Lesson in a Line – Because there is nobody like Jesus, God’s people can rest confidently in God’s promise and come boldly to God’s presence.
Introduction:The writer has been showing us throughout Hebrews that there is nobody like Jesus. He is greater than the prophets. Greater than the angels. Greater than Moses.
Now Hebrews 4 teaches us that because Jesus is greater, He provides something nobody else can provide: Rest for God’s people and access to God’s presence.
–A PROMISE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE… verses 1–13 God’s invitation to rest is still valid.
Hearing Is Not the Same as Believing God’s word becomes transformative when what we hear becomes what we believe, and what we believe becomes how we live.
What Is God’s Rest? Reference Genesis 2:2, Genesis 12:7 Those who trust Christ, enter the security of His saving work. That is true rest!
Rest Does Not Mean Inactivity There is a difference between struggling for salvation and striving because we have received salvation.
God’s Word Reveals the Heart We sometimes read Scripture intending to examine the Bible and discover that the Bible is examining us.
–THE HIGH PRIEST FOR GOD’S PEOPLE… verses 14–16 Jesus does not merely give us access to God. Jesus is our access to God!
Hold On to What You Believe Christian stability does not come from the absence of trouble. Christian stability comes from confidence in Christ while trouble is present.
Jesus Understands Christ’s sinlessness does not make Him less sympathetic toward us. It makes Him uniquely qualified to help us.
The Throne Has Become a Place of Grace Christians do not approach God based upon how good we have been. We approach God because Jesus is our High Priest.
Mercy and Grace Mercy means God does not give us the judgment our sins deserve. We need mercy because of what we have done. Grace is God’s undeserved favor and His sufficient help. We need grace because of what we are facing.
Bringing the text together We have a promise from God for rest that transcends time, and we have a high priest in Jesus, who grants us access to the Father.
Questions to Consider 1. What is the difference between hearing God’s Word and receiving God’s Word by faith?
2. What burden are you carrying that God may be calling you to stop controlling and start trusting Him with?
3. If Hebrews 4:16 is true, what keeps believers from approaching God boldly when they need Him most?
Objective: to understand that Jesus upgrades our existence through partnership with Him.
Introduction: There is a difference between having more and becoming more.
The author of our text introduces tension: it’s a tragedy to enjoy what God provides while at the same time resisting what God prescribes.
Lesson in a line: Beware of a heart that welcomes God’s blessings but refuses God’s instruction.
–Declaration of partnership (verses 1-6) The word “consider/think carefully” means more than casual visualization. It carries the idea of fixing one’s attention upon Jesus.
A. We have a shared calling
Reference Ephesians 2:8
Living up does not mean earning God’s acceptance. Living up means living out of the identity grace has given us.
We don’t obey so God will make us His people. We obey because, through Christ, God has made us His people.
B. Jesus is greater/better than Moses
For the original Jewish audience, Moses represented one of the greatest figures imaginable.
Moses could lead people toward the promise, but Jesus is the promise.
C. We are God’s house
This house is not the physical building where Christians assemble for worship. God’s house is God’s people. So, partnership with Jesus gives us a new understanding of our selves.
Christianity should never be reduced to asking “What can Jesus do for me?” Christian maturity asks “Since I belong to Jesus, what kind of life should I now live?”
Question to Ponder Am I following Jesus because I want His benefits, or because I have surrendered to His lordship?
–Prohibition against hardened hearts (verses 7-11) After chapter 2’s warning of “don’t drift”, we receive a second warning “don’t harden your hearts”.
Reference Psalm 95:7-11
Delayed obedience has a way of becoming permanent resistance.
A. Hardening is usually gradual
This is why we take both divine sovereignty and human responsibility seriously.
B. Israel wanted God’s provision without God’s direction
The danger we must beware, a heart that welcomes God’s blessings but refuses God’s instruction.
C. The issue is the heart
In Scripture, the heart represents more than emotion. The heart is the control center of human life. It involves desire, affection, intellect, will, intention, and loyalty.
Question to Ponder What instruction from God am I currently tempted to celebrate around rather than obey?
–Exhortation for Christian community (verses 12-19) The author shifts from personal warning to communal responsibility.
