Easter 2026

“He is risen” is not a holiday slogan for us, it’s the announcement that Jesus is alive and the grave does not get the last word. We start with the core message of Resurrection Sunday and the hard contrast that every other tomb stays full while Christ walks out victorious. If you’ve been carrying fear, regret, or the feeling that you have to earn your way back to God, we want you to hear this clearly: you can’t buy grace, you can’t impress God into saving you, and you don’t have to stay trapped in yesterday’s shame.

We move through the Holy Week story, from the crowds shouting “Hosanna” to the cruelty of the cross, and we linger on what Jesus says and does in suffering. Then we gather at the table for communion, remembering his body and blood, and we pray for real needs: physical healing, restored relationships, peace in anxious minds, and protection for anyone battling dark thoughts. This is Christian hope with feet on the ground, trusting God’s power while honoring doctors, nurses, and wise care.

From Romans 6, we talk about what the resurrection means for daily life: death no longer has dominion, sin does not get to define you, and following Jesus is a lived discipleship, not a one-time moment. We also give a direct invitation to confess Jesus as Lord, believe in his resurrection, and step into salvation, with practical next steps like baptism and community.

If this message helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the hope of Jesus Christ. What part of the message hit closest to home for you?

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-...

Life Groups 
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-gr...

Giving 
https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.co...

Church Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZ

iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-ch...

Android 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

----

Instagram 
  cornerstoneaz  

Facebook
  cornerstoneaz.org  

Twitter
  cornerstoneaz.org

Transcript

Jesus Is Alive And Victorious

Jason Brown 0:00

Well, he is risen. Say amen to that. Say it with me. He is risen. Friends, I have good news for you that Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. And I'll tell you this: I've had a chance to travel some of this globe, and I've been many, many places. And I've been at the graves of many important people, and I've seen all sorts of things that have been built up to other people. Guess what? None of them are alive. Jesus is alive. And so that's the powerful message we have today of the cross is that Jesus is not in a tomb. He's not stuck somewhere. He's not under a pyramid somewhere. No, friends, Jesus is alive. And Jesus has won. He is already victorious over every situation that we're facing right now. But I'll tell you this there's been a busyness in this week. And I know it's Holy Week as pastors, it's a big deal for us. And we've been praying and fasting, asking the Lord to intervene. And I'll tell you this: in every situation that we face, I know that this is true, is that my God is more than capable to meet my every need. He is more than capable to reach me wherever I am because he never left me. He's never, he's never pushed me aside. He is with me. Jesus is alive. And Jesus has won over everything. He is victorious in every situation, that in every place Jesus is alive. And we walk in the truth of the gospel of what he has done on our behalf. I can tell you today, as we talk about who he is for us, that as he goes to the cross on Good Friday, he does so because he loves you so very much. He loves you so very much. And as we talk about what it means to go to the cross, as we talk about what it means to be those that are drawing near to him, we see him for who he is as the Messiah, as the answer, as the only one that is the righteous Lamb of God. There is no other way to God. You can't earn your way in, you can't buy your way in, you can't do enough good things. No, Jesus made the way for us. He is the one that has done it on our behalf. We see in the scripture, it talks about in Matthew 20, we talked about it before. Jesus himself prophesied as he went towards the cross. He said, We are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. And they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And he will be raised on the third day. Friends, Jesus is alive. He is risen. Say with me, he is risen. As we've been talking about this past week, as we talked about what it looks like for him to come into our lives, and we declare Hosanna, Hosanna, which means save us, we pray. We talked about it this past week as people entered him into Jerusalem and what that looked like as they were declaring to him as the answer, save us, we pray. But what's an interesting turn of events, as we know historically from the scripture, is that those same people who would welcome Jesus into Jerusalem would be the very same people who would say, crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him. We see these different stations of the cross as Christ goes towards paying the price for us. And as we look to the scripture, it tells us about his great sacrifice for us. We see here in Luke 23, it says, And when they came to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him. And the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And as he hung upon the cross in that last moment, as he was there ready to give up his life for all of my brokenness and all of my sin and all of my shame and all of my mistakes. Though he had the power to come off that cross and turn everything upside down, he didn't. He took on all of that brokenness so that we could be made whole. Well, the sun's light failed. Darkness. And the curtain of the temple was torn into. And Jesus calling out with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last. As we see our Savior there upon the cross, having given his life for us, we're reminded of the great price and sacrifice of his suffering that made a way for us to have a relationship with the living God. Friends, today we're going to join together, and in doing so, we're going to be able to take communion together. You're here in the room, we have elements provided for you. If you did not get elements, you can raise your hand and people will pass some elements out to you so you can participate today. You don't need to be a member of this church or any church to participate. We do ask that you be someone who is drawing near to Christ, someone who believes as we hold these things sacred and remembering his body that was broken for us. Here in the room, we have these elements, the top film reveals the wafer and the foil reveals the colour. And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup which had been given thanks, he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said to them, This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is a new covenant in my blood. Today I'm asked Pastor Angus if you would, sir, if you pray over the bread for us.

