New Worship Series - Victorious
To the world he seemed like a defeated man: opposed and killed by his enemies, his followers scattered in fear. Yet three days after Jesus' death he rose victorious from the dead. Nothing would ever be the same. The rest of eternity is now a victory march for the risen Christ. During Easter, we should not think of ourselves as passive observers in Christ's victory. We are more than fans cheering for our favorite athlete! Rather, we are active participants in Christ's triumph. Just as his death was our death, so also his life is our life. Buried with Christ in baptism, our life is now hidden with him on high. The victory is ours, now and forever.
Easter is more than a day. It is an entire joyful season. The six solemn weeks of Lent are eclipsed by seven weeks of unbridled joy. These seven weeks correspond to the period of fifty days on the Jewish calendar between Passover and Pentecost. The Church reserves its highest praise for the Easter season. We do not merely watch from the sidelines as Christ marches in victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. We join in the festival procession!
Easter Dawn Worship Theme - Identity in Christ Marches Victorious Over All Flawed Identities
It is natural for the human beings God has made to pursue a healthy sense of self. We want to know who we are. We want to be confident of the basis of our value. Unfortunately, our fallen nature and the fallen world point us in the wrong direction in that pursuit. Lent's call to self-denial and repentance has prepared us for Easter. Christ’s empty tomb is proof that an identity buried with Jesus far surpasses any identity we could hope to discover within ourselves.
Easter Festival Worship Theme - Life Marches Victorious Over Death
Death hung like a suffocating shroud over us all. It was a constant source of sorrow and shame. Death doesn't just bring life to an end. The impending threat of death spoils every moment of life that leads up to it. The moment Christ emerged from the tomb, however, nothing would be the same. Life was unleashed on humanity and it will reign until death and its effects are no more. The salvation Christ brings is not just a rescue from a world gone bad but a resurrection to a world that will once again be good. Christ's victory restores life to us even now. Even as we continue to wipe the tears that death causes, we can defiantly taunt this fallen tyrant: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!