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Apr 12, 2020

Encounters: Mary, the first witness of the Resurrection (Click here for Resources)

Passage: John 20:1-18

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Encounters with Jesus

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: easter, resurrection, alive, witness

The resurrection is the key to the Gospel. Jesus’ death paid for our sins and his resurrection sealed our forgiveness and adoption into God’s family because, by rising again, Jesus fully and finally conquered death, the great enemy. To make his first resurrection appearance and announcement Jesus went to Mary Magdalene, a woman that had long been a part of his inner-circle. She was then the first to be commissioned to spread the “good news” (Gospel) to the disciples and beyond. In that culture women were disenfranchised and were not even legally allowed to be witnesses in a court of law. So Jesus turns her (and our) “disqualifications” into qualifications; he elevates and empowers those who the world devalues. His Resurrection makes all things new...already and not yet.

4.12.20 GBV Easter Service from Grace Brevard on Vimeo.

Order of Worship

CALL TO WORSHIP: 1 Corinthians 15:12-14, 17, 20-21

MUSIC: 

  • Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
  • Resurrecting Me
  • Because He Lives

PRAYER: Crucifixion & Resurrection (The Valley of Vision)

LEADER: O Lord, I marvel that you would be crucified, buried, and risen the third day.

ALL: The gospel attests it. The witnesses prove it. Our hearts experience it.

LEADER: Give me to die with Thee that I may rise to new life. Continually freed from everything contrary to Your Word. Grant me more of the resurrection life.

ALL: That I may walk in its power. Clothed in righteousness. Changed by its influence. Joy in obedience. Proclaiming this good news.

CENTRAL TEXT: John 20:1-18

MESSAGE: Encounters w/ Jesus: Mary the First Witness

BENEDICTION: Romans 8:11 & 1 Corinthians 6:14   

Discussion Questions:

    1) The Death of Hope
    How have you felt hopeless over the past month or so?

    What have you lost, or fear you might lose?

    How do you think Mary and the disciples felt?
    Look at what Mary said...what was going on with her?

    The disciples seemed to have a glimmer of shadowy hope.
    What do you think was going through their minds?

    Why did Mary stay behind when the other ran back?

    How is our appreciation of Easter = to how broken we are?

    2) The Resurrection of Hope
    At first Mary didn’t recognize Jesus.
    How do we so often “not recognize Jesus”?
    or only partially recognize/appreciate the risen Jesus?

    Was Jesus belittling Mary’s tears?

    Read Acts 2:22-24 -- the first Easter Sermon -- unpack 2:24

    3) The Living Hope
    What does the resurrection matter in real life?

    Look at these three major results of the Resurrection:

    a) Eternally Living Hope.
    What non-living hopes are you lamenting right now?
    What does it look like to rest on The Living Hope?

    b) Eternally Living Family.
    What does it look like and mean to have a new family?

    c) Eternally Living Empowerment
    Think about the power Mary had to carry the Gospel.
    How have we been empowered now by the Spirit?