Easter

Scripture References Luke 24:1-8 Luke 9:22; Luke 9:24 Luke 18:31-33 John 14:6 Romans 8:11 Introduction Pastor Josh welcomes the Lake Pointe family and guests on Easter, emphasizing worldwide celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Explains annual Easter survey card that shapes future teaching series and campus expansion. Frames the day around humanity’s love for comeback stories, preparing hearts to see Jesus’ resurrection as history’s ultimate reversal. Key Points / Exposition 1. The Greatest Comeback in History Illustrates cultural love for reversals (Rose Bowl, Robert Downey Jr., Duke basketball upset). Declares: “If the tomb is empty, anything is possible.” Jesus’ resurrection has generated more songs, books, paintings, and even the AD/BC calendar divide. 2. Witnesses at the Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1-8) Women (“original Spice Girls”) arrive with spices, find stone rolled away. Angels’ question: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Application: People still seek life in dead places–sex, success, status. Reminder that Jesus repeatedly foretold His death and resurrection (Luke 9 & 18) yet disciples missed it–warning believers not to miss the main thing. 3. Doubt Addressed with Demonstration Disciples initially dismiss women’s report as “nonsense.” Jesus doesn’t ignore doubt; He invites investigation (stone rolled away for doubters to see). Three historical evidences for resurrection: All original apostles (12 of 12) willingly died for their eyewitness testimony. Jesus’ brothers (James, Jude) worshiped Him as God and were martyred. Empty tomb–every other religious leader’s remains are enshrined; Christ’s is famously vacant. 4. Crucified for Us–and Instead of Us Detailed historical explanation of Roman crucifixion: scourging, cat-o-nine tails, carrying the cross-beam, nails through nerve centers, public humiliation, asphyxiation. Jesus endured nakedness, scourging, mockery with a Tersorium (sour wine on a latrine sponge), and prayed, “Father, forgive them.” The cross satisfies God’s justice (payment for sin) and reveals God’s love (He paid it Himself). Jesus’ last cry “It is finished,” not “I am finished”–payment completed, mission ongoing. 5. Resurrection Power for Today (Romans 8:11) Frederick Buechner quote: “The worst thing is never the last thing.” Four “last words” the resurrection overturns: Guilt–no condemnation remains. Addiction–power that raised Jesus now breaks chains. Pain–suffering temporary; a resurrection will heal all. Death–believers will rise bodily as Christ did. Personal illustration: Pastor’s 96-year-old grandfather’s passing; hope in reunion. 6. Call to Respond – The ABCD Card A: Already a Christian. B: Begin a relationship with Christ today. C: Considering; need more time. D: Don’t intend to decide. Emphasizes honest self-assessment; leads B-responders in a salvation prayer. Major Lessons & Revelations Centrality of Jesus’ death and resurrection–nothing else in church life matters more. Doubt is not disqualification; bring questions to the empty tomb. Historical, rational grounds bolster faith; Christianity is fact, not fable. Resurrection guarantees ultimate victory over sin, suffering, and death. Practical Application Examine personal standing with Christ (A-B-C-D). Stop seeking life “among the dead”–redirect desires to Jesus. Share resurrection evidence with skeptical friends. Trust resurrection power to confront specific guilt, habits, or pains this week. Complete survey card to shape future ministry and campuses. Conclusion & Call to Response Resurrection invites every listener into the greatest reversal of all–new life in Christ. Listeners encouraged to mark decision, lift hands publicly, and begin discipleship journey. Church celebrates visible responses as heaven rejoices. Prayer “God, I admit I’ve lived for other things, but I believe Jesus died for my sin and rose again. From this day forward, I put You first. Thank You for adopting me as Your child. Empower me by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Amen.” ...

Easter is one of the most significant days on the Christian calendar – the celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. If you’ve been meaning to find a church, or it’s been a while since you’ve attended, I really think Easter is one of the best times to walk through those doors. Why Easter Is a Great Time to Visit a Church In my experience, churches go all out for Easter. You can expect: ...

