The Meaning of the Empty Tomb
You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
Mark 16:6
…… we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
2 Corinthians 4:14
Archbishop’s Easter Message
50 years ago, the world was looking towards space – waiting for the first moon landing.
At the time, US President Richard Nixon described it as ‘the greatest week in the history of the world since Creation!’
The great preacher Billy Graham quickly corrected him – saying that far greater was the week of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus showed us that God comes near to us.
The death of Jesus shows us the death of death itself – with its eternal consequences – freeing us for eternal life.
The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that no matter how far we have strayed, there is a way for us to be friends with God – and live with him forever.
If you were alive in 1969 you would remember exactly where you were when Neil Armstrong took that first ‘small step for a man and one giant leap for mankind.’
Although none of us were there when Jesus lived and died – his resurrection was so significant that we remember and celebrate it every year and will continue to do so until he returns.
Happy Easter.
– DR GLENN N DAVIES
Archbishop of Sydney
Easter AD 2018
Coming up Good Friday and Easter Sunday 2019
We’d love you to join us at church this Easter.
Our Good Friday service is at the special time of 9am, where we’ll be coming together to reflect on the cross of Christ as Stephen speaks on the topic ‘The Cross of Jesus and the Love of God’.
On Easter Sunday we’re meeting at our regular time of 10am and 5pm., where Stephen will be speaking on the topic ‘The Meaning of the Empty Tomb’.
If you don’t regularly attend church then you are especially welcome this weekend. We love it when people drop in to join us at church, and you’ll be made to feel very much at home.
If you can’t make it in person, you might even choose to join us live at www.oakflats.tv, where we’ll be live streaming our services to the public.
We wish you a special Easter as we reflect on the wonder of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb!
Not in vain
Unlike concreting or car mechanics, teaching is one of those tasks for which it is often difficult to see any tangible results for your effort. It is the same with preaching the word of God.
Recently a team of church members presented Easter seminars at Oak Flats High School. Approximately seventy-five students in total attended. Most had never heard of the personal significance for them of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and students left each seminar visibly unchanged.
Was all the preparation and effort a waste of time? Not at all!
In Isaiah 55:10-11, God says:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Perhaps the seminar planted a gospel seed in some students, which another preacher will water in the future before they are brought into God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). Maybe that will not happen. What we do know for certain is that whatever the final result, God’s word does not fail to accomplish His purposes!
Paul says this:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
– PHIL PRATT
Coming up this Sunday 14th April 2019
This Sunday we conclude our series ‘Remember These Things!’. In the final talk, Stephen Fifer will be speaking on the topic, “Christ Alone”, from 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 and John 1:1-18.
We will be sharing in the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus, especially leading up to Easter.
As always, come along and visit us at 10am or 5pm at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, or if you can’t make it in person, jump online at www.oakflats.tv to watch a livestream of our services.
See you at 10am or 5pm this Sunday, God willing!