An “Easter Church” Is On Fire!
Easter 3 April 6, 2008
Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!
As Christians, we confess that Christ has risen. We believe that He has risen and lives in our hearts — but we also believe that He has truly and physically risen.
We believe that the tomb of Christ is empty.
We believe that the power of death has been broken – broken for Jesus and broken for us.
We can’t begin to understand the divine power that rose Jesus from the dead. The more we try to understand it, the more astounded by it we become.
But — here is a truth that is even more astounding:
The same power that shattered the prison of death sets us free from all that binds us.
The very Spirit of God that rose Jesus from the dead can live in us to empowers us for the ministry God calls us to be doing in the world.
You see — resurrection power is for us, in us, and at work through us.
We can live as “Easter Christians” – and be an “Easter Church”.
This means that we not only live in gratitude for our salvation and hope for the future, but we can also live lives that are filled with the power of God for His work in the world. We can be filled with His power and let His power touch every aspect of our lives.
We can be filled with His power – and let His power touch every aspect of our Church.
Christ has risen – and we can be “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of the risen Christ and doing the work of the risen Christ.
During this season of Easter we are going to be looking at different aspects of what it means to be an “Easter Church” – filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly doing the work of Christ in the world.
We began last week by looking at John 20:19-31 – the story of Jesus and Thomas – and see that an “Easter Church” believes.
Today we’re going to add another aspect of what it means to be an “Ester Church” as we look at Luke 24:13-35 – the story of Jesus – Cleopas – and another follower on the road to Emmaus – and will see that an “Easter Church” is on fire.
Sunday, May 19, 1991.
The Day of Pentecost that year — but — instead of being in the pulpits of the Wentworth and Smyrna Presbyterian Churches outside of Reidsville, NC – preaching and leading worship on that day — Sally and I and our families were at a Holiday Inn in Decatur, GA for my graduation with my Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.
I was excited – the night before I could not sleep — a rarity for me — so I was up and reading from Acts 2 as Saturday night turned to Sunday morning. A few minutes after 12 on that Pentecost day there was a voice alarm in the motel:
“There is a report of a fire in the building.
Please exit the building.”
“There is a report of a fire in the building.
Please exit the building.”
“There is a report of a fire in the building.
Please exit the building.”
On and on it droned as people got up and obeyed the voice – exiting the building.
We made sure all our families were safe as we gathered outside – but a few minutes later we learned that it was a false alarm – and returned to our rooms.
I finally drifted off to sleep that night – but I kept imagining that I heard that voice alarm –
There is a report of a fire in the building
There is a report of a fire in the building
There is a report
of a fire
in the building
a report
of a fire
a fire
in the building.
Friends – one of the marks of an “Easter Church” – a Church that is filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and that boldly does the work of Christ in the world – is that it is “on fire”!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
We are gathered here on this Third Sunday of Easter – this season when we celebrate the power of the resurrection of Christ – the “fire” that the risen Christ can “spark” within our hearts and within our lives – the “fire” that we can have as a Church that is following our risen Lord.
Indeed – there can be a report of a fire in then building.
There can be a report of a fire in the Church.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
But — was the Holiday Inn Sally and I and our families were staying in really on fire?
No – it was a false alarm.
What about the report of a fire here at Hopewell – the report that we are an “Easter Church” – a Church that is “on fire” for Christ — “on fire” for God — “on fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world?
Is it a true report?
Or – a false alarm?
You know – too many times we are too much like Cleopas and his companion before they recognized the risen Christ – and too little like them after they recognized Him.
On that Easter evening as they walked to Emmaus Cleopas and his companion had every reason to be excited – filled with excitement and enthusiasm – they had every reason to be “on fire” for Christ – “on fire” for God – “on fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world .
They had heard the glorious news that Christ had risen.
They had heard that the women had seen a vision of angels who had declared the glorious news of the resurrection.
They should have been filled with excitement.
They should have been “on fire”!
But – they were not.
Instead — they were distraught.
The news of the resurrection did not make them joyous.
The news of the resurrection did not set them “on fire” with excitement and enthusiasm for what God was doing – and what they could be doing for God.
No — instead of making them joyous – the news of the resurrection made them even more confused.
Instead of being “on fire” with the news of the risen Christ, they are not able to see what the resurrection meant for them.
They did not realize that the resurrection could change their lives.
They do not realize that the despair of their lives could be changed into glorious hope because of the resurrection of Christ.
They did not see that they could rejoice in the news of the resurrection – and be “on fire” for God.
They did not see that they could be “Easter Christians” —
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
You know – we are like that too many times.
Like Cleopas and his friend — too many times we choose the old ways of living — the old patterns of our lives — as if we were oblivious — or blind — to the resurrection. We choose to live in ways the world and our sinful habits dictate to us — ways that have nothing to do with proclaiming the resurrected Christ to the world. We even choose to live as if we did before we even knew Christ. Our actions are not as different as they could be.
Maybe we choose to do God’s will — until something else comes along to attract our attention.
Maybe we choose to be faithful and committed to God and the church — until we find something else we deem more interesting.
We may even take part in the work of our risen Lord and the work of the church – - until we find something else that we prefer.
We may try to live as God’s committed, excited people in the world – as people “on fire” for God and Christ — until the ways of the world interest us again.
But — what happens when the resurrected Christ made Himself known to Cleopas and his companion?
