Service Recap: 3/27/05 - Happy Easter

Announcements: (for more information please contact the church office)

• The New Song Summer Co-Ed Softball team is looking for team members for their fourth season on 12-inch softball. All games are held behind the Eola Community Center in Aurora.
• Cornerstone Music Fesitval will be held Thursday, June 30th through Sunday, July 3rd and includes many popular Christian music stars. The event includes not only music but activities for all ages of fans. Contact the church office before April 30th if you are interested in attending.
• The Northern Illinois District (N.I.D) is holding a Singles "Post Tax" Bowling Party Saturday, April 16th. Reservations must be made by Friday, April 8th.
• If you are looking to unload all those plastic Easter eggs from your basement, bring them in to church so C.O.M.E. can use them next year.

Readings
Old Testament - Psalm 118:14-24
New Testament - Matthew 28:1-8

Sermon Outline
Title: The Darkness and the Dawn
Theme: Easter Changes Everything
Text: Romans 5:10

How To Move From Good To Great
1) Open my mind to God's power (Romans 12:2)
2) Open my heart to God's grace (Ephesians 1:8)
3) Open my life to God's love (Ephesians 3:16-19)

"Jesus said, 'I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders - an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out'" ~ Luke 5:32

Christ changed the world by:
1) Giving us an answer to sin by dying on the cross
2) Giving us His power

Why do people close their minds to God?
1) Hurt - They've been burned before, possibly by a bad church experience in their past.
2) Pride - "I can do it on my own, I don't need God!"
3) Fear - "What will I turn into? One of those Jesus-freaks?"

Two ways to make sure you never change:
1) Try Harder - Without accepting God's mercy, obtained for you by Christ on the cross, trying harder means you're spinning your wheels.
2) Changing Externals - The change needs to come from within and be accepted in your heart.