“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 this advice…
Suppose you were going down a road that happened to fork,
Leaving you to decide upon which direction to take.
But at each direction, there stood a man, one alive and one dead,
Which one would you ask to show you your way to make.
III.The Cross
The world in its anger, the world in its revenge,
Tried to wipe Jesus of Nazareth from the earth,
We, too, by our sin, past, present, future,
Have challenged Christ to show His worth.
But even the sins of generations upon generations,
Could not keep Christ weighted down,
In fact, Christ has promised to those who will call upon his name.
A share of His eternal life and a crown.
By asking for forgiveness for that which God’s Word says is sin,
And by looking for his leadership to help us steer,
From this point on we can maneuver through life’s obstacles,
Because we know, “There is no dead end here.”
The resurrection changed the lives of the disciples.
Those who were weak became strong.
They began to preach and teach in the public places.
Even though authorities labeled them wrong.
The resurrection changed our lives, too.
Those would be come Christian some day.
Instead of having no hope at all,
We have a God that hears us when we pray.
The resurrection has changed the way we look at death.
We now have nothing to fear.
Death becomes a pit-stop on the way to something greater.
We know that, “There is no dead end here.”
IV. Application
As we look around our world today…
Great events are playing out on the universal stage.
Democracy and freedom are being shared in regions far and wide.
That never knew the difference liberty and justice could have made.
There’s an unprecedented ability to share information.
Through the simplest of methods people communicate around the globe.
Ideas and beliefs can be disbursed in minutes and seconds,
It’s becoming commonplace for a computer to hold.
The ability to move goods around this planet called earth.
Makes it possible, more than ever, for hunger to be cleared.
But all of these world-changing events are futile
If the world does know that “There’s no dead end here.”
There is no greater event in history.
Than Christ rising from the dead.
Through His ministry, death, and resurrection,
The spiritually hungry of our community must be fed.
There is no military victory
or some great medical cure.
There is no global village available,
That can bring hope as strong, as sure.
There is reason why we shout to all those who’ll hear
Christ is risen indeed.
For the Good News of Jesus Christ, in all of its forms,
Has set the captives, the hungry, the hurting, the joyless free!
Conclusion
We, as Christians, then are charged
To bring this message so that all may hear.
Sent forth in the power of Christ’s resurrection,
We can shout from the rooftops “There’s no dead end here.”
For it was clear to Mary Magdalene,
To Peter, and to Paul as the Corinthian letter he wrote.
That a new heart, a new spirit, a new life for God’s people.
Began when the Good News of Jesus Christ was spoke.
So let us not be ashamed of that Gospel of Christ.
Let’s say it loud, and strong and clear.
The answer to all the world’s spiritual and physical questions,
Is simply, “There is no dead end here.”
We can say it with conviction.
“There is no dead end here.”
We can say it with assurance.
“There is no dead end here.”
We can say it when we’re struggling;
“There is no dead end here.”
We can say it when we’re hurting,
“There is no dead end here.”
All that the world claims to offer,
All that it claims to give,
Falls radically short, in this day and age.
People are looking for a new life to live.
So let us offer them Christ,
Let us offer his love, for God and for one another.
Let us not condemn, but stand with open arms.
Opening our hearts, minds, and doors to others.
And may the grace of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ,
And his Spirit, help us to testify without fear.
May we be guided and directed by his love forever.
Because we know beyond all shadows of doubt,
That “there is no dead end here.”
Closing Prayer
Will you join me in prayer…
Almighty God,
Through your only Son you overcame death, and opened to us the opportunity of everlasting life.
As we celebrate Easter, grant us, that by the renewing of your Spirit, we too may arise from the death of sin, anything that draws us away from you and your church, into a life of righteousness for your name’s sake.
By dying on the cross you conquered death.
By rising on the third day, you have brought us new life.
Through your continuing presence of your Holy Spirit,
We know that our hearts will be rekindled by the fire of your love.
Be with us. Guide us and direct us we pray….in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen.
Closing Song – #702 – Sing With All The Saints in Glory
Benediction
Grant us, O Lord, that what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts,
and that what we believe in our hearts, we may practice in our lives;
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
This sermon series is based on Roy Hession’s classic, “The Calvary Road” which can be purchased by calling Christian Literature Crusade (CLC) at 1.800.659.1240.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful or would like to make a comment or ask a question, please feel free to contact me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn Spiritually and professionally.
