Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

by Resurrection Life Church

Christianity Religion

Season 3

FSTS: Jesus our Pioneer, Priest, and Provision

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 2:10-18 Pastor Mark wraps up the author of Hebrews' discussion of angels and Jesus. This scripture is actually a transitional passage between demonstrating Jesus' superiority over angels and establishing His superiority over the roles Moses and Aaron played in the Old Testament. The author begins to open the door for us to see how Jesus is the grand Liberator--far greater than Moses. He also begins to show us how Jesus is the great High Priest--far greater than Aaron. Our passage concludes by comforting us in our trials and tribulations: Jesus is our ultimate hope and help.

FROM SHADOW TO SUBSTANCE: We See Jesus

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-9 This Sunday's message comes from a profoundly rich passage. These five verses wrestle with this: If Jesus was superior to angels, and if he's that much more powerful, then why did he appear like any ordinary person? To tackle this question, the author of Hebrews reflects upon Psalm 8. He concludes that Jesus only appeared inferior for a time during his incarnation and particularly in his crucifixion. However, even through these apparent weaknesses, his death didn't diminish his superiority. Jesus' incarnation and crucifixion qualified him all the more to be our Savior-King. So yes, this passage is rich. But it's also practical. If Jesus is so superior, if Jesus is the perfect Savior, then why does it appear that everything is out of control? Hebrews 2:8b-9 invites us to keep our eyes on Jesus despite the supposed evidence around us: "At present, we do not see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who, for a little while, was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus. So, as you listen today and look around, what do you see? Do you see an inferior Jesus in a powerful world, or do you see a powerful Jesus in a broken world?" Do you see the powers of culture overtaking the authority of Jesus, or do you see the power of Jesus reigning over and above the chaos? Do you see the one who is truly in control? May you be comforted as you listen by seeing Jesus. We see Jesus, even within the chaos of our times. History will continue to repeat itself, but Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

FROM SHADOW TO SUBSTANCE: The Superior Son

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 1:1 - 2:5 Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked at big picture themes from the Book of Hebrews. This week, we focus on the first major argument in this book. The author of Hebrews jumps into the deep end of Old Testament proof-texting. The term “proof-texting” can have negative connotations. People can justify all kinds of unbiblical points by misappropriating Scripture. However, in this case, our author teaches us how to use Scripture positively to make a truth claim. In Hebrews 1, the author quotes seven Old Testament passages to prove that Jesus is far superior to the angels. This explanatory chapter gives way to Chapter 2, with an immediate exhortation to resist faith drift. Because Jesus is so much superior to angels, and his message is so much purer as God’s Son, how much more should we heed his message!

FROM SHADOW TO SUBSTANCE: An Overview of Hebrews on a Snowy Sunday

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 1-10 Looking at the first ten chapters of Hebrews, Mark continues our current series “From Shadow to Substance,” with an “Overview of Hebrews on a Snowy Sunday.” This episode is taken from a the special video Pastor Mark recorded to assist worshipers with their worship at home due to the snowy weather and difficult transportation.

FROM SHADOW TO SUBSTANCE: From What to Who

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 1:1-3 The Book of Hebrews is where we will be spending our time this winter and spring. What a glorious gift it is to feast upon such a treasure trove of truth! We kick-start this sermon series by focusing on Hebrews 1:1-3. It’s quite the challenge to find more theologically rich verses in all of God’s Word. In fact, Pastor Mark is pretty excited to dive into the details of this passage. The poetic details within these three verses reveal a plethora of distinctions between what was in the Old Testament and who is in the New Testament. It also reveals a glorious tension between Christ’s cosmic transcendence and His personal eminence.

Season 2

Rebuild: Powerful Hope for Christian Failure

With this podcast, we complete our sermon series in Ezra–Nehemiah by examining Nehemiah, Chapter 13. What might Nehemiah 13 have to do with the coming of Christ? Well, everything, as we will see. Like the books of Deuteronomy, Judges, and 2 Kings, the Book of Nehemiah ends with a sense of incompleteness and uncertainty. Although in Chapters 9 and 10, God’s people agreed in writing to repent of various sins and, at last, to obey God. Nehemiah points out in this final chapter that the people have fallen into the same sins yet again! The book leaves the reader longing to discover power for real inward change, for transformation that brings consistent growth in obedience to God. Can you relate to our spiritual forefathers’ experience here? Have you ever felt — or do you even now feel — “stuck” in a cycle of sin, repentance, resolve, and repetition of the same sins? God’s good news is that Jesus Christ came not only to bear the penalty of our sin, but also to clothe us with the power to grow in Christlike character now. Subscribe and share this podcast with a friend or relative who shares this same dilemma or is looking for a new church home!

