Show and Tell Before and After The Resurrection

“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, & God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33 (NIV)

THE RESURRECTION CAN GIVE ME A SHOW & TELL TESTIMONY:

1. I Once Was ________________ But Now I’m ____________________.

__________ Before The Resurrection:

Boastful (Matthew 26:33-35) but fearful under pressure

Denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54–62)

Fled with the others after Jesus’ arrest (Mark 14:50)

After The Resurrection:

Preached boldly despite persecution (Acts 5:29-32)

Imprisoned, beaten, yet rejoiced in Jesus (Acts 5:41)

Eventually crucified upside down in Rome

TAKEAWAY: The resurrection turned Peter’s fear into fearless faith.

CHALLENGE: What fears are keeping you from boldly standing for Jesus?

2. I Once Was ______________ But Now I’m _______________________.

________ Before The Resurrection:

Wanted power & status (Mark 10:35–37)

“Sons of Thunder”—quick-tempered/judgmental (Luke 9:51-56)

After the Resurrection:

Became the apostle of love (1 John 4:7–8)

Cared for Jesus’ mother (John 19:26–27)

Boldly preached, exiled to Patmos, wrote Revelation

TAKEAWAY: The resurrection turned selfish ambition to servant leadership.

CHALLENGE: Are you chasing titles or testimonies?

3. I Once Was ________________ But Now I’m ______________.

____________ Before The Resurrection:

Known for skepticism: “Unless I see, I will not believe” (John 20:25)

Likely struggled with pessimism & fear (John 11:16)

After The Resurrection:

Encountered risen Jesus & said “My Lord, my God!” (John 20:28)

Took the gospel to India, where he was martyred

TAKEAWAY: The resurrection transformed his doubts into unshakable faith.

CHALLENGE: Are you letting questions keep you from your calling?

4. I Once Was ________________ But Now I’m _____________________.

______________ Before The Resurrection:

Hated and distrusted as a tax collector (Luke 5:27–30)

A traitor with a bad reputation

After The Resurrection:

Traveled to preach the gospel, possibly to Ethiopia or Persia

Wrote the Gospel to persuade fellow Jews of Jesus as the Messiah

Martyred (likely stabbed to death) for his faith

TAKEAWAY: The resurrection gave purpose to his past & impact to his future.

CHALLENGE: Do you believe your past disqualifies you?  It does NOT!

5. I Once Was __________________ But Now I’m ________________.

________ Before The Resurrection:

A Pharisee with elite education (Acts 22:3)

Strict adherence to God’s Law (Acts 26:5)

Zeal that lead him to persecute Christians (Acts 22:4)

After The Resurrection:

Uses past to communicate the gospel to Jews & Gentiles (Philippians 3:4-11)

Writes majority of the New Testament thru the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 3:16)

Eusebius writes Paul was beheaded for his faith by order of Nero in Rome

TAKEAWAY: The resurrection gives purpose to those the world overlooks.

CHALLENGE: Do you need applause to serve, or is Christ enough?

Resurrection Power Is _______________ But Not ___________________.

This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. Ephesians 1:19-20 (GNT)

Word spread of Jesus’ presence, and a large crowd was gathering to see Jesus and the formerly deceased Lazarus, whom He had brought back from the dead. ¹⁰ The chief priests were secretly plotting Lazarus’s murder since, ¹¹ because of him, many Jews were leaving their teachings and believing in Jesus. John 12:9-11 (VOICE)