Sermons 2026

EASTER DAY SERMON OUTLINE
Introduction: An alleluia acclamation and quotation of the reading.
I. Separation and isolation are the enemy.
II. Because God loves you, you will never be separated from Him again.
III. What it means to live on this side of the resurrection.
Conclusion

SERMON

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

My dear beloved flock, our text for this day, the Resurrection of Our Lord, is taken from Saint Paul’s letter sent to the church in Rome:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39)

Beloved lambs, I pray that you are doing well this joyous day. Have you ever been separated from someone or something before? Maybe you were going on a trip so mom and dad left you with Granny and Gramp. That can be fun but kind of scary since you are separated from mom and dad. Or maybe a thunderstorm with lots of thunder and lightning happened and you did not have your favorite stuffy to hold tight. That’s super scary since you cannot hold it tight for comfort.  Separation means that things are not as they are supposed to be. God has created us to be together, not apart. After God created Adam, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). So Eve was created from Adam shortly thereafter. They were, quite literally, made for each other. Humanity was made to be together for each other as well as God. What separates us from God?  How does Jesus’ resurrection fix our separation from God? Ponder that question as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you. 

As human beings we desire to be in union with God and with one another, that is how we were created. God created you for a life in Him and with one another. Sin, death, and, hell have all tried their best to tear that union with God and others away from you. Sin separates. Sin divides. Sin twists us and turns us inward so that we do not look out for one another or the needs of others. We do not care about what others might need for their daily life or for their good health. Instead, we look out for ourselves, our wants, our desires. I want whatever my neighbor has because that looks a whole lot better than what I have. I do not want to suffer, I want the best health, I want money always in my bank account that never drains away. Me. Me. Me.  That fundamental selfishness, that “me-ness” means that you have been torn away from the very life that God made you to have.
But not anymore. God has sought you out, bought you back, and made you His own once again because of Jesus Christ, His death, and glorious resurrection form the dead. 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Jesus is no longer dead. Jesus rose triumphant from the grave. He is risen from the dead. And now, even now, He pleads before His heavenly Father on your behalf.

Make no mistake, beloved. Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, has triumphed over all the forces arrayed against Him in this sinful and broken world. And His foes are your foes. Jesus has won the victory for us. He has crushed the head of Satan beneath His nail-scarred feet. He has put away your sins from you by bearing your punishment upon the cross. By dying Jesus has destroyed the power of death. Rising from the dead, He gives us the spoils of His victory. Jesus gives us the feast of victory because Jesus’ triumph is our triumph. Jesus’ resurrection is our resurrection. His life is our life without end. His resurrection from the dead means that we will never be forsaken or separated from Him ever again.

This love reaches beyond the grave for all eternity. As He says to Martha at the death of Lazarus, “He who believes in me, even though he die, yet shall he live.” The God of our salvation has given His all to us because Jesus died and rose again for us out of love. 

As we pray in the series hymn today:
7. All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.

Who could imagine that His love for us would be so deep, so high, so broad that it encompasses the whole world? Who could believe that this love is for us?

So what? How does that change life for you? What is different on this Easter side of the grave? What is different now that we live in the glow of the resurrection?

The difference is that when you love, your love does not simply come from you. You are as a mirror, reflecting to others the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord, as you serve those around you. When you give and sacrifice, and love and suffer, you do so in freedom because Christ has freed you from the suffering of eternal death. Christ is risen from the dead for us, we live our lives upon this earth with eternity on the horizon.

An eternity that you do not have to wait for. Eternity breaks into our present. Eternity is here and now. You are here today gathered with the whole church in heaven and on earth. The saints and angels, prophets and priests, Mary, Anna, the apostles, and all the Christians of old are here today. gathered at this altar. For where Jesus is, His Bride, the church, is there. His Bride, the church, is always whole, always complete.

Come to the altar of God, to the place where Christ, who was sacrificed for us, gives you Himself for the forgiveness of sins, for salvation, and eternal life. Come, rejoice with all the heavenly host. Sing and rejoice, for your King has come. He has redeemed us form sin, death, and the power of the devil. Now we celebrate the feast of victory, which has no end! Take of His body and blood and be united with Him forever.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.