I have used the structure of John Chapman in 'Setting Hearts on Fire'. I have preached this sermon with a different introduction and different illustrations... obviously football, and more especially Liverpool are not everyones cup of tea. Maybe this is something for discussion in the comments section.
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Introduce
2 Liverpool shirts… £90.
2 Champion League tickets… £120.
Flights to Istanbul… £350.
Watching Liverpool win the Champions League… Priceless!!!
But at half time things were far from priceless! Things looked terrible! 100-1 no hopers! Its was time to tear up your tickets and go home! That’s exactly what 2 fans did. They’d watched 3 goals go past Dudek - and it was painful! 3 nil down at half time! They could see no way back for the red team they loved so much. So they decided to head back to the hotel and drown their sorrows with a few pints.
Just as they were approaching the hotel, they heard the 2nd half commentary coming from a pub window… “Gerrard for Liverpool – Goal!” 54minutes, 3-1. Then “Smicer – Goal! 3-2, 56mins. “Alonso- Goal!” 3-3!!! “Could you believe it?! Liverpool had come back from the dead and were back in the hunt for the Champions League! The two fans turned right around and ran back towards the stadium! The dream was now alive again! Liverpool were on their way to becoming Kings of Europe!
What joy! What a turn around! They had moved being from disappointment to excitement! Disbelief to belief! Back to the match to cheer on the Pool!
It’s marvellous when situations are turned right around, when people are turned right around, isn’t it?!
This evening’s reading from Luke’s Gospel tells us of two peoples lives that are turned around. They had followed Jesus during his ministry, and just recently watched as he was put to death on the cross. On the day that Mary Magdalene had met Jesus risen from the dead, they were on their way back to Emmaus, away from Jerusalem. They were talking about the things that had happened. No doubt how Jesus was arrested, and unfairly sentenced to death. How he hung on the cross and died an horrible death. As they talked about these things, the risen Jesus came up and walked alongside them. To them he was a stranger. They didn’t recognise who he was. And as he asked them what they were talking about, we discover that the two disciples were disappointed with Jesus.
the scriptures
What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
Explain
Faces downcast. Disappointed with Jesus! Oh yes Jesus was definitely a prophet. There is no doubt about it. Everyone witnessed how he was powerful in word and deed. Ask anyone. They’ll tell you he spoke for God. The religious leaders rejected him and handed him over to be put to death. And die he did! They crucified him. Hung him on a cross with two criminals. Everything looked so promising. We had hoped he was the one! The promised king of the Old Testament, the Christ, the one to give people a relationship with God. But alas no! He’s dead and things haven’t changed one bit. It’s now the third day since his death. Some women amazed us. They had found the tomb empty and said that Jesus was alive. But no, our friends went to the tomb and they didn’t see him.
The 2 disciples were disappointed with Jesus. They believed he was a prophet. But he was nothing more. They had hoped he was the one to bring people into relationship with God but no. He was just like the other prophets who had spoken God’s word and then been killed. They didn’t believe Jesus was the Redeemer. They had heard reports that Mary had discovered the tomb empty and had met the risen Lord. But Mary was a woman. You didn’t believe a woman’s word in their day. And anyway the men had gone up to investigate and yes the tomb was empty but there was no sign of Jesus. Did they stop to think about why the tomb was empty? And wait around to see if Jesus turned up? No. They had had enough. They were on their way back to Emmaus. They had given up on the man Jesus.
Illustrate
They were just like the two Liverpool supporters who had watched Liverpool be humiliated in the first half. The reds fans were so disappointed with the players and Benitez. They had such high hopes that Liverpool would win and be the toast of Europe. They could rub it in the face of the Red Devils, the Gunners and more importantly the Toffees! But no! Liverpool were down and out! They were a good team but they weren’t the Kings of Europe!
Apply
Maybe you see Jesus as just a prophet. A man who spoke from God and made an impact on the world. You might believe that Jesus did exist but that he was no more than a popular religious leader. He was put to death on a cross. But there is no way he rose from the dead! The tomb might have been empty but that doesn’t prove anything. Sure the disciples could have removed his body and made up the story of his resurrection. Or maybe the body was stolen by the religious leaders, or even the Romans. No Jesus isn’t who those Christians claim he his. He was just a man who caused a stir, nothing more. He’s not alive. He’s dead. What does Jesus say to you? Well lets look at what he said to the disciples as we reconsider Jesus from scripture.
Scriptures
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Explain
2 Liverpool shirts… £90.
2 Champion League tickets… £120.
Flights to Istanbul… £350.
Watching Liverpool win the Champions League… Priceless!!!
But at half time things were far from priceless! Things looked terrible! 100-1 no hopers! Its was time to tear up your tickets and go home! That’s exactly what 2 fans did. They’d watched 3 goals go past Dudek - and it was painful! 3 nil down at half time! They could see no way back for the red team they loved so much. So they decided to head back to the hotel and drown their sorrows with a few pints.
