Easter 2021

 

Sermon Notes

  1. Announcement of an event

  2. Assumption of beliefs

  3. Application of principles

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 
1 Corinthians 15:1-8,11 

The irony of man’s condition is that the deepest need is to be free of the anxiety of death and annihilation; but it is life itself which awakens it, and so we must shrink from being fully alive.”  
― Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death 

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

27 For he “has put everything under his feet.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory? 
Where, O death, is your sting? 
1 Corinthians 15:26-27. 54-55

Table Group Resources

Mixer

What is your favorite or funniest Egg Hunt or Easter Basket story?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

  1. In Pastor Ken’s 4/1/21 entry, The Perfect Lamb, he models for us this response to Jesus: “Thank you, Jesus, for what you have done for me. Now, what can I do for you?” As you reflect on the Resurrection story this past week, what will you do in your family, your neighborhood, your city, to make Resurrection the better story for every day?

Sermon Questions

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 11, 26-27, 54-55

  1. What has been your experience of Easter over the years - have you celebrated it in the wrong order? Can your Beliefs or Principles in isolation sustain your faith? How about your life?

  2. How does the Announcement of Resurrection mean your faith is not in vain? What will you do with the announcement that “somebody defeated death”? Have you had a hard time believing?

  3. All these years later, can you insert your name into 1 Cor. 5- 6 as an eyewitness too? In the moments of your pain, what did you see? Or what is missing?

  4. Read 1 Cor. 15:1-8 & 11

    • What is the Gospel? How would you “preach” it (Greek: Caruso) to someone else?

    • What does the Gospel do? Why did Paul say in vs 2, “...Otherwise, you have believed in vain”?

    •  In verses 3 & 4, why does Paul place an emphasis on “according to the Scriptures”?

    • What is so significant about verses 6-8? Why would Paul tell us this?

  5. Read 1 Cor. 15: 26-27

    • Why is death an enemy? Of who? How does the Gospel defeat death?

    • What does vs 27 tell you?

    • How do these two verses become a comfort to you?

  6. Read 1 Cor. 15: 54-55

    • How does Resurrection give you hope that you can be among the imperishable or the immortal?

    • Is your life an end or a beginning?

Go Deeper - with Goodbook

**ON BREAK this week!**

Serve

Mark your calendars! Our next Good Neighbor Day is Saturday, May 20! In the meantime there are other options for serving on our website at thechurchrb.org/serve or in the Church Center App!

Pray

It’s another big week this week - we’re bringing our church family back into the building for Sunday services beginning April 11! Pray over the logistics and the preparations in our adult services, our CRB Kidz program, and our Rise (High School) & Adventure (Middle School) services. Pray that regathering, re-engaging and reconnecting for all will be sweet, smooth and safe. Pray over the live worship band as they create space for the Holy Spirit’s presence among us; for Pastor Jared, as he says welcome back (and goodbye to the camera lens and dark seats); for our production staff, as they navigate the simultaneous in-person and online worship experience; and for our staff, volunteers, and all of our church families who have been so amazing at holding all these things together for the past year! And most of all, pray BIG THANKS to God for His Faithfulness, His Goodness, and His Provision! There is none like Him!