He Is Not Here, He Has Risen

In one paragraph

Pastor Mark preached on the resurrection and ascension accounts from Matthew, picking up a Harmony of the Gospels study he had been working through for the better part of two years. He came back from two weeks away having missed Easter Sunday, and walked the congregation through Matthew's account from the empty tomb to the Great Commission. The sermon centered on what it really means to believe...

Read together

1. Matthew 28:1-20 primary text for the resurrection and great commission account
2. Philippians 2 Jesus emptying himself of divine rights and not grasping equality with the Father
3. James 1 a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, halting between two opinions
4. Ephesians 3:16-19 benediction prayer for power through the Spirit and grasping the love of Christ

Talk about it

1. Pastor John mentioned that the finality of death is one of the hardest things we face, and that the women at the tomb had worked through that finality about Jesus. When have you had to wrestle with the gap between what you believed God promised and what you were actually looking at in front of you?
2. The guards who witnessed the angel at the tomb went straight to the chief priests rather than reporting to Pilate, and took a large sum of money to spread a false story. What does it tell you about people that a firsthand encounter with something miraculous can still be explained away or covered up?
3. Pastor John pointed out that the only imperative in the Great Commission is 'make disciples,' and that 'going' is better read as 'as you are going.' How does that change the way you think about your own role in the Commission on a normal Tuesday?
4. Matthew records that when the disciples saw the risen Jesus on the mountain, they worshiped him, but some were doubtful. Pastor John said he thinks we doubt whether our everyday lives can actually make a difference in someone else's eternal destination. Do you? What does that doubt look like for you?
5. The benediction from Ephesians 3 asks that we would have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is. Pastor John prayed that God would help us understand grace and how much He loves us, because he thinks some of our doubt comes from not understanding that. Where do you find it hardest to believe that love actually applies to you?