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Apr 16, 2017

Easter: Living Risen

Passage: Acts 9:1-19

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Acts: The Perpetual Power of the Gospel

Jesus has raised from the dead! He has decimated death, throwing fear and sin into the abyss as he rose from the ashes. Now the Risen Jesus meets us on whatever road we are on regardless of our scandalous past or our muddy present, inviting us to join him in His Resurrection as we trade our blindness for sight and our life-taking belligerence for life-giving service.

Worship Order

Call To Worship: Matthew 28:1-7a ESV

4.16.17 Songs

Grace Band: Piano & Vocals - Tonya Hudson, Vocals - George Floyd, Guitar - Greg Cheadle, Bass - Jeff Hinkle, Drums - Andrew May

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1,3-10 ESV

Illustration: Risen - Free

Central Text: Acts 9:1-19a ESV

Sermon Title: Living Risen

4.16.17 Slides

Illustration: My Story (based on actual testimonies at Grace)

Testimony: Emily Land

Prayer: Resurrection (adapted from The Valley of Vision)

Benediction: Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV

Scripture Readings

Call To Worship: Matthew 28:1-7a ESV
LEADER: 1 Now after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women,

 

ALL: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead,

 

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1,3-10 ESV
LEADER: 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:

 

ALL: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

 

LEADER: 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

 

ALL: 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not in vain.

 

Central Text: Acts 9:1-19a ESV
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

 

Prayer: Resurrection (adapted from The Valley of Vision)
 
ALL: O Redeeming God. Giver of new life.
Great is the finished work of Your Son.  
He burst the bands of sin and death,
trampled the powers of darkness down,
and lives forever.
 
LEADER: Our gracious surety, comes forth from the grave
free and triumphant. Conqueror. Victorious.
 
ALL: Show me herein the proof that his offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied.
That the devil’s sceptre is shivered
and his wrongful throne levelled.
 
LEADER: Give us assurance that in Christ we died,
in Him we rise. In His life we live. In His victory we triumph.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
 
ALL: His death is our life. His resurrection our peace,
His ascension our hope. His prayers our comfort.
Our Redeemer lives.

 

Benediction: Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
LEADER: 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

 

ALL:  21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Post-Service Text: Acts 9:17b-19 ESV
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;  

 


Related Scriptures:

John 3:1-8 ESV
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Discussion Questions

  1. Describe the “spiritual path” of your life. How did it start? Where is it (are you) now?
  2. Have there been times where you felt like you were unforgivable, that you had gone too far for God’s gracious arms to reach? When have you felt that same way about somebody else and their situation or sin? What would you have to believe about God and Grace (and the level of Jesus’ sacrifice) to believe that somebody is “too far”?
  3. When has Jesus radically interrupted you on your path? What did that look like? How did you react? What was the result?
  4. Because Jesus actually rose from the dead, he meets us on our paths and calls us to “rise” with him. What would it look like for you to “live risen” today? How are you not “living risen”?

Books & Docs

The Jihadi who turned to Jesus - article

Quotes

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 

“If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 

Related Sermons

The Gospel to the Pharisee by Timothy Keller

Acts 9:1-11, 17-19

 

What Happens in the New Birth? - John Piper

John 3:1-10

 

The Resurrection by Sinclair Ferguson

1 Corinthians 15

Related Media

 4.16.17 Media