Collinsville Church of Christ Sermons

We are at war within ourselves. We have thoughts we know we shouldn't have and others that aren't leading us where we need to go. What are we to do? How can we get control of our thoughts so that they overflow into a life that is pleasing to God? That's what we will explore through this series…

The prayer that Jesus prayed on the night he was arrested was not just for the disciples, it was for those who would believe in him in the future. His prayer was for people like you and me. The essence of his prayer was that his followers would be one, as he and the Father are one. Resurrection hope comes from knowing that in the midst of a divided world, we can trust that the love of Jesus knows no bounds.

Lazarus was one of Jesus’ friends. He fell sick and died before Jesus could arrive to restore him. The loss was devastating to Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. It all looked like one big mistake. If Jesus had been there, Lazarus wouldn't have died, right?. Jesus joined Mary and Martha in their pain and… he wept. If we want to know how God responds to loss, look no further than Jesus’ tears in John 11. Though Lazarus had been laying in the tomb for 4 days, Jesus does a miracle and raises him from the dead. It is a foreshadowing of what would happen to Jesus as well as what would happen for all who put their hope in him.

We can only imagine how Peter must have felt as the final days of Jesus’ life unfolded… discouraged that his friend had been killed on a cross, disappointed that Judas had turned his back, heartbroken that Rome had seemingly won. But, perhaps Peter was most disappointed in himself after denying Jesus, not once, but three times. We all know the pain of discouragement that comes from things outside our control, as well as discouragement that comes from our own foolish choices. The story of the resurrection shows that there is no disappointment that the resurrected Jesus cannot overcome. Peter is given the chance to restore his relationship with his Savior with one simple question, “Do you love me?”. And Jesus asks us the same question as well…

The days following Jesus’ crucifixion must have been some of the darkest times for his followers. They had placed all of their hope in him, and now he was dead. They believed that he truly was the Messiah and that through his life, he would change the world. It was not until a woman named Mary Magdalene went to visit the tomb that hope was restored. The tomb was empty and Jesus had risen!

Conclusion to the series