Tag: Easter

“I have seen the Lord” What difference does Easter make? (John 20)

On Friday the tomb was closed and sealed.  We left the disciples deserted, despairing, denying, and doubting. Then came the dawn of that Sunday morning . Some women arrive at the tomb and see angels before heading off to tell the other disciples back at Bethany.  On the way, they meet Jesus. Mary Magdalene seems… Continue reading “I have seen the Lord” What difference does Easter make? (John 20)

What difference does Easter make?

Here’s my story of the difference that Easter/The Resurrection has made in my life. In fact, today marks a double celebration. As well as it being Easter Sunday, it’s also the 45th anniversary of when I put my trust in Jesus. Here are some thoughts on how to preach the difference the resurrection makes

Sunday is coming …but we don’t need to wait in uncertainty

I’ve written before about two things, one is about the tendency to use a meme about Friday being about darkness, tragedy and defeat but “Sunday is coming.”   I’ve highlighted this as an example of how not to preach at Easter in this video. The other thing I’ve picked up on from time to time is… Continue reading Sunday is coming …but we don’t need to wait in uncertainty

Don’t fall into the “Sunday’s Coming” meme trap

An annual reminder! Here’s part two on preaching the resurrection. Some approaches give the impression that Friday was a tragic defeat and so we need to wait for God’s victory with Easter Sunday correcting the damage done. This is to over divide Jesus’ death and resurrection. He won the victory on the Cross. He was… Continue reading Don’t fall into the “Sunday’s Coming” meme trap

We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do

My friend, Steve Kneale has written here about why you don’t need to celebrate Easter.  His crucial point is that there is nothing in the Bible that requires us to celebrate any of the key festivals.  We might add that it would be silly to be legalistic about Christmas and Easter, possibly in some places… Continue reading We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do

Evangelistic Easter?

It was early 2011, we had been at Bearwood Chapel for a few months and one of the Trustees asked “Can we have a proper Easter?”  The church tradition was Brethren and historically the movement has not made a big deal of the big moments in the church calendar.  My response was “Yes of course,… Continue reading Evangelistic Easter?

Prodigals, Adam, Death and Resurrection (An Easter reflection)

It’s Easter Sunday and I find myself drawn back to three key things in Luke’s Gospel.  First, we have the Resurrection Sunday afternoon walk on the Emmaus Road.  Jesus works his way through Scripture to show that the whole account was pointing towards him and his death and resurrection. Then back in Luke 3:21-38, we… Continue reading Prodigals, Adam, Death and Resurrection (An Easter reflection)

40 days in Isaiah – a Lent course

We are approaching Lent, the build up to Easter. Whilst there is no compulsion on believers to observe particular seasons, fasts and festivals, many do find it helpful to set aside specific time for prayer, reflection and study. Last year I put together a series of readings and studies working through Isaiah as a potential Lent course. You… Continue reading 40 days in Isaiah – a Lent course

The Harrowing of Hell and the filling of silence

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed two particular trends at Easter and I suspect they are linked. The first, that seemed to start earlier was that some Christians began to start making a bigger deal of the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Comments include that we shouldn’t be in a rush to… Continue reading The Harrowing of Hell and the filling of silence