Their eyes were opened —
They understood —
They understood that they did not have to live in despair —
They understood that they could live in glorious hope —
They understood that their lives could be changed —
They understood that the resurrection could make a difference in their lives.
They understood that they could be “Easter Christians” – on fire for God – on fire for Christ — “on fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world!
As the risen Christ departed from them, they looked at each other and said:
“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he talked with us on the road and
opened the Scriptures to us?”
They became excited!
They became “Easter Christians” – on fire for God – “on fire” for Christ — “on fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world – and – with the other followers of the risen Christ – they gave their lives to doing the work of the risen Christ in the world.
This was no “false alarm” – this was a fire that became a conflagration that consumed each of their hearts and lives and through them consumed the hearts and lives of thousands of others.
They became “Easter Christians”.
They became an “Easter Church”
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
So – what about us?
What about you?
What about me?
Yes – there is a report of a fire here at Hopewell.
Some have reported seeing smoke as some of us have become excited.
Some have sounded the alarm:
There is a report of a fire in the Church
There is a report of a fire in the Church
But – is it a false alarm?
Or – is it a conflagration – the fire of excitement and enthusiasm that can touch us – consume us – and through us touch and consume our community and the world?
Friends – one of the marks of an “Easter Church” – a Church that is filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and that boldly does the work of Christ in the world – is that it is “on fire”!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
There is a report of a fire in the Church
There is a report of a fire in the Church
But – is it a false alarm?
Like Cleopas and his friend after recognizing Christ —
We can let the risen Christ touch our lives —
You can let the risen Christ touch your life – and you can be an “Easter Christian” – filled with the joy of the risen Christ and sharing that joy with everyone you know and in everything you say and do.
You can let the risen Christ make a difference in how you live.
You don’t have to live without a commitment to God.
You don’t have to live in the old ways – you can live in new and exciting ways.
You can be “on fire” for the risen Christ – and doing His work with joy and enthusiasm.
We can all be “on fire” for Christ!
This Church can be “on fire” for Christ!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
There is a report of a fire in the Church.
Don’t let it be a false alarm!
Let it be the truth!
Let it truly be the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit and the risen Christ at work in each of us – moving us to greater commitment – and moving us to greater excitement for what God is calling us to do.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
There is a report of a fire in the Church.
Can you see the spark?
Can you see the flame?
There is a spark of excitement here at Hopewell – but we have to let it grow and burn even more brightly until it becomes that conflagration that can consume us – consume the Church – and through us consume our community and the world.
Have you ever been camping – and had to build a fire at a campsite?
You might start with a small flame – or just a spark – but if you give it the right things — and keep it away from the wrong things — it can grow into a roaring fire.
One thing a spark needs is fuel – maybe some small twigs at first – then some bigger pieces of wood as it grows into a fire.
What is the fuel we need if we are going to let the spark of excitement here at Hopewell?
One thing we need is commitment to the things that can help us grow as Christians.
Things like a commitment from each of us to our devotional lives – our daily prayers – our daily reading of God’s word and growing in our lives as Christians.
Daily, personal study of God’s word is vital if we are going to be “Easter Christians” – “on fire” for God – “on fire” for Christ.
But – this means more than just reading a passage of scripture and then putting away the Bible – not giving what we read a second thought. It means really taking a hard look at scripture – and trying to understand what God is saying to you through what you’re reading.
In your bulletin you’ll find a tool Danny Murphy shared with the Session when he met with us in February. It’s called a Biblical Application Study Sheet – or what I call a Biblical Spectacles sheet.
I’ve used this tool since Danny shared it with us – and have been blessed by it.
Take yours out of your bulletin and look at it.
(Go over sheet)
This is one tool that can help us fan the flame within each of us – become “Easter Christians” – and an “Easter Church” – on fire for Christ – “on fire” for God.
Then – you can add a commitment to the worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell. As you become more and more committed to your personal faith and your involvement in the things of the Church you will see the flame – the fire of excitement and commitment to the things of Christ – grow into a consuming fire – a conflagration that can consume us and though us consume this community – and the world.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
There is a spark of excitement here at Hopewell!
Can you see it?
Fuel is one of the things that a spark needs if it is going to grow. Sharing of ideas – acceptance of ideas – and Christian love and fellowship are some of the other “right things” that can help fan the flame of commitment here at Hopewell.
But – as I said – there are some things you want to keep a spark away from – because they can snuff it out quickly.
Water and dirt – anything to take away the oxygen – are some of the things that can put out a fire when you are camping. These are things you want to keep away from the flame.
There are some things we need to keep away from the spark of excitement here at Hopewell, also.
Things like not participating.
Things like not caring.
Things like not being willing to consider new ideas and new ways of doing things.
Things like not being willing to get involved in your own prayer life – or the worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell.
These are the things that can put out that flame – that fire – quickly.
These are the things that can turn the report of a fire in the Church into a false alarm.
Friends – one of the marks of an “Easter Church” – a Church that is filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and that boldly does the work of Christ in the world – is that it is “on fire”!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
“On fire” for Christ!
“On fire” for God!
“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.
There is a report of a fire in the Church
There is a report of a fire in the Church
Let’s do all we can to “fan the flame” – so we can each be “Easter Christians” – and we can be an “Easter Church”.
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
An “Easter Church” is on fire!
Amen.
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