Seven | From Death to Life
Meditation
In our Lenten journey through the Seven Deadly Sins, we have explored the numerous ways sin has a death grip on our lives. In fact, the Bible suggests that we are in bondage to death — both physical death as our bodies age and decline, but also spiritual death as our sin increasingly separates us from God, from each other, and even from ourselves. Our situation is as desperate as it could possibly be.
But the good news--the astounding news--of Easter is that God has thrown our death spiral into reverse through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Not only has Jesus conquered physical death through his resurrection and opened the way to eternal life, he has also triumphed over spiritual death and now offers us freedom and hope for our every day lives. Our deadly sins no longer have mastery over us because of Him.
Will you come celebrate this astounding good news that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we can too?
Hallelujah! Christ is risen, indeed!
--Rev. Corey Widmer
Proverbs 8: 35-36
35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. 36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
Ephesians 2: 1-10 (ESV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
About the Series
“Seven | Finding Freedom from the Darkness Within” is a Lenten sermon series on Pride, Envy, Anger, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust, known for nearly 1500 year as “the Seven Deadly Sins.” For a full description of the series, including week to week schedules, click HERE.
Video Testimony
Worship Guides
You can find additional meditations and information about the order of service for Easter Sunday by clicking the links below to download the Worship Guides: one for the Sanctuary services at 9:00 and 11:15, and one for the Fellowship Hall services at 9:00 and 11:15.
Learn Together
A STUDY GUIDE for this sermon is available by clicking the image below, with audio being added to this page by Tuesday morning, both found by clicking the banner image for the sermon on the homepage. We encourage all small groups to use these resources to foster community and continue to dwell on God's love and grace this week.
