Sermon Illustrations for Easter Day (2021)
Illustration
Acts 10:34-43
Peter extends the grace of God to all the inhabitants of his land. This is a departure from the purity separation of Jews and Gentiles. Peter opens the invitation to all the people to love and follow Jesus, to move into the embrace of a loving God. There is no separation. All are welcome. There will be debates later about who can be included, who is to be blessed, who is to be baptized and we, as Christians, have continued to put those barriers in place. Yet, in this proclamation Peter reminds us, each and all, that God welcomes us, loves us, blesses us. That is the message of the resurrection, of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are God’s people.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Acts 10:34-43
Preaching on this lesson, Martin Luther summarized the core of the lesson:
Faith must be of such character as to apprehend and hold fast the truth... That is, [it] must ascribe to Christ alone the entire agency, merit and power responsible for remission of sins; we must believe we have forgiveness not through our own worthiness, but for Christ’s sake alone. (Complete Sermons, Vol.4/1, pp.197-198.)
This emphasis is especially needed in 21st century America, as a 2017 Pew Research Center poll found that 52% of Americans believe you must do works along with faith in order to be saved. Famed modern theologian Karl Barth offered some other thoughtful reflections on what Easter means for our everyday outlooks on life:
Easter is indeed the great pledge of our hope, but simultaneously the future is already present in the Easter message. It is the proclamation of a victory already won. The war is at an end – even though here and there troops are still shooting because they have not heard anything yet about the capitulation. The game is won, even though the player can still play a few further moves. Actually, he is already mated. (Dogmatics in Outline. pp.122-123.)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
William Sangster was a Methodist preacher in England. He died in 1959. As his health deteriorated, he lost the use of his legs and voice. He was still able to write, although barely. On Easter morning, just a few days before his death, he wrote a letter to his daughter. In the letter, he wrote, "It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, ‘He is risen!’ But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout."
There is no greater day than the day Jesus rose from the dead. Paul declares it to be “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3.). It is the heart of the gospel message.
Henry Morris, one of the founders of the Creation Research Society, wrote, “The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God, and the Christian faith is absolute truth.”
Bill T.
* * *
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
In the resurrection narratives of Luke the evangelist, Jesus twice tells his disciples, on the road to Emmaus and before his ascension in Acts that his death and resurrection happen “…according to the scriptures.…” In Mark 8, Jesus uses the scriptures to explain ahead of time that this will all happen “…according to the scriptures…”. And in this crucial passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians the apostle says the same thing.
Of course, there isn’t a book in the Old Testament where there’s this magic passage that lays everything out in black and white the way our western minds would prefer. But for the first Christians the Hebrew Scriptures were an open book – at least in the Greek translation known as the Septuagint. The suffering servant passages in Isaiah are familiar enough to us with regards to the way we Christians apply them to the passion of Jesus. Here’s another passage, from Hosea 6:1-3, calling the people to repentance, but it’s reference to raising us up on the third day might also have raised alarm bells for Christians. At the very least, this might make a good passage to use in your call to worship Easter morning.
Come, let us return to the Lord;
for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Frank R.
* * *
John 20:1-18
In an Easter sermon on this text Martin Luther told a story that is so fitting for us today:
People tell jokes of this sort: “Once there was as village mayor who was about to die. When his pastor came to him and comforted him with the resurrection of the dead, he said, ‘Dear Pastor, is it really true that the dead will rise? Very well, to please you I will believe it, but you will see; nothing will come of it.” This is supposed to be a joke, but it might as well be perfectly serious... One finds few people on earth who earnestly believe this article. (Luther’s Works, Vol.69, p.286.)
A 2013 Harris Poll indicated that 35% of Americans do not think he has arisen. What are we to make of this skepticism?
The answer lies in becoming more scientific, learning about physics’ principle of uncertainty. Most Americans have been miseducated about science to think that it provides absolute answers. Physicists have come to realize that science at its best can only rule out certain claims with the data discerned. This means that if there is no evidence that Jesus’ body was stolen by his followers, belief in the Resurrection is a viable possibility (see 1 Corinthians 15:17.)!
What does all this entail for everyday life? What difference does faith in the Resurrection entail? Luther explained tells us in the same sermon just cited:
If anyone could fully comprehend how rich and comforting these words are, he would become drunk with joy and delight, just as Mary Magdalene is drunk with devotion and love for the Lord. Everything in the world would smell foul to him. He would not make a god out of the riches, money, goods, power, splendor, and glory of this world... (Luther’s Works, Vol.69, p.306.)
Mark E.
* * *
John 20:1-18
The role of women in the church has been debated since before the scriptures were written. Could women teach, lead, bless? Could they be teachers of the word and pastors of the sacraments? There are still communities that debate this, that eliminate women from leadership roles in the church. If there was one scripture that clearly negates the limitations of women in the church, it should be this passage. It is Mary Magdalene who comes to the tomb. It is Mary who first encounters the risen Christ. It is Mary who serves as the messenger of the Good News that Jesus has been resurrected. Given that leadership role, how could any other leadership be restricted? Read this text. Celebrate this moment. Then dismantle the barriers for the “others” whose service and leadership we have limited. All can proclaim the word!
