God with us

HOSANNA!

nope

hope

“A story is simply a character that wants something and overcomes conflict to get it.”D o n a l d M i l l e r

The Audacious OutcomeE a s t e r S u n d a y 2 0 1 3E v e r g r e e n B a p t i s t C h u r c h o f L o s A n g e l e s

Not at all what they were expecting.

Mark 16:1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“He has risen! He is not here.”Mark 16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

protagonist ambitions conflictsinciting incident

audacious outcome

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF EVERY GREAT STORY

JesusGod’s only

Son

reconcile us to God

scornedridiculed

persecutedcrucified

came to Earth as a

human person

resurrected to life again

GOD’S GREAT GOSPEL STORY

protagonist ambitions inciting incident conflicts audaciousoutcome

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”J o h n 1 1 : 2 5

resurrectionof Jesus

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23

45

Major Proof

that Jesus was and is God’s one, holy and sinless Son.

Romans 1:4 Christ is “declared to be the Son of God with power . . . by the resurrection from the dead.”1

Assurance

that all of our sins can and will be completely forgiven.

1Corinthians 15:17“[I]f Christ has not been raised, our faith is vain; you are yet in your sins”2

Living King

who rules over the emergingKingdom of God.

Revelation 1:17-18“I am the first and the last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.”3

Eternal Life

awaits believers afterphysical death

1Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”4

Ultimate Victory

...of Jesus Christ over all of God’s enemies.

Revelation 5:4 “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’”5

Ultimate Victory

...of Jesus Christ over all of God’s enemies.

Revelation 5:6 “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne...”

Ultimate Victory

Revelation 12:10“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

...of Jesus Christ over all of God’s enemies.

In stories, characters don’t take action unless they have to. People tend to seek comfort, security, and stability, and unless their lives are thrown into upheaval, they stay the same.

To get characters off the couch, writers use a tool called an Inciting Incident. This is an event that forces a character to get moving.

John 20 19-21 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.

The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

The Disciples’ Inciting Incident

Has the resurrection of Jesus incited us to move beyond our fears and hiding places, too?

resurrection of Jesus

Major Proofdoubts

Assurancedisqualifying

Living Kingnot on our own

Life After Deathbold obedience

Ultimate Victoryheroes’ journey

inciting incident

heroic apprentices of Christ*

ambitions* conflicts*inciting incident

audacious outcome*

JESUS’ RESURRECTION CAN MAKE OUR STORIES GREAT

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."A n n e F r a n k

If you were truly set free from your fears by Jesus’ resurrection, what Audacious Outcome would you pursue to bring glory to Christ and to be a testimony to the power of His resurrection?