Easter: Resurrection of the Lord Colossians 3:1-4

Introduction

Easter stands out from every other day. It’s time to celebrate and to reflect: how will you “preach the resurrection” and proclaim the new life we have in Jesus Christ? How do we invite our congregation to experience the Kingdom of God in a fresh way on this day of days?

How will you reach those who only come on Easter or who come for the first time? How will you reach the Christian for whom the resurrection feels far away: the one who just lost a child in an accident or was laid off after years of faithful service?

We need to offer an Easter message that exists in light of, not in spite of, the hardships of our lives. The true good news is good even in the darkest circumstances. We find that in Colossians 3: we “have…

1. Have you ever experienced a works-based version of Christianity? Or maybe one that treated following certain rules (even to do good things) that were supposed to guarantee spiritual or worldly benefits?

2. Why does Paul focus on Christ doing all the work for us? Why is it so important to understand that what Christ did for us is done?

3. Why does Paul reach for the language of death and resurrection when it comes to our new lives in Jesus?

4. Why is it also important to Paul that the resurrection he is talking about is not merely figurative or spiritual and that he talks about the Colossians actually will "appear with him in glory"?

5. We have a tendency to think of Jesus' resurrection as a thing…