O PRAISE THE NAME, HE’S RISEN!
Easter Sunday

Call to Worship

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:1–7

LEADER:
Christ is risen!

CONGREGATION:
He is risen indeed!

Christ Is Risen
Words and Music by Matt Maher and Mia Fieldes
© 2009 spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music; Be Essential Songs; Upside Down Under

Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross and run to him who showed great love
And bled for us, freely you’ve bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin you bowed to none but heaven’s will
No scheme of hell no scoffer’s crown, no burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign forever let your church proclaim

O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead he's alive, he’s alive

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
Words and Music by Robert Lowry (1874)

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Scottish theologian Sinclair Ferguson once said,

“Imagine, for a moment, the reaction of Hell to the death of Christ. Jesus was bound with the bands of death. What celebration and joy! God was defeated! Vengeance was the Devil’s. But they reckoned without the wisdom of God. For Christ could not be held down by the bands of death. In fact through death He was paralyzing the one who had the power of death, and He was setting His people free (Heb. 2:14-15). What seemed to be defeat was actually victory. The Resurrection morning was Hell’s gloomiest day. Satan saw the wisdom of God and tasted defeat.”

Because of Easter – Responsive Reading