Luke 24:1-9 Easter is the of our faith. Without the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christianity would be merely a collection of wise teachings rather than the living faith that has transformed billions of lives. The Apostle Paul articulates this truth with powerful clarity in his first letter to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 15:17 Our faith does not end with the ! I believe is the virgin birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! But it doesn’t end with the virgin birth. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Romans 3:10 Romans 3:23 Romans 5:8 Our faith doesn’t end with the cross. John 19:17 Acts 1:4-11 The story ends with the soon return of Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16 The trumpet of God is going to sound, and Jesus is coming back for his church! 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 We all need to be getting our hearts ready for his return. We need to be getting our families ready for his return. We need to be preparing for the soon coming KING. 4 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR JESUS’ RETURN 1. LIVE IN THE LIGHT John 8:12 Darkness often represent sin in the Bible. Webster’s dictionary says sin is an offense against religious or moral law. 1 John 3:4 In the Bible, the word sin – whether it is in the Hebrew or the Greek – actually means to miss the mark.“ James 4:17 Romans 3:23 1 John 1:8 Proverbs 28:13 Romans 6:12-14 1 John 1:9 2. BE DISCERNING Jesus warned His disciples not to be led astray by false claim: Mark 13:5-8 Proverbs 27:1 2 Corinthians 6:2 Hebrews 3:12-13 Hebrews 9:27 Matthew 24:36-42 3. DON’T LOSE HOPE The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. 1 Peter 1:3 Jesus is the hope of the world! When your Hope is under attack it effects your heart. Proverbs 13:12 Hope is the forward view of the righteous. In the natural if your heart is sick it effects every area of your body. If your spiritual heart is sick it effects everything spiritual. God can visit the place of your biggest pain and give you a doorway of Hope. God can visit your greatest defeat and give you your greatest victory. Hope is the ability to keep believing. Biblical hope is the picture of a preferred future. What is your preferred future? SOME PEOPLE HAVE HOPE! SOME PEOPLE HAVE HOPE! SOME PEOPLE HAVE HOPE! True hope can only be found in the unchanging in character of a risen Savior Jesus Christ. 4. LIVE AS IF TODAY WAS THE DAY If we’re not careful, the delay in Jesus’ return will lead us to complacency. Romans 13:11-12