March 30, 2013 - Church at Worship

Sermon: "The Promise of Emptiness" -Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Genevieve Koh Isidro

Children’s Feature: Patty Marruffo

Scripture Reading: John 12:23–26, TNIV- Andrew Peverini, Daniel Peverini

Sermon Notes:

Today we take a break from our series, Dangers, Toils, & Snares to focus on the
passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Christ is risen is the best of all good
news! Paul underlines the crucial nature of this news with these words to his Corinthian friends: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, TNIV).
Further into the same chapter, he goes on to say, “If there is no resurrection of the
dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our
preaching is useless and so is your faith” (vv.13–14, TNIV).

In other words, the resurrection of Jesus—which Christians around the world celebrate this weekend—is the central affirmation of the Christian faith. Without it, our
faith would be, in the words of Paul, useless.

As we participate together, then, in this weekend’s services, I pray that faith in the
resurrection of Jesus and hope in the soon-to-come resurrection of those who have
died in him, will burn bright in your heart, filling you with anticipation for God’s eternal tomorrow.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Randy Roberts
Senior Pastor