The cartoon caught my attention. Verbalizing and explaining cartoons is difficult because cartoons are meant to be visual. Let me try to share the picture! Use your imagination. The scene is in front of a church building. The church marquee clues us in–it is Easter Sunday. The man greeting the preacher after the Easter sermon …
Category Archives: Easter
Easter: A good time to get a firmer grip on the gospel
Many Christians have failed to grasp that the resurrection is the polar star for the Christian faith and message. Without the resurrection, Christianity is empty. The Christian message is summarized in the “gospel”, literally, good news. Paul claims that in preaching the gospel, he was sharing “first things” — the death, burial, and resurrection of …
Continue reading “Easter: A good time to get a firmer grip on the gospel”
After Easter: Building on God’s Foundation
On Easter, most Christian churches have their biggest Sunday attendance of the year. No Sunday of the church year surpasses Easter in total attendance. Surveys show that more Christians are in church on Easter than any other Sunday of the year. Not only do most of the members show up on the same day (quite …
Continue reading “After Easter: Building on God’s Foundation”
The Jesus Story (7): To Whom Is God Sending You with the Story of Jesus?
We have been rethinking Acts, the gospel, the good news of Jesus. This sermon is conclusion. This series is a summary of what I saw when I studied Acts. Here are the principles we have identified: the story of Jesus is a life and death story (a death and life story); the story of Jesus …
Continue reading “The Jesus Story (7): To Whom Is God Sending You with the Story of Jesus?”
The Jesus Story (6): Resurrection to Ascension, 40 Days of Getting Ready to Be Sent Forth with the Story
Luke, in Acts 1, writes about Jesus’ presence with his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, “speaking to them about the kingdom of God.” Jesus had been preaching about the klingdom during his entire ministry (Mark. 1:14-15). The kingdom was a frequent subject, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), and in the …
Hopeful Sunday and Hopeless Monday
Yesterday Was Easter Sunday. Church buildings were filled–celebration, victory, joy, hope. But for many, after hopeful Sunday comes the return of a reality less hopeful, even hopeless! Sermons are heard on Sunday but are intended to make a difference in our lives and in our world Monday through Saturday. Sermons must touch daily life. Ideally, …
The Jesus Story (5): A Story That Changed the World–a Story That Changes Everything!
We are rethinking Acts, the gospel, the good news of Jesus. This series of lessons, shared during the weeks leading up to Easter, reflect what I learned, lessons I heard, applications I saw when I studied Acts. We know these stories—do we really know these stories? I see in this series a study to encourage …
The Jesus Story (4): A Story of Forgiveness
I am thinking and rethinking Acts, the gospel, the good news of Jesus. This sermon series seeks to summarize what I saw when I studied Acts. We know these stories—do we really know these stories? I see in this series a study of first steps toward obedience, responding to and living out the Easter story, …
Continue reading “The Jesus Story (4): A Story of Forgiveness”
Why Does the Date of Easter Change?
A few days ago, my wife observed, “Easter is later this year.” A couple of days earlier, a friend had remarked that Easter seems to be a little earlier this year.” Can both be right? Can Easter be both early and late in the same year? How early can it be? How late can it …
The Jesus Story (3): A Story to Be Told to the Most Unlikely
I am thinking and rethinking Acts, the gospel, the good news of Jesus. This sermon summarizes my study of Chapters 8-10. I will not mention many details of those chapters. You can read them. Stephen’s sermon and stoning; the scattering of the saints which served to spread the gospel; to Samaria; to a proselyte Jew …
Continue reading “The Jesus Story (3): A Story to Be Told to the Most Unlikely”