Belief: What We Believe Part 3

 Week 3

Statement: “...suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead...”
Text: Mark 15 (may choose to read out loud in service verses 1-5; 12-20; 24-39; 42-46); 1 Cor. 15:12-20; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10

Big Idea: Jesus took on our sin when He died on the cross, defeating evil and death forever when He rose from the dead. If we have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we do not have to fear punishment when He comes again to judge the world.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. Notice how Superman is portrayed in this trailer for Man Of Steel: https://youtu.be/T6DJcgm3wNY
   If we aren’t careful, we may assume that Jesus was like a superhero in that He had special powers to ward off human weaknesses. Jesus wasn’t super human. He was fully human. His human body got tired, hungry, and thirsty, and He felt the pain of the cross in every way. Jesus truly suffered.

2. Pontius Pilate is aproven his torical character with archaeological findings confirming his name as well as his title. See this news article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/historical-notes-pontius-pilate-a-name-set-in-stone-1084786.html.

   The following article from the Washington Post also notes a site believed to be the place where Jesus was put on trial before being sentenced to crucifixion.

3. This scene from To End All Wars provides agrea till us tration ofJesus’ sacrifice for us: http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/to-end-all-wars/you- are-free

4. Talk about baptism by immersion as a symbol of burial and resurrection (see Romans 6:1-8). Give your congregation an opportunity to talk to someone about being baptized if they haven’t done so already.

5. We may fear the judgment of God because we expect to be punished for our sins. But if we have been saved by faith in Jesus’ completed work on the cross, we do not have to fear punishment. This funny video shows how guilt and punishment have power over all of creation: https://youtu.be/B8ISzf2pryI.

6. “The word translated ‘judgment’ in [2 Cor 5:10] comes from the Greek Bema. The Bema Seat in the ancient Hellenistic world was the place— always in public view and out in the open—where rewards and punishments were measured out. Winners in the Olympics appeared before the Bema Seat to receive their garland or crown. Likewise, punishments for wrongdoings were given here. We can go to Corinth today and see how archaeologists have uncovered the ancient Bema Seat there and rebuilt it so that we can have some idea of what it was like. Paul chose this word when he wanted to refer to the final judgment—the bema. This judgment will not deal with whether you are saved or lost. This is the

final judgment for the saved. All those whose sins are forgiven by faith in the blood of Christ will be saved and go to heaven, but not all who are saved and go to heaven will receive a reward at the judgment seat of Christ. Heaven and the receiving of a reward are not the same thing. All who are saved will have a home in heaven, but the reward is separate—in addition to the promise of heaven. This reward, sometimes called “prize,” ‘crown,’ or ‘inheritance,’ is promised to every believer, but the promise is conditional. This is why not all who are saved automatically receive a reward. Paul posed the sad possibility of a person truly saved, but who would ‘suffer loss,’ namely, the loss of reward that he or she might have received (1 Cor. 3:15),”

 (R. T. Kendall, Pure Joy, 176-177).