Just as they were approaching the hotel, they heard the 2nd half commentary coming from a pub window… “Gerrard for Liverpool – Goal!” 54minutes, 3-1. Then “Smicer – Goal! 3-2, 56mins. “Alonso- Goal!” 3-3!!! “Could you believe it?! Liverpool had come back from the dead and were back in the hunt for the Champions League! The two fans turned right around and ran back towards the stadium! The dream was now alive again! Liverpool were on their way to becoming Kings of Europe!
What joy! What a turn around! They had moved being from disappointment to excitement! Disbelief to belief! Back to the match to cheer on the Pool!
It’s marvellous when situations are turned right around, when people are turned right around, isn’t it?!
This evening’s reading from Luke’s Gospel tells us of two peoples lives that are turned around. They had followed Jesus during his ministry, and just recently watched as he was put to death on the cross. On the day that Mary Magdalene had met Jesus risen from the dead, they were on their way back to Emmaus, away from Jerusalem. They were talking about the things that had happened. No doubt how Jesus was arrested, and unfairly sentenced to death. How he hung on the cross and died an horrible death. As they talked about these things, the risen Jesus came up and walked alongside them. To them he was a stranger. They didn’t recognise who he was. And as he asked them what they were talking about, we discover that the two disciples were disappointed with Jesus.
the scriptures
What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
Explain
Faces downcast. Disappointed with Jesus! Oh yes Jesus was definitely a prophet. There is no doubt about it. Everyone witnessed how he was powerful in word and deed. Ask anyone. They’ll tell you he spoke for God. The religious leaders rejected him and handed him over to be put to death. And die he did! They crucified him. Hung him on a cross with two criminals. Everything looked so promising. We had hoped he was the one! The promised king of the Old Testament, the Christ, the one to give people a relationship with God. But alas no! He’s dead and things haven’t changed one bit. It’s now the third day since his death. Some women amazed us. They had found the tomb empty and said that Jesus was alive. But no, our friends went to the tomb and they didn’t see him.
The 2 disciples were disappointed with Jesus. They believed he was a prophet. But he was nothing more. They had hoped he was the one to bring people into relationship with God but no. He was just like the other prophets who had spoken God’s word and then been killed. They didn’t believe Jesus was the Redeemer. They had heard reports that Mary had discovered the tomb empty and had met the risen Lord. But Mary was a woman. You didn’t believe a woman’s word in their day. And anyway the men had gone up to investigate and yes the tomb was empty but there was no sign of Jesus. Did they stop to think about why the tomb was empty? And wait around to see if Jesus turned up? No. They had had enough. They were on their way back to Emmaus. They had given up on the man Jesus.
Illustrate
They were just like the two Liverpool supporters who had watched Liverpool be humiliated in the first half. The reds fans were so disappointed with the players and Benitez. They had such high hopes that Liverpool would win and be the toast of Europe. They could rub it in the face of the Red Devils, the Gunners and more importantly the Toffees! But no! Liverpool were down and out! They were a good team but they weren’t the Kings of Europe!
Apply
Maybe you see Jesus as just a prophet. A man who spoke from God and made an impact on the world. You might believe that Jesus did exist but that he was no more than a popular religious leader. He was put to death on a cross. But there is no way he rose from the dead! The tomb might have been empty but that doesn’t prove anything. Sure the disciples could have removed his body and made up the story of his resurrection. Or maybe the body was stolen by the religious leaders, or even the Romans. No Jesus isn’t who those Christians claim he his. He was just a man who caused a stir, nothing more. He’s not alive. He’s dead. What does Jesus say to you? Well lets look at what he said to the disciples as we reconsider Jesus from scripture.
Scriptures
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Explain
Jesus confronts their judgement on himself and their unbelief in the scriptures. It’s interesting that Jesus sees the prophets word, the Old Testament, as something that can be trusted. In his ministry he had claimed that the Old Testament was God’s written word. And he rebukes the disciples for not believing that written word. He asks them a question which is key to reconsidering Jesus. Did the Christ not have to suffer and rise again? This question is the key to understanding Jesus and the Old Testament scriptures. And as he asks that question he answers it by turning to the Old Testament. He starts with Moses and looks at all the prophets. And he does so he explains to the disciples how the scriptures speak of his death and resurrection. The need for his death to pay the price for sins. How his death on the cross would bring rebels back into relationship with God. How the Christ would rise in three days, conquering death, and bringing new life.
What a wonderful time that must have been, having Jesus explain the whole OLD TESTAMENT, explaining why he had to die and rise again.
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Illustrate
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I’m sure it was as good as the 2 Liverpool supporters, hearing the television commentator tell them that Garcia, Smicer, Alonso had scored 3 goals and Liverpool were back in business!
