August 17, 2014 | Matthew 28:1-15 - Come and See the Resurrected Christ

Here is the sermon and notes from our discussion of Matthew 28:1-15.

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. ² And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. ³ And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. ⁷ Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

⁸ And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

¹¹ Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. ¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

Audio
Notes


January 12, 2014 | Matthew 19:1-9: All the King's Horses: Marriage, Divorce & the Gospel
January 19, 2014 | Matthew 19:10-12 - What's the Point?: Marriage, Singleness, & Living for the Glory of God
January 26, 2014 | Matthew 19:13-30: What Must One Do to be Saved? 
February 2, 2014 | Matthew 20:1-16: Marvel at Grace
February 16, 2014 | Matthew 20:17-28 - The Key to True Greatness
February 23, 2014 | Matthew 20:29-34
March 3, 2014 | Matthew 21:1-11: The Royal Entry
March 9, 2014 | Matthew 21:12-22 
March 23, 2014 | Matthew 21:23-46
March 30, 2014 | Matthew 22:1-14 - What Not to wear or Heeding God's Invitation to Celebrate His Son
April 6, 2014 | Matthew 22:15-22: Life After Death and Taxes
April 13, 2014 | Matthew 22:23-33 - I Don't Want to be a Sad-You-See, or Why the Doctrine of the Resurrection Matters
May 4, 2014 | Matthew 22:34-46
May 11, 2014 | Matthew 23: Religion vs. the Gospel, or Why Don't You Tell Us How You Really Feel Jesus
May 18, 2014 | Matthew 24:1-31 - Is It the End of the World As We Know It?: The End Times, the Present Times, and the Kingship of Jesus
May 25, 2014 | Matthew 24:32-51
June 1, 2014 | Matthew 25
June 8, 2014 | Matthew 26:1-16 - O Worship the King
June 15, 2014 | Matthew 26:17-30: The Lord' Supper
June 22, 2014 | Matthew 26:30-35 - A Pilgrim’s Regress: Why Christians Need Grace Daily 
June 29, 2014 | Matthew 26:36-46 - A Better Adam: How Man's Messiah Suffered Well Through Prayer
July 6, 2014 | Matthew 26:47-75
July 20, 2014 | Matthew 27:1-10
August 3, 2014 | Matthew 27:11-26
August 10, 2014 | Matthew 27:27-66: Why Did Jesus Come to Die?
August 17, 2014 | Matthew 28:1-15 - Come and See the Resurrected Christ  


For more:
Matthew 1-18 | The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series
50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die
How Did Judas Die?: How to Handle the Apparent Contradictions
MacArthur on the Greatest Act of Love
Ain't No Grave . . .
The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
The Gospel of Matthew Movie
Humpty Dumpty & Grace
I Am Yours, Save Me

Aint No Grave . . .

. . . Gonna hold  my body down.

November 17, 2013 | Colossians 3:5-17

Sunday we continued to follow Paul's argument that a real Christian is a raised Christian. Thus to "put on Christ," we see in vs. 5-12 reveals itself in our continual putting off of the old self and in its place, putting on love.

⁵ Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— ¹¹ a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Audio
Notes


August 18, 2013 | Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Greatest of These is Hope?
September 1, 2013 | Colossians 1:9-12: The More You Know
September 8, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Salvation is Creation: A Biblical Theology
September 22, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-29
October 6, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Tear Down This Wall: Tearing Down the Secular & the Sacred Divide
October 13, 2013 | Colossians 2:1-7 - Walk in the Lord: A Call to Agonize for the Christ’s Bride
October 20, 2013 | Colossians 2:8-15 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 1 
October 27, 2013 | Colossians 2:16-23 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 2
November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory
November 10, 2013 | Colossians 3:1-4 - Putting on Christ or You Ain’t From Around Here Are You?
November 17 | Colossians 3:5-17


For more:
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
All You Need is Christ: MacArthur on the Sufficiency of Jesus
Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection  
Jim Monroe: I Am Second
Strengthen Your Hearts: Fun With Mark Lowry
The Secular vs the Sacred: Brand on the Influence of Luther
The Secular vs. the Sacred: Wax on the Lordship of Christ
Martin Luther on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy 
Nancy Pearcey on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy
Is Colossians 1:15-20 a Hymn?
"That's My King"
Faith, Hope, and Love: An Early Christian Confession 
MacArthur on a Faith that Saves  

November 10, 2013 | Colossians 3:1-4 - Putting on Christ or You Ain’t From Around Here Are You?

