Be Church.

What made that first Easter Sunday so transformative? Yes, Jesus came alive again, and that would be something for any of us to witness. But there’s even more. That first Easter Sunday made all the difference for the group that was about the size of Mt Olive. What they eventually came to realize is that Jesus’ resurrection was a precursor to their own resurrection [and ours]—it was personal. That message became the spark that ignited an explosion in growth and in the authentic personality of the early church.

Matthew (28:1-10) tells us that two women were the first witnesses to this miracle—Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. They had gone to the tomb to further give homage to Jesus by better wrapping his hastily buried body. What they found was not according to their expectation. An angel had rolled away the stone and scared the Roman soldiers into playing dead at the tomb. But the angel did not speak to the soldiers; the angel spoke to the two Mary’s. God had chosen these two women to be the first evangelists. Why? It was personal.

Women were not highly regarded in Jewish or Roman culture but we see again and again that what the world pushes down and ignores, God raises up and acknowledges with love and kindness—his own personal touch. God chose them to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. They soon learned that God cares even when others would overlook them. And this is the message of the resurrection that I wish to carry forward for us all: we might not be much to the world, but God’s plan of salvation is more than just an objective plan. God’s plan is to personally touch each believer’s life and make an impression on them. We get to experience that God knows us and God deeply cares about us. It is our bodies that will physically come back to life one day because of Jesus’ resurrection. It is our wrinkled skin that will one day become supple and new. It is our worn out joints and tired muscles that will be revitalized. Revelation even points out that it is our tears that God will personally wipe away. Now Jesus’ resurrection personally impacts each of us—because he lives I can conquer death. “He lives my ever-living head” (I Know that My Redeemer Lives - Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal #152).

This week we are transitioning from the Easter message to the book of Acts. One of my goals is to highlight how this dynamism of Easter joy encapsulated the whole of the New Testament fledgling church and caused a stir and a growth that still exists today.

Have you ever read the book of Acts and wondered why this small group of believers so flourished and grew exponentially—almost overnight? Do you ever wish that you could witness the same type of revival and explosive growth? After that first resurrection day, it seemed like the New Testament church could not be stopped. Jesus’ plan was being carried out through his church and God provided us with the book of Acts as a record of how the church can be Church. We are going to take the next twelve weeks in the book of Acts and experience 12 different messages about what it means for us to be the church Jesus created us to be. Join with me in reading and experiencing this most amazing Holy Spirit-driven time in the opening moments of the New Testament Christian church. And please join with me in praying for all our hearts and lives to be impacted by these messages.

Thank you for giving yourselves to the work and life of being the Church. God bless you, in Jesus’ name.
Pastor Al

Matthew 28:1-10 // 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. 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. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”