“God’s NOT Dead” Easter Service 2014 Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ April 20, 2014

Human History

HIS-story Humanity has a deep inner sense of God. Humanity has a deep inner sense of God.

HIS-story Finite man attempts to understand infinite God. Finite man attempts to understand infinite God.

HIS-story Humanity has a deep inner sense of God. Humanity has a deep inner sense of God. Finite man attempts to understand infinite God. Finite man attempts to understand infinite God. Unable to understand, man develops many theories. Unable to understand, man develops many theories.

Isaiah 55:8-9 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I. God reveals Himself to mankind…

 His Works – Creation Isaiah 45:18 For this is what the Lord says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

 His Works – Creation Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse

 His Words – Bible 2 Timothy 3:16a “All Scripture is God- breathed…”

 His Son – Jesus Jn 10:30 “I and my Father are One”… Jn 14:9 “He who has seen me has seen the Father” Col 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God…” Phil 2:6 “Being in the very nature God…” Heb 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”

 His Son – Jesus John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

II. God sent His Son on a mission… Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies!

II. God sent His Son on a mission… Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Born of a virgin! Born of a virgin!

II. God sent His Son on a mission… Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Born of a virgin! Born of a virgin! Message of Truth proclaimed! Message of Truth proclaimed!

II. God sent His Son on a mission… Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies! Born of a virgin! Born of a virgin! Message of Truth proclaimed! Message of Truth proclaimed! Incredible miracles accomplished! Incredible miracles accomplished!

Incredible miracles accomplished! John 20: Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

III. Mission to provide Redemption for all mankind “Redemption” – to pay a ransom, to buy back what was lost… A legal term, Jesus purchased our salvation, the cancelling of a debt…

III. Mission to provide redemption for all mankind Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Redemption / Transferal 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. nlt

IV. Glorious Resurrection - Jesus arose from the dead! Matthew 28:1-4 1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

IV. Glorious Resurrection - Jesus arose from the dead! Matthew 28:5-6 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

God’s NOT Dead! Revelation 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

“Stop doubting and believe”

John 20: A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Forgiveness! Forgiveness!

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Transformation! Transformation!

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Transformation! Transformation! Eternity in Heaven! Eternity in Heaven!

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse... You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.” ~ C.S. Lewis

God’s NOT Dead You will face Him someday…