We continue our verse-by-verse exposition through Colossians.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Audio
Notes


August 18, 2013 | Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Greatest of These is Hope?
September 1, 2013 | Colossians 1:9-12: The More You Know
September 8, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Salvation is Creation: A Biblical Theology
September 22, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-29
October 6, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Tear Down This Wall: Tearing Down the Secular & the Sacred Divide
October 13, 2013 | Colossians 2:1-7 - Walk in the Lord: A Call to Agonize for the Christ’s Bride
October 20, 2013 | Colossians 2:8-15 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 1 
October 27, 2013 | Colossians 2:16-23 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 2
November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory
November 10, 2013 | Colossians 3:1-4 - Putting on Christ or You Ain’t From Around Here Are You?


For more:
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
All You Need is Christ: MacArthur on the Sufficiency of Jesus
Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection  
Jim Monroe: I Am Second
Strengthen Your Hearts: Fun With Mark Lowry
The Secular vs the Sacred: Brand on the Influence of Luther
The Secular vs. the Sacred: Wax on the Lordship of Christ
Martin Luther on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy 
Nancy Pearcey on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy
Is Colossians 1:15-20 a Hymn?
"That's My King"
Faith, Hope, and Love: An Early Christian Confession 
MacArthur on a Faith that Saves  

November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory

Many of Paul's letters are divided between theology and practical living. To Paul, theology is practical. In Colossians, Paul has focused on deep theological truths for two chapter. Now in chapter 3, Paul turns to more practical matters. His argument here is that believers should lived resurrected lives. But first, we must understand the resurrection.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, . . .

Audio
Notes


August 18, 2013 | Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Greatest of These is Hope?
September 1, 2013 | Colossians 1:9-12: The More You Know
September 8, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Salvation is Creation: A Biblical Theology
September 22, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-29
October 6, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Tear Down This Wall: Tearing Down the Secular & the Sacred Divide
October 13, 2013 | Colossians 2:1-7 - Walk in the Lord: A Call to Agonize for the Christ’s Bride
October 20, 2013 | Colossians 2:8-15 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 1 
October 27, 2013 | Colossians 2:16-23 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 2

November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory


For more:
All You Need is Christ: MacArthur on the Sufficiency of Jesus
Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection  

Jim Monroe: I Am Second
Strengthen Your Hearts: Fun With Mark Lowry
The Secular vs the Sacred: Brand on the Influence of Luther
The Secular vs. the Sacred: Wax on the Lordship of Christ
Martin Luther on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy 
Nancy Pearcey on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy
Is Colossians 1:15-20 a Hymn?
"That's My King"
Faith, Hope, and Love: An Early Christian Confession 
MacArthur on a Faith that Saves  

Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection

In his sermon He is Risen given at the 2013 Ligonier Conference (video below), Ravi Zacharias offers twelve arguments in favor of the historicity of the resurrection.

1. The disciples eye-witness experience where they saw and touched.
2. The early proclamation the resurrection.
3. The transformation from fear to martyrdom
4. The empty tomb
5. They proclaimed the resurrection in Jersulamen itself.
6. No one was able to produce the body.
7. The existence of the church founded by law-abiding Jews.
8. The change of the day of worship to Sunday
9. The conversion of James.
10. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus.
11. Why on earth would they have put the evidence in the mouths of women?
12. Why would Jesus claim He was going to rise bodily when He could have claimed He was going to raise spiritually?

April 24, 2011 | Romasn 6:1-14 - Three Wooden Powerlines: Why the Cross & Resurrection Transacts and Transforms (Easter 2011)

I really enjoyed our time together this past Resurrection Sunday.  The breakfast was great (thanks men!), the sunrise service went well in spite the raining/stormy weather, and the rising creek didn't keep us from gather together for Sunday School and morning worship.  I pray that God was glorified and we were reminded of why we worship on the day of the week in which Jesus was raised.  Let us live the cross and resurrection, not just believe in it.  Let the cross and the resurrection transform us.  If we let the cross and the resurrection truly transform us, God will do great things through us.





