Death Brings New Life

Sermon Summary

It’s a great time of year when new life springs from the ground and from the trees, but let’s not forget that it comes after a season of being dormant, buried, and often dead. We love new life, new things, and birthing the next, but God never skips over the process that He set up at the beginning; that life doesn’t come until after death. There is no resurrection without death, and there is no empty grave without a cross. The most significant event in all of history has taught us one thing: God brings life after death. We have an opportunity to “die daily” by picking up our cross to prepare our hearts for this eternal reality in heaven. If we skip the process now, we might find ourselves in a less desirable situation later. During the busyness of Easter, be mindful of God, and pay attention to what He might want to prune in order for more lasting fruit to come from your life.

Scripture References from the Sermon

1 Corinthians 15:1-4   |   1 Peter 2:19-21   |   Job 14:1   |   John 16:33   |   1 Peter 4:1   |   Luke 9:23-25   |   John 21:12   |   John 21:10-12   |   Luke 24:13-35   |   John 20:19   |   Matthew 28:18-20

Discussion Questions

• Do you agree with Eugene Peterson’s quote–“The single most important and significant fact in all of history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”?
• Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Discuss Paul’s ‘of first importance’ Truth about making the gospel personal to you. 
• Discuss your thoughts on the idea that “Death brings new life.”
• Jesus had a particular mindset about suffering for doing good. What’s hard about having the same mindset? (1 Peter 2:19-21)
• Do you agree that “This world is designed to kill you.”? (Job 14:1, John 16:33)
• What if the suffering in your life was targeting your sin, pride, and selfishness? (1 Peter 4:1)
• How does difficulty help mature you? Why do we have the tendency to pursue shortcuts or  avoidance?
• What does it look like to live out Luke 9:23-25 in areas of meals, work, home, and relationships?

God doesn’t take shortcuts to heaven by bypassing our troublesome humanity.” – Eugene Peterson

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