Biblical Christianity does not envision Christians attempting to survive spiritually alone.
A. Sin is deceptive
One reason community is necessary is that sin deceives us.
B. Encourage one another daily
Biblical encouragement is more than telling somebody “You’re doing great.” The biblical idea carries the sense of coming alongside someone—to strengthen, urge, comfort, and call them forward.
C. Partnership requires perseverance
Those whom God truly saves, God preserves—and those whom God preserves will persevere. We keep holding onto Christ because underneath our grip on Him is His grip on us.
Reference Luke 15:3-7
D. Unbelief eventually produces disobedience
Hebrews connects two primary concepts: unbelief and disobedience.
Reference Luke 6:46
Question to Ponder Who has God placed in your life who has permission to challenge your heart before it becomes hardened?
Conclusion
This text has revealed three realities to embrace…
-Partnership gives us a new identity
-Partnership requires a responsive heart
-Partnership gives us a new community
Don’t miss the conclusion of this series Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Mark 1:21-28 New Living Translation… Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Introduction: Everybody wants change, but nobody wan’t to change.
Change involves alteration and adjustment. Change always costs you something.
Transition: Notice the command of Jesus produces liberation, but liberation does not initially look peaceful.
We must develop a theology (God thoughts) that are mature enough to understand that chaos is not always evidence that God is absent. Sometimes chaos occurs precisely because something that has resisted God is being displaced.
Exposition: Evil – what is morally corrupt, destructive, harmful, dishonorable, and contrary to the purposes of God.
–At that… The demon’s activity in verse 26 is not spontaneous. It is a reaction to the authoritative command of Christ in verse 25. The chaos begins because Jesus has spoken.
Reference Isaiah 55:11
Sometimes the first evidence that change has begun is not tranquility, but resistance.
–The evil spirit screamed… This type intensity is verbal resistance. The same vocabulary family gives the words of Jesus in Mark 15:37.
The gives a principle applicable beyond demon possession: What has occupied space in your life may become loud when its place in your life is threatened.
–Threw the man into a convulsion… The Greek verb here is sparaxan, from sparasso. The term describes violent physical convulsion or tearing.
Your body will tell on your soul.
The good news is that the convulsion does not cancel Christ’s command!
–And then came out of him… To be clear, the devil attempts to assert dominance, but he is not driving this narrative. Everything the spirit does happens under the shadow of an inevitable conclusion: It has to leave!
This passage is ultimately not about how powerful demons are. It is about how authoritative Jesus is. Mark does not want the church fascinated with demons, but he does want the church confident in Christ.
Conclusion: Metamorphosis is the anchor of this message. It is change so substantial that the resulting form appears dramatically different from what preceded it. Metamorphosis sometimes requires what could be labeled as conspicuous disruption for compulsory development.
Central Truth: There is nobody like Jesus because the One who is eternally above us willingly came among us, suffered for us, defeated the enemy against us, and now faithfully helps us.
Teaching Aim: By the end of this study, participants should understand that the supremacy of Jesus is not merely demonstrated by His exalted position but also by His willingness to identify with humanity in order to accomplish our salvation.
Introduction/Review
Hebrews 1 takes us up. Hebrews 2 brings us down.
Textual Outline…
-Pay attention to Jesus — vv. 1–4
-Jesus became one of us — vv. 5–9
-Jesus suffered to save us — vv. 10–13
-Jesus defeated what enslaved us — vv. 14–18
I. THERE’S NOBODY LIKE JESUS BECAUSE HIS WORD CANNOT BE IGNORED Hebrews 2:1–4
Probing Question 1 What are some signs that a person can still be around Christian things while spiritually drifting away from Christ?
II. THERE’S NOBODY LIKE JESUS BECAUSE HE CAME DOWN TO WHERE WE ARE Hebrews 2:5–9
Reference John 1:14
III. THERE’S NOBODY LIKE JESUS BECAUSE HE SUFFERED TO SAVE US Hebrews 2:10–13
Probing Question 2 How does knowing that Jesus personally experienced suffering change the way we understand God’s presence during painful seasons?
