April 5, 2026
OPENING:
Matthew 28:5-6 NLT — “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
INFORMATION: The Mission Is Possible
Greek word: Egeiro — Risen (Matthew 28:6)
1. Jesus has risen
- He conquered death; over 500 people witnessed it firsthand — eyewitness testimony, not mythology
1 Corinthians 15:3-7 NLT — “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.”
2. Jesus finished the assignment
- His last words on the cross: “It is finished”
2 Timothy 1:9-10 NLT — “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time — to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”
3. Jesus gives us power to overcome
Romans 8:11 (NLT) — “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”
INSPIRATION: Prayer Changes Everything
- Prayer brings hope
Romans 15:13 NLT — “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Prayer brings healing
Romans 8:11 NLT — “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”
- Prayer brings you home
Luke 15:20 NLT — “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”
MOTIVATION: Prayer Overcomes Obstacles
Obstacle 1: “My prayers don’t feel like they’re doing anything.”
- Prayer is about aligning yourself with what God is already doing
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT — “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Obstacle 2: “I don’t feel worthy.”
- Jesus didn’t appear to trained theologians — He appeared to fishermen and people hiding in fear, and breathed on them and said: you’re sent.
- Romans 10:9 NLT — “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- Romans 8:11 NLT — “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”
TRANSFORMATION: Will You Say Yes
Resurrection Day is the day the mission begins.
THE CHALLENGE:
- Make a decision: Do I believe He is risen? (Romans 10:9)
- Make a bold move: Say YES to being Sent On A Mission
- Join in praying for revival and Luke 10:2
- Luke 10:2 NLT — “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Following Jesus, Sent On A Mission
The Community