Angus MacLeod 7:23

Father God, Jesus, we thank you that you willingly gave your body over. And with every scourge that you took on your back, you took that for our healing. For our emotional, our spiritual, physical, and relational healing. And today today today, Lord, we thank you for that willingness for our redemption. And we remember you today. And we just ask that you would come and heal all of those places in our lives. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Communion At The Table Of Remembrance

Celeste Brown 8:18

Father, we thank you that this morning we get to come on Easter Sunday to your table of remembrance. And Lord, we are grateful for your blood that was shed for each one of us. I know that many may be sitting here thinking that we are not worthy of the great sacrifice that you paid. But God, it's not because we earned it, but because you freely gave it to us. And so, God, we thank you. We thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. We thank you that your blood was shed so that we could have life and have life abundantly. And so this morning, God, I pray that our hearts would be full of gratitude as we say thank you. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for caring for us. Thank you for setting us free. Thank you that we don't have to sit and sin any longer. But God, we are free. And so we just honor you this morning with all of our hearts. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jason Brown 9:15

Amen.

Speaker 9:15

Let's take the cup together.

Prayer For Healing And Peace

Romans 6 And Freedom From Sin

Jesus As The Only Way

Choose Jesus And Pray Together

Next Steps Announcements And Blessing

Jason Brown 9:26

Lord, for your sacrifice for us, Lord, and that in your brokenness that we are made whole. Lord, that by your stripes we are healed, and we proclaim that right now in the name of Jesus Christ upon each person that needs a touch from you today. Lord, that healing would be theirs in Jesus' name. Lord, we pray, Lord, over every physical ailment. Lord, we come against every disease in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, we're thankful for medicine. We're thankful for doctors and for nurses. And we thank you, Lord, for insight. But Lord, we today ask for the divine, Lord, as you come and heal in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, we've seen you do it. Lord, we know the testimony of how you have healed so many. So we ask for that touch today, Lord, in physical bodies today. Lord, we pray healing in relationships today. Lord, that there would be forgiveness, that there would be unity. Lord, that there would be coming together. Lord, we pray, Lord, for intimacy in marriages today. Lord, that you are healing and you are a God who's on the move. Lord, that you are the one who brings together relationships from sons and daughters, Lord, from mothers, Lord, and and their parents and their kids and their grandkids. Lord, we thank you that you are the one who heals and brings us together. Lord, we pray for healing and we pray against any kind of anxiety, thoughts of self-harm today. Lord, we pray that the peace of God would pass over every single heart and mind and home today. Lord, these are the truths that we hold dear as you are the God who does all these things and more on our behalf. We give you all the praise and all the glory. We pray in Jesus' name. And the church says, Amen. Amen. God bless you. He is risen. Say with me. He is risen. We haven't had a chance to meet. My name is Jay, and it's a blessing to be here today with you at Cornerstone. We're very much thankful of who God is and this opportunity to be able to worship him freely here in this country. Very thankful for that. And the opportunity to lift up the name of Jesus Christ, that he would be glorified. You know, we see ourselves very much as people in need of a savior. None of us is perfect. People in the balcony, none of us is perfect, but all of us are in need of a savior. So we talk often and use this imagery of Jesus walking with his disciples, because that's how we see ourselves, as people who are following after Jesus, where he's leading us to go. And so we're following him as followers of Christ, as his disciples. It's our ambition, both personally and then corporately, to be more like Jesus. And we do that because we love God, we make disciples, and we reach the world. That's our mission, that's our heart, that's what drives us as a community of faith. And so as we talk about today that He is risen, that is something that we hold dear to us. Have your Bible, your tablet, your phone, we're going to be looking this morning at Romans 6, taking a look into the scripture here as