Audio 
Notes


For more:
April 4, 2010 - Mark 15:1-15: I Am Barabbas and So Are You (Easter 2010) 
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - audio
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - notes
April 5, 2009 | Mark 15:21 - Simon of Cyrene & the Meaning of Christianity
God's Wonderful Surprise: The Glorious Resurrection
 "In Christ Alone" by Keith & Kristyn Getty
The Miracle of the New Creation: CS Lewis on the Resurrection 
Blogizomai - Theology, Atonement, & Technology:  Some Easter Videos 

 Reviews - "Raised With Christ" by Adrian Warnock   
Theology - Did the Resurrection Happen?: A Debate Between Craig and Erhman 
Theology - Rob Bell and the Resurrection 
Theology - Calvin and the Redemptive Necessity of the Resurrection 
Theology - Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 4
Theology - The End:  John 20:31 or John 21:25  
Theology - A Consensus That We Can Believe: The Lost Tomb of Jesus Is A Hoax, Scholars Say 
Blogizomai - Even Environmentalists Need an Easter:  What Christians Can Learn on Earth Day 
Blogizomai - What Did the Cross Accomplish?:  Eternal Hope or Internal Reformation 
Blogizomai - D'Souza:  Did the Resurrection Happen? 
Blogizomai - The Illegitimate Birth of Christ:  Another Wild Claim Falling on Deaf Ears 
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster   
Reviews - "The Case for Easter"

Crossan and the Death of Jesus: See I Told You So

Last night in Bible study I pointed out that some in the Jesus Seminar have argued that Jesus wasn't buried and resurrected as we have been led to know through the Gospels, but that he was taken down, thrown into a pit with other crucified criminals, and then likely eaten by wild dogs and other animals.  Though the following video isn't the one I was looking for, John Dominic Crossan does make the argument near the end.  What follows is a video clip from a special Peter Jennings did.  Almost all of the "expert scholars" interviewed in this clip are extremely liberal who reject orthodox Christianity.

Anyways, though it is hard to believe, I told you so! :o)

7 Miles: Matt Chandler and Explaining Away the Resurrection

One more post on the resurrection.  This was just too good.  A website took a sermon by Matt Chandler (an influencial pastor in the SBC) and put it to music and made a video out of it.  The sermon discusses the ridiculous theories that people have explaining away the resurrection.  Its pretty good.




HT:  Tim Challies

April 4, 2010 - Mark 15:1-15: I Am Barabbas and So Are You (Easter 2010)

Here is the audio and sermon notes from the Easter message.  I hope everyone had a excellent Resurrection Sunday.  Amanda and I are exhausted but we enjoyed the day nonetheless.  Here is the description:

Was the cross necessary?  Perhaps no other question is more important than that one.  Why did Jesus have to bear the cross?  Couldn't have God redeemed man, showed His love, and forgiven our sins another way?  When we understand the exchange of Barabbas for Jesus, we then understand the necessity of the cross and penal substitution.

Audio
Notes




For more:
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - audio
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - notes  

"In Christ Alone" by Keith and Kristin Getty

I was excited to hear my favorite song on Resurrection Sunday performed, "In Christ Alone" originally composed and written by Keith and Kristin Getty.  In honor of that I thought I would post their original version of it.  I really enjoyed how our church mixed the piano and the saxophone with the incredible lyrics to this incredible song.



HT: Deyoung, Restless, and Reformed

God's Wonderful Surprise: The Glorious Resurrection

As everyone knows, this Sunday we will celerbate the resurrection of our Lord.  In the spirit of that wonderful event, I encourage everyone to watch the following video.  The video comes from a book that Amanda and I read to Elijah called the Jesus Bible Storybook.  We highly recommend it.




