Sermon: Jesus, Our Resurrection (Luke 7:11-17)

Sunday I preached from Luke 7:11-17 and followed this outline: I. Resurrection in the book story: showed how the flow of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation anticipates and results in a bodily resurrection

II. Resurrection in the gospel story: showed how Jesus extended compassion to the woman and raised the son, giving us a preview of that final day of resurrected bodies and a restored creation

III. Resurrection in your story: showed four responses from this text - following Christ's example in word and deed, trusting Christ's resurrection of all creation, worshipping Christ as the glorious God, and spreading this hope of resurrection on mission

IIII. Reasons for the Resurrection Story: here I gave 7 thought-provoking questions that shift the burden of proof toward those critical of the resurrection:

1. Disciples - how do you explain their loyalty and transformation? (from cowards to martyrs)

2. NT - how do you explain the early recordings of this truth? (1 Cor. 15:3-8)

3. Witnesses - how do you explain the controversial inclusion of women? (wouldn't have made this up)

4. Day of worship - how do you explain the change from the Sabbath? (this began among Jews)

5. Object of worship - how do you explain the worship of Jesus? (by Jews, of crucified man)

6. Worldview - how do you explain the shift in thinking toward resurrection? (by Greeks and Jews)

7. Church - how do you explain the explosive expansion of God's people?