Sermons

ME: “WHO ARE YOU JESUS?”

Easter doesn’t mean anything – until Jesus comes alive in MY life.

1.
Exciting Experience Doesn’t Save Anyone

(Luke 24:1-10) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the
stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood
by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the
men. “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed
into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words. Returning from the tomb, they reported all
these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the
apostles these things.

A. Lives are not permanently changed by exciting experiences.

B. Having an exciting spiritual experience doesn’t mean Jesus is alive in us.

2.
Enticing Evidence Doesn’t Save Anyone

(Luke 24:11-12) But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he
stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened.

A. Believing that Christ’s tomb was empty doesn’t save anyone.

(John 20:3-10) Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got
to the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the
tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate
place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed.

B. Believing that Christ was resurrected doesn’t save anyone.

3.
Exclusive Encounter “Does” Save Anyone

(John 20:10-13) Then the disciples went home again. But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the
tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. They said to her, “Woman, why
are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.”

A. We all need more than excitement and evidence.

(John 20:14-16) Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her,
“why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put
Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” – which means “Teacher.”

B. Have YOU had a personal exclusive encounter with Jesus?