The Easter Kingdom

The Easter Kingdom

(Preaching Notes)

1)      The Message of Easter

a)      Today is a great celebration of one of the most important historical events (Jesus Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost)

b)     Easter is a day in the church where many people who rarely go to church often go – it is an incredible opportunity that is often missed because we do not ask important questions, “What kind of world does Easter create?” followed by, “How do we participate in creating the world of Easter?”

c)      In order to answer those questions, we need to ask, “What is the Easter kingdom?”

2)      Before we explore the Easter kingdom, it is appropriate to talk about the events of Resurrection Sunday.

a)      Normally we read scriptures about the empty tomb – (Resurrection Sunday paraphrased.) – Then about the hope of eternal life – but are we missing something extremely important and revolutionary?

b)     A different approach to Resurrection Sunday – John 12:28–33 (NKJV) — 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

c)      John 12:23–24 (NKJV) — 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

d)     John 12:26–27 (NKJV) — 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

3)      The Easter Kingdom & The Gospel of the Kingdom

a)      To understand the Easter Kingdom, we need to go back to the beginning.

i)        The Garden

ii)      The Fall  -Man as God and the State as God.

iii)    Tyranny and oppression

b)     Jesus came declaring the arrival of the Kingdom and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.

i)        The money changers put out.

ii)      The battle over the sabbath.

iii)    Healing and miracles were a byproduct not the essence of the kingdom – people kept missing the kingdom because of them.

(1)   Jesus’ brothers

iv)    People were talking about Jesus but did not speak openly for fear of the Jews.

v)      The politics of power and oppression.

vi)    Jesus woke a hope in people for the kingdom.

c)      Good Friday was the day for many people that the dream died.

i)        The crucifixion – Jews and Rome.

ii)      It seemed to confirm the fear that the politics of power and corruption is too great to be overcome.

d)     The Resurrection of Jesus was the resurrection of hope and the triumph of the kingdom of God!

e)      The axe was laid to the root – sin.

4)      It is not just about the historical event, it is about His kingdom coming and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

a)      (Revisit the scriptures above.}

b)     Hebrews 2:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

c)      Romans 6:4 (NKJV) — 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

d)     Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) — 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

e)      Pentecost and overturning the world built on fear.

5)      Enculturating the Kingdom of Easter

a)      One could say that while it took 40 years to prepare the Israelites to enter the promised land, it has taken over 2000 years for the church to embrace and express the kingdom of Easter.

b)     Discipleship is the process of enculturation.

c)      The possibility of Easter for us today.