The Week After Easter

For those of us who are followers of Jesus, Resurrection Sunday is the day in which it all comes together. The bodily resurrection is foundational to the hope of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15 (New English Translation)

 Now I want to make clear for you brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 

 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also... 

If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised… 

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  

The resurrection changes everything. We are not condemned to remain in our sins; more than that, we are being made alive in Christ. Our history is not our destiny. We followers of Jesus are now “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world.” (2 Peter 1:4). It was always God’s plan to conform His children to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).

Resurrection Sunday reminds us that God has the power to stamp us with the image of Christ-like, cruciform love. We celebrate that on Easter. We post about it. We fly our Jesus flag high, as we should. He is risen! 

Then we go home. We return to work.

A month passes.

And I wonder—does the power of Resurrection Sunday linger? Do the claims we make on Easter translate into daily life with family, friends, co-workers? How often does our worship reflect a lifestyle of surrendered devotion, reminding everyone we meet that God is transforming us into the image of Jesus?

There’s a show called Severance in which employees undergo a procedure preventing them from recalling their work outside the office—or their outside lives while at work. They functionally live two separate lives: their Innie (inside work), and their Outie (outside work), with no awareness of connection between them.

If we aren’t careful, we risk living a spiritual life of Severance—walking into church, flipping a switch, saying and doing all the right religious things. Then leaving, flipping another switch, and practically becoming a different person in allegiance, priorities, and conduct. James calls this fresh and salt water flowing from the same spring (James 3:11). Jesus called it hypocrisy when confronting the Pharisees—who tithed very precisely in the temple yet practiced injustice throughout the week.

So I’ve been thinking about integrity—about consistency—about what it looks like when my life reflects the Christ-conforming power of cruciform love every day, not just on Easter Sunday. I invite you to contemplate this with me.

Let’s walk through some Christ-like qualities we celebrate at Easter. These are the things we love about Jesus—the perfect expression of God’s love. Since we’ve seen these attributes reflected in Scripture and history, let’s revisit them this morning. Because the power of Resurrection Sunday is meant for every day, not just one

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In the (day, week, rest of the year) after Easter…..

Will we speak truth with grace? Nathan spoke hard truth to David not just to condemn, but to call him back to life (2 Samuel 12:1–13); Jesus protected the woman caught in adultery, then gently called her to transformation (John 8:1–11). Peter boldly preached at Pentecost, calling out sin but offering salvation (Acts 2:36–41). How will we speak truth to those around us with such grace that it draws them closer to Jesus?

Will we display a love for compassionate justice? The prophets cried out for widows, orphans, and the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8); Jesus said God sent him “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4). How can we advocate for a more just world with the same compassion Jesus showed?

Will we "see" those struggling around us? Hagar called God “the One who sees me” when she was comforted in the wilderness (Genesis 16:13); Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree and called him by name (Luke 19:1–10). Peter and John stopped to heal a lame man others ignored (Acts 3:1–10). Who in our life might feel invisible, and how can we show them they are seen and loved by God?

Will we seek reconciliation where there is division? Jacob sought reconciliation with Esau to restore a broken relationship (Genesis 32:22–33:11). Jesus prayed for unity among His followers, asking that they be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:20–23). Where is division in our life or community, and can we appropriately help move ourselves and others toward reconciliation?

Will we look to help "the least of these"? Boaz welcomed an impoverished outsider, Ruth, and made room for her and her widowed mother-in-law (Ruth 2); Jesus welcomed little children, lepers, outcasts, and the poor (Mark 10:13–16, Luke 17:11–19, Luke 4:18–19). Tabitha served the poor and clothed widows (Acts 9:36–43). How can we serve someone society overlooks, treating them as we would Jesus Himself?

Will we call out hypocrisy, deception, and evil? Amos called for justice to roll like a river (Amos 5:24); Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s blindness and called out the Pharisees’ hypocrisy (Matthew 23, Luke 19:41–44). Stephen confronted the Sanhedrin at the cost of his life, and even as they stoned him, he forgave them (Acts 7:51–60). Where do we see hypocrisy or injustice in the world around us, and how can we confront it with courage and love?

Will we offer spiritual and practical hope to the hopeless? Elijah offered bread and a godly presence to the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17); Jesus gave well water and living water to the Samaritan woman at the well. Paul brought hope to a jailer about to take his own life: “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (Acts 16:25–34). Who in our life appears to be hopeless, and how can we offer them both practical help and the hope of Jesus?

Will we offer gospel-centered peace in the midst of strife? Isaiah’s vision of swords beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4) offered a foretaste of the peace Jesus brings; Jesus calmed the storm and the disciples:“Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). The church faced persecution with prayer and unity, not retaliation (Acts 4:23–31). In a world full of conflict, how can we bring the peace of Christ to those around us?

