Easter: Resurrection Evidence 5 Day Devotion

This devotional is based on this past Sunday's sermon with the help of sermonshots.com. You can view the sermon here.

Day 1:
Faith Built on Facts

Devotional:
Have you ever wondered if your faith is just wishful thinking? Many people view religious faith as a blind leap into the dark, but Christianity is different. Our faith is built on historical events that actually happened - most importantly, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This isn't just a nice story or a comforting myth; it's a real event that transformed history and continues to transform lives today. When we place our trust in Jesus, we're not just hoping He's real - we're standing on solid ground, supported by historical evidence and eyewitness accounts. This gives us confidence in our faith and assurance in our relationship with God.

Bible Verse:
"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." - 2 Peter 2:16

Quote of the Day:
"The Christian faith is built on historical fact. This really happened. And there's enough historical evidence for it outside of the Bible that you just can't dismiss it as a myth."

Reflection Question:
How does knowing that Christianity is based on historical events, rather than just feelings or traditions, change the way you view your faith?

Day 2:
Beyond Blind Faith

Devotional:
God doesn't ask us to take a blind leap of faith. Instead, He gives us reasons to trust Him. Think about it - if someone walked into your room right now claiming to be God, you wouldn't believe them. Why? Because extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. That's exactly what God provided through Jesus's resurrection. He didn't just tell us to believe; He demonstrated His power and love through verifiable historical events. This shows God's incredible grace - He didn't have to prove Himself to us, but He chose to give us concrete reasons to believe.

Bible Verse:
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1

Quote of the Day:
"When God asks you to have faith, he's saying, trust. When God says, trust me, he's saying, have faith. And in the Bible, there is no blind faith in God. God gives us something to trust, and we trust it or we don't."

Reflection Question:
What evidence has God provided in your own life that has strengthened your trust in Him?

Day 3:
The Power of the Resurrection

Devotional:
The resurrection of Jesus isn't just one fact among many - it's the cornerstone of our faith. Without it, everything else crumbles. But with it, we have unshakeable hope. When we truly grasp that Jesus physically rose from the dead, it changes everything. Death loses its sting. Fear loses its grip. The opinions of others lose their power over us. The resurrection proves that Jesus's claims about Himself were true, and it guarantees that His promises about our future are trustworthy.

Bible Verse:
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Quote of the Day:
"The foundation of your faith is the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that if Christ hasn't risen from the dead, that your faith is in vain. It's pointless, it's useless, it's hopeless. But Christ has been raised." 

Reflection Question:
How should the reality of Jesus's resurrection impact your daily decisions and attitudes?

Day 4:
Living Like it's Real

Devotional:
Sometimes we can believe all the right things about Jesus but live as if none of it matters. We might affirm the resurrection on Sunday but live in fear on Monday. We might know Jesus is Lord but chase after the world's approval. This disconnect between belief and behavior is what we might call 'practical atheism.' Today, let's challenge ourselves to live consistently with what we believe. If Jesus really rose from the dead, then we can face any challenge with courage, share our faith with confidence, and live with eternal perspective.

Bible Verse: 
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day." - Luke 16:19

Quote of the Day: 
"Sometimes Christians live in what I call practical atheism. You believe in Jesus, it's just you live like he's not real."

Reflection Question:
In what areas of your life might you be living as if Jesus isn't real, despite believing in Him?

Day 5:
Sharing the Living Truth

Devotional:
When we share our faith, we're not just sharing personal opinions or cultural traditions. We're sharing historical truth that has the power to transform lives. The story of Jesus might seem wild - God becoming human, dying, and rising again - but it's not a fairy tale. It's the most important truth in history. This gives us confidence in evangelism. We're not asking people to embrace a philosophy or join a club; we're inviting them to encounter the living Christ who has proven His claims through His resurrection.

Bible Verse:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." - 1 Corinthians 15:17

Quote of the Day:
"When you talk about Jesus, you're not sharing a myth. You're not sharing a made up story. You're not sharing a bedtime story so somebody can sleep good at night. Story of Jesus is wild, but it's real."

Reflection Question:
How does knowing that you're sharing historical truth, not just personal beliefs, change your approach to sharing your faith?