the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Rome. Picking up here in verse 9, it says, We know that Christ being raised from the dead, he will never die again. Death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once and for all. But the life he lives, he lives to God. Someone say amen to that. Friends, this is the power of the cross, is that death is a very real thing. We know it. It's something most of us are afraid of. It's death. It's something that looms over us. But what's amazing about this is that as Christ followers, we don't have to be afraid of death because He has made a way for us, that death is just a doorway for us to spend eternity with the risen Savior. And so, friends, we don't have to be afraid. It's not something that shakes us in our core. No, we pass over into no more pain, no more suffering, no more anything. We get to be in the presence of the holy God. And so that's why whenever Christ comes, he takes all of our sin and all of our brokenness upon himself. As he goes to his death, that sin is dead as well. So that's why I want to tell you today you don't have to live in the brokenness of the past. You don't have to live in the shame of our mistakes. Friends, we can be forgiven and walk away from those things because that sin is dead and paid for, and Jesus is alive. And so we stand in this truth understanding these things as it talks to us from the scripture. In Romans 6:11, it says, So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Alive to God in Christ Jesus. Someone say, Alive. What we see is that as we're called to be those who follow after him, it's why we baptize the way we do, is because it represents a watery grave. It represents being dead to sin, alive in God. There's an opportunity for you to follow him in baptism coming up. Get involved in that. Take that step after Jesus. Friends, we would be alive in God, what he's done on our behalf. As we said, we can't earn our way in, we can't do enough good things. We can't go and earn our way into his grace. It doesn't work like that. If it did, and you could tell me what outfit I should I wear so I can impress God? Or what haircut should I have? Or what should I do? And what would be the thing that impresses God? Guess what? He's not impressed. You know how I know? Because he dresses the flowers of the world, that's what scripture says, more beautifully than Solomon was dressed in all his grandeur. So if that's true, then what we realize in all of our climbing, clawing, and trying to get our way towards the holy God, we can't get there by ourselves. It's only through Jesus, he is the only one who has been dead and killed sin and is now alive. So in the same way, we walk alive in him as we accept his work on the cross for us. He is risen. Someone say it. He is risen. In John 11, it says it like this: Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, he shall live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? Friends, this is what he's saying to her. He says, I am the resurrection and the life. I am the one who is coming back. I am the one that makes it so you can come back and be alive with me and with the Father. That's the very thing that we understand. So many people would say, Well, Jesus was a good man, Jesus was a good teacher, Jesus was a prophet. No, friends, he says here, I am. I am the resurrection. I am the life. There is no other way except through Christ. Christ himself is perfection, he is the pivotal figure for all of history. You must believe in Jesus Christ. It continues here. We see it in Scripture. John 14 says, Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Friends, he is the way. That's what early Christ followers used to talk about with each other. That are you followers of the way, the way of Jesus. Understanding that he is the Messiah. He is the one who is foretold in all of the Old Testament. He is the answer, the one you've been looking for. He is the way. As we look at scriptures in Colossians 3, it says, Then if you will be raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Friends, what we're talking about as being those who live for Christ is not something magical of our own doing. It's not a one-time get out of hell free card. It is living for Jesus every day. It's inviting them into our life that we would say, Lord, you would be the Lord of my life. Lord, I want to invite you into my life that I would walk after you every day. Friends, don't think anything else. You don't, you're not guaranteed tomorrow. You're not guaranteed the moment after this. I would be very much in favor of the Lord coming back before the next service. So we don't have to do this anymore. We can just be in his glory and his presence. But should the Lord tarry to the next