Will we forgive those who wrong us? Joseph forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery; the father of the prodigal son welcomed his wayward child with open arms (Luke 15:20–24); Jesus on the cross said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Who has hurt us, and what does it look like to forgive them as Jesus forgave us?

Will we welcome the “other” without fear? Israel was to “love the stranger, for you were once strangers in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19); Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, and praised a Roman centurion’s faith (Matthew 9:10–13, Matthew 8:5–13). Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch on the roadside (Acts 8:26–39). Who feels like an outsider to us, and how can we welcome them into the family of Jesus with the love of Jesus?

Will we listen to those who need to be heard? God heard the cry of His children in Egypt (Exodus 3:7-10); Jesus heard the questions of Nicodemus and the cry of blind Bartimaeus: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” Who around us is longing to be heard, and how can we listen with the heart of Christ?

Will we speak for those who need a voice? Moses spoke for God’s people in slavery in Egypt; Jesus spoke up for the children, for the Samaritans the disciples wanted to firebomb (Luke 9), for the unclean nobody wanted to touch. Who in our orbit needs an advocate, and how can we speak up for them with boldness and love?

Will we mourn with those who are mourning? The psalmists cried and waited in the dark (Psalm 42, Psalm 88); Jesus cried at Lazarus’s tomb, even though He knew resurrection was coming (John 11:35). The church gathered to mourn the loss of Stephen and Tabitha (Acts 8:2; 9:39). Who is grieving near us, and how can we sit with them in their pain, reflecting Jesus’ compassion?

Will we practice generosity without expecting reward? The widow gave her last two coins, trusting God’s provision (Mark 12:41–44). Jesus multiplied loaves and fish to feed thousands, expecting nothing in return (John 6:1–14) and gave his life willingly even for those who would reject him. How can we live generously, trusting God to provide, no matter the response?

Will we practice patience with those still on the journey? God stayed with a rebellious Israel in the wilderness; Jesus kept restoring Peter (John 21:15–19). The apostles worked with new believers, teaching them gently (Acts 15). Who in our life needs our patience, and how can we walk with them as Jesus would?

Will we embody humble service in leadership? Gideon led Israel humbly, trusting God’s strength (Judges 6:11–16). Jesus took on the form of a servant, teaching that true greatness lies in serving others (Mark 10:42–45). How can we lead others by serving humbly, thinking of how to serve rather than be served?

Will we live with gratitude in all circumstances? Paul and Silas sang praises in prison (Acts 16:25). Jesus gave thanks before breaking bread, even on the night He was betrayed (Luke 22:17–19). In what difficult situation could we be choosing to give thanks, trusting God’s goodness even in the midst of difficulty?

Will we work to restore what has been broken? Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 2:17); Jesus healed broken bodies and hearts, declaring, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). What broken relationship or situation beckons to us to be a part of restoration built on Jesus’ love and grace?

Will we disciple others with patience and humility? Moses guided Israel despite their complaints (Numbers 11:14–17). Jesus walked with His disciples, explaining truth step by step (Luke 24:27). Who needs our patient discipleship, helping them grow closer to Jesus through our faithful presence?

Will we offer generous hospitality? Abraham welcomed strangers and entertained angels (Genesis 18:1–8). Jesus dined with sinners and outcasts, creating space for transformation at the table (Luke 5:29–32). How can we open our home or heart to someone new, showing them Christ’s hospitality?

Will we stand firm when challenged? Daniel refused to bow to Babylon’s idols (Daniel 6:10); Jesus did not waver before Pilate, declaring His kingship (John 18:36). When our faith and trust in God is tested, how can we stand firm while showing Jesus’ love to others?

Will we persevere in prayer for others? Moses interceded for the Israelites; Jesus interceded for His disciples and all believers, even in His final hours (Luke 22:31–32). Who needs our persistent prayers, and how can we commit to lifting them up regularly?

Will we love others well even when they are hard to love? Joseph forgave his betrayers and provided for them in famine (Genesis 50:20–21); Jesus knelt to wash His disciples’ feet—even Judas’ (John 13:1–17). How can we love someone difficult in our life with the selfless love of Jesus?

Will we live with hope? Ezekiel saw dry bones rising again (Ezekiel 37); Jesus, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). The apostles faced death singing hymns, confident in resurrection hope (Acts 16:25; Acts 20:22–24). In what area of our life should we be clinging to the hope of Jesus, trusting He is making all things new?

Once again, will we live in hope? Not because the world is easy, but because Easter means the worst thing is never the last thing, and because God’s promise is to “make all things new” (Isaiah 65:17, Revelation 21:5). How can we live each day with the hope of Easter, sharing that hope with those around us?

