The Game Changer
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
The theme of the chapter is the transition of faith and hope for the disciples.
In Christ’s horrifying crucifixion, all seemed lost.
(What was lost? HOPE...Salvation, Peace (prince of peace), God’s presence, Relationship, Kingdom, Power)
For three days, the disciples hid in fear. Fear of death, failure, future—what was next? Was Jesus too good to be true? Was Jesus Who said He was the way a dead end…the Truth, a lie…the life, dead?
What did they miss? In their hopes for the kingdom to come NOW, they missed that Jesus said He must first die and rise again. If they had understood this, it would have been hard, but they would have met Sunday with anticipation.
They had to learn a lesson of faith—and this was their big test. It is our’s, too.
It’s comforting to know that when I miss something, I am not alone. Jesus’ disciples missed this lesson. They were often bickering, comparing each other, and plotting to be the ones to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand.
They selfishly sought a kingdom to come NOW on earth. It came, but it came to enthrone Christ on hearts, not yet in an earthly capital.
It could not have gotten worse. They gave up everything to follow Christ—their livelihoods and their reputations were all staked on Jesus.
We see the story of how God got mankind’s attention by rising up from the dead.
Read: Luke 24:1-12.
Too many times we live as if Jesus was dead. We have a dead faith…a dead religion.
The disciples’ faith had died with Jesus’ death.
This is why it is so critical to know Jesus is alive! It’s a game-changer!
Game changers:
When the other high school team puts in a pitcher who accurately throws 100+ mph fastballs.
Having a champion player, like Goliath, but then we know the champion wasn’t Goliath, it was David, a shepherd after God’s own heart.
In WWII, the race for and then use of the atomic bomb was a game changer. Since then, atomic weapons have been a military game changer.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was God’s “nuclear option.” It changed everything.
Let’s see how the disciples discovered Jesus’ game-changing resurrection.
Proposition: Seek Christ among the living.
Proposition: Seek Christ among the living.
Luke 24:5, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
Too often we look for evidence among dead things. Our hope is not found in the world. Our hope is not found in each other. Our hope is found in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!
1. How is Jesus’ resurrection a game changer?
1. How is Jesus’ resurrection a game changer?
First, It changes the normal course of things.
“As in Adam all die.” Death is the normal course due to the curse of sin.
Second, It changes where we seek. among the dead (normal to search cemeteries for dead/living (normal to look for their address)
Third, It changes who we seek. a mere man (Adam)/a God-man (second-Adam)
Fourth, It changes how we seek. Sadly (decrepidation, death, loss)/hope (sanctification, life, reward)
Death says, “The End.” Life says, “This is the beginning.”
1 Corinthians 15 sheds light on what would happen if we had “no hope” in Jesus’ resurrection. We would be like the women coming to the tomb…”of all men most miserable.”
2. What does Jesus’ resurrection change for us?
2. What does Jesus’ resurrection change for us?
In short, everything!
The women and disciples came to the tomb because it was natural. That’s where you find dead people.
One, Jesus wasn’t just a “people,” He is God, and, two, Jesus wasn’t dead, He was alive!
The resurrection is a game changer. When we are alive in Him by salvation (the only way), it’s because His life makes a difference in at least a few ways:
First, what was (the past makes sense). v. 1-12 [12]. I suppose to our “Yoo-hoo!” moments, we should also study the “Aha!” moments of Scripture!
This series of sermons has sought to follow the pattern Jesus and Christians have used to walk us through the Bible, so we can put those pieces together.
Don’t be the Christian who gets stuck not connecting the dots of the Bible or who gets bored. Love the Bible!
By the way, I know It’s not anything knew you’ll hear. The Bible doesn’t change, but what changes is our understanding of It and the wonderful God Who ordains It! Our job is to prepare to hear It, receive It, and respond to It obediently with faith.
Seeking Christ will renew your passion for God’s Word to read it and to hear it taught and preached! Because He is alive, and so is His Word!
ILL: Song, “I Love to Tell the Story”
2 I love to tell the story. ’Tis pleasant to repeat | what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. | I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy word.
3 I love to tell the story, for those who know it best | seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest. | And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, | ’twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
Second, our walk. v. 13-26 We get to walk with Christ, and He helps us!
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Our walk seeks to be righteous like our risen Lord, not dead like we were before we were redeemed.
Third, His word (it’s true). v. 27-45 When you live in the world of death, you will doubt God’s Word and return to seeking in a dead world. The wisdom of a dead world is only good for a dead world.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Fourth, our witness for Him. v. 46-50
It’s not recorded directly here, but elsewhere we see Christ at this point gave the church her mission:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The Game Changer (Jesus Christ):
1. Sets the other team scrambling on defense.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
2. Assures undeniable victory.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
But what if you keep going back to the team that does not have a game-changing option?
Don’t go back to the land of the dead!
Will you seek Jesus among the living?
God calls out to us because He provided the way for all of us to be saved!
God did not come to condemn and destroy the world—that’s not what His “nuclear option” was for!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Now, let’s seek Him, among the Living!