service, then what it means is that we need to be those that are living for Jesus, that we're living in the way of Jesus as the scripture says, that we have been raised with Christ, so we should be walking like Christ does, as a reflection of who he is. Friends, this is the good news about Jesus: that our suffering and our sin and the separation that we have from him is no more, but everything has been paid for. The revelation says this He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. This is the hope of the gospel. Friends, that we get to say, Lord, I believe you are who you say you are. I want to have no more pain forever. I want to be walking in with you. I want to be in alignment with who you say you are. And Lord, I believe in Jesus that you are the only answer. Friends, that He is risen. Friends, today we're reminded that He is risen. And I could tell you this that in all of our searching and all the things that you can do with your life, you will never be able to fill the God-sized hole that's inside of your life except with the rivet risen Savior of Jesus Christ. And you can try all sorts of things, and people have, they've chased after fame and fortune and relationships or experiences or whatever it would be. And all of those things fall short because they're all temporary and he is eternal. And so there's a difference when we start to live for the eternal things versus the temporary things. And I can tell you because as soon as you get a new thing, it's no longer new and you need a new thing. But that's the thing about Jesus is that he is new every morning, and great is his faithfulness for us. And so we stand in alignment, understanding the very thing we've been looking for is all found in Jesus Christ alone. It's not in anything else and in any kind of other clamoring, it's in no other thing, and we can't buy our way into anything else. So he came all the way to us so that we could have a way to the Father. It's a powerful thing. And as we were on Friday remembering his suffering, remembering what he did on our behalf, we're reminded he did so because he loved us so very much. And just like we as parents would do anything for our children, we would sacrifice everything so that they could find a way. That's what he did for us. That he loved us so much that he abandoned heaven and glory and all that is his. And he came down in the way that we would understand into very creation, walking as the creation he made. But in doing so, becoming the sinless Lamb of God, the sacrifice of God for all people for all time. And that's what makes him different than all of us is that he lived that sinless life, he became that sacrifice for the Father. And in taking on our sin and our brokenness and our mistakes, he made a way for us. And as he went to the cross and gave up his life, he did so because he loved you so very much. But he is not dead, he is risen, and so we can have a relationship with him. Today, that question you must ask yourself is have you embraced Jesus? Each one of us has to answer that. No one can answer it for you. Your Nana can't answer it for you. The person that brought you to church can't answer it for you. You have to make a decision for Christ. For us, we see the symbol of the cross as powerful. We see the symbol of the cross as one of freedom and forgiveness. The cross is one where Jesus took all of my sin and shame and brokenness, all of my suffering. He took all of it upon himself. And as he gave of his life, Life upon the cross, all of those things, all of that sin, all of that shame was paid for once and for all. And I don't have to go back to any of those things. I can be free of the chains that hold me down there because Jesus is alive. He is risen. And because of that, we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. And we live in the way that he guides us to live, following after him every day to be more like Jesus. We see the words the Apostle Paul writing in Romans 10. He says, Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. But with the heart one believes and is justified, with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Prince, today is your day. It's your opportunity to say yes to Jesus Christ. There's no greater decision that you can make than this very decision today. In this moment. Prince, here in the room, joining us online wherever you are. That today, in this moment, you'd make that decision to follow Jesus. I'm gonna ask if you're here in the room if you'd stand to your feet and bow your head as Christians are praying. Friends, wherever you are online, just take a moment for what God wants to do in and through your life today. Friends, we've been praying for you. That today you would make a decision to follow