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Sermon

Living a Resurrection Life

by Rev. Kirby Williams

Poignantly questioning whether faith in your own resurrection is reflected in the motives and actions of your life.

Text: John 11:53-57
Date: 08/26/2018, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 102

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Description:

As John's amazing 11th chapter comes to an end, the Apostle briefly recounts the state of things in the aftermath of Lazarus' resurrection from the dead. The Sanhedrin formally decides to kill Jesus, the people turn their attention towards preparation for the Passover, and Jesus and His disciples go into a self-imposed exile in a desolate little village on the edge of the wilderness, where they patiently wait for God's timing. We will discuss the reality and the irony of this life-lesson for the disciples and how positive work for the Kingdom often results in personal suffering. But primarily we will focus on Jesus and how His total belief in His own Resurrection governed and directed His actions. With His example in mind, we will ask ourselves whether we truly believe in our own resurrection, or whether that belief has become a cold, lifeless concept. In other words, if you truly believe in the reality of your own resurrection-- are you living a resurrection life?


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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 11:53-57.
A. Context, John 11:4,25-26.
B. On the edge of wilderness, vs. 53-54.
1. The response of unbelief, vs. 53.
2. A self-imposed exile, vs 54.
a. The crescendo of opposition.
b. Why Jesus goes into hiding.
c. Locating Ephraim, 2Chr. 13:19.
d. The disciples on the edge of the wilderness.
3. Finding symbolic significance in the exile at Ephraim.
a. A meaningful location, Matt. 4:1.
i. Emphasizing God's timing, Matt. 4:17.
ii. The resolve of Christ.
b. The irony of the wilderness.
c. The cost of discipleship, John 12:25-26.
d. Flowering in the desert.
C. Setting the stage for the Passion, vs. 55-57.
1. Preparing for the Passover, vs. 55.
a. Pondering the timing.
b. Noticing the sharp contrast, Num. 9:6.
2. Misunderstanding Jesus, vs. 56.
3. The irony to come, vs. 57.
III. Application
A. Introduction to the resurrection life.
1. Questioning your own belief.
2. How belief governs action.
a. Responding to "Fire!"
b. The checkbook of faith.
B. Grasping the resurrection life.
1. Perspectives on the afterlife.
a. The pagan concept of life after death.
i. The perspective of denial.
ii. The fairy tale perspective.
iii. The perspective of horror.
b. The Christian concept of life after death, John 5:28-29, 6:40, 11:25-26, 14:1-3; 1Cor. 2:9.
2. Illustrations from Scripture.
a. Learning from Martha.
b. Learning from the Apostles.
C. Living the resurrection life.
1. Characteristics of the resurrection life.
2. Challenges of the resurrection life.
3. Benefits of the resurrection life.
4. Attaining the resurrection life.
a. An audience of One.
b. Radical discipleship.
b. Resurrection awareness.
IV. Conclusion

The Preaching Ministry of Kirby Williams
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