IV. THERE’S NOBODY LIKE JESUS BECAUSE HE DEFEATED WHAT HAD US DEFEATED Hebrews 2:14–16
Reference Colossians 2:15
V. THERE’S NOBODY LIKE JESUS BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS AND HELPS US Hebrews 2:17–18
Jesus knows what it means to be tempted. Matthew 4:1-11
He knows rejection. Matthew 13:53-58
He knows betrayal. Mathew 26:14-16
He knows exhaustion. John 4:1-8
He knows loneliness. John 6:60-71
He knows grief. John 11:33-37
He knows suffering. John 19:17-27
Probing Question 3 Where in your life do you need to move from merely believing that Jesus understands to actually trusting Him to help you?
Takeaway… There is nobody like Jesus because nobody else could come from heaven, enter our humanity, carry our suffering, conquer our enemy, break the power of death, secure our salvation, and still be present to help us through whatever we face.
Mark 1:21-28 New Living Translation… Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Introduction: Our text is an ancient D-Day, and the “D” stands for deliverance. This man in the synagogue is spiritually and supernaturally sick because Satan has made himself at home in his body. The enemy is not visiting or passing through. He has settled in, taken control, and made himself comfortable. He has no intention of leaving voluntarily.
Satan is profoundly immoral which is what we call evil, and he needs to be evicted/removed from the property of this man’s life by a legal authority.
Jesus’ name is strong and mighty, and Satan’s power to destroy is dwarfed in the presence of God’s power to develop!
Transition: The anchor for this message is the word process. Process is a series of strategic steps designed to achieve a goal.
The eviction of evil begins when the church embraces the centrality of Christ.
Exposition: To reprimand is the public action of a superior expressing strong disapproval toward someone who is out of order.
-Be quiet! Reference Mark 4:39
-Come out of the man.
Conclusion: Today is D-Day. It’s deliverance day for someone who is externally picturesque, but is internally incarcerated by a destructive demon.
***The notes below are PastorAEW’s teaching notes for the Hebrews Cafe.
Introduction: Hebrews is the name used by foreigners for Jews and vice versa. The author is unknown. Its recipients are believers who were growing weary.
Many of them were under pressure.
Some had lost friends.
Some had lost possessions.
Some were tempted to go back to the familiar practices of Judaism because following Jesus had become difficult.
The writer never tells them, “Try harder.”
Instead, he simply keeps lifting Jesus higher.
His argument is straightforward: If you truly see Jesus for who He is, you won’t want anyone else.
That remains the challenge today.
People are looking everywhere for peace.
They seek fulfillment in careers.
Security in money.
Identity in politics.
Validation through social media.
Hope in relationships.
Hebrews opens with one overwhelming declaration:
There’s Nobody Like Him.
Tonight, we’ll discover why.
Lesson Objective
By the end of this study I’m hoping with God’s help that you’ll understand:
Jesus is God’s final and fullest revelation.
Jesus possesses unmatched divine authority.
Jesus deserves our complete worship and trust.
I. Jesus Is God’s Final Word (Hebrews 1:1-4) Exordium: Greek literary device/rhetorical introduction to establish authority. In the original Greek, these four verses are one long run-on sentence that is powerfully poetic.
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways…”
The Old Testament records many ways God revealed Himself.
Through prophets
Through dreams
Through visions
Through angels
Through miracles
Through the Law
Each revelation was true.
But each one was incomplete.
Then God spoke again—not through another prophet—but through His Son.
Jesus doesn’t merely bring God’s message.
Jesus is God’s message.
John calls Him “the Word.”
If someone wants to know: What God thinks… What God loves… How God forgives… What holiness looks like… Look at Jesus.
Everything God wanted humanity to know about Himself is perfectly revealed in Christ.
Notice seven descriptions given in verses 2-3.
Jesus is: Heir of everything, Creator of the universe, Radiance of God’s glory, Exact representation of God’s nature, Sustainer of all creation, Purifier from sin, Enthroned beside the Father.
No prophet could claim all that.
No preacher can claim all that.
No denomination can claim all that.
Only Jesus!
Practical Application Whenever we’re confused about God… Start with Jesus.
Whenever we’re uncertain about God’s heart… Study Jesus.
