1. Easter Sunday slide I’m pastor shawn and you’re looking good!
don’t mind all the joy and enthusiasm
1. Easter: what our faith is all about the resurrection of Jesus
2. Excited that we are all together today (survey)
Over 100 online viewers: We love you
Survey “BETTER TOGETHER”
Third question may seem odd as a first time guest
easter is all about new beginnings
you can’t have a new beginning without a next step
So you can answer that and question 4 later
But first let’s remember what Easter is all about!

2. Easter celebrates . . .
the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory over death it brings to all who believe
That is what the real easter story is all about

3. Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God and one another.
(Romans 4:25, NLT)

4. If we believe and are united with Jesus in His death, we will also be raised to victory and new life as He was.
(Romans 6:5, NET)

5. go from failure to victory (right uva?)
Love to see good have victory over evil – culture spends billions

6. We love to watch good defeat evil
Its not right if evil wins in the end(game)

7. We love to see people’s career’s rise again and end in victory.
We love people finding victory after defeat
But these aren’t the most important victories of life
We root for teams and players and imagine battles for good to overcome evil
But they aren’t the most important battles

8. The most important battes are the ones we wage inside
Battles
against: depression, selfishness, lust, addition, greed and pride
In fact one philosopher once said . . .

9. “The hardest battle you will ever have to fight is between who you are now and who you should be.” (Ezra Taft Benson)
I would say: “The greatest battle is between who you are And who God made you to be”
The Bible says you I were created to have victory
But we have an enemy that in Satan and our own selfishness constantly leads us to defeat
In fact, while millions of people root for victory for their favorite team or player
We can often lose the most important battles
Like these – pic of family

10. This is where I need the resurrection of Jesus to bring victory in my life.
In my most important relationships, in my marriage, family, friendships and church family
Why? Because my life is only as good as my relationships
But my relationships are the most under attack and what dies so often in our world
And today –I don’t want you to have a great service
I want you to meet God in such a way that you will have a great life, a great marriage
But you might say – Shawn – that’s already over – that’s dead and gone
And I would say – welcome to Easter

11. What It Means To Believe In Jesus & His Resurrection For My Most Important Relationships John 11:4-44 (focusing on Martha learning to believe)
Because there was a woman who said she believe in Jesus – who sees everything she hoped for in her family die
Story: Martha who believes in Jesus watches her brother die / he has died physically – her relationship with him seemed to end
And some of us hear –we have had love ones pass and we need to remember the resurrection for the next life
But there are lot of us hear – that need to remember Jesus resurrection for people who are still alive on this earth but dead in our hearts.
In this true story – everything Martha thought she understood about believing in Jesus and his resurrection is changed
By the end of this story – Martha has seen the resurrection of her brother in her life
And I believe Jesus is promising that for us as well.
READ & PRAY)
God you know the battles we face
And you know our hearts. You know where relationships have died and reached a dead end.
Please speak to us today
Show us what it is to believe and live in the resurrection
To see your miraculous victory in relationships and hope. I pray. amen

12. To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we: 1
To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we: 1. don’t give up on relationships that have died [v4]
Jesus promises us resurrection
Death is not a sign that God is not with you or given up on a relationship
Death, Deadends – that’s where you see Jesus
That’s not the time to - give up or run away.
Our culture that runs away when things die
Don’t run when you see the death and deadends
Let me tell the truth: Every worthwhile relationship in your life will come to a deadend
Because there are seasons!!!!
Don’t run from your marriage, family, church, your failure to recover from addiction
Ask my wife –what she thought I would always be for her died & deadended
Not Because God didn’t mean it to be
No because God wants more than what we thought it could be – the old had to die
From this day forward - you can’t say you believe Jesus is the resurrection and give up on your marriage, your family, your church, those who love you

13. To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we … 2
To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we … 2. ask Jesus to make dead relationships alive, not bad relationships work. [v25-26]
Jesus invites Mary to believe one thing: I make dead people alive again
But so often – we believe Jesus makes bad people good
Churches think – Jesus came to make bad people good / bad relationships work
No –he came to let the old attitudes, expectations, lies and priorities die
And then bring you the same person to you – in a resurrected way
We have to stop asking Jesus to look at our relationships and our priorities like I do home repair!