Bonnie B.
Peter extends the grace of God to all the inhabitants of his land. This is a departure from the purity separation of Jews and Gentiles. Peter opens the invitation to all the people to love and follow Jesus, to move into the embrace of a loving God. There is no separation. All are welcome. There will be debates later about who can be included, who is to be blessed, who is to be baptized and we, as Christians, have continued to put those barriers in place. Yet, in this proclamation Peter reminds us, each and all, that God welcomes us, loves us, blesses us. That is the message of the resurrection, of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are God’s people.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Acts 10:34-43
Preaching on this lesson, Martin Luther summarized the core of the lesson:
Faith must be of such character as to apprehend and hold fast the truth... That is, [it] must ascribe to Christ alone the entire agency, merit and power responsible for remission of sins; we must believe we have forgiveness not through our own worthiness, but for Christ’s sake alone. (Complete Sermons, Vol.4/1, pp.197-198.)
This emphasis is especially needed in 21st century America, as a 2017 Pew Research Center poll found that 52% of Americans believe you must do works along with faith in order to be saved. Famed modern theologian Karl Barth offered some other thoughtful reflections on what Easter means for our everyday outlooks on life:
Easter is indeed the great pledge of our hope, but simultaneously the future is already present in the Easter message. It is the proclamation of a victory already won. The war is at an end – even though here and there troops are still shooting because they have not heard anything yet about the capitulation. The game is won, even though the player can still play a few further moves. Actually, he is already mated. (Dogmatics in Outline. pp.122-123.)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
William Sangster was a Methodist preacher in England. He died in 1959. As his health deteriorated, he lost the use of his legs and voice. He was still able to write, although barely. On Easter morning, just a few days before his death, he wrote a letter to his daughter. In the letter, he wrote, "It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, ‘He is risen!’ But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout."
There is no greater day than the day Jesus rose from the dead. Paul declares it to be “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3.). It is the heart of the gospel message.
Henry Morris, one of the founders of the Creation Research Society, wrote, “The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God, and the Christian faith is absolute truth.”
Bill T.
* * *
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
In the resurrection narratives of Luke the evangelist, Jesus twice tells his disciples, on the road to Emmaus and before his ascension in Acts that his death and resurrection happen “…according to the scriptures.…” In Mark 8, Jesus uses the scriptures to explain ahead of time that this will all happen “…according to the scriptures…”. And in this crucial passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians the apostle says the same thing.
Of course, there isn’t a book in the Old Testament where there’s this magic passage that lays everything out in black and white the way our western minds would prefer. But for the first Christians the Hebrew Scriptures were an open book – at least in the Greek translation known as the Septuagint. The suffering servant passages in Isaiah are familiar enough to us with regards to the way we Christians apply them to the passion of Jesus. Here’s another passage, from Hosea 6:1-3, calling the people to repentance, but it’s reference to raising us up on the third day might also have raised alarm bells for Christians. At the very least, this might make a good passage to use in your call to worship Easter morning.
Come, let us return to the Lord;
for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Frank R.
* * *
John 20:1-18
In an Easter sermon on this text Martin Luther told a story that is so fitting for us today:
People tell jokes of this sort: “Once there was as village mayor who was about to die. When his pastor came to him and comforted him with the resurrection of the dead, he said, ‘Dear Pastor, is it really true that the dead will rise? Very well, to please you I will believe it, but you will see; nothing will come of it.” This is supposed to be a joke, but it might as well be perfectly serious... One finds few people on earth who earnestly believe this article. (Luther’s Works, Vol.69, p.286.)
A 2013 Harris Poll indicated that 35% of Americans do not think he has arisen. What are we to make of this skepticism?
The answer lies in becoming more scientific, learning about physics’ principle of uncertainty. Most Americans have been miseducated about science to think that it provides absolute answers. Physicists have come to realize that science at its best can only rule out certain claims with the data discerned. This means that if there is no evidence that Jesus’ body was stolen by his followers, belief in the Resurrection is a viable possibility (see 1 Corinthians 15:17.)!
What does all this entail for everyday life? What difference does faith in the Resurrection entail? Luther explained tells us in the same sermon just cited:
If anyone could fully comprehend how rich and comforting these words are, he would become drunk with joy and delight, just as Mary Magdalene is drunk with devotion and love for the Lord. Everything in the world would smell foul to him. He would not make a god out of the riches, money, goods, power, splendor, and glory of this world... (Luther’s Works, Vol.69, p.306.)
Mark E.
* * *
John 20:1-18
The role of women in the church has been debated since before the scriptures were written. Could women teach, lead, bless? Could they be teachers of the word and pastors of the sacraments? There are still communities that debate this, that eliminate women from leadership roles in the church. If there was one scripture that clearly negates the limitations of women in the church, it should be this passage. It is Mary Magdalene who comes to the tomb. It is Mary who first encounters the risen Christ. It is Mary who serves as the messenger of the Good News that Jesus has been resurrected. Given that leadership role, how could any other leadership be restricted? Read this text. Celebrate this moment. Then dismantle the barriers for the “others” whose service and leadership we have limited. All can proclaim the word!
Bonnie B.
