Category Archives: Preaching Easter

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Applicational Angles for Holy Week Sermons

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Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about how to approach preaching this coming Resurrection Sunday.

The applicational angles are limited to the degree that Scripture provides the raw theological material. For instance, the Gospels record the fact of the resurrection, but if I am not mistake, do not provide any theological commentary.

So, what are some angles we can pursue in preparing to preach and teach on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?

  1. You can spend some time proving that Jesus was raised from the dead. There were, for instance, people who saw the resurrected Lord. This provides an apologetic or defense of the resurrection.
  2. Because of the possibility–do the unchurched still attend Easter morning?–you will want to urge faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We want our listeners to place their faith in this critical element of the Gospel.
  3. Finally, you may want to preach and teach on the implications of the resurrection. My own readings of Scripture tell me that this is the angle that is found most often, especially in the NT epistles.

This final angle is where I am planning to address Easter morning from Ephesians 1:15-23, especially the resurrection part of Paul’s prayer.

Your own message may have another angle. The important thing is that we continue to exegete at the level of what resurrection preaching portions are designed to do to the church.

And may our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as we faithfully proclaim the Gospel to those who have been resurrected with Christ for new life.

Randal

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Preaching Resurrection in the Face of Death

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Preaching Resurrection During COVID-19 Has Never Seemed So Relevant!

I know that if you’re preaching or teaching this Sunday you’re thinking through how the virus will factor into your sermon/lesson. I wanted to tell you my angle headed into the weekend in light of what I’m reading and hearing from faith-family members.

First, I will certainly be finding statistics on Good Friday about how many people have died world-wide, in the U.S., and in PA, my home state. The resurrection of Jesus Christ will be framed within the context of this deadly pandemic that today, for instance, has taken over 500 lives in NYC alone (to put it in perspective for me, my whole town, Weeks Mills, Maine, where I was born and raised has less than 500 people in it!).

Second, I am currently reading a short article on COVID-19’s other casualties. A friend of mine who works for a non-profit was telling me how much more difficult these times are for children in abusive situations because of isolation. That got me thinking of how many other deaths will occur as a result of the strain the virus is putting on societies and individuals (think suicides, for example).

Finally–and I know you know this–the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead has defeated the supernatural powers that are the driving force behind ungodly anxiety and fear. These two emotions keep cropping up like aggressive weeds in the garden of faith.

I want to make sure our folks realize that what they’re facing each day is a result of the battle that is still raging. My Psalm for Sunday, 110, records the words of Yahweh to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, “Rule in the midst of your enemies” (v. 2).

Our fight for faith is real and victory is possible because Christ our risen Lord is ruling in the midst of our enemies.

May our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as you announce the facts and implications of His resurrection from the dead.

Randal