Divergent Resurrection – Pastor Luke Faw
Why do you believe in God?
COMPLEX DESIGNS HAVE A DESIGNER.
Either Jesus was a bold-faced liar, or He was who He claimed to be!
1. BE OVERCOME BY THE RESURRECTION!
Matthew 28:8-9 (NLT) – The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
Luke 24:35-37 (NLT) – Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
Luke 24:36-41 (TPT) – While they were still discussing all of this, Jesus suddenly appeared right in front of their eyes! Startled and terrified, the disciples were convinced they were seeing a ghost. Standing there among them he said, “Be at peace. I am the living God. Don’t be afraid. Why are you so frightened? Don’t let doubt enter your hearts. See my pierced hands and feet. See for yourselves, it is I, standing here alive. Touch me and know that my wounds are real. A spirit does not have a body of flesh and bone as you see that I have.” Then he showed them his pierced hands and feet and let them touch his wounds.
The disciples were ecstatic, yet dumbfounded, unable to fully comprehend it.
Luke 24:41a (NLT) – Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder.
2. LIVE FOR THE RESURRECTION!
1 Corinthians 15:2 (TPT) – For it is through the revelation of the gospel that you are being saved, if you fasten your life firmly to the message I’ve taught you, unless you have believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 6 (NLT) – I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. … After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
1 Corinthians 15:19 (TPT) – If the only benefit of our hope in Christ is limited to this life on earth, we deserve to be pitied more than all others!
1 Corinthians 15:30-32 (NLT) – And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
Are we living: “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”?
Or 2 Timothy 4:6-7 (NLT) – As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
Questions for Discussion/Reflection:
1. If you were asked by a non-believer, “Why do you believe in God?”, what are some key points, beyond Bible verses, that you could share?
2. If you were asked by a non-believer, “Why do you believe the words written in the New Testament? It happened so long ago!”, what evidence would you share to support the authenticity of the New Testament?
3. What do you think you might have been feeling or wanting to do/say if you had been in the room with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after His resurrection from the dead?
4. Why was the resurrection such a big deal for Paul in 1 Corinthians 15?
5. Is the resurrection a big deal for you? How or why?
6. How should our lives look different from the typical American if we are living for the resurrection?
