Last Sunday, Pastor Ken began to close out our series, The King’s Sermon: On Earth as It is in Heaven, with a message from Matthew 7:12-23. Here, Christ calls his hearers to consider carefully their response to His sermon.

There are only two possible responses, as illustrated by the narrow and broad ways, good and bad trees, and good and bad confessions. A true follower of Jesus will walk on the narrow way of suffering for the name of Jesus and dying to self, bear good fruit to the glory of God, and claim the good confession of faith in Christ alone for salvation apart from works.

Read: Matthew 27:32-28:20

This coming Easter Sunday, Pastor Ken will encourage us with the gospel message from Matthew 27:32-28:20 to celebrate what Christ has done and motivate us to be on mission. We will be spurred on to believe that Jesus is the resurrected Son of God and, therefore, live for his glory.

As you prepare your heart for our corporate gathering, let this excerpt from Charles Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional drive you to further commune with the risen Christ.

Reflect

The doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set out all the streams of living water that flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But to know that He has risen, and to have fellowship with Him as such—communing with the risen Savior by possessing a risen life—seeing Him leave the tomb by leaving the tomb of worldliness ourselves—this is even more precious still.

The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior more lovely than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from the dead so as to sing of it and derive all the consolation that it is possible for you to extract from this well-affirmed and well-witnessed fact; but I beseech you, do not rest contented even there.

Though you cannot, like the disciples, see Him visibly, yet I urge you to aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not touch Him, yet you may be privileged to converse with Him and to know that He is risen, you yourselves being risen in Him to newness of life.

To know a crucified Savior as having crucified all my sins is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Savior as having justified me, and to realize that He has bestowed upon me new life, having made me a new creature through His own newness of life—this is a noble style of experience. Short of it, none should rest satisfied. May you both “know him and the power of his resurrection.” Why should souls who are made alive with Jesus wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.

Morning & Evening, “The Power of His Resurrection,” by Charles H. Spurgeon

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1.“Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed,” by Keith and Kristyn Getty

2.“His Mercy Is More,” by Matt Boswell [arr. by Shane & Shane]

3.“Man of Sorrows,” by Hillsong Worship

4.“Is He Worthy,” by Andrew Peterson [arr. by Shane & Shane]

5.“O Praise The Name (Anástasis),” by Hillsong Worship [arr. by Shane & Shane]

Follow our “Sunday Morning Setlist” on Spotify.