This is part of the worship series,
"Good News!”
Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4
Lent 5 | Palm Sunday | Good Friday | Easter Sunday
EASTER SUNDAY
Call to Worship
This is the good news—
the grave is empty;
Christ is risen.
Hallelujah!
This is the good news—
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never put it out.
Hallelujah!
This is the good news—
once we were no people;
now we are God’s people.
Hallelujah!
Christ is our peace,
the indestructible peace
we now share with each other.
Hallelujah!
—Stages on the Way: Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Wild Goose Worship Group, 1998. © WGRG c/o Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive North American agent. Reprints permitted with a license from ONE LICENSE, onelicense.net.
God’s Greeting
Worship Song
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Wesley, LUYH 182, GtG 245, SSS 181
Testimony Videos
Three people from the congregation shared testimonies about what the resurrection meant for them in a series of lightly edited prerecorded clips.
Songs
“In Christ Alone” Getty and Townend
“Living Hope” Johnson and Wickham
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” Founds
Scripture Reading
Mark 16:1–8
Sermon
“Good News—He Is Risen!”
Sermon Notes
The empty tomb is a historical fact upon which the message of Christianity rises or falls. The women in Mark 16 were trembling and bewildered when they encountered it, and we have a hard time believing it ourselves. Yet the eyewitness accounts and the life transformation of the disciples are evidence that it is true. We need to believe this good news and share it.
Prayer of Application
Awesome God, on this Easter morning we are amazed again at the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We give you thanks that all these years later the tomb is still empty and lives are still being changed because of the good news of the gospel. I pray, Father, that by your Holy Spirit you would move those today who are listening to this message and need to make a decision for you. Give them courage and grace to do so, and begin to do your transforming work in their lives. And for those of us who do believe already and who are following you, we pray that you will lead us into opportunities to reach out with good news to the people whom you have put in our paths. All these things we pray in the name of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Song of Response
“Crown Him with Many Crowns” Bridge, Thring
Blessing
Closing Song
“King of Kings” Hillsong
Revised Common Lectionary
Year B: Easter—Easter Vigil
Year B: Easter—Resurrection of the Lord