The empty tomb isn’t just a story we tell once a year—it’s the reality that shapes who we are and how we live. Jesus, the risen King, invites us to embody His cruciform love, not just in our words but in our actions, not just on Sunday but every day.

Rather than settling for severed lives, let’s pursue integrated lives inside and outside these doors, a life that looks the same all week and all year long.

May we leave here today committed to being people who make the practical, day to day impact of the resurrection real: through our cruciform love, our service, our forgiveness, our hope.

He is risen, and that changes everything.

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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER THIS WEEK/MONTH/YEAR

Where might I be living a “severed” life? Are there areas where my Sunday faith feels disconnected from my Monday actions?

Which aspect of Christ-like love feels most challenging right now? Is it forgiving, speaking truth with grace, seeing the struggling? What’s one practical step I can take this week to grow in that area?

Who in my life needs to experience the hope of Easter through me? Is there someone I can listen to, serve, forgive, or pray for in a way that points them to the reality of the risen Jesus?

How can I cultivate resurrection hope daily? What practices—prayer, gratitude, serving others, or something else—can help me stay anchored in the truth that “the worst thing is never the last thing”?

False Teachers Will Rise (2 Peter 1: 20 - 2:16)

“But notice first that no prophecy found in Scripture is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation. Prophecy has never been a product of human initiative, but it comes when men and women are moved to speak on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit. But notice first that no prophecy found in Scripture is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation (unpacking; untying interpretation knots”) . Prophecy has never been brought forth by or been a product of human initiative, but when men and women are brought forth to speak on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit.

2:1 Just as false prophets rose up in the past among God’s people, false teachers will rise up in the future among you. They will slip in with their destructive opinions (damnable heresies), denying the very Master who bought their freedom and dooming themselves to destruction swiftly, but not before they attract others by their unbridled and immoral behavior. Because of them and their ways, others will criticize and condemn the path of truth we walk as seedy and disreputable. These false teachers will follow their greed and exploit you with their fabrications, but be assured that their judgment was pronounced long ago and their destruction does not sleep.

For God did not spare the heavenly beings who sinned, but He cast them into the outer darkness and chaos of Tartarus to be kept until the time of judgment; and He did not spare the ancient world, but He sent a flood swirling over the ungodly (although He did save Noah, God’s herald for what is right, with seven other members of his family); and God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ash as a lesson of what He will do with the ungodly in the days to come (although again He did rescue Lot, a person who did what was right in God’s eyes and who was distressed by the immorality and the lawlessness of the society around him. Day after day, the sights and sounds of their lawlessness were like daggers into that good man’s soul).

If all this happened in the past, it shows clearly the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials and how to hold the wicked in punishment until the day of judgment. And above all, it shows He will punish those who let the desires of their bodies rule them and who have no respect for authority. People like this are so bold and willful that they aren’t even afraid of offending heavenly beings, although the heavenly messengers—in spite of the fact that they have greater strength and power—make no such accusations against these people before the Lord.

These people who speak ill of what they do not understand are no different from animals—without sense, operating only on their instincts, born to be captured and killed—and they will be destroyed just like those animals, receiving the penalty for their evil acts. They waste their days in parties and carousing. As they feast with you, these stains and blemishes on your community are feasting on their deceptions. Their eyes are always looking for their next adulterous conquests; their appetites for sin cannot be satisfied. They seduce the unwary soul, and greed is the only lesson they have learned by heart. God’s curse lies upon them.

They have veered off the right road and gotten lost, following in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, the false prophet. Balaam loved the reward he could get by doing evil, but he was rebuked for crossing the line into sin; his own speechless donkey scolded him in a human voice, an amazing miracle that reined in the prophet’s insanity.

We could get lost in the weeds explaining why those Old Testament references were important and relatable to Peter’s audience, but that’s not the point of this sermon. Just know he is pulling from a shared history to reference stories about how God does not abide the devastating effect of sin.

Peter is pretty concerned about false teachers. He gives quite a list of identifying features in the early church. People being what they are, the issues remain timeless even if the particular ways that false teachers and teaching show up then and now is different. I’m going to split this into two categories: What they taught and what they did.

WHAT THEY TAUGHT

1. False view of God. The temptation to make God in our image is as old as human history. Another way of saying this is that we tend to mold God into some kind of shape that feels good or is useful to us, which is very different from being true.

1. Do you think God must love what you love, or do you make sure you love what God loves? If you think God is pleased with you, is it because you are pleased with you, or because the Bible reveals that you have aligned yourself with the things that please God? If a teacher does not present God in such a way that your ways and thoughts are not challenged by God’s ways and thoughts, something is off.