14. We need to stop asking God to tape up the bad
stop asking God to make the bad work
(this is my handy man skills at home )
Something needs to die and go away – but its not family relationships, church,
– but let the old die – attitudes, priorities, schedules, habits
Let Jesus give you a resurrection / not an escape and not a patch job
(JESUS DID THAT FOR ME ON AN EASTER WEEKEND LONG AGO)
Jesus asks –do you think I can do it. Do you believe I am the resurrection - WE SAY YES and then . . .

15. To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we … 3
To believe in Jesus and His resurrection means we … 3. obey Jesus in relationships more than in religion
Jesus invites Mary to believe one thing: I make dead people alive again
But so often – we believe Jesus makes bad people good
Churches think – Jesus came to make bad people good / bad relationships work
No –he came to let the old attitudes, expectations, lies and priorities die
And then bring you the same person to you – in a resurrected way
We have to stop asking Jesus to look at our relationships and our priorities like I do home repair!

16. Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
Important
The Word says: Seeing is believing
Jesus says: Believing comes before seeing
IN OTHER WORD Believing comes before your relationships change
Good news of easter is if you believe in Jesus you will change
Change your believing and Jesus will change what you see
Look for him in the deadend – don’t run away, don’t explain to Him why he is wrong
Ask for new life, not old fixes
Do it now
Because when Jesus asks us to believe he is not talking about
(John 11:40, NIV)

17. I hope so
Maybe we (make hand praying)
Moving our hands, but not moving our feet – isn’t believing
Don’t move or do anything – but we ask to fix things or bless us
But this isn’t the believing Jesus is talking about
Here is the best way I can explain what believing means

18. Leave what you are used to
Start to take one step to what seems like you can’t do
Balance – the impossible and the practical
And see how Jesus can bring you to where you nevre thought you could be
Blondin / do you believe I can do what no one can

19. When we go across
And you feel us falling to a side
Don’t try to save yourself
Trust me to get us across
That’s what Jesus asks Martha –do you believe
Leave the usual for my impossible in that battle

20. Don’t just “believe”. BE-LEAVE your old relationship plans and patterns.
Martha realizes what Jesus means by believing and she says yes. She be-leaves what she thinks
And she sees resurrection happens
This is what Jesus is asking us today
Do you believe I can bring you where you never thought you could be
He can
Ask our members Tyshawn and Jazmine

21. Video Testimony of Jazmine & Tyshawn

22. You will see the victory of Jesus and His resurrection in the battles you face when you BE-LEAVE!

23. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25–26, NIV)

24. You have to let him take you where you could never go yourself
Balance – the impossible with everyday practical
Today I will just do what Jesus ask me – I will hold on
In fact the bible says for you to have unending, eternal life
You have to believe in the impossible with the practical

25. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ‎
Your heart leaves the old things you trust, old attitudes about yourself and people
(Romans 10:9, NLT)

26. A – I already truly believe in Jesus
If you have – what do you next step do you need / leave old attitudes, fears or places of defeat

27. A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in
A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in Jesus today
Can check that today – say a prayer

28. A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in
A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in Jesus today C - I'll consider this a bit more
Don’t wait – we never know when the next battle will attack us
But also you are always welcome here
Next week finish the story of Lazarus
Because new life trapped in the old –Jesus teaches us what it looks like to be-leave and then be-live a new way

29. A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in
A – I already believe in Jesus B - I'd like to begin and believe in Jesus today C - I'll consider this a bit more D - I don't ever intend on making that decision
Will pray for you

30. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead
This is the power to give you victory in the most important battles in life.
Dear Jesus,
I believe that you died for my sins
And I believe that you were resurrected for my victory
Please forgive me of my unbelief and my sin
Come and be lord of my life
And give me a new heart and mind to follow you by faith.
I want your impossible future for me
And for those I love.
I thank you for being with me forever more.
Amen.
(Eph 1:19-20, NLT)

31. Please place your Easter survey with any prayer requests, praises or questions you may have in the offering buckets as they pass by
We leaving the usual idea of money only being for us –give to god;s purpsoses
If you want to talk to Tyshawn or Jaz or someone for prayer – connection center
Hope you can next week as we talk about next steps
Lord, thank you for new life, victoyr and next steps
Receive our decisions and our tithes and offerings
Help so many more know you through them
In Jesus name - amen