What is the most difficult part of the resurrection story for you to believe? Is it that Jesus physically rose from the dead, not as a resuscitation but with a transformed body that would never die again? Is it that through the cross and then the resurrection ALL your sins have been paid for in full? Is it that God loved you so much that he would die for YOU? Is it that Jesus was fully man and fully God? Is it that Jesus was the first born of the resurrection and we too will one day experience our own resurrection? All these mind stretching truths can be a lot to understand and fully grasp.

What about this question: Does the fact that Jesus rose from the grave, his resurrection declaring victory over sin and death, actually impact our lives more than any other event in history? The facts do stretch our minds. Belief in them demand a genuine faith. But I believe the biggest hurdle we face is living in the "already but the not yet." This is a phrase that captures the era of history that we live. The resurrection and victory of Christ has 'already' happened. His power and perfect sacrifice has defeated the enemy and opened the way for the full redemption and restoration of all creation (for all who chose to receive the free gift). We also live in the 'not yet'. The fulfillment of the victory and it's rewards are yet to be fully realized. We still live in the battle of good and evil, both in the cosmic realm and in our daily lives. This fact stands in stark reality: ever before us, before our minds, before our understanding, before our faith. And we can find ourselves asking, where is the victory of the resurrection? This is the context for the sermon series that Pastor Rick began this past Resurrection Sunday. Together we will ask questions and pursue a deeper understanding and impact of the resurrection in our lives. Here is the introduction to the series:

Resurrection. More than just a topic to talk about at Easter and funerals, resurrection is a reality that impacts every aspect of the Christian's life. To Jesus' disciples, their Lord's resurrection changed everything they knew about the world. It meant, at the very least, that the Creator's world (heaven) was now bursting into their world (earth). Equipped with the reality of Jesus' resurrection and the insight and promise of their own future resurrection, the disciples and the early church forged into a brand new way of life. In this series we will face the central reality and impact of the resurrection, and how it impacts us today. In other words: The Resurrection, in real life.