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God’s Story… For My Life – Sunday, December 28, 2014

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Gods story

Hard to Believe

Read Luke 24:13-35

“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
(Luke 24:22-27)

Reflect

These disciples on the road to Emmaus knew that the tomb was empty but didn’t understand that Jesus had risen, and they were filled with sadness. Despite the witness of the women who visited the empty tomb, a fact verified by other disciples, and despite the prophecies in the Scriptures of this very event, they still didn’t believe.

Why did Jesus call these disciples foolish? Even though they well knew the prophecies, they failed to understand that Jesus’ suffering was his path to glory. They could not understand why God did not intervene to save Jesus from the cross. They were so caught up in the world’s admiration of political power and military might that they were unprepared for the reversal of values in God’s Kingdom—that the last will be first, and that life grows out of death.

The world has not changed its values: A suffering servant is no more popular today than two thousand years ago. In spite of two thousand years of evidence and witness, many people refuse to believe. But we have not only the witness of the Old Testament prophets; we have also the witness of the New Testament apostles and the history of the Christian church all pointing to Jesus’ victory over death.

Respond

Today the Resurrection still catches people by surprise. Many find the Resurrection irrelevant to their lives, because they either don’t believe that Jesus will return to earth or that his return is no longer imminent. For them, seeing is believing. But since God has provided the Holy Spirit, we have to rely on faith, rather than sight. How do you show the difference God’s presence, through his Spirit, has made in your life?

God’s Story… For My Life – Friday, December 26, 2014

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Gods story

He Is Risen!

Read Luke 24:1-11

As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
(Luke 24:4-7)

Reflect

Christians can look very different from one another and hold widely varying beliefs about politics, lifestyle, and even theology. But one central belief unites and inspires all true Christians—Jesus Christ rose from the dead! On this fact, the church is built; without it, there would be no Christian church today. Jesus’ resurrection is unique. Other religions have strong ethical systems, concepts about paradise and afterlife, and scriptures. Only Christianity has a God who became human, died for his people, and was raised again in power and glory to rule his church forever.

Why is the Resurrection so important? (1) Because Jesus was raised from the dead, the Kingdom of Heaven has broken into earth’s history. Our world is now headed for redemption, not disaster. God’s mighty power is at work destroying sin, creating new lives, and preparing us for Jesus’ second coming. (2) Because of the Resurrection, we know that death has been conquered, and we too will be raised from the dead to live forever with Jesus. (3) The Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world. Look at the early evangelistic sermons in the book of Acts: The apostles’ most important message was the proclamation that Jesus had been raised from the dead! (4) The Resurrection gives meaning to the church’s regular feast, the Lord’s Supper. Like the disciples on the Emmaus Road, we break bread with our risen Lord, who comes in power to save us. (5) The Resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and ruling his Kingdom. He is not legend; he is alive and real. (6) The Resurrection helps us find meaning even in great tragedy. No matter what happens to us as we walk with the Lord, the Resurrection gives us hope for the future. (7) God’s power that brought Jesus back from the dead is available to us so that we can live for him in an evil world.

Respond

What do you believe about Jesus’ Resurrection? How has God’s provision of hope affected the way you think about the future?