Easter Sunday: Date: April 20, 2014
– THE SERMON: Matthew 28:1-8
Theme: The Message of an Empty Tomb
I. The Scary Spectre of an Empty Tomb
II. He Is Risen! – A Message of Hope and Joy
III. A Message to Share with Urgency
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: Bulletin
THE ORDER OF SERVICE
EASTER GREETING: Psalm 118:22-24
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV)
HYMN 199 Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION:
P: Beloved of God: On this Easter morning, let us with a true heart confess our sins to God our Father, asking Him, in the Name of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness.
C: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer: we confess that we are sinful by nature, and have sinned against You in our thoughts, words, and actions. We have not loved You above all things. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Have mercy on us, and, for the sake of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us our sins.
P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given His only Son Jesus Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. God raised God from the dead proving His acceptance of the full payment of our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of the risen Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
HYMN 187 Christ Is Arisen
RESPONSIVE READING: Isaiah 25:6-9
And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people
A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees.
7 And He will destroy on this mountain
The surface of the covering cast over all people,
And the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
9 And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the Lord; We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
EASTER COLLECT: Congregation: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT EASTER READING: Job 19:23-27
Long before Jesus was even born Job found his comfort and hope of eternal life in a Risen Redeemer.
“Oh, that my words were written!
Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
24 That they were engraved on a rock
With an iron pen and lead, forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (NKJV)
THE EASTER EPISTLE LESSON: 1 Peter 1:3-9
We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He lives we know that we possess in incorruptible inheritance of eternal life reserved for us in Heaven.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
(NKJV)
HYMN 200: 1-3, 7-8 I Know that My Redeemer Lives!
THE EASTER GOSPEL: John 20:1-18
The tomb is empty. But it is not cause for sadness or tears. The Lord is risen and ascended to our God and Father in heaven.
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (NKJV)
HYMN 192: Awake My Heart, with Gladness
THE APOSTLES CREED (hymnal p.12)
HYMN 210 The Strife Is O’er
SERMON: Matthew 28:1-8
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. (NKJV)
Theme: The Message of an Empty Tomb
I. The Scary Spectre of an Empty Tomb
II. He Is Risen! – A Message of Hope and Joy
III. A Message to Share with Urgency
HYMN 189 He Is Arisen! Glorious Word!
Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
The Offering of Joyous and thankful hearts
Hymn 188 Hallelujah! Jesus Lives
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
The Agnus Dei: p. 28
THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
We observe the Scriptural practice of close communion. Since participation in communion is a confession of unity of teaching and faith, you will not want to commune with us until you have had a chance to compare your beliefs with ours. Please speak with the pastor to set up an appointment – we want to share this blessing with you!
Pastor: Prayer. Congr. Amen
BENDICTION Congregation: Amen, Amen, Amen.
CLOSING HYMN 207:1-2 Like the Golden Sun Ascending