You can experience God’s power in your life – Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 5

Are there areas of your life that are feeling dead?  Areas where you long for new life?  Maybe work.  Maybe a relationship.  Maybe it’s the general stress of life in 2025. Just like he transformed the Apostle Paul’s life, Jesus’ resurrection is the pathway for new life for us.  Paul would go on to writeContinue reading “You can experience God’s power in your life – Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 5”

Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 4

There is one more piece of evidence that I believe supports the idea that Jesus resurrection is true.  Think about the fact that the Jewish religious leaders hated Jesus. I pause at that word “hate.” I don’t think it is too strong. When we read the Gospel accounts, the many interactions between Jesus and theContinue reading “Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 4”

Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 3

In all four Gospels, guess who the first people are to discover and talk about the resurrection of Jesus?  The Disciples of Jesus, right?  No!  It wasn’t the men; it was the women followers of Jesus who discover the resurrection.  The fact that all four gospel writers specifically describe that it was women followers ofContinue reading “Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 3”

Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 2

Is it believable that Jesus’ disciples stole his body?  For sure, the disciples had cause to steal the body.  They had just given three years of their lives to follow Jesus.  They were invested in Jesus. Furthermore, he had made claims that he was going to rise from the dead.  So to save face andContinue reading “Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 2”

Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 1

Earlier this week I was reflecting on what Holy Week was like about twenty years ago at Faith Church.  We had Maundy Thursday service on Thursday nights, then Good Friday morning we had the Cross Walk, including a big wooden cross with the wheels that we would take turns placing on our shoulder and walkingContinue reading “Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Part 1”

Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Preview

Imagine you’re at Easter dinner with family and friends, and someone asks you, “You don’t really believe in the resurrection of Jesus do you?”  You respond, “I do believe in the resurrection of Jesus.”  They press in, “Seriously.  A dead person comes back to life?  That’s ridiculous, right?”   What do you say to them?   OneContinue reading “Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection, Preview”

Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4

Is it possible that when Jesus shows up, it might be a very sad moment for Christians? Can’t be, right? When Jesus returns, it will be glorious celebration. Except that’s not what the Bible says. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1–4, Paul writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do notContinue reading “Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4”

Why I no longer emphasize the rapture (something else is far more important) – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 3

What will happen to people who are still alive when Jesus returns?  Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 15, “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Paul is talkingContinue reading “Why I no longer emphasize the rapture (something else is far more important) – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 3”

Why Christians have hope in the face of death – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 2

Death sucks. I have pastoral colleagues who say they like doing funerals, not because a person died, of course, but because of the opportunity to have spiritual conversations. I’m really iffy about that. When it comes to rituals of the faith, I’d much rather do a wedding, baptism, or lead the celebration of communion. BecauseContinue reading “Why Christians have hope in the face of death – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 2”

The sleeping kind of death versus the sickness unto death – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 1

Have a listen to the Johnny Cash song, “Ain’t No Grave.” What is it about? Is Cash’s song about zombies? Turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4.  Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like theContinue reading “The sleeping kind of death versus the sickness unto death – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 1”