Whenever people distort God’s character… Compare their words to Jesus.
Because there’s nobody like Him!
II. Jesus Has No Equal (Hebrews 1:4-9)
Seven Old Testament passages are quoted to prove that angels are not equal to Jesus…
Psalm 2:7 (Hebrews 1:5) – “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”
2 Samuel 7:14 / 1 Chronicles 17:13 (Hebrews 1:5) – “I will be a Father to him and he shall be a son to me.”
Deuteronomy 32:43 or Psalm 97:7 (Hebrews 1:6) – “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
Psalm 104:4 (Hebrews 1:7) – “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Psalm 45:6–7 (Hebrews 1:8–9) – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…”
Psalm 102:25–27 (Hebrews 1:10–12) – “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth…”
Psalm 110:1 (Hebrews 1:13) – “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The Jewish people highly respected angels. They were messengers of God. They delivered the Law. They announced miracles.
Yet Hebrews says Jesus is infinitely greater.
Notice the contrast…
Angels are servants. Jesus is the Son.
Angels worship. Jesus receives worship.
Angels are created. Jesus is Creator.
Angels obey commands. Jesus gives commands.
This chapter quotes seven Old Testament passages proving Jesus fulfills what no angel ever could.
The point isn’t that angels aren’t important.
The point is: Don’t confuse God’s servants with God’s Son.
That principle still applies today.
People admire: gifted pastors, famous authors, Christian celebrities, denominations, traditions
None deserve what belongs only to Christ. Good leaders point people to Jesus. They never replace Him.
III. Jesus’ Kingdom Never Ends (Hebrews 1:10-14)
Everything around us changes. Governments rise. Economies fluctuate. Technology becomes outdated. Our bodies age. Friendships change. Churches experience seasons.
But verses 10-12 describe Jesus differently.
Creation wears out like old clothing. Jesus never does.
The universe changes. Jesus remains.
Time changes. Jesus remains.
Culture changes. Jesus remains.
The same Christ who created the universe will outlast the universe.
That truth gives believers incredible confidence. We don’t anchor our lives to temporary things. We anchor ourselves to an eternal Savior. Our security isn’t found in circumstances. It’s found in Christ.
Practical Application When life feels uncertain… Remember that Jesus has never changed. His promises haven’t expired. His power hasn’t diminished. His grace hasn’t weakened. His throne hasn’t been challenged. There’s still nobody like Him!
Three Truths to Remember
1. Jesus reveals God perfectly. You don’t need another revelation to understand God’s heart. Look at Christ.
2. Jesus rules with unmatched authority. Nothing rivals His power. Not Satan. Not governments. Not suffering. Not death.
3. Jesus deserves wholehearted worship. The proper response to Hebrews 1 isn’t merely admiration. It’s surrender.
Three Questions to Ponder
-If someone only watched the way I live, would they conclude that Jesus is truly unrivaled in my life—or merely one priority among many?
-What substitutes am I tempted to trust more than Christ when life becomes difficult?
Examples may include: money, education, relationships, reputation, religious tradition, personal ability
-If Jesus is sustaining the entire universe (Hebrews 1:3), why do I struggle to trust Him with the circumstances of my own life?
Conclusion: Hebrews begins by answering the greatest question anyone can ask:
Who is Jesus? The answer is breathtaking.
He is God’s final Word. He is Creator. He is Sustainer. He is Savior. He is King. He is worshiped by angels. He reigns forever. He never changes.
The writer of Hebrews doesn’t simply ask us to admire Jesus. He calls us to trust Him, worship Him, and refuse every substitute. The more clearly we see Christ, the less attractive everything else becomes.
That’s why the theme of Hebrews can be summed up in one unforgettable declaration:
Objective: With improvement in mind, we will use Acts 16 as a guide for discipleship development, to lose our restrictive view in favor of God’s unrestricted power for progress.
The Painful Profit
Acts 16:16-40 New Living Translation… One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”
38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Introduction: From a place of great pain that became profit, Horatio Gates Spafford wrote It Is Well With My Soul…
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
(Refrain:) It is well (it is well), with my soul (with my soul), It is well, it is well with my soul.
