Easter Wake-Up Call
Notes
Transcript
Easter at Central | Jud Wilhite
Key Ideas
Easter is a wake-up call to believers and non-believers alike.We can be spiritually sleepwalking, saying the right things but numb to the truth of what God has done for us.Jesus came, died, and rose to give us real, abundant life!
Scripture References
● Ephesians 5:14, 18-20; 2:4-5
Outline
Spiritual sleepwalking.Hook: Morning people vs. Night Owls Illustration: story of a friend who required extreme measures in order to wake up“Spiritual sleepwalking” means we’re not really awake to the reality of what Jesus has done for us.
“Just being alive doesn’t mean you’re living.”
Easter is a wake-up call. 2,000 years ago, Jesus gave us forgiveness, salvation, and resurrection life.Introducing the text: Ephesians 5:14-20. Emphasis on the phrase “Awake o sleeper, rise from the dead.”Context: The Ephesians were already people of faith. This was not a salvation message.Challenge: Are we saying and doing all the right things, but still spiritually sleepwalking through our lives, numb to what God has done for us?
“Easter’s a challenge for us. To ask ourselves, are we awake with eyes wide open? Are we aware that God loves us? ‘Cause you can go through life and just be kind of oblivious to the fact that God loves you, that God has a purpose for you, that God has a plan for you, but the reverse is true, too. When you wake up to that, all of a sudden you can find yourself living on mission. All of a sudden those same tasks that you do every day have a whole new level of significance.”
First challenge: Wake up to the good news.Sleeping vs. wakingHumorous illustration of what it means to be asleep: Quotes from “The sleeptalking man” blog, where a man’s wife recorded everything he said while asleep.When asleep, we are disconnected from reality. Spiritual sleepwalking means we are disconnected from the reality of God & what He wants to do in our lives.Consequences of spiritual sleepwalking: Compassion is low, focus is on performance and perfectionism. Judgmentalism is a lifestyle, and life becomes all about “ME!” When we wake up to God, everything changes and life is no longer all about us! At Easter, we remember:Jesus rose up, so that you could one day rise up.Good news is not the same as good advice. Good news is something that has happened in the past that can change your life in the present.Illustration: reading of Hosanna Wong’s “I have a new name” Special emphasis on the lines: “When you stop answering to your old names, they stop having power over you.”Second challenge: Rise up to a new life!Illustration: the story of a delayed flight.Life often feels like a delayed flight. You want a “Point A” to “Point B” track but then other people do things that affect your life and set you in a holding pattern.How to get out of the holding pattern? Let the Holy Spirit fill you and have control.Example: Several Central members whose lives have been radically changed by God.
“The resurrection reminds us if we will wake up to God we can rise up to new life. A life filled with purpose. A life filled with God’s Spirit. A life filled with His love. A life filled with gratitude.”
Conclusion and call to salvation: Let Christ give you light.