2. Is God a God of justice, anger and consequences, or is God a God of mercy, love and grace? Are you never good enough for a demanding, perfectionist God, or is God madly in love with you just like you are? You might be surprised how much your answer has to do with family and church of origin rather than the Bible. If a teacher overemphasis/ignores God’s nature or acts, distortions are going to creep in.

3. Is prayer an opportunity to get what I want, or an opportunity to align myself with God’s heart and pray for God’s will? If a teacher tells you that powerful prayer is the kind that manipulates God – if there is never, “not my will, but yours be done” – it’s a problem.

2. False use of Bible. We’ve talked about this principle before: never read a Bible verse. It’s the idea that context matters: verse, paragraph, section, chapter, book, entire Bible. There is a Big Picture that cannot be ignored if we want to read the Bible well, and that picture will either distort our view of God or what it means to live like image bearers – and sometimes both. Let’s take the issue of judging as just one example.

I hear the verse all the time: Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you will be judged.” That’s absolutely in the Bible, but look what else is there – in the same chapter.

• Matthew 7:5 – “You hypocrite!” #judgy

• Matthew 7:15 – “Watch out for false prophets.” #judgy

• Matthew 7:20 – “By their fruit you will recognize them.” #judgy

• Matthew 7:24-29 – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders #judgy

Very judgy chapter, actually. The overall message of the entirety of the biblical texts – which includes a book literally called Judges - is clear: Don’t judge hypocritically; judge impartially; judge fruit, not hearts; keep in mind that you get what you give.

WHAT THEY DID

False sense of self. They are arrogant fools in the most book-of-Proverbs sense of the word.

• They think they are the smartest person in the room.

• They respect no one but themselves.

• No one who disagrees with them can possibly be right.

• The focus of conversation always turns to them/their ministry.

• They make sure their face is always front and center.

• They build modern Babels where their name is made great not incidentally but purposefully.

Honestly, I am increasingly concerned about huge ministries where leaders pursue and/or embrace celebrity. Money, fame and power are a toxic mix. Those who navigate these things successfully - and some do, don’t get me wrong - have several things in common from what I see.

1. They didn’t pursue it.

2. They don’t really like it.

3. They reject the trappings of success.

4. They limit their pubic appearances.

5. They divest their power.

6. They humble themselves under authority.

False idea of freedom. Biblical freedom is freedom from the bondage of sin and the penalty of death, and freedom to follow the path of righteousness. That was clearly not happening. We occasionally see a scandal break where this is still a problem, but I think there is a more subtle kind of false freedom that tempts us.

One of our biggest challenges in the United States is confusing American freedom with biblical freedom. The Constitution is not the Bible. It’s possible it’s not perfect (!?)! it’s also certain that this country grants freedoms to me that the Bible does not.

• I am free in this country to cheat on my wife, but I’m not free to do that in the Kingdom of God.

• I am free in this country to hoard my money, but I’m not free to do that in the Kingdom of God.

• I am free in this country to say virtually anything I want to say; I’m not free to do that in the Kingdom of God.

• I am free in this country to watch pornography; I am not free to do that in the kingdom of God. I’m not free to objectify and commodify people.

• I am free in this country to love or hate whoever I want; I am not free to do that in the Kingdom of God. “You have been taught to love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! 48 But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect (complete), as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 43-48)

False path of life. Three things stand out in this passage: greed, exploitation, and following desires like dumb animals.

• When you start to hear a giant vacuuming sound as teachers personally accumulate money and things because of the gifts from God’s people, beware.

• When people around teachers continually quit because they are used or abused spiritually, emotionally, physically or financially, beware.

• If you find out that a ministry has a buffer of people between a leader and everyone else, beware.

False view of community. These false teachers saw the church as a place for them to control and exploit rather than care for. They are presented here as predatory. The community of the church is where they gorge themselves on the people, the money, the food (probably “love feasts” associated with Communion). There is no mutual honor and respect; there is no accountability and transparency; there is no humility, no sense of an ebb and flow of repentance and forgiveness; no sense of serving rather than being served.

False representation of the church. False teachers ruin the reputation of Christ and His church. Not only are they not above reproach, they are more reproachable than most. It’s one of my biggest fears as a pastor, frankly. May God give me the strength to make His name great, not drag it through the mud.

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First, I invite your inspection. God forbid I teach or live falsely. If you believe I am, you have the right if not the duty to confront me.

Second, apply this message to yourselves. You may not be formal teachers in a ministry or organization, but if you are a follower of Jesus, you have opportunity to teach – talk about and represent Jesus. This is for leaders for sure, but all of us are at times in a position where we lead someone else either towards Christ or away from Christ.

May we all, by God’s grace, be true in word and deed.