The Truth About Easter (April 20, 2025)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, April 20, 2025
PASSAGES: Acts 17:23; Colossians 2:14-15; Revelation 1:18; Ephesians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 15:52-58
It never fails, around these special times of the year (Easter, Christmas, Pentecost) or other holiday’s (New Years, Halloween) you always have those “back room Christians” come out and tell all the reasons why certain churches and Christians are not doing it correctly. Now let me explain “back room Christians”, a name I have made up; this is that group of church folks or non-church folks that explain why churches and Christians are doing things wrong, but only do so on BIG event activities. They always come out around Christmas time and tell us all why a Christmas tree is wrong, around Halloween and tell us why kids being kids and church doing activities keeping kids off the streets and handing out candy is wrong, and of course Easter and make sure we all know why Easter Egg Hunts are wrong. So why do I call them Back Room Christians? They only come up and say why everyone is doing it wrong, but run back in hide when it is time to be the Christian and show the Love of Christ to the world.
Now back to Easter. I am sure that when scrolling on Social Media, you have seen multiple churches doing Easter Egg Hunts and community events, like the one our church helped plan and worked yesterday for our community. We joined with 4 other churches and the City of Pell City and pulled off a very successful Easter Egg Hunt, if I do say so myself. We had people from this church there INVITING everyone we could to church this morning. We want this community to know about this church and mostly about a man named Jesus!
There are also those who say Easter Egg Hunts are bad and pagan events. Well, let’s look at the history of Easter shall we? Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a core belief in the Christian faith. Easter also has roots in the ancient pagan celebrations of spring. Early Christians initially celebrated the resurrection of Jesus EVERY Sunday, as it was the first day of the week, after the Jewish Sabbath, and as time passed, the Christians began celebrating Easter around the spring time, more specifically, around the celebration of Passover. Easter was also observed as a new aspect of Passover, the Jewish holiday celebrating the Hebrew’s freedom from slavery. The Easter Bunny and the Egg have traditions in ancient celebrations of the spring equinox, which marks the beginning of spring.
So we ask ourselves, why do we add the Easter bunny and the egg into the celebration of the Christian holiday of Easter? Let’s look at one example of Paul.
Acts 17:23 ~ “For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
We are to use, within reason, the things people KNOW and help point them to Jesus. If I try to teach someone about changing the oil in a car to someone who doesn’t even know what a car is, boy that is gonna be a problem. Failure to communicate. But, if we take something, again within reason, that the person already knows and use that to point them to Calvary, mission success. I am tired of the devil thinking he can take everything over and claim as His own. The rainbow belongs to God, the bunny belongs to God, the eggs belong to God, trees belong to God … let’s use the things of God and point people back to God!
Looking at Easter: Easter is often more fashion parade than Resurrection celebration, everyone wants to dress their best; more Easter bunny than resurrected Lord; more basket of stuffed animals, candy and Easter eggs than the empty tomb. But even in the midst of the egg hunts, best dressed, candy, stuffed animals … we need to look at the life of Christ.
The Legacy of His Life
Christ’s 33 years on earth was the longest day in heaven, but it would forever change the future of both heaven and earth.
- His life was lived among the poor, the outcast, the rejected, the bereaved.
- He drew about Him an unlikely band of disciples.
- He taught the life-changing principles of the Kingdom that gave life to all who believed.
The Reality of His Death
- The religious rulers plotted His capture and death.
- The crowds who welcomed Him to Jerusalem were incited against Him.
- He was given a mock trial.
- He was sentenced to death.
- He was savagely beaten.
- On a hill overlooking Jerusalem, He died.
- All Heaven looked on as He suffered for the lost of the earth—past, present and future.
His Journey Into Death and Hell
- As life ebbed, stupendous changes took place in the natural and spiritual.
- In this region of death, a mighty spiritual battle raged.
- Christ gave an irrefutable rationale when asking for the keys of death and hell.
Colossians 2:14 ~ “by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
- Satan resisted and the battle raged on.
Colossians 2:15 ~ “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
- Christ wrestled the keys from the Enemy
Revelation 1:18 ~ “and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
- Taking the keys, he unlocked the gates.
- Christ led out the parade of souls, giving them gifts.
Ephesians 4:8 ~ “Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.””
The Triumph of His Resurrection
- He returned to humanity by the way He exited it.
- His reentry exploded in power.
- He opened the gate to death and left it open.
Christ, was crucified, buried and raised to life, has become the firstfruits of the resurrection. He is alive and because He lives, we too shall live – with newness of life now and resurrection life forever.
1 Corinthians 15:52–58 ~ “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Pastor Andy Lambert
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101