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Apply
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The Old Testament can be tough going at times. There are wonderful stories. Stories of betrayal
and deceit. Stories of war and peace. Stories of slavery and freedom. But what does it all mean. How does it affect you and me? Jesus tells us that it points to him. It speaks of how God’s promised King would die on the cross to rescue rebels. Its speaks of his resurrection from the dead. And Jesus had died on the cross and he had rose from the dead. The tomb was empty not because the disciples removed the body and made up the whole thing. Why would they have gone on and died for lie? It’s a pretty stupid thing to die for a lie. And the tomb was empty not because the religious leaders or Romans had stolen the body. If this had been the case then they could easily have produced the body to rubbish the early Christians claims. No, the reason why the tomb was empty was because the Old Testament promises had been fulfilled. The man Jesus was the Christ and he had died and rose from the dead just as the Old Testament prophets had predicted. How foolish it is to believe that Jesus didn’t rise from dead, and slow of heart to believe the Old Testament scriptures. What do you think? Are you convinced? Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? Do you believe the Old Testament Scriptures?
How did the disciples respond to Jesus explanation of his death and the empty tomb? Listen to the end of this account. Seeing Jesus as the Risen Lord.
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Scriptures
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28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.
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Explain
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Stay with us! Don’t go! And as Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, the disciples recognised that the stranger was in fact the man they had given up on. The man who they were disappointed in. The man who had challenged their disbelief. The man who had asked them that all important question. The man who had started with Moses and worked his way through the Old Testament and explained what it says about himself. The man who had died on the cross and who now was risen from the dead. The man Jesus, the Christ! It was crystal clear to them now! Their eyes were opened! They could finally see it was Jesus, the risen Lord! That moment when he took bread, give thanks, and broke it, they recognized him. How did they recognise him? Was it the way he took the bread and give thanks? Did this trigger past memories of Jesus feeding the 5000 or instituting Lord’s supper? Or did they see the nail marks on his hands as he took the bread and broke it? Whatever it was, as soon it happened, he was gone! What would they do? They had discovered Jesus. And now he had left. Where would they look to in the future? The answer lay in their question to eachother. “Did our hearts not burn as he opened to us the scriptures?” Their minds being opened to the scriptures had helped them to see Jesus and their hearts were on fire. They had gone from blindness to sight. From unbelief to belief. From cold hearts to hearts on fire! And they turned back on themselves and returned at once to Jerusalem. Jesus had not disappointed them. They had disappointed Jesus. But it didn’t matter, because Jesus had opened the scriptures to them and in doing so had opened their eyes! It was now back to Jerusalem to tell the others that Jesus wasn’t dead but that he was alive, risen from the dead!
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Illustrate
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What a turn around! Just like the two Liverpool supporters, who had heard the good news that Liverpool has scored 3 goals and were back from the dead. They could see clearly that things had changed for the better. Things were looking up! Liverpool were on their way! They had to rush back to the stadium and watch Liverpool win the penalty shoot out, lift the Champions League and celebrate an amazing comeback!
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Apply
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Have your eyes been opened? Can you see who Jesus is? He’s not just a prophet. He’s the Christ. The one who died to rescue you from hell for heaven. The one of whom the scriptures speak of. The one who gives us new life and hope. The one who sets our hearts on fire! That’s why explaining the scriptures is ever so important. Its not enough just to know the stories and facts. We need teachers to explain to us what it all means. And that’s why we have sermons in our services – for the bible to be explained and applied to our lives. And that’s why we need Sunday school teachers, and bible study leaders. Our hearts can be set on fire if we show people Jesus in the scriptures!
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Conclude
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If you’re disappointed with Jesus and you are walking away from Jesus, can I ask you to reconsider Jesus in the Bible. Find out who he is, why he died and how he rose from the dead. By doing this, you will find yourself turning right around and running towards the victory of Jesus. His death paid the price for our sins! He rose from the grave defeating death! No longer do we have to makes amends with God. Jesus has done it for us! No longer do we have to think that death is the end of the story. Jesus has defeated death and has a place in heaven for us. Please change your mind about Jesus. If you do, you’ll see that he’s the Risen Ruler who only wants the best for you.
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Let us talk to God in prayer….
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that Jesus died for our sins and in three days rose from the dead. We thank you that he is the one who was promised by the prophets of old. We thank you that you have opened our eyes to see Jesus as our Rescuer and the Risen Lord. For those of us who are slow to believe help us to know Jesus through the Scriptures and set our hearts on fire.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that Jesus died for our sins and in three days rose from the dead. We thank you that he is the one who was promised by the prophets of old. We thank you that you have opened our eyes to see Jesus as our Rescuer and the Risen Lord. For those of us who are slow to believe help us to know Jesus through the Scriptures and set our hearts on fire.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
