"No Dead End Here" - Calvary Road Series

“No Dead End Here” – The Calvary Road
I Corinthians 15:1-8, 20-26
(John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43)
April1, 2004 – Easter Sunday

Purpose: As Christians we celebrate a Risen Savior who instead of offering a dead end to the Calvary Road, offers a whole new, faith-filled, grace-filled, direction.

INTRODUCTION

This morning we’re going to try something new.
It’s my hope that you’ll attend to me your ear.
Instead of typical sermon this day,
A sermon in rhyme you will hear.

But hearing is not the only act,
That during our time you must do.
For when I give you the indication,
I expect that you will answer too.

So please take a moment and listen.
Your answer will be simple, and the lead-in quite clear.
When I pause and indicate a need for your voice.
Please response with “There’s no dead end here.”

I. The Biblical Texts

In our passage this morning from Paul’s letter to Corinth, (I Corinthians 15)
he told them to hold fast, by God’s grace, to the Word.
That empty preaching and a futile faith,
should never from Corinth be heard.

In this life, he said, our only hope is in Christ.
If Christ is dead, then the Christian message is unclear.
But since the Risen Christ is reality, death is destroyed,
In short, “There’s no dead end here.”

It was the story of Mary Magdalene (John 20)
Who made her way while it was still dark.
She saw the stone had been moved,
And her greatest fear of Christ being stolen, struck her heart.

Two angels and Jesus asked, “why do you weep”
She wept for she wanted her stolen Christ to be near.
It took Jesus himself, who called her “Mary” by name,
So that she would know, “There’s no dead end here.”

It was the story of Peter preaching to Cornellius, (Acts 10)
And all of his household gathered to share.
Peter taught them about a Christ raised on the third day,
He taught of his own experience of being with Christ there.

Peter struggled, though, when the Spirit came upon them
For he had heard from religious leaders that there was a limit to fear.
But he eventually perceived that there was no partially in God’s grace.
Peter proclaimed, through Christ “There’s no dead end here.”

II. The Christ Faith Is Different

You see the Christian faith is so much different,
Than what many world religions tend to offer.
Others rank first the goal of human thought,
Placing people above God, and thus they falter.

Those who have called themselves gods,
Fill graves of all sorts far and near.
But the Garden tomb is famous because it remains empty,
With Christianity, “There is no dead end here.”

Did you know that all but four of the major world religions
Are based on mere philosophical proposition.
And of the four that are based on personalities, rather than philosophy,
Only Christianity claims its founder’s resurrection.

Judaism’s founder, Abraham died in 1900 BC.
Buddha death left no remains.
In 632 AD Mohohammed died in the arms of his favorite wife.
But it is Jesus Christ who still remains.

About 33AD, Jesus died but came back to life.
Assuring that you and I can do it to.
He appeared to over 500 people in 40 days,
To prove that his resurrection was true.

Let me tell you a true story that happened some time ago,
Of a Muslim in Africa who accepted Christ.
When asked by his friends, why did he do such a radical thing,
He gently and persuasively shared