Scripture References Ephesians 1:4 Genesis 12 – 50 Exodus 1 – 32 Psalm 106:21 Exodus 25:8-9 Exodus 20:1-17 Romans 3:20-24 Hebrews 10:1, 10 John 3:16 Introduction Pastor Mike Breaux welcomes in-person and online attenders and reminds them Easter is next weekend – “Who are you inviting?” Sets up the theme: as Easter approaches, move from “investigating where Jesus went” to “who He is and what He’s done.” Uses everyday “shadows” (sunsets, dark alleyways, Groundhog Day) to introduce the biblical idea of Old-Testament shadows pointing forward to Christ. Key Points / Exposition 1. The Grand Storyline Summarized Bible arc: God longs for relationship with people like us. People like us broke that relationship. God moves through history to restore it. Ephesians 1:4 (Message paraphrase) underlines God’s pre-creation love and purpose. 2. Patriarchal Shadow: Promise to Abraham Genesis narrative: barren Abraham & Sarah laugh; Isaac (“laughter”) born. Promise: through their offspring “all nations” will be blessed – shadow of Christ. 3. Exodus Shadow: Deliverance from Slavery Israel enslaved 400+ years under a Pharaoh “who knew not Joseph.” God calls 80-year-old Moses; emphasis on God’s power, not Moses'. Ten plagues directly confront Egypt’s gods; final plague/Passover lamb – blood on doorposts causes death to “pass over.” Red Sea crossing prefigures Christian baptism – past buried in water, people walk free. 4. Wilderness Shadows: Daily Provision & Presence Manna (“What is it?”) = daily dependence (“Give us this day our daily bread”). Quail, water from rock, pillar of cloud/fire all foreshadow God’s Spirit guiding believers. Portable Tabernacle: God insists His dwelling be “in the middle of the camp,” symbolizing His desire to be at the hub of our lives. Furnishings (altar, lampstand, curtain, Most Holy Place, Ark of the Covenant) each carry Christ-fulfilled symbolism. 5. Ark of the Covenant: Covenant Shadow Box Contents: jar of manna, Aaron’s budding staff, Ten Commandments – tokens of provision, resurrection power, moral blueprint. God invites Moses up Sinai; gives Ten Commandments as relational guidelines. 6. Israel’s Immediate Failure: The Golden Calf While Moses receives tablets, people grow impatient; Aaron fashions golden calf from plundered jewelry. Psalm 106:21 – “They forgot God.” Moses smashes tablets (only person to break all Ten Commandments simultaneously). Commandments re-issued; illustrate human inability to stay faithful. 7. The Straight-Edge of the Law Audience self-assessment through the Ten Commandments proves universal guilt. Romans 3:20 – Law shows “how crooked we really are,” not a ladder for self-improvement. Primary purpose: drive us to a Savior. 8. Fulfillment in Christ Romans 3:21-24 – righteousness available “by faith in Jesus Christ… for everyone who believes.” Hebrews 10:1, 10 – Old sacrifices were “only a shadow,” Christ’s one sacrifice makes us holy “once for all.” Jesus is the true Passover Lamb; His cross = doorpost splashed with saving blood. 9. Imaginative Upper-Room Reflections Pastor envisions disciples and others (James/John, healed blind man, Nicodemus, widow with two mites, Zacchaeus, Peter, adulterous woman, Barabbas) rehearsing how Jesus fulfilled every shadow in their lives. Culminates with John’s declaration: “For God so loved the world…” – recognizing Jesus as ultimate fulfillment. Major Lessons & Revelations Every Old-Testament event, object, and ordinance previews Jesus. The Law exposes sin; grace in Christ removes it. God’s heart is always to dwell “in the middle” of His people, now inside believing hearts by the Spirit. Salvation is substitutionary – Jesus dies in the place of Barabbas, in the place of us. Practical Application Examine life for modern “golden calves” – anything we elevate above God. Use the Ten Commandments this week as a mirror, then run to grace rather than self-defense. Live a “daily manna” rhythm – trust God one day at a time. Re-center: invite God to the hub, not the periphery, of your calendar, finances, relationships. Invite someone far from Christ to Easter; share the shadow-to-substance story. Participate in Communion thoughtfully, expressing personal gratitude and faith. Conclusion & Call to Response The shadows have given way to substance: Jesus, the Passover Lamb, shed His blood so death might pass over us. The cross stands as the doorway back to relationship with God. Listeners are urged to: ...

