Not long after Jesus returned, we see how the disciples have returned to their old life, despite Jesus having sent them off to spread the gospel to all the world.

But there is no place that we can run, no place that we can hide, that our Savior will not find us.

John 21:15-19

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In today’s story, we meet the disciples where they are fishing on the lake - they have returned to something familiar, some place they feel safe, in their grief. But Christ is coming to change all that, and give them a new spirit.

We can be trapped in grief, in distraction, the endless scroll of life. But, “if we’ll only look up, if we’ll only look within - we will find Jesus there.”

John 21:1-14

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When we meet the disciples in today’s scripture, they are behind locked doors on Easter evening. But as the disciples are about to be the first to realize, there is no locked door, no sealed tomb, that can keep our Lord contained. And that same spirit is about to be poured out upon us.

“No matter where you find yourself locked in the darkness, there is nothing that can keep our Lord away from you.”

John 20:19-31

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When we meet the disciples in today’s story, they are still in the thickness of grief - and they remind Amanda a bit of toddlers being picked up after being preschool.

But the Jesus who comes to them is simply WITH them, in their fear and their disbelief.

Luke 24:36-48

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As we begin a new series on “living as Easter People,” Eric tells us the story of the road to Emmaus - which, as he pictures it, is a bit like an episode of ‘Undercover Boss.’

Luke 24:13-35

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We notice different things in different ways. Every time Lance returns to the Easter story, he finds a new perspective.

The world prepares us to expect bad news. But when the women went to the tomb where Jesus was buried on Easter morning… if they had understood what Jesus had told them, they shouldn’t have been.

Sometimes we are the same as the women in this story - we’ve heard the words, but we don’t believe it yet. It calls for a change in perspective.

Luke 24:1-12

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As Lance reads through the Passion story, he is struck by the mockery that Jesus endures throughout. But as he notes, this was always the plan. Jesus could not save himself, and still save us.

But evil does not have the final word. Love does.

And remember: Sunday’s coming.

Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-3, 7-12

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As Jesus came into Jerusalem, he was hailed as a hero. The problem was that Jesus continued to not be who they had expected him to be. Where was their conquering savior?

Mark 15: 1-39

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We reach the last tenet of our core values: seek God daily. What does this look like? Maybe not what you think.

Seeking God isn’t just in the inward practices, it’s in the outward practices: justice, healing people, reformation.

Mark 10:35-45

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One of Lance’s favorite Christmas movies is the Muppet Christmas Carol - and while it’s not an ideal time on the calendar to talk about Christmas movies, it’s an ideal text to illustrate today’s lesson.

Look at the effects Jesus had on people like Matthew, or Zaccheus. His love and generosity led to an overflowing generosity from the people whose lives he changed.

The goal and the vision is that we find a way to be like Jesus. That we find a way to serve, both inside the church and out.

Mark 10:35-45

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