Making the Easter story sound fresh and new might be a burden for some pastors, even though we view it as one of the most important.  Here are 10 ideas that might help inspire an unforgettable Easter sermon.

1.  Expecting God  (inspired by Lenny Luchetti of wesleyansermons.com)

Text: Matthew 21

Focus:  Often we want God to meet our expectations when God wants to go far beyond what we expect.

Function:  Inspire listeners to let go of their expectations and to wait for God to exceed those expectations.

2.  God Does New Things

Text: 1 Peter 1:3

Focus:  Often we look to God to forgive us when actually God wants to make us completely new.

Function:  Inspire listeners to look to God not only for forgiveness but also for transformation.  Easter only forgives sin, but also gives us power over it.

3.  Living in Separation

Text:  Romans 5:6-8

Focus:  While sin leaves us powerless, God loves us enough to give us power over sin by sending Jesus to die on the cross.

Function:  Inspire listeners to offer themselves fully to God to experience the most hope, peace and joy.

4. Past vs. Present

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:4 (focusing on “rose” as a present verb)

Focus:  Even though we remember Easter as a past event, we celebrate it as a present event as God continues to work in us.

Function:  No matter what the past of the listener looks like, God wants to meet them in the present and transform their future.

5.  From Death to Life

Text:  Ephesians 2:5

Focus:  While Jesus was dead in the grave, the Father raised Him to new life.  God is calling listeners to new life through Jesus.

Function:  Inspire listeners to experience real life change by trusting God with their entire life.

6.  Don’t Put God First

Text:  Romans 12:1

Focus:  The resurrection is about the living Lord.  His life should be the center of our lives.

Function: Don’t put Jesus first on the list; make Him the center of everything that you are and do.

7. A New Kind of Alive

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Focus:  The resurrection provides a new kind of life for Jesus, a life where he will never die.

Function:  Inspire listeners to experience new life that comes with trusting Jesus.

8.  Long Story Short

Text:  Genesis 3 vs. Gospel Resurrection

Focus:  God is restoring creation from the Fall.  In Adam there is death and in Jesus there is life.

Function:  Inspire listeners to allow God to restore their broken lives.

9.  I Did, So You Do

Text:  Matthew 28:16-20

Focus:  Every scene of the resurrected Jesus, He is commissioning and sending.  Jesus resurrection is linked to mission of the church.

Function:  Inspire listeners to get on mission with resurrected Jesus.

10.  Have Some Fun

Text:  Philippians 4:4

Focus:  God has already accomplished everything on the cross and the resurrection.  There is nothing more for us to do but experience the joy of the Lord.

Function:  Inspire listeners to stop trying to earn salvation and experience joy in this life.

It's my hope that these sermon ideas will ignite your creativity as God speaks through the Holy Spirit to inspire the people God has entrusted to your care.