Primary Text: “ 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on an hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14–16 We live in a world today that often feels darker by the day. There is moral confusion, anger, division, hopelessness, fear. And there is sin being celebrated and righteousness being mocked. In times like these, Christians sometimes ask: “What can I do?” “How can one faithful person make any difference?” or “How can I stand for truth without being swallowed up by the darkness around me?” Jesus answers that question plainly: “Ye are the light of the world.” Not you might be. Not you should consider being. Not only preachers are. Not only elders are. If you belong to Christ — you are called to be light. T...
Text: Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12 This morning’s lesson isn’t going to have nice little anecdotes or metaphorical stories to go along with it. The facts of the lesson are so compelling they don’t need additional stories to get the points across. There are moments in history that change everything. A declaration of war can change nations. A signed treaty can change borders. A diagnosis can change a family. A phone call can change a life. But there has never been a moment in all of human history more important than the moment when a group of grieving women came to a tomb just outside Jerusalem… and found it empty. That tomb had been occupied by the body of Jesus of Nazareth and as we all know, he had died very publicly. • He had been crucified on a hill outside the city walls. • His body had been taken down after life had left it. • He had been wrapped in linen. • He had been buried in a brand new tomb and a great stone rolled into place with a Roman seal had been secured to it with Roman ...