Opening Scripture Reading – Matthew 28:1-20

Individual or Group Reads:

1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And 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. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then 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." 8So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

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

Prayer of Hope and Assurance

Leader or Individual Prays:

Father in Heaven,
We look this morning with wonder on this great mystery:
Your son Jesus has risen from the dead.

Because of his resurrection:
            We bless your name,
            We remember what you have done,
            We ask with confidence for forgiveness,
            And we look forward to our healing at his return,
            When he rescues us from the ground,
            Crowns us with love and mercy,
            And refreshes us forever.

Would you bring that day soon. Amen

Scripture Reading – Psalm 103:1-5

Individual or Group Reads:

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            and all that is within me,
            bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
            who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
            who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
            so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

(Refrain)
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Offering

Along with our regular offering, today we give a special offering to North American Missions called the Annie Armstrong Offering. This offering helps plant healthy Gospel-preaching churches all over our continent. Before you give, here’s a video about one church it funds in Pittsburg, PA. It also makes giving without attending more complicated, so please bear with us.

To give online, click here. If you’re giving both a regular offering and an Annie Armstrong offering, use the “add donation” button and then use the drop down menus to clarify which gift is which. Before clicking “Submit,” pray the appropriate prayer below.

To give by mail, you can give separate offerings with two marked checks (one “Annie Armstrong” and one “regular offering”) or you can just include a note clarifying how you want your one check divided up. Either way, mail it to:

Calvary Baptist Church
PO Box 7728
Greenwood, IN 46142

Prayer before sending your Annie Armstrong Offering:

Father God, would you use this gift to take the news of your Son’s resurrection all through our land. Amen.

Prayer before sending regular offering:

Father God, would you continue to provide for us, showing you are the giver of all.

Teaching: Psalm 16

Today’s teaching is easier to follow if you keep you Bible open to Psalm 16, since it walks through the Psalm twice.

16 A Miktam of David.

1  Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2  I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3  As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4  The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5  The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7  I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8  I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11  You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Bring It Home Questions

Use these questions to lead a discussion or a time of private meditation on today’s Scriptures.

1. What do you miss about Easter that you don't get to do today?

2. David has good reason to show so much confidence, since God had made him big promises. How would you describe the promises God made to David?

3. Can you remember any good stories of God protecting David?

4. How does Jesus summarize his promise to you in John 11:25-26?

5. Of all the things you miss about a normal Easter Sunday, how might they be better after the resurrection of the dead?

Family Prayer

Before closing, ask those with you if there is anything they would like to pray for. Then offer a prayer for everyone’s requests in the room and for the list below. You can pray the whole prayer yourself or ask some in the room to pray for different things.

For God to glorify his name during this crisis
For the crisis to end soon
For the safety of everyone in the Indianapolis area, including your neighbors
For essential “front lines” workers like medical workers and first responders.
For the Wilton family, planting a church in Pittsburg, PA.

Benediction

Leader or Individual Reads:

May we look upon the Lord in the land of the living. Amen.