Easter Sunday recap (4/8/2007)

WOW!!
Great day today at Rock Bridge with over 1750 at Dalton and around 100 at Calhoun (We have not officially launched Rock Bridge Calhoun ... more on this later)!!

This was a bit of a different Easter sermon for me. I always struggle preaching Easter b/c it is so familiar. But I felt better about today's message than any previous Easter sermon I have given.
He is risen!!

Message Highlights:
We focused on two phrases: "What if" and "As if"
--What if Easter did not happen?
--Life events, distractions, time all make us live "as if" it did not happen

I Corinthians 15:12-20
If Easter did not happen ...

1) Life would have no real purpose.
--We would have a hope so, think so, & maybe so faith
--We would not understand how life fits together
--We would be half-hearted in our endeavors

2) Life would have no real authority.
--Jesus would be a liar and a fraud.
--The authority that supposedly makes us unique and gives us value would be discredited.
--We could not relate to God. We'd be stuck in sin.
--Many people's religion lacks power because is it based on rules rather than the resurrection.

3) Life would be a dead end.
--we should be pitied; we'd live for the moment with no hope for eternity

*However, often times we live AS IF Easter did not happen.
--Where is this thing called life going? What does it mean? What can give me meaning?
--We are confused and uncertain.
--Illustration: after 9/11 America was clear on defending ourselves, our values, and our way of life. Today, the patriotism is almost gone and people are apathetic. Is the same true of us regarding Christianity some 2000 years after the resurrection?

Evidence for the Resurrection
A) Some say Jesus did not really die.
--Flogging & being crucified were not survivable.
--The Romans were experts at it.
B) Some say they went to the wrong tomb.
--I Corinthians 15:3-6 (500 people saw Him ... go ask them!)
--Jews and Romans would have wanted to produce a body ... but there wasn't one to produce.
--The Apostles repeatedly spoke of Jesus' burial. Someone could have checked out the burial site.
C) The disciples stole the body
--Who would die for a lie?
--Acts 4:18-20
D) Cannot explain the changed lives without the resurrection
--If there is evidence you can experience it and you can live AS IF it really happened!

We have a choice:
--Jesus is who He says He is ... Lord, God, King of Kings, the way to salvation OR He is still dead to us. He cannot be a moral teacher or good person.
I Corithians 15:56-58
--We have a gift (eternal life; purpose; salvation; forgiveness)
--We have a victory
--We can ourselves fully to a real purpose.