The Resurrection of Jesus - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. To listen to the sermon, click the link above.

Intro: (1) “they came after the wrong guy” (2) four reasons we need a living Jesus

Someone to trust (1):
(1) “troubled” = trembling (cf. 13:21) → internal feeling when external world is falling apart (2) past (wounds, regrets), present (relationships, doubts, temptations), future (money, health) (3) answer → belief/trust in the Lord, NOT self-help, distraction, etc (5) anything we put our trust in apart from Christ will fail (cf. Chinese emperor) (6) who/what do I look to when my heart is troubled?

Somewhere to settle (2):
(1) Jesus pointing beyond cross to ascension/eternity (cf. “preparing”) (2) house/place/rooms → eternity described in terms of physical living space (3) physical realities of heaven/eternity, our obsession with houses (cf. tv shows, trends,) (4) we can never be truly settled in this life (cf. Lewis quote) (6) use of these verses at funerals (cf. Eccles. 7:2)

Something to anticipate (3):
(1) anticipation of being picked up (cf. friend getting license) (2) most comforting verse (cf. grandmother’s bible ) (3) every experience of this life ultimately comes up short (cf. Eccles. 3:11, Lewis quote) (4) counteracts lies and fears for the believer → God doesn’t care about you, has forgotten about you, won’t come through for you (cf. 2 Peter 3:3-4)

Someway to proceed (4-6):
(1) Jesus tells them that they know how to have assurance of eternity with him, but Thomas counters (3) universal truth → we all know deep down that we need to find our way to God, but we not know what that is (cf. religion, good works, self-actualization) (4) Jesus say he alone is the answer (cf. exclusive claim) (5) exclusive claim, but his universal offer (cf. John 7:37-38, Jer. 2:13)

Conclusion: flooded town → “where this is no hope for the future, there is no power in the present”