Summary of this week's sermon
Every week we want to have a 5 day devotional recapping our previous sermon so we can grow deeper together.
This past Sunday we continued in our Easter Series entitled, "Easter Weekend: A lot can Happen in a Few Days..." Join us as we journey from Thursday to Sunday morning together.
To Rewatch, please go to our YouTube Channel, linked below.
Day 1: The Receipt That Changed Everything
Devotional
Have you ever kept a receipt for something really important? Maybe it was for a big purchase or a special gift. That small piece of paper serves as proof - evidence that a transaction took place. In the greatest transaction of all time, Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. But God didn't leave us wondering if the payment was accepted. The resurrection serves as our divine receipt, proving that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient and accepted by God. This profound truth changes everything about how we approach God. We don't have to wonder if we're good enough or if our sins are too great. The empty tomb stands as eternal proof that the debt has been paid in full.
Bible Verse
'He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.' - Matthew 28:6
Reflection Question
How does viewing the resurrection as a 'receipt' of your forgiveness change your perspective on approaching God?
Quote
The cross was the payment for our sins. The resurrection was the receipt.
Prayer
Father, thank you for providing such clear evidence of your acceptance through the resurrection. Help me to live in the confidence of knowing that Jesus' payment for my sins has been received and accepted. Amen.
Day 2: An Invitation to See
Devotional
Sometimes the smallest details carry the biggest significance. Consider the stone that sealed Jesus' tomb. Many assume it was rolled away so Jesus could exit, but that's not the case at all. Jesus, who could pass through walls in His resurrected body, didn't need the stone moved. The stone was rolled away for our benefit - so we could see the evidence of His resurrection. This detail reveals God's heart: He wants us to know, to see, to believe. He doesn't hide the evidence but makes it visible and accessible to all who would look.
Bible Verse
'Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.' - John 20:1
Reflection Question
What barriers might be preventing you from 'seeing' God's work in your life today?
Quote
The stone didn't move so Jesus could come out. It was so we could see in.
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see the evidence of your work in my life. Remove any stones that block my view of your truth and presence. Amen.
Day 3: Beyond Expectations
Devotional
Our expectations often limit our experience of God. We might expect that following Jesus means either a perfect, problem-free life or a joyless existence of rigid rules. But God's reality consistently exceeds our human expectations. The first witnesses to the resurrection weren't expecting an empty tomb - they were expecting to find a body. The guards weren't expecting to encounter angels - they were expecting a routine night watch. God's ways often surprise us, breaking through our limited understanding to reveal something far greater than we imagined.
Bible Verse
'For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son.' - Romans 8:3
Reflection Question
What expectations about your relationship with God might need to be adjusted to align with His truth?
Quote
What was expected was not what was experienced with Jesus.
Prayer
God, help me release my preconceptions about how you should work in my life. Open my heart to experience you as you truly are, not as I expect you to be. Amen.
Day 4: The Beginning, Not the End
Devotional
Many view the resurrection as the grand finale of Jesus' story, but it's actually just the beginning. The empty tomb wasn't a conclusion - it was an introduction to a new way of relating to God. Jesus didn't rise from the dead simply to prove a point; He rose to continue a relationship with us. This ongoing relationship is the heart of Christianity. It's not about following rules or checking religious boxes; it's about walking daily with a living Savior who wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives.
Bible Verse
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!' - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Reflection Question
How can you cultivate a daily, living relationship with Jesus rather than treating faith as a one-time event?
Quote
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus were not the end of Jesus. In fact, they are just the beginning of a life with Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for wanting an ongoing relationship with me. Help me to see each day as an opportunity to know you more deeply. Amen.
Day 5: Love The Does the Heavy Lifting
Devotional
Sometimes we make faith complicated, thinking we need to earn God's love or prove our worth. But the resurrection shows us that God has already done the heavy lifting. He took the initiative, paid the price, and proved His love through the empty tomb. Our role isn't to earn His love but to receive it. We don't have to clean ourselves up first or reach some spiritual benchmark. God's love meets us exactly where we are, inviting us into a relationship that He has already made possible.
Bible Verse
'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' - Romans 5:8
Reflection Question
What areas of your life are you trying to 'earn' God's love rather than simply receiving it?
Quote
God loves you and he wants a relationship with you. He did the heavy lifting.
Prayer
Father, thank you for doing the heavy lifting in our relationship. Help me to rest in your love rather than trying to earn it. Amen.