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THE PREACHER'S PAGE CONTAINS SERMON OUTLINES AND OTHER PASTORAL HELPS AND RESOURCES.

SERMON OUTLINE OF THE WEEK (last updated 4/3/07)

FROM TEARS TO TRIUMPH ON EASTER MORNING

John 20:11-18

I. INTRODUCTION

A. A WOMAN WEEPS AT A GRAVE

     1. Many have wept at graves through the centuries

     2. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus (John 11:25)

B. MARY WAS CRYING AT AN EMPTY GRAVE

     1. The cross and its tears were past

     2. Mary and the other women had found the grave empty

     3. Christ had risen from the dead

     4. This was a time of triumph...not for tears

C. AN ANGEL’S QUESTION: “WHY WEEPEST THOU?” (v. 13)

II. BODY

A. MARY WEPT BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED THE WORST (v. 13)

     1. She doubted the promise of the Lord

            a. Jesus had promised He would rise from the dead (John 2:19)

            b. When we doubt God’s promises we are overcome by anxiety

     2. Mary had come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus

            a. She had come to do the work of an undertaker

            b. Even the empty tomb hadn’t convinced her Christ was alive

     3. Now Mary believed the body of Jesus had been stolen

     4. Mary believed her enemies were more powerful than her Friend

     5. We need to doubt our doubts and believe our beliefs

B. MARY WEPT BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS ALONE (v. 13)

     1. Mary doubted the presence of the Lord

            a. “They have taken away my Lord”

            b. “I know not where they have laid Him”

     2. Loneliness is hard to bear

            a. No wonder Mary was weeping that first Easter morning

            b. Jesus was there but Mary didn’t realize it

     3. Christians are never alone (Heb. 13:5)

            a. No one can take our Lord away (Matt. 28:18-20)

            b. No one can take us away from our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39)

C. MARY WEPT BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT HER LIFE WAS OVER (vv. 13-14)

     1. She now doubted the purpose of the Lord for her life

            a. Everything had been different since she met Jesus

            b. She had found a purpose for living at last

            c. Now that He was gone she thought her life was over

     2. Jesus was there all the time

            a. He was there when Mary doubted

            b. He was there when Mary despaired

     3. Jesus is here today to speak to your doubts and despair

III. CONCLUSION

A. JESUS SPOKE TO MARY AND DISPELLED HER FEARS (vv. 15-17)

B. JESUS KNOWS ABOUT YOUR TEARS AND FEARS

C. THE LIVING CHRIST WANTS TO GIVE YOU PEACE AND A PURPOSE FOR LIVING 

FROM "PREACH FOR A YEAR #6" Six volumes available, each containing 104 sermon outlines. To receive PREACH FOR A YEAR #6 SEND $12.00 TO ROGER CAMPBELL MINISTRIES, P.O. BOX 301004, WATERFORD, MI 48330. See the RESOURCE PAGE for other books and offers. (Shippping and Handling: For orders outside the United States please add one dollar for U.S. orders, three dollars for Canadian and ten dollars for overseas orders.)

A MINISTER'S LAMENT

I used to call in people's homes, to talk with them and pray
But now I've no time left to call; I have to be away
Attending meetings here and there, as loyal preachers must;
How else can one keep up to date, when programs are discussed?

The phone bell rang the other day. A tearful voice said, "Please,
Could you find time to see my dad? he's sick and ill at ease."
I could not call that afternoon. I had a conference on,
Where specialists in pastoral work discussed things pro and con.

The next day proved too late to call. The poor old man was dead.
His folks were peeved and sent for Reverend Doctor Brown instead;
(Though why they'd turn to him in need I cannot comprehend;
No conference on pastoral work he ever did attend.)

My youth work here has all but died, though Doctor Brown's is fair;
For while I run to institutes, my young folks worship there.
You'd think my church would boom and grow; but strange to say 'tis not;
For while I go to conferences, my church work goes to pot.

They stress evangelistic work, which every church should do;
They plan a lot of institutes to take our deacons to.
These "New Life" conferences tell us how lost souls from sin to pry;
They only trouble is that now we've no time left to try.

Perhaps we've made a big mistake, as some profess to see.
Perhaps most church work has become a vast bureaucracy.
Perhaps our time would best be spent among the needy mob.
Perhaps God's kingdom profits most by staying on the job.

Author unknown