I Love My Church – 7 – My Easter Story
Subject – My Easter Story and Community
by Rick Welborne
John 5:39-40 (NKJV)
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
--For several weeks now we have been preaching a series…I Love My Church…and we have been talking about the whole idea of community. The value or benefit of the local church…of Life Church!
--Many of you are new today and you are our very special guests. Thank you for coming to this wonderful community of God and this Easter Production. God has something wonderful in mind for you.
--We have talked about how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have experienced beautiful community for all eternity and how there came a time that we were invited into that glorious community.
--Jesus, by His coming, His death, His burial, and His resurrection has made it possible for us to be brought into this community…into this wonderful family of God. Not a perfect family…just look around.
--God’s purpose from the very beginning was to make it possible for this community to happen and for it to grow more and more. Listen to what Jesus said when Peter identified Him as the Christ…Son of the Living God
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
--Jesus’ purpose was to build His church (this community) and that is what has been happening since Jesus rose from the dead. That brings us back to this community…Life Church.
--Our purpose has to be His purpose…we want to co-operate with Jesus in building His church. We want to exist as a community of God so that we can invite others into this wonderful family. Thus My Easter Story!
--Life Church…this community…has a community within this community which is called the Life Church Music Department. This group of believers have a beautiful goal in mind for all the work they have been doing.
--They want you to have a personal invitation to be in community with Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ…the local church. Any other purpose is misguided. Back to my original text…Jesus to the Pharisees.
John 5:39-40 (NKJV)
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
--The Pharisees thought there was another way to get into this community or to get eternal life and that was through the scriptures. The scriptures are good, church is good, an Easter program is good but…
--Jesus said it best…40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. You can come to Life Church, you can come shake my hand, you can read your Bible but until you come to Jesus…you are not in.
--I Love My Church and I believe we have a great church. I also believe Pastor Aaron and his team have done a tremendous job in presenting Jesus to us but Jesus has to be the way…the only way to eternal life.
John 10:9-11 (NKJV)
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
--Your Easter Story can start today not because you entered this building, heard a great program, or even heard a short sermon…your story will begin because you come to Jesus. He is the only way.
Acts 4:11-12 (NLT2)
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
--He is the Door to this community of God and He welcomes you to come in today. We welcome you to come to Him today. Be willing to come to Jesus so you can find life and find wonderful community.
--Let today be the day you can say this is My Easter Story!
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