As we approach Easter Sunday, which is just a couple of weeks away, I’m reminded that Christians should be the most hopeful people on earth. After all, we follow Jesus, believing that he is God-with-us and trusting that he rose from the grave and became the promise that all will be redeemed and renewed forever.
And if we’re hopeful, that will usually show up in the form of Christians being generally positive in their outlook in spite of the realities of sin and suffering in the world.
But… We don’t always look like the most positive people.
Sometimes we look scared, angry, or both. I believe one of the reasons is that we’ve often earned the reputation for being the people who are against things. And even worse, we’re sometimes seen as being against people and not just issues.
What if, however, we became known as the people who were FOR other people? I wrote a post about that very question and wanted to pass it along.
READ: At Least 10 Things Great Churches Are FOR
To continue on that theme, I’ve also put together some notes for a potential sermon about the raising of Lazarus and it’s linked below.
My hope for the church is that we dare to dream of a better world for people, infused with the light and love of God in Christ Jesus. And that’s my hope for you, too!
Keep on growing!
Brandon
This Week’s Big Sermon Idea
Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life
A sermon idea based on John 11:1-45 and assigned for the fifth Sunday of Lent in the current Year A.
Everything is different because God has shown up in the form of his Son, Jesus, who himself IS the resurrection and the life. He offers the promise that there is more to life and more beyond this life than what we can know naturally.
Read and/or Share the Full Article »
Creative Sermon Series Ideas from MinistryPass
My favorite resource for sermon series and message ideas, complete series graphics, and video bumpers (but NOT full notes) to get you started is MinistryPass! Each week, I’ll feature a series I would recommend checking out for the upcoming season of the church year. This week:
From the Description:
This stand-alone message looks at John the Baptist’s declaration in John 1:29: “Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God, and how might that shape our faith in the present?
Check Out This Sermon Series »
Resources for Leaders
- ARTICLE
14 Church Communication Resources to Save You Time and Money
By Joel Gorveatte via Church Juice - ARTICLE
7 Hard Things Great Leaders Do
By Ron Edmondson - ARTICLE
Ever Feel Like You’re Not Doing Enough? Here’s a Different Perspective
By Holley Gerth
If you have a resource relevant to pastors and church leaders that you’d like for me to include, feel free to message me. I can’t always promise inclusion but I’ll definitely take a look.
In Case You Missed It
- ARTICLE: With All This Crazy Weather, Jesus Must Be Coming Soon, Right?
- Podcast Episode #003: God’s Plan for Saving the World, According to Jesus
- ARTICLE: Four Promises Churches and Their Leaders Should Stop Making
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About the Cover Art: Tanner, Henry Ossawa, 1859-1937. Resurrection of Lazarus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