Pain is the crucible of the Christian which is the passageway for meaningful ministry.
Overwhelming Observations:
Pain Is…
–Severe: II Corinthians 2:8-10
–Seasonal: II Corinthians 4:17
Profit is…
–Conversion: II Corinthians 5:17
–Community: Acts 16:40
Punchline: Serving the Lord requires us to learn how to turn a darkroom into a SONroom!
Conclusion: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”
Mark 1:21-28 New Living Translation… Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Introduction: At the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry forty days after the resurrection, Jesus verbally proclaimed that he possessed all authority in heaven and on earth. But Mark makes it clear from the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, that God is the ultimate, final, and definitive authority in the world, and God cannot be overruled.
Transition: Capernaum (village of comfort) is the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry. After choosing his first four disciples, he visits the synagogue (a satellite Temple) and is invited to be the guest rabbi (teacher) for the Sabbath.
While Jesus is teaching, tension arises due to the interruption of a demon possessed man… Satan comes into the sanctuary, but he efficiently rides in the attitudes, demeanors, character, emotions, and mentalities of the weak and willing.
Exposition: When Satan is present, he has a hard time keeping his mouth closed.
This demon possessed man makes three statements of affirmation for Jesus… –Humanity. Jesus of Nazareth
–Authority. Have you come to destroy us? Reference James 2:19
–Divinity. I now who you are – the Holy One of God!
To prevent your ignorance of of Satan, here is a theology of Satan in three sentences…
-Satan is real.
-Satan is powerful.
-Satan is defeated!
Conclusion: The anchor word for this message is present. Satan does come into the sacred space, but it’s not for positive progress. Satan is always present for negative nourishment. Don’t sit at his table, and don’t allow him to feed you.
Matthew 28:1-6 “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
To be empty means containing nothing; not filled or occupied. I was raised to believe that emptiness is not a good thing. Empty pantries, empty freezers, empty wallets, empty actions, and most importantly empty words (we should not say what we don’t mean; my grandfather went as far to say that we talk so much that we talk up all the talk; James Brown calls this talking loud but saying nothing).
Emptiness is generally a sign of one’s inability to fill a void. I’m implying that when something is missing, someone feels the absence but doesn’t know what to do about it. At the death of Buddha, one of his followers was left so emotionally empty, that he said, “To the end of us that began”. He was empty, on spiritual E and didn’t know if he’d ever be filled again or if anyone or anything could ever take Buddha’s place. But today, resurrection day, Easter Sunday, with billions of believers all over the world, we don’t pity our future, but we celebrate a greater level of existence! In antiquity, death was all that life had to offer. Death was the pinnacle; it was the ceiling. But when Jesus stormed out of the grave, he stripped death of its sting and demoted death from being the ceiling of life that caps our existence, to be the floor! Now we don’t fear death as if it’s our enemy, but we use death as merely a means to usher us into the blissful presence of the God who sought us, saved us and secures us in the palm of his own hand!
After an earthly ministry that was so successful that we’re still talking about it and have been positively affected by it over two thousand years later, Jesus was s executed by crucifixion on Golgotha’s skull shaped hill, on Friday. His body was encapsulated in a first century garden grave; literally a cave carved in rock, with a stone sealing the corpse of Christ from the world, for what the Roman government and the Jewish clerics hoped would be forever.
Jesus’ burial was so rushed, so hurried, that he was not properly embalmed. But thank God for women! When men are more concerned with getting finished, so they won’t disrupt their rituals, that women know how to not just get the job done but they know how to get it done right. Some women showed up with burial spices, in order to properly embalm the body of their Lord, early Sunday morning. They speculated on the way there about who’d roll the large stone away from Jesus’ grave. I like that they didn’t allow an obstacle that they didn’t know how to overcome, to stop them from arriving where they’d set their minds to go.
It’s funny how life works out sometimes. What the women were so worried about, wasn’t even a concern at all. The stone was already rolled away when they made it to the cemetery. It was God’s way of saying “Don’t worry about the stone, because what’s heavy for you is of no consequence to me. I’ll handle your light weight before you even get to it”! Thanks be to God that when we’re up twiddling our thumbs trying to figure it out, that God has already worked it out! That’s why you don’t have to worry about the heavy stones of life, and you can go to sleep tonight, because God is up working the night shift all night long!
