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Message: Mystery and Mercy: The
Word is Out!
By Pastor
Keith
Reading: Matthew 27:62 - 28:6 (Amplified)
The
next day, that is, the day after the day of Preparation for the Sabbath, the
chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate and said, Sir, we have
just remembered how that vagabond Imposter said while He was still alive, After
three days I will rise again. Therefore give an order to have the tomb made
secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear that His disciples will
come and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead,
and the last deception and fraud will be worse than the first. Pilate said to
them, You have a guard of soldiers, take them and go, make it as secure as you
can. So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard
of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch. Now after the Sabbath, near
dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to
take a look at the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel
of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat
upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garments as white as snow.
And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they were
agitated and they trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the
women, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for
Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, as He said He would do.
Come, see the place where He lay.
A CALL TO WORSHIP
ONE Who is This that has been raised from
the dead?
ALL Jesus Christ is risen, Alleluia and amen.
ONE
Who is This that breaks the power of sin?
ALL Jesus Christ is risen,
alleluia and amen. ONE Who is This that brings life to the World? ALL Jesus
Christ is risen, alleluia and amen.
ONE God of mystery and mercy
Today we have new life in You Because You have broken the power of sin and
death.
ALL Our hearts rejoice once again Because at Your name, O Christ
Every knee will bow And every tongue confess That You are the risen Lord. Jesus
Christ is risen! Alleluia and amen!
Confession
Breath of Life, Liberator of
the imprisoned, Healer and Hope of the World, even in this day of victorious
celebration, we confess that we too often live entombed. We find it difficult
even to imagine what freedom or fullness of life would be like. Open the tombs
in which we shroud ourselves; burst open the shroud with which others have
wrapped us; breathe into us that resurrection breath. Let us BE the Word that
is out so that others may be free as well. Christ is risen; so may we be, too.
Amen.
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