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Announcements THIS WEEK… Wednesday 7:30PM – Men’s Midweek Saturday 9:00AM – Special Missions Tagging (Mill and University) UPCOMING EVENTS Sun May 4 th – Special Missions Sunday

Easter? The exact origins of this mythical mammal are unclear, but rabbits, known to be prolific procreators, are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs.Pennsylvania Originating among German Lutherans, the Easter Hare originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Eastertide.

Easter. Acts 10:39-43 How did we get so far off focus? Why focus on the Easter bunny? – When you think about the cross, really think about it, you have to change. You have to respond. – Who wants to feel bad about our sin on any day, much less a “holiday.” – Today is a day to take responsibility for the cross. You can’t celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ without first thinking about Christ Jesus and him crucified. Crucifixion is brutal. It’s torture. It’s a slow, agonizing death. Why did he do it?

2 Cor 5: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The spirit of the antichrist… 1 John 4:1-3 It’s NOT a doomsday prophecy. It’s not some specific person. It’s anyone that denies the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You have the Spirit of God, you have the opposite. 2 John 7 Many people…wicked attacks on the core of Christian faith. The crux of everything “Christian” is the cross and the resurrected Christ. 1 Cor 15:12-19 Without the resurrection, we are still in our sins. We have no hope. – “Many Christians imagine some literal wakening from the dead and refuse to accept the slightest hint that the Resurrection might be regarded as symbolic without denigrating it.” – Paul was such a “Christian.” The apostle John, was such a “Christian.” What are you going to believe about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, what are you going to preach? How will it change you today?

1 Cor 1:20-25 (1) Wrestle With The Cross 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Hebrews 12:2-3 Amen for the son-rise. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. It’s what cements he is the messiah.Easter. 2 Peter 1:16, These men paid with their lives for their eyewitness account(s) of Jesus Christ risen from the dead. They died penniless, homeless, and utterly destitute. They died brutally like criminals and yet were innocent. Guilty only of a stubborn, steadfast faith based on the resurrected Jesus.

Acts 2:30-6, Acts 4:8-10 They were not even in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified! It is our sin that put Jesus on the cross. More specifically, your sin. My sin. We need to own it. Without owing sin, the cross is meaningless. If we are not convicted by our sin, there is no way to appreciate the cross and the amazing grace that comes with it. (2) Take Responsibility For The Cross

1 Cor 2:13-16 Sometimes were afraid to make a judgment. We resent being judged. 1 Cor 2 - Makes it clear that when you have the Holy Spirit you make judgments about all things. Without a judgment being made there can be no grace. If you don't convict someone of their sin they will not feel the need for grace. – Mercy is meaningless without a judgment. – Grace is pointless without guilt. John 16:6-11 The Holy Spirit was given so that we would convict the world of our sin. The whole point of getting the Holy Spirit is so that the world will be convicted of the guilt of sin. What does salvation mean without condemnation? Nothing!

(3) The Thought That Changed the World John 1:14 “Grace” – in the Greek is “charis” – that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech – good will, loving-kindness, favor – thanks Full of “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness” and truth. Full of “good will, loving-kindness, favor” and truth. Truth ( alētheia ) - what is true in any matter under consideration. Titus 2:11-14 Grace teaches to say “no” to ungodliness & worldly passions & to live self- controlled, upright & godly lives. If you keep sinning…you’ve learned nothing from grace. – What are you learning from your understanding of grace? Understanding grace changes everything. Starting with your heart and ending with the world. Col 1:6

Grace. Grace is something that requires humility toward one another. – 1 Peter 5:5-12 Grace is not given to a friend of the world. (They are not humble.) – James 4:4-10 Grace has a throne and we can approach it with confidence. – Heb 4:14-16

Eph 2:1-10 & Romans 6:1-7 Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace, it's the name for a girl It's also a thought that changed the world And when she walks on the street You can hear the strings Grace finds goodness in everything Grace, she carries a world on her hips No champagne flute for her lips No twirls or skips between her fingertips She carries a pearl in perfect condition What once was hurt What once was friction What left a mark No longer stings Because Grace makes beauty Out of ugly things Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

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