REBUILD: Corporate Confession

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 9 This week, we take a good, hard look at another worship service from Nehemiah 9. Last week’s sermon on Nehemiah 8 described an atypical ideal for corporate worship: Ezra reads from the Law, leaders preach among the people, the people respond, and Nehemiah shepherds the people out with the call to rejoice. Nehemiah 9 records another corporate gathering occurring later that same month. However, this time, the chapter contains the content preached by the Levites. For six hours, the people listen to the Law. For an additional six hours, the people heard it applied. That application is essentially a retelling of redemptive history. It is a long chapter because it is a long story of redemption. First, we’ll read all of Nehemiah 9 to hear how this story of redemption is really a confession of sin coupled with a confession of God’s grace. As one commentator puts it, "it is a chapter of corporate confession pulsating between God’s grace and the people's ingratitude." It is yet another challenging chapter that helps us grow in the awareness of our own depravity, but likewise in our grasp of the grandness of God’s amazing grace. What a God we serve! He puts up with so much, and yet He still provided His Son to atone for all our sin. Praise be to God!

REBUILD: Word-Centric Worship

SCRIPTURE: Neh. 8:1-12 This week we return to the book of Nehemiah, for our second week of Advent. For Advent, we are looking through the lens of Ezra and Nehemiah to help us prepare our hearts for the King. Last week, we focused on hope. This week, we focus on joy. Our passage in Nehemiah 8:1–12 ends on a joyful note. As a result of listening to God’s Word and adhering to both Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s commands, the people experience not merely joy, but “great” joy. Listening to the Word produces a festive, generous, and cheerful response. Of course, in Christ, with the arrival of the Word-Made-Flesh, we get to experience this kind of festiveness, generosity, and cheerfulness each moment of every day. This doesn’t produce happy-clappy Christianity, but a depth of joy that outpaces our guilt, shame, and brokenness, as well as our feelings of frailty and anxiety. After listening, may you be motivated and inspired to go into this world with this eternal joy.

REBUILD: Fierce Resolve

NEHEMIAH 6 and 7:1-4 This week we are privileged to focus on Nehemiah 6. What an intriguing chapter! It’s filled with four major attempts to attack Nehemiah’s health, reputation, integrity, and life. For the murder-mystery types, this chapter is for you. Nehemiah truly was an outstanding leader—a hero, in fact. As we focus on his fierce resolve against relentless oppression, we once again read about an Old Testament Christ-figure. Certainly, Christ is the prototype leader who faced oppression no one has ever faced or could ever face. At the same time, just because Nehemiah was a Christ-like figure doesn’t mean we can’t be just as fierce in our resolve in 2025. That Christ gave us the fullest expression of a hero doesn’t let us off the hook. Even today, we are called to live with a fierce resolve to stand on the gospel, willing and able to withstand the devil’s schemes. As we focus on Nehemiah 6, we pray the Holy Spirit will continually strengthen us by grace in Christ (II Timothy 2:1) as Christ’s ambassadors!

REBUILD: Fierce Generosity

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah Chapter 5 More problems plague the first generation of new exiles in Jerusalem in Nehemiah 5. Problems exist from the outside—enemies surround Israel who do not want these Jews to succeed. However, in Nehemiah 5, we encounter significant internal problems. The economy is plagued by, well, a plague. Actually, more than that, the upper class uses extortion, exorbitant taxation, and high interest rates to exploit their own people! So much so, some lower-class farmers are forced to sell their own children into slavery (bondservitude). The situation is dire, indeed. Enter Nehemiah! He addresses issues with a stern rebuke, forcing the upper crust to commit to change, including taking religious vows to hold them accountable. It’s hard to imagine how important a figure like Nehemiah was. Without his extreme approach to fixing the economic crisis, one can only wonder how long Israel would self-implode. However, redemptive history involves God’s overpowering and overreaching hand through people to achieve His purposes and promises. It’s a practical and challenging chapter. May the Lord use this Sunday Sermon for His glory and our good. Peace, Pastor Mark

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