April 3, 2005

People of the Resurrection

Acts 2:22-32

Introduction

How has the resurrection of Jesus affected the way that you live your life?

A pastor stood at the back door of his church at the conclusion of his final Easter service. One by one his parishioners passed by to comment on the service. Everyone was very complimentary, except one man. He walked up to the pastor and said in a loud voice, “I will never come to this church again!” Confused the pastor asked, “Why?” The gentleman responded, “Every time I come to this church you sing the same two songs, “Silent Night and Christ the Lord has Risen Today!” (You have to let that one sink in for a while.)

Body

For a preacher this is the worst Sunday of the year. The large crowd at Easter has melted away. Traditionally, this is the lowest attendance Sunday of the year. This is a good week to take off if you are a preacher but this is also a good day to find the truly committed. Your attendance today tells me two things. First, your attendance today tells me you are truly committed to this organizational church. Second, your attendance today tells me are serious about your discipleship. So let me ask you serious disciples a serious question: How has the resurrection of Jesus Christ affected the way you live your life? It is not enough to say you believe in the resurrection with your head. The resurrection should affect your life.

We are people of the resurrection. Easter is not just an historical fact but it should be a life altering experience for you and me. This morning before we come to the communion table let me give you three attitudes that disciples should hold in their lives. Three attitudes that are different from the rest of the world. Three attitudes that are planted in the resurrection. We are people of the resurrection who believe with both our heads and hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead. If you are ready to tackle these three attitudes and apply them to your life then say, “Amen!”

Attitude Number One: Don’t Fear If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus then you should live without fear. Acts 2:25 says, “David said about him: I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.” Fear neutralizes faith and it forces us to focus in on ourselves rather than God.

Is there anyone here this morning that is afraid? Is there anyone here this morning who would like to fix a broken relationship? You haven’t talked to your brother or sister for years because of some ugly scene. You would like to fix that relationship but you are afraid they will laugh at you. Is there anyone here this morning that dreams of starting their own business but you are afraid you will fail? Is there anyone here this morning that is afraid to go back to school because you are afraid you will flunk out? Is there anyone here this morning afraid to eat certain foods because you don’t know if it causes cancer? Is there anyone here this morning afraid to leave America because not everyone likes Americans? Is there anyone here this morning that is afraid? Fear neutralizes faith and it forces us to focus in on ourselves rather then God. If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus then you should fear nothing! The eighth chapter of Romans says, “There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.” Perhaps, that should be your slogan for life. If you are tired of living in fear and dream of living more boldly, then say, “Amen!” We are people of the resurrection!

Attitude Number Two: Don’t Sit If you believe in the resurrection then you have no excuse for accepting second best in your life. Don’t sit around waiting for something good to happen to you. You have the power to improve your life.

Outside of St. Petersburg, Russia there is a town called Pavlovsk. It was named after Catherine the Greats son, Paul. Pavlovsk means “Paul’s City.” In that town there was an old Russian Orthodox Church. I had the privilege of worshipping in that church several years ago. Everything that I have learned about church growth in America does not apply to Pavlovsk. The small church was full. The sanctuary was on the second floor. Worshippers walked up old stairs without the aid of handrails or level steps. The incense was thick and the icons were inspirational. It was a wonderful place to visit and worship God. However, the most intriguing thing about that church was the lack of pews. The parishioners of every age and physical condition stood for the Divine Liturgy. Their worship lasts several hours. We sit through our one-hour worship service.

We have many people who sit through life waiting for some miraculous thing to happen to improve their situation. Perhaps, that is why the lottery and Las Vegas are so popular! People are just waiting for a mountain of cash to come in their direction. Many believe money can solve all their problems.

Can I give you a little pastoral advice this morning? Don’t just sit there, get up and do something with your life. If you don’t like how much you weigh then join a gym and watch what you eat. If you don’t like the balance on your credit cards then cut your credit cards up. You may want to consider a second job. If you don’t like your grades in school then study more. If you don’t like your job then get a new one in a new location. Don’t tell me those things are impossible. We serve a risen Christ. We believe that a dead man came back to life! Nothing is impossible. If you are tired of sitting around waiting for your life to magically improve, then say, “Amen!” We are people of the resurrection!

Attitude Number Three: Don’t Stop If you believe in the resurrection then seize everyday of life. How much time are you wasting? I don’t care where you are in life. You are in this world for a reason. There is still something that God wants you to do. I have never met a disciple who did absolutely nothing. If you are tired of wasting time and hungering for a life of meaning and purpose then say, “Amen!” We are people of the resurrection!

Conclusion

On Friday morning I received a phone call from our District Mission Associate Jean Forbes. I asked her what I have asked everybody this week, how was Easter? She said, “It was great!” She worshipped in a little country church in Virginia. She said it was full. The pastor of that church said, “I am thankful for today because it was the first time I preached to a full house.” Something tells me he is not preaching to a full house today. However, he is preaching to the truly committed. He is preaching to people of the resurrection. I am preaching to people of the resurrection, people who believe in the resurrection with their minds and their hearts.

Let me ask you the question one more time. How has the resurrection of Jesus affected the way that you life your life? We are people of the resurrection and we have a different attitude. We don’t live in fear. We live with boldness. We don’t wait for our world to improve. We are agents of change. We don’t waste time because we know that God has something for us to do today. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”