Redeemer Home Worship Guide for Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020

Happy Easter Sunday! Since it’s unwise for us to gather as a church at the moment, we’ve compiled a worship guide for you to use at home. Set aside time on Sunday morning to worship through the readings, songs, prayer, and sermon below. ​

DOWNLOAD PDF OF WORSHIP GUIDE

---

I. Scripture Reading

​Read: Matthew 28:1-10

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
​

II. Worship In Song

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”

Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven’s praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ, who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living, in His suffering
Never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e’er restrain Him
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes


“Because He Lives”

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

​

III. Kids' Lesson

IV. Sermon

​“The Good News of Easter: Captive Hearts & Redeeming Savior,” John 8:31-38

Intro

This is the third invitation given to roughly the same audience in the temple:

• In 7:38: whoever believes in me will have living water. 
• In 8:12: whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
• In this passage, to those who believe: If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

A. Abiding in the risen Jesus is an invitation to freedom 


B. Abiding in the risen Jesus is resting in his person/work 

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV): Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, & cast out demons in your name, & do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 

Colossians 1:21–23: And you, who once were alienated & hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy & blameless & above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable & steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, & of which I, Paul, became a minister. 

1 Corinthians 15:1–2: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 & by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 


C. Abiding in the risen Jesus means both turning & trusting

D. Jesus is perfectly & uniquely qualified to invite us to abide in him.

Hebrews 1:1–4: Long ago, at many times & in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God & the exact imprint of his nature, & he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 

Hebrews 3:1–6: Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle & high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but X is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence & our boasting in our hope. 

Jesus is qualified…

1. By his person. 
2. By his incarnation and obedience. 
3. By his atoning death. 
4. By his resurrection. 

Galatians 4:3–7: we “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, & if a son, then an heir through God.”

​

V. Prayer of Response

“Resurrection,” from The Valley Of Vision

O GOD OF MY EXODUS,

Great was the joy of Israel’s sons,
      when Egypt died upon the shore,
      Far greater the joy
      when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed
      in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
  conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing
    might;
He bursts the bands of death,
  tramples the powers of darkness down,
  and lives for ever.
He, my gracious surety,
  apprehended for payment of my debt,
  comes forth from the prison house of the grave
  free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering
    is accepted,
  that the claims of justice are satisfied,
  that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
  that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died,
  in him I rose,
  in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
  in his ascension I shall be glorified.
Adorable Redeemer,
  thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
  art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as Man of sorrows
  wast crowned with thorns,
  art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
  no agony more bitter,
  no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
  no life more glorious,
  no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car leading captive
  thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
  Thy death is my life,
  thy resurrection my peace,
  thy ascension my hope,
  thy prayers my comfort.

Arthur Bennett, ed. The Valley Of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2013), 98-99.

​​

---

Announcements

• ONLINE GIVING: As we’re unable to gather in person on Sunday mornings, this is a great time to set up online giving in place of traditional giving forms. Visit www.redeemerbf.com/give to set up a one-time or recurring offering. 
• EAST MEMPHIS FOOD PANTRY: Our church’s food pantry has been active and assisting families in our neighborhood with prepackaged boxes of food since the beginning of the current pandemic. You can be involved through donating to our food pantry fund at www.redeemerbf.com/give or by delivering boxes of food. Contact Jeremy Wright if you can help with deliveries! 
• REDEEMER BENEVOLENCE FUND: Our church benevolence fund is contributed to by Redeemer members for the sake of assisting other church members in times of need. If you have been affected financially by the Covid-19 health crisis and are in need of financial assistance, please contact one of our pastors.
• MAY CHURCH SCHEDULE: We will continue monitoring the developing public health crisis and plan to reconvene worship gatherings and Missional Communities as soon as possible. Until then, regularly check GroupMe and church newsletters for information and updates. 
• ANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING: During the month of April, we will be participating in a special season of prayer and giving towards North American church planting through the North American Mission Board. You can learn more about www.anniearmstrong.com. 
• WELCOME & SECURITY TEAM: We're making an effort to improve both our welcome and the security at our entrance during our Sunday gatherings. If you're available to serve on a monthly rotation for this team, contact Chris Pence at (901) 626-8755.

GIVING UPDATE

• April 2020 budget: $24,166
• April 2020 actual: $4,177.49

CONTACT

• Jeremy Wright, Senior Pastor: (901) 800-7889, jeremy@redeemerbf.com 
• Chris Pence, Pastor: (901) 626-8755, chris@redeemerbf.com
• Matt Alford, Pastor: (901) 299-2789
• Stephen Johnson, Pastor: (901) 488-5442