Sermon Leftovers

JOHN 20:17 - go find my brothers and tell them. When you have good news, you love to tell people. Couples go to incredible ends to create elaborate pregnancy/gender reveal parties. Parents love to brag on their children. Major accomplishments are nearly as much fun if they are kept secret. Jesus' resurrection was the best news ever. He didn't want anyone to keep it a secret. When Mary saw Jesus, her first inclination was to embrace Him. That is good. Closeness with Jesus is important. But Jesus had a more important task for her. He said, "Don't cling... GO!" We ought to embrace Jesus and seek closeness with Jesus. We do this through personal study, prayer, meditation. We get closer to Him by attending church services and small group meetings. But Jesus has a more important task for us. He doesn't want us to cling, He wants us to GO! Who will you tell about Jesus' resurrection today?

John 16:33: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” When I read these words this morning, I immediately thought of Joshua 1. God came to the new leader of Israel and in spite of the daunting task being faced by Joshua, God said, "Be strong and courageous." Joshua "took heart", brought down the walls of Jericho and conquered the promised land. Then I started thinking about other examples of courage in the Bible. I remembered Gideon, who was hiding in a cave when God found him. With the power of God behind him, Gideon "took heart", tore down the idols and defeated the enemies of God with a greatly inferior army. I remembered David, who "took heart" and took down the giant. I thought about Daniel, who "took heart", continued to pray and became the world's greatest lion tamer. I looked at the list of people in Hebr