Jesus. And maybe you're here and you'd say, Pastor, that's me. I've never made a decision to follow Jesus before. I need to invite him into my heart and life. If that's you, there's an opportunity for you to make a decision right now in this moment. Or maybe you have lived for Jesus in the past, but you've walked away from living for him. Friends, you need to recommit your heart to Christ today. To live for him today. There is no other answer. You've been out searching, you know it's true. So come back to the Lord today. Make a decision to follow Jesus Christ today. As heads are bowed here in the room, if that's you and you want to make a decision to follow Jesus today, if you just raise your hand right where you're at. Say, Pastor, that's me. I just want to be indicated that I want to make a decision to follow Jesus today. Thank you, Jesus. As people are raising their hands right now in this moment. Thank you, Lord, for those making decisions. Thank you, God. We see the hand that's there and there and there and others that are making decisions for Christ. Thank you, Jesus. Friends online, wherever you are, making decisions to follow Christ. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. I'm gonna ask everyone if they would to pray this prayer out loud after me. Lord, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending Jesus. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe he rose again. Forgive me of my sins. I surrender my life to you. In Christ's name I pray. Amen. Amen. Friends, we rejoice with those who made a decision to follow Jesus today. Praise the Lord. Hey, if that was you, take a moment. Take a snapshot of this QR code that we have on these side pillars. It just gives you an opportunity to put some resources into your hand so that you can live for Jesus. Amen. Hey, in this next moment, we're gonna have a song and an opportunity for you to respond. You know, we're very much people that believe in coming to the altar. We're very much people in believing and stepping forward for impartation of his spirit. If that's you today, and you just like more of God in your heart and in your life. You need more of God in your family. You need God just to go to the thing you're going to after this. Then I'm gonna ask you to come and make an altar with God because we need him for every moment of every part of our life. Amen. And we're gonna come forward and make an altar with God and just ask for an outpouring of his spirit. Lord, we thank you so much. Lord, you are alive. Jesus is alive, he is risen. And so, Lord, we declare that today. Lord, as we come to your altar, we do for an impartation of your spirit. Lord, we know that you are the source, you are the one who provides. You open doors and you close doors as we ask you to. Lord, give us insight and instruction. You say, if we lack wisdom, let us ask of God. Lord, as we come and we just revel and we celebrate your victory over the grave. We celebrate, Lord, your resurrection on this resurrection Sunday. Lord, we ask for an impartation of your spirit so that we can be a light of the gospel wherever we go. Lord, we need an impartation of who you are, Lord. Your blessing, your wisdom upon our families we come forward. Lord, we need your grace, we need your love to flow through us as we walk this life. We thank you so much. We pray this in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Celeste Brown 27:02

Well, now is the time that every child has been waiting for, and maybe adults who are taxing their kids on candy. But we're gonna have an Easter egg hunt. And so I just want to encourage you, go grab your children first from their classes and then meet us to the back of the building. There's a team out there who have been putting eggs everywhere. There are plenty, and so it's gonna be fun. But please go get your children first and then go to the back, and we're gonna have an amazing Easter egg hunt.

Jason Brown 27:28

Amen. We want to invite you back for this next Sunday. We'll be starting off a new series. So you want to be a part of what's happening there, as well as there's baptism coming up. Lots of great things that are happening here at Cornerstone, so get involved with us. Amen. Before we go, we want to put this blessing over us. The Lord bless you and keep you. Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Lord, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Lord, I pray a blessing upon your church, your people. Lord, do you empower us by your Spirit to live your love out to those around us? Pray all this in the powerful name that is Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Know this. We love you very much here at Cornerstone. God bless you and happy resurrection Sunday!