Victory in Disguise
Sermon Notes
[Luke 24:1-7] But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. [2] They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. [3] So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. [5] The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? [6] He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, [7] that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day."
If God had done things our way we might have been IMPRESSED, but we wouldn’t have been SAVED.
[1 Corinthians 1:18] The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
Only God can build a RESUCE plan around SUFFERING.
[Matthew 27:42] "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!
The cross wasn’t a MISTAKE, it was the MISSION.
[Colossians 2:13-15] You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. [14] He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [15] In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Jesus didn’t come to fix your CIRCUMSTANCES, He came to fix your CONDITION.
[Luke 24:21a] We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.
The resurrection begins where people ASSUME the story is OVER.
[1 Corinthians 15:54-57] Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" [56] For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. [57] But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What looked like DEFEAT was actually VICTORY in disguise.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: How do you celebrate Easter?
Read Col 2:13-15 & discuss what stands out.
Tell about a time you expected something to go one way but it went a different way.
Share of a time God did something different from what you wanted, but it ended up better..
What expectation of God do you need to let go of?
Is there anything this group can pray for?