These dear women made it to the tomb, expecting for it to be full. Full of their dead savior. Full of their dead hopes and full of their dead dreams, for him to be their messiah; their Christ; their deliverer. But when they arrived at the tomb, for once in their lives they were overwhelmed and overjoyed that something that was supposed to be full, had turned out to be empty. Maybe emptiness in this instance, isn’t such a bad thing at all. I don’t know how you feel about it, but this Easter, I’m grateful for emptiness! Just when they thought Christians were washed up and the fat lady had sung, Jesus rose from the dead, giving us all a new lease on life! Frank Sinatra/Ol’ Blue Eyes sung what I feel Jesus may have thought on getting up morning: I faced it all and I stood tall, and did it my way! Your way said the grave should be full and stay full, but I did it my way, and emptiness sealed the deal of salvation for evermore!
I’ll land this lesson when I tell you what I came say. All of that was just my introduction. Here’s the meat of this message. Late verse 5 and verse 6 says “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.”
I’ve got to wrap this up so you can get to brunch, so here is my one line Easter speech: Jesus’ grave was empty, but his words are full! He meant exactly what he said, and it happened just like he said. Don’t doubt the Lord, because his word is true! He did in fact die. He did indeed fill a garden grave. But it’s EMPTY now! And because of the empty grave, we can say that his words are full of help for today, full of hope for tomorrow, and full of certainty that he lives within my heart! The application of my little Easter speech for today, is that because of the empty grave, and the fullness of Jesus’ words, our hearts should be filled with grateful commitment. I’m talking about a heart promise, that we’ll live for Jesus with all of our lives for rest of our lives!
Alive Again! This message was prepared and preached by PastorAEW for Legacy Church at Toulminville Warren U.M. of Mobile, AL on March 23, 2025.
Acts 20:7-12 New Living Translation… On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Our text involves a point of celebration as well as a point of controversy. It is an interesting yet complex dichotomy. On one hand, for the first time in the New Testament, we find the early church celebrating the Christian Sabbath on the Lord’s Day, Saturday evening and Sunday morning; the first day of the week. On the other hand, there is controversy surrounding the inference that Paul raised someone from the dead. Luke, the author of the text was an assistant to Paul on this journey and happened to be a physician who believed that Paul indeed, had resurrected this young man from death to life.
This story is interjected after Paul’s winter in Corinth, as he was headed to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Pentecost. As always, Paul runs into a problem on the way, because intel has revealed a threat on Paul’s life. So, he takes a detour and ends up in Troas. Troas is a seaport city of Asia Minor, not far from ancient Troy. It was in Troas that Paul received a vision in the night, from a man of Macedonia who pleads with him to come help them by preaching the gospel. Paul accepted the invitation and now he is there in Troas for the last time. He spends one week there, with the believers encouraging them in the Lord. There’s an infectious energy that emanates from Paul and has positively affected the city. When Sunday came, there was anticipation to gather the believers, to break bread as they remembered their risen Lord, and to hear from Paul as he spoke of the faith. There seemed to be a preference among the early church, to celebrate the Lord’s day in an upper room, like Jesus and his disciples did for the last supper and like on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It was an apartment building, on the third floor, in the evening, that the believers of Troas met, with a room filled with flickering oil lamps, to hear the word and to worship. No doubt, they crammed into the room, to hear a father of the faith. Seating must have been limited, so much so, that a young man named Eutychus sat in an open windowsill.
Brothers and sisters, it’s at this point that the story becomes dramatic. Paul preaches a sermon that lasts until midnight. He was to leave for Jerusalem the next morning and wanted to spend his remaining time with the believers; so, he packed this message with as much red meat as he could. Eutychus couldn’t fight sleep any longer, and he fell asleep in the windowsill, and then he fell out of the window. He fell asleep, and then he fell out of the window and died. These events happened at church, and the members of this Troas assembly paused church, to run downstairs, to check on a young man whose drowsiness led to his death. Paul told everyone not to panic or to worry, because he was dead, but is alive again. Eutychus could feel his heart beating, pumping blood through his veins, beneath his skin, because he was alive again. It was after this transformative and worthwhile work, that the church went back upstairs to the third floor and continued in worship until dawn. That’s the story; now let’s unpack it.
