24 results for tag: Easter

Lived Briefly, Died Violently, Rose Unexpectedly – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from April 2024: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 4:18). The Romans had many ways they executed criminals, from decapitation to being eaten by animals in the arena before bloodthirsty mobs – but crucifixion was the worst of the worst.  Crucifixion was the most humiliating method of warning everyone against “crossing” the power and might of Rome – the public, graphic, fear-inducing depiction of the absurd futility, from Rome’s perspective, of opposing its might and supremacy. The cross ...

What About 3 Days and 3 Nights? by Greg Albrecht

Question: What is your view on Jesus' statement that he would be in the grave three days and three nights? I believe Jesus. I do not believe that it was parts of days and nights like some say. Response: I believe Jesus as well. If you examine the gospels, you will find one verse that mentions "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40 ) and another 20 verses that speak of his resurrection as being on "the third day" or "in three days." Since we both believe Jesus, should we seek to better understand one verse in the light of 20, or 20 verses in the light of one? Today, the day I am writing this, is Friday. Three days from now will be ...

Q & R: After Easter: Is Death Now Our Friend? Brad Jersak

Question: I read that because of Easter, death can now be our friend. What do you think? Here is the actual statement: "Easter is God’s 'victory over death.'  Death is no longer the curse that it was.  It is no longer the power that rules.  It is no longer the enemy to be feared.  But here’s the twist.  In doing so, Jesus also reclaims death and befriends it – not death in its perverted form, but death in its state of grace. Jesus reclaims death as a natural blessing to the rhythm of life and shows us that it is possible to befriend ...

You Are Witnesses

Greg talks about what it means to be a witness of our risen Lord -- what it involves and what it doesn’t. Join us as we worship our risen Lord and ponder how God, in his grace, shares the good news with others.   https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR061.mp3

Easter Is Disturbing!

Easter is a mystery because it transcends our predictable world. The resurrection of Jesus can be disturbing because it insists on a God who is, in Christ, unending and rupturing the natural order of things.   https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR427.mp3

Easter Never Ends

When all the eggs are gathered and when all the ham has been consumed, Jesus remains. His resurrection is more than a day, for it never ends! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!   https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR372.mp3

You Ain’t Got No Easter Clothes – by Greg Albrecht

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."—John 11:43-44 Welcome to the party! Easter is the annual celebration Christians around the world anticipate and long for. Once again we savor victory in Christ. As Christians we are celebrating the most triumphant and victorious day in all history.Let's begin with the words of Peter, who tells us, in 1 Peter 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new ...

Good News From the Cemetery

Breaking news :live from the empty tomb! The good news of Easter is that it was impossible for death to claim the body of Jesus. Nothing is impossible for God. HE IS RISEN!   https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR216.mp3

An Easter Hallelujah

Canadian sisters Cassandra Star Armstrong and Callahan Armstrong sing a beautiful duet at Easter to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah with lyrics by Kelley Mooney. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zakpMJrgxXU

I Am Making Everything New – by Greg Albrecht

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"—Revelation 21:5 God making old things new is one of the great themes of the Bible—and is one of the powerful themes of the gospel.In the Bible we learn:• God gives us a new name.• God gives us new wine.• We sing a new song.• God gives us a new heart.• Jesus gives us a new commandment.• We become new men and women in Christ.• God makes a new covenant with us.• God gives us new life—life that never ages or wears out—eternal life. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 …if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new ...

April 2023

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Brad Jersak: Logos, Light & Lamb – pg. 2 Greg Albrecht: Everything Happens for a Reason? – pg. 4 Greg Albrecht: Nailmarks, Scars & Doubts – pg. 7

The Ultimate Declaration of God’s Grace – Greg Albrecht

Grace

April 2022

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Brad Jersak: The Cross: God's Eternal Mercy Seat – pg. 2 Laura Urista: Trimming the Roses – pg. 5 Richard Rohr: The Saving Power of the Cross – pg. 6 Greg Albrecht: The Meaning(s) of the Cross – pg. 7

The Full Revelation of God’s Love – Greg Albrecht

Friends and Partner letter dated April, 2021 Love and marriage, love and marriage They go together like a horse and carriage This I tell you, brother, you can’t have one without the other.— Frank Sinatra, 1955 If you receive hard copies of these monthly letters, this month’s message should arrive in your mailbox at the beginning of Passion Week—when traditionally Christians recall the week of historical events leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. With the cross of Christ and his resurrection as our focal point, as we remember the first Passion Week, almost 2,000 years ago, I begin this month’s letter with a song ...

Is It True? by Greg Albrecht

The next time you are in the checkout line at the grocery store imagine turning to the person next to you and joyfully announcing “Christ is risen!” Can you picture the bewildered expressions of your fellow shoppers? Imagine you are taking a walk and when someone passes by you greet them by saying, “Christ is risen!” Some of those people would ignore you, and perhaps walk a little faster to put more distance between them and you. Is it true that Jesus was resurrected? Is it true that Jesus is now alive, with his same physical body made immortal, a body that is incorruptible, impervious to aging, disease and death? Did you know ...

You Ain’t Got No Easter Clothes

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."—John 11:43-44 Welcome to the party! Easter is the annual celebration Christians around the world anticipate and long for. Once again we savor victory in Christ. As Christians we are celebrating the most triumphant and victorious day in all history. Let's begin with the words of Peter, who tells us, in 1 Peter 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has ...

April 2021

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: When Jesus Rode into Town– pg. 2 Laura Urista: The Heart of the Matter– pg. 4 Ed Dunn: Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled– pg. 5 Brad Jersak: Pastoral Perspective – pg. 7

It’s Good to Be Alive

It's one of two times in the year when brick-and-mortar churches have their highest attendance. It's without a doubt the most meaningful time of the year for Christians, but Easter lilies, bunny rabbits, Easter hams, painted and chocolate eggs can take our attention away from the vital life-giving significance of this spiritual victory we celebrate every spring. Easter signals new life springing from what is seemingly dead and lifeless. Gray gives way to green. Ice melts and snow is replaced by the promise of buds and sprouts. Light overcomes darkness. The light and life that comes bursting from an empty tomb triumphs over death on the cross, a ...

What About 3 Days and 3 Nights?

Q: What is your view on Jesus' statement that he would be in the grave three days and three nights? I believe Jesus. I do not believe that it was parts of days and nights like some say. A: I believe Jesus as well. If you examine the gospels, you will find one verse that mentions "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40 ) and another 20 verses that speak of his resurrection as being on "the third day" or "in three days." Since we both believe Jesus, should we seek to better understand one verse in the light of 20, or 20 verses in the light of one? Today, the day I am writing this, is Friday. Three days from now will be Sunday. That's the ...

Death Swallowed Up (You’re Not Disposable!) – Greg Albrecht

One of the great lessons and legacies of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus is that our temporary world does not have the last word. Easter tells you and me that we are not disposable. Easter tells us that even while our bodies age and shrink and wither away—there will be a day when our bodies, like the body of Jesus, will be resurrected. God will never throw us away! During the second half of the 20th century our consumer culture turned into a throw-away-culture the likes of which the world has never seen. Plastic bottles are one of the premier examples—use the bottle once and then throw it away. Paper plates, disposable diapers and ...