyewitnesses! He is alive!!
1 Corinthians 15:6 NLT
I went to a psychologist friend and said if 500 people claimed to see Jesus after He died, it was just a hallucination. He said hallucinations are an individual event. If 500 people have the same hallucination, that's a bigger miracle than the resurrection. - Lee Strobel
B. In fact, we know these truths about it all...
All scholara across the theological spectrum agree:
1. Execution: Jesus was dead! He died by Roman crucifixion. Soon after, the disciples were discouraged, bereaved, and despondent, having lost hope.
2. Empty tomb: Jesus’ tomb was found empty soon after His death. No bones were ever found!
3. Eyewitnesses: All the disciples had experiences of seeing the risen Jesus. In fact, over 515, including skeptics! James, the brother of Jesus and a skeptic before this time, was converted when he believed he also saw the risen Jesus.
4. Early accounts: Including in the creed of the early church (as early as 24-36 months after Jesus’ death), and historical data close to the happenings. The proclamation of the resurrection took place very early, from the
beginning of church history in the very city where Jesus had been crucified and buried, shortly before. Due to the resurrection experiences of the disciples, their lives were transformed and they were even willing to die for their beliefs.
5. Emergence of the church: Explosive growth! The gospel message centered on the preaching of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Sunday became the primary day for gathering and worshiping.
6. Just a few years later, Saul of Tarsus (Paul) became a Christian believer, due to an experience that he also believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus.
So…it is either a fairy tale, a lie, an embellished story, or…the truth!*
*Lee Strobel, Gary Habermas
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT
I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.
– Charles Colson
There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three. – Billy Graham
C. Why is Resurrection Sunday the greatest day of our year?
1 Corinthians 15:13 NLT
1. If the resurrection didn’t happen, preaching is useless.
“ And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless…”
1 Corinthians 15:14a
2. If the resurrection didn’t happen, faith is useless.
“…and your faith is useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:14b
3. If the resurrection didn’t happen, there is no forgiveness of sins.
“ …and you are still guilty of your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17b
4. If the resurrection didn’t happen, there is no victory over death and no victory beyond the grave… and if so…we are to be pitied!
1 Corinthians 15:18-19 NLT
D. How would our world be different if there were no resurrection?
1. The Christian faith has changed the value on human life; affected human rights, the value of women, the value of children, the abolition of slavery, the end of gladiators, and cannibalism.
2. The Christian faith has changed compassion and mercy. Christian charities stand out: i.e. Mother Teresa, the Salvation Army, religious hospitals, soup kitchens, and thrift shops. Christians are the most generous group in our culture.
3. The Christian faith has changed education. The Protestant Reformation brought about the education of the masses. For 200 years in America, children’s reading texts contained Scripture. All but one of the first 123 colleges in colonial America were Christian institutions.
4. The Christian faith has directly impacted America’s Constitution by its biblical doctrines.
5. The Christian faith has affected the thinking of scientists like Keppler, Boyle, Pascal, Pasteur, Newton, and many others.
6. The Christian faith has even impacted our free enterprise and work ethic with the “Protestant work ethic.”
7. The Christian faith has made its mark on art, music, and literature. It influenced writers like Dante, Chaucer, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Dickens, Milton, and more. It influenced the music world of Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach. It influenced art with its beautiful cathedrals, sculptures, and paintings.*
*D .James Kennedy, Jerry Newcombe, Dinesh D’Souza, and Glenn Sunshine
E. Now that you know…what will you do?
1 John 5:12-13 NLT
1. A – Admit that I am a sinner
The Bible says…
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
2. B – Believe that Jesus died for my sin
The Bible says…
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame’.” Romans 10:10-11
3. C – Confess my sin
The Bible says…
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
4. D – Decide to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
The Bible says…
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.
In Jesus’ name. Amen
Did you sincerely ask Jesus to come into your heart?
Are you willing to turn from your old life and follow Him?
If you did, then He promises that He is in your life.
The Bible says…
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should…
1. Read your Bible
2. Talk to God in prayer
3. Tell others
4. Worship with other believers
5. Demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others
He’s Alive!
3
Jesus faces His darkest hours and darkness covers the land.
Time: Approximately Noon
Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45
2
Jesus cries out to the Father and is thirsty.
Time: Approximately 1:00 p.m.
Matthew 27:46-49; Mark 15:34-36; John 19:28
1
Jesus cries out, “It is finished” and commits His Spirit.
Time: Approximately 2:00 p.m.
Matthew 27:50-53; Mark 15:37-39; Luke 23:46-49; John 19:29-30
Jesus dies on the cross.
Time: Approximately 3:00 p.m.
Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46-49; John 19:31-37
Burial of Jesus.
Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42
0…and waiting…
End of Week 5….Resurrection Is Coming!