HT: Justin Taylor

Mohler: The Resurrection of Christ and the Reality of the Gospel

I strongly recommend everyone to read Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, article on the resurrection and the gospel. The entire article is worth our reading. Dr. Mohler is the president where I am a student and I have great respect for him and he has influenced me greatly.

Here's a money quote:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion--whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19] . . .

Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day.

As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.

April 12, 2009 - John 20:19-20: From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life

To download the notes, click here.

Weekly Recommendation - "The Case For Easter"

This week we are celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, Lee Strobel's book, "The Case for Easter," is an important book to read as we think about the issues surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection. Strobel's book is nothing more than the last three chapters of "The Case For Christ," that deal with the resurrection. Rather than buy the entire book, Strobel offers just those three chapters.

The chapters are:

1. The Medical Evidence: Was Jesus' Death a Sham and His Resurrection a Hoax?
2. The Evidence of the Missing Body: Was Jesus' Body Really Absent from His Tomb?
3. The Evidence of Appearances: Was Jesus Seen Alive After His Death on the Cross?

Each chapter reads like an investigation where the author interviews an expert on the issue. In all of Strobel's "Case" books, he interviews the best of the best and it shows. Chapter 1 is an interview with Alexander Metherell M.D., PH. D. who looks at the medical evidence proving that Jesus really died and no other theory can contradict that truth. Chapter 2 is an interview with William Lane Craig PH. D., D. TH. who is an expert and writer on the resurrection. I encourage everyone to read Craig's books. Chapter 3 is an interview with Gary Habermas, PH. D., D.D who successfully closes the case on the resurrection.

Strobel seeks to provide his Christian readers comfort in knowing that our faith is not in vain. For nonChristian readers, Strobels books are evangelistic hoping that they would acknowledge the truth and come to Christ. The simple truth is, that if Jesus really died and was raised from the dead, then He is both Lord and God (John 20:28). And if He is Lord and God, there is no other choice than to repent and believe in His name. Not to amounts to spitting God in the face.

For anyone interested in exploring these issues, I strongly recommend Strobel's book. And while your at it, read his other Case books. Though they deal with difficult issues, you will come away confident that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

The Miracle of the New Creation: CS Lewis on the Resurrction

I have been reading a number of books in preparation for Resurrection Sunday's message and I came across of number of good quotes from Clive Stables Lewis. Cs Lewis is one of my favorite authors and I have read all of his signature classics. Although I disagree with some of his theological views, Lewis' influence on me is profound. I have enjoyed reading his Narnia series as well as many of his letters, essays, biography, and nonfiction writings. I highly recommend him.

But in his book, Miracles, Lewis sees the two greatest miracles in Scripture to be the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Regarding the resurrection, Lewis had this to say:

. . . to preach Christianity meant primarily to preach the Resurrection. Thus people who had heard only fragments of St. Paul’s teaching at Athens got the impression that he was talking about two new gods, Jesus and Anastasis (i.e., Resurrection) (Acts 17:18). The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the ‘gospel’ or good news which the Christians brought: what we call the ‘gospels’, the narratives of Our Lord’s life and death, were composed later for the benefit of those who had already accepted the gospel. They were in no sense the basis of Christianity: they were written for those already converted. The miracle of the Resurrection, and the theology of that miracle, comes first: the biography comes alter as a comment on it. Nothing could be more unhistorical than to pick out selected sayings of Christ from the gospels and to regard those as the datum and the rest of the NT as a construction upon it. The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say that they have seen the Resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this ‘gospel’ no gospels would ever have been written. (234-235)

What I like about what Lewis says here is that he equates the gospel with the Resurrection. It is all too common today to buy books on the gospel that speak only of the atonement, i.e., the cross. The cross is foundational to the gospel, however too many overlook the resurrection of Christ. If Jesus had died, we would still be in our sins. But because Jesus died as our substitute and then was raised from the dead, we can be saved. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ has not risen, we remain in our sins and to be most pitied.

Note another quote from Lewis:

The NT writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits’, the ‘pioneer of life’. He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so. This is the beginning of the New Creation: a new chapter in cosmic history has opened (237).

I love this quote: He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death." As Paul wrote, "O Death, where is your sting!"