Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
Responses to the Resurrection
Worship Gathering
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Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 7:55 AM
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https://crossroadsefc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/478788Did Jesus rise from the dead?
If He did, why did He?
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (ESV) 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
If (since) He did rise, what is your response?
The resurrection demands a response because of something amazing that was done FOR US.
If He did, why did He?
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (ESV) 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
If (since) He did rise, what is your response?
The resurrection demands a response because of something amazing that was done FOR US.
Matthew 27:62–66 (ESV) - The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Matthew 28:11–15 (ESV) - While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
1) Denier - a denier ignores the truth of the gospel.
The primary obstacle of the denier is pride.
The primary need of the denier is humility.
Luke 9:23–26 (ESV) - And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Matthew 28:11–15 (ESV) - While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
1) Denier - a denier ignores the truth of the gospel.
The primary obstacle of the denier is pride.
The primary need of the denier is humility.
Luke 9:23–26 (ESV) - And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
The disciples right before the great commission and ascension
Matthew 28:17 (ESV) - And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
The disciples after hearing from Mary Magdalene
Mark 16:11 (ESV) - But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
The two who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus
Luke 24:25 (ESV) - And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Thomas
John 20:29 (ESV) - Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
2) Doubter - a doubter questions the truth of the gospel.
The primary obstacle of the doubter is control.
The primary need of the doubter is faith.
Matthew 28:17 (ESV) - And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
The disciples after hearing from Mary Magdalene
Mark 16:11 (ESV) - But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
The two who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus
Luke 24:25 (ESV) - And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Thomas
John 20:29 (ESV) - Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
2) Doubter - a doubter questions the truth of the gospel.
The primary obstacle of the doubter is control.
The primary need of the doubter is faith.
3) Believer - a believer embraces the truth of the gospel and pursues living like Jesus.
Matthew 28:8-9 (ESV) - So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
Pride and control are overcome by humility and faith.
James 2:14–17 (ESV) - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Romans 10:9–10 (ESV) - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Matthew 28:8-9 (ESV) - So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
Pride and control are overcome by humility and faith.
James 2:14–17 (ESV) - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Romans 10:9–10 (ESV) - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Discussion Questions
1. What promises, people or situations inspire hope in you?
2. Read Matthew 28:1-10. What do you think the two Mary’s were thinking as they approached the tomb early that morning? What emotions do you think you would have been experiencing?
3. What did the angel say to the women and why is it important?
4. Read Matthew 28:11-15. Why did the chief priests and Pharisees work so hard to deny the truth of the resurrection when their own guards witnessed it?
5. What is your honest response to the resurrection of Jesus: Denier, Doubter or Believer?
1. What promises, people or situations inspire hope in you?
2. Read Matthew 28:1-10. What do you think the two Mary’s were thinking as they approached the tomb early that morning? What emotions do you think you would have been experiencing?
3. What did the angel say to the women and why is it important?
4. Read Matthew 28:11-15. Why did the chief priests and Pharisees work so hard to deny the truth of the resurrection when their own guards witnessed it?
5. What is your honest response to the resurrection of Jesus: Denier, Doubter or Believer?