I’m absolutely convinced that this is a strange old story, but that it has significant principles for the Legacy Church to employ today; that is, if we’re to continue being a faith community who is relevant and serious about serving this present age, which is our calling to fulfill.
Make no mistake about it, the church of Jesus Christ is to be a haven of mercy. We are not a social club, nor are we elitist who act as if we’ve arrived, puffed in self-righteousness. No, we are the people of God, who were lost but he found us; we were blind but he gave us sight; we were wandering in darkness but he brought us into the marvelous light; we were refugees in need of a refuge; we were sinners but he became our savior! After all of the free and good gifts that God has given us, we must be merciful to others. From the way we talk to other people and the tone of voice we use when we talk to them, we ought to ooze mercy. The church at Troas was so merciful that even though Eutychus’ flesh literally fell, they paused their worship to do the work of the ministry, because they knew and understood that faith without works is dead.
It’s worth noting that this church is merciful because they were aware that their culture was a contributor to the young man’s condition. Dr. Luke ensured to inform us in verse 8 that the room was illumined with “many flickering lamps”. It is a fact that the fumes of oil lamps can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, unconsciousness, and yeah you guessed it, drowsiness. The limitations of the culture created the conditions for Eutychus/a young man who was in church on the Lord’s day to fall out of church. I hear you though; I hear you saying “But pastor out of all the people in church that day, you’re making a big deal about one young man falling out of church, when everyone else was safe in their seat”. Well ladies and gentlemen, I hear your complaint, but I’ve got a two-pronged response: one fall out is enough (Luke 15 Jesus tells of a lost sheep being found by the shepherd), and just because you’re in your seat doesn’t mean you’re not sleep (Luke 15 also records the story of the prodigal but we can’t forget about the son who stays home but has the wrong attitude)! We must be merciful, because sometimes the fumes of our culture creates and causes fallout!
It’s important to note that when they made it downstairs, that Paul wrapped him in his arms. He embraces this young man, who has fallen, fallen, and now is dead. This isn’t my point, but it’s certainly a point to ponder, that sometimes even people in church fall. Eutychus was in church, around believers, in the presence of an apostle, but he fell anyway. When people fall at Legacy Church, it is our duty to follow Paul’s paradigm/pattern to simply love on them. They don’t need our rebuke, our criticism or critique, our gossip or our judgment, but they do need our support, our concern, and our love. We are the people of God/“An Oasis of Love”, where we have faith in you becoming alive again, and we hope that you can beat the odds after you’ve fallen, and because we have no authority for condemnation we will lovingly lift you up from your fall!
After Eutychus was made alive again, the text tells us that they returned to the upper room for the study of God’s word and the worship of the God who can make you alive again. Eutychus fell down, but when he was alive again, he went back up! We all fall down, but when God allows you to feel your heart beating beneath your skin, making you feel alive again, don’t stay down, go back up! Up in the word, that tells you you’re the head and not the tail; up in the word that says you’re more than a conqueror! Go back up in the worship of the God who gave you another chance!
Energy. This story is full of energy. It’s a positive energy that is harnessed and used for the good of the kingdom of God, to restore those among us who have fallen. It’s not a matter of if we fall, but when we fall. We’re all human, subject to mistakes and bound to miss the mark. But how do we get back up when we fall? I’ve been trying to get here the entire sermon! Galatians 6:1-3 gives the answer… “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important”.
Eutychus. The name is defined to mean he who is fortunate. Brothers and sisters, we are fortunate to have each other; let’s act like it, and help each other be whole, healthy and holy. None of us are so important that we negate the fact that we are in covenant with each other.
Alive again. We have the ability to affect change. We can lift others to a higher plane by the power of God’s spirit. That’s the kind of energy we need at work within our faith community. I believe in you, that God will use us, to be “An Oasis of Love” in the middle of a harsh and dry world.
Antonie E. Walker Ministries 