Scripture References Luke 9:51 Isaiah 50:6-7 Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:28-44 John 12:12-19, 16 Zechariah 9:9 Psalm 118:25-26 Deuteronomy 8:3 Deuteronomy 6:13 Psalm 91 Proverbs 29:25 John 12:42-43 Introduction The preacher invites the church to journey with Jesus along His final, “dark and scary road” toward Easter. Luke 9:51 marks the hinge of the gospel narrative: Jesus “set His face” toward Jerusalem–language of iron-willed resolve and fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Historical backdrop: Passover week swells Jerusalem to ~2 million pilgrims; Rome dispatches extra troops; political tension is electric. Two contrasting parades will converge: Pilate from the west with war-horses; Jesus from the east on a donkey portraying humility and true power. Key Points / Exposition 1. The Road from Jericho 19-mile desert road known for robbers (Good Samaritan setting). Jesus travels it at the start of Passover week, fulfilling prophetic timing for the Lamb of God. 2. Prophecy in Motion–The Donkey Jesus instructs two disciples to secure a donkey and her colt; owners release them at “The Lord needs it.” Fulfills Zechariah 9:9: Messiah enters “righteous, victorious, yet humble, riding on a donkey.” Kings rode horses for war, donkeys for peace–Jesus signals a Kingdom of peace, not revolt. 3. The Triumphal Entry & Misunderstood Hosannas Crowds carpet the road with garments and palm branches–a nationalistic symbol stamped on Jewish coins. “Hosanna” originally means “Save us, we pray,” now chanted as political slogan. They expect economic/political deliverance, not a cross-shaped salvation. Messianic prophecies (>300) statistically verified in Christ–illustrated with odds comparisons. 4. Tears Amid Applause Luke records Jesus weeping as He beholds Jerusalem–foreseeing AD 70 destruction and the crowd’s coming rejection. Same voices will shout “Crucify!” when He fails to meet their nationalistic agenda. 5. The Wilderness Temptations Revisited Preacher parallels Palm Sunday acclaim with Satan’s three temptations (Deut 8:3; Deut 6:13; Ps 91): Bread–economic savior. Kingdoms–shortcut to power. Temple-dive–spectacular celebrity. Jesus refused each shortcut then, and refuses crowd manipulation now; He lives for the Father’s approval alone. 6. The Trap of Human Applause Proverbs 29:25: fear of human opinion disables. Illustrations: Speaker’s limousine ego-check ending in a flaming tire and hitch-hike. Daughter Jody’s testimony–deliverance from crowd-pleasing, expressed in her spoken-word piece “I Have Wanted to Be In.” Warning: chasing likes, retweets, popularity derails discipleship and identity. Major Lessons & Revelations Jesus’ Kingdom contrasts worldly power: humility over intimidation, sacrifice over force, eternal authority over temporary control. Prophecy validates Christ’s identity; our faith rests on historical reliability, not wishful thinking. God-pleasing resolve (“face set like flint”) overcomes both temptation and public pressure. Human praise is fleeting; living for the Father’s “Well done” secures identity and freedom. Practical Application Examine motives: Am I seeking God’s approval or the crowd’s? Set spiritual “guardrails” (Scripture memorization, fasting, solitude) that anchor identity when applause or criticism comes. During Easter season, invite friends to experience the true King–not a political mascot but the Savior of sin and death. Practice humble service–choose the donkey over the war-horse in daily interactions (peace-making, generosity, listening). Parents & mentors: pray persistently for children caught in crowd-pressure; model audience-of-One living. Conclusion & Call to Response The King who could have seized a throne chose a cross. He saw our faces, wept for our lostness, and kept riding. Today He invites each heart to cry the truest Hosanna: “Save me.” Accept His forgiveness, relinquish the need for human approval, and follow the King whose Kingdom will never fall. ...