Following Jesus

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Following Jesus in Lukes gospel

• True conversion
• Love for Jesus
• The power of faith
• The cost of discipleship
• Good Friday worship testimony
• Easter Sunday Hes alive!
• The road to Emmaus

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We left Jesus story unfinished on Good Friday.
(Luke 23)
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Luke 24 1 - 12
The day didnt start too well
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1 On the first day of the week, very early in the
morning, the womentook the spices they had
prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the
stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they
entered, they did not find the body of the Lord
Jesus. 
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4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly
two men in clothes that gleamed like
lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright
the women bowed down with their faces to the
ground, but the men said to them, Why do you
look for the living among the dead?
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6 He is not here he has risen! Remember how he
told you, while he was still with you in Galilee
7 The Son of Man must be delivered over to the
hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third
day be raised again.  8 Then they remembered
his words.
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9 When they came back from the tomb, they told
all these things to the Eleven and to all the
others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary
the mother of James, and the others with them who
told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not
believe the women, because their
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words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter,
however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending
over, he saw the strips of linen lying by
themselves, and he went away, wondering to
himself what had happened.
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The women had three shocks!
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Seven simple words which would change the world.
He is not here he is risen. v6 Important
question Is this true? Peter wondering to
himself what had happened.v12
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• Many theories have been proposed.
• Was it a look-alike on the cross?
• Did the disciples steal the body?
• Had Jesus just passed out?

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Lets be in no doubt. Jesus was DEAD. And then 3
days later he wasnt dead Empty tomb angels
group of people who are utterly changed by this
experience. Any dilution of this undoes the
whole of the gospel.
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This is the happy ending weve been promised. But
how do we feel when a great story ends? The
meaning and reality of our lives are shaped by
the resurrection of Jesus.
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• Our view on death and life is changed
• Why do you look for the living among the dead? v5
• If death were the end of the story it would be
  inspiring but futile.
• This is more than an example ofself sacrificing
  love.

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• This is a sublime act of God. Gods rescue plan
  for the world.
• Jesus was handed over to you byGods deliberate
  plan foreknowledge you, with the help of
  wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to
  the cross. 24 But God raised him from the
  dead, freeing him from the agony of death,
  because it was impossible for death to keep its
  hold on him. Acts 2 22 -24

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• We are saved from eternal death for eternal
  life.
• Jesus death and resurrection dealt with our
  separation from God.
• Nothing wecan do will bridge that gap.
• But because of his great love for us, God, who is
  rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even
  when we were dead in transgressionsEph 24

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• Death is defeated. I am the Living One I was
  dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and
  ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev
  118
• Jesus has authorityover death.
• Jesus calls the shots and death has to listen.
• We are no longer held captiveby sin and death.

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• This isnt just aboutour physical death.We have
  a new birtha new start.
• Jesus resurrectionallows for newbreath to be
  breathed into us.
• Just as Christ was raised from the dead through
  the glory of the Father, we too may live a new
  life. Rom 6 4
• With Jesus all the things that would defeat us
  have already been defeated.

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Time changes! We look beyond the present We
dont have to live as if we need to get
everything now.
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• We have opportunity to live a resurrection life.
• Current wisdom
• Live for the present we might as well eat, drink
  and be merry.
• Fearful of the future hang on to everything
  tightly.
• Jesus resurrection allows us to clear our vision.

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• Because of Jesus the pressures off.
• No need to stuff ourselves with selfish pleasure
  or panic ourselves into anxiety.
• If only for this life we have hope in Christ we
  are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ
  has indeed been raised from the dead. 1Cor 15 19
  20

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• Free to give our lives away.
• Free to meet with sufferingbecause we can
  lookbeyond the immediate.
• Free to enjoysuccess withoutgreed or anxiety.
• And never fearingthat its all beena waste.

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Jesus is with us Jesus resurrection means we
have an ever present saviour.
We are notworshipping a dead guy.
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• The power of Jesus is not simply in his words and
  ideas but in his presence.
• The very same spirit that raised Jesus from the
  dead is at work in us and for us.
• This power was so great that nothing could keep
  Jesus in the grave.

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• Power for a purpose!
• Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me
  will do the works I have been doing, and they
  will do even greater things than these, because I
  am going to the Father. John 1212

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• Jesus is present in every circumstance. We
  arenever alone.
• This is the power thatenables us to
  standagainst suffering, persecution, temptation,
  illness and death.

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• So is this the end of the story?
• No! Just the beginning.
• There may be many plot twists in our story but
  because of Jesus we can go out like the disciples
  with great joy (Luke 2452)

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• Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and
  finished this race were in. Study how he did it.
  Because he never lost sight of where he was
  headed - that exhilarating finish with God - he
  could put up with anything along the way Cross,
  shame, whatever. And now hes there,in the place
  of honour, right alongside God. When you find
  yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that
  story again, item by item. That will shoot
  adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12 2 3 The message
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Following Jesus in Lukes gospel

• True conversion
• Love for Jesus
• The power of faith
• The cost of discipleship
• Good Friday worship testimony
• Easter Sunday Hes alive!
• The road to Emmaus