Our church have been enjoying a series working through Exodus. We’ve actually taken a break from it for ster. However, the Exodus story is intrinsically connected to Easter. The account of Jesus’ death and resurrection echoes the Exodus narrative. Here are a few ways in which it does. Jesus is betrayed, beaten, mocked, oppressed, identifying… Continue reading Exodus and Easter
Tag: Easter
He is risen… He is risen indeed, alleluia
So goes the traditional Easter Sunday greeting. I love Easter and all it represents. As with Christmas, I’m a bit of a traditionalist on this. I think this is an incredible opportunity to sing great, joyful hymns, rich in the truth of the resurrection. It does seem that slightly older, more traditional hymns do this… Continue reading He is risen… He is risen indeed, alleluia
The now and not yet of Easter Saturday
It’s perhaps time for my traditional protest about those who try to make a thing out of “Easter Saturday.” There really isn’t such a thing! The Gospel accounts all move directly from the events of Good Friday to Sunday morning. Saturday was a Sabbath Day of course, so there was nothing that the Jewish followers… Continue reading The now and not yet of Easter Saturday
“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
How (not) to preach the resurrection
Don’t fall into the trap of answering questions that people aren’t asking this Easter.
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?
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