Easter 2022
Alive On the Outside Dead On the Inside
John 11
At its core, Easter is about Resurrection
To resurrect is to Raise From The Dead
Jesus Brings Dead Things to Life!
Alive on the Outside Dead on the Inside
Setting the stage (1-15):
- Bad news amid a good life
- God’s purpose in the midst of it all to bring glory to Himself
- Jesus delays; they are freaking out; He is hanging out (6)
- Jesus eventually returns to Judea under the threat of death
- Dead in our Doubts and Fears (16)
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:24–25, ESV)
- Dead in the midst of a Delay (17-21, 32)
“If you….If only….”
God’s Delays are not God’s Denials
Some of us need to have an “Even Now” moment this Easter (22)
- Dead in our Discouragements (37)
In the midst of discouragement:
- Remember God’s Presence
- Recognize God’s Compassion
- Reflect on God’s Power
“Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'” (John 11:25–26, ESV)
You haven’t heard the Last Word about your circumstances until you have heard God’s Word
- Dead in our Sin
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1, ESV)
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (Ephesians 2:4–5, ESV)
Learning from Lazarus:
- We are Dead
- We cannot Save Ourselves
- Jesus Alone can save us
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV)
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26, ESV)
In order to move from death to life,
I must establish a Spiritual B.A.S.E. in my life
B - Believe
A - Admit
S - Switch
E - Express
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, ESV)
Jesus Brings Dead Things to Life!
My Next Step Today Is To…
- Believe in Jesus Christ as the only way for me to experience forgiveness of my sin, eternal and abundant life by establishing a Spiritual B.A.S.E. in my life.
- Renew my trust in Jesus Christ in the midst of my doubts, fears, delays and discouragements
- Obey Christ and declare my faith in Christ as my Lord and Savior by being baptized
Ready to take your Next Step?
- See Pastor Jeff after the service today
- Fill out a Connect Card and drop it in the offering box
- Text Next to 803-637-8484
- Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”