What does it mean for a believer to be crucifixion focused? What does it mean to be resurrection focused? Which are You? Visit us at BibleGuy.org

1. Resurrection
Focus

2. Amazed by his life

3. Amazed by His Death

4. Amazed by His Resurrection

5. Amazed by His Return

6. On Which should we Focus?

7. Resurrection
Focused
Christians

8. Ephesians 1:17-21 (NET)
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and
revelation in your growing knowledge of him, –
since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened
– so that you may know what is the hope of his
calling, what is the wealth of his glorious
inheritance in the saints, and what is the
incomparable greatness of his power toward us
who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his
immense strength. This power he exercised in
Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated
him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far
above every rule and authority and power and
dominion and every name that is named, not only in
this age but also in the one to come.

9. Philippians 3:10-11 (NET)
My aim is to know him, to experience the power of
his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to
be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain
to the resurrection from the dead.

10. In My Experience I’ve noticed
three types of Christians
•Crucifixion Focused Christians
•Return of Christ Focused Christians
•Resurrection Focused Christians

11. Crucifixion
Focused Christians

12. The Crucifixion focused
Christian
Luke 24:13-26 (NET)
13
Now that very day two of them were
on their way to a village called
Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem. 14
They were talking to each
other about all the things that had
happened. 15
While they were talking
and debating these things, Jesus
himself approached and began to
accompany them 16
(but their eyes were
kept from recognizing him). 17
Then he
said to them, “What are these matters
you are discussing so intently as you
walk along?” And they stood still,
looking sad.

13. The Crucifixion focused
Christian
Luke 24:13-26 (NET)
18
Then one of them, named Cleopas,
answered him, “Are you the only visitor
to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the
things that have happened there in
these days?” 19
He said to them, “What
things?” “The things concerning Jesus
the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man
who, with his powerful deeds and words,
proved to be a prophet before God and
all the people; 20
and how our chief
priests and rulers handed him over to be
condemned to death, and crucified him.

14. The Crucifixion focused
Christian
. 22
Furthermore, some women of our group
amazed us. They were at the tomb early
this morning, 23
and when they did not find
his body, they came back and said they
had seen a vision of angels, who said he
was alive. 24
Then some of those who were
with us went to the tomb, and found it just
as the women had said, but they did not
see him.” 25
So he said to them, “You foolish
people – how slow of heart to believe all
that the prophets have spoken! 26
Wasn’t it
necessary for the Christ to suffer these
things and enter into his glory?”

15. The Crucifixion focused
Christian
Salvation is at the Cross
The Crucifixion speaks of the
immensity of the sin that separates
man and God.
The Crucifixion speaks of the extreme
measures God takes to restore his
relationship with mankind.
There is no Salvation outside the
Cross.
Through the cross we die to our old
self.

16. The Crucifixion focused Christian
We must regularly return to the cross
(Lord’s supper).
The cross constantly reminds of the
divine sacrifice.
It keeps us humble by reminding us
that we are sinners in need of the
savior.
It keeps us aware of our sins and need
for God’s continual grace.

17. The Crucifixion focused Christian
• So, is there a problem with the
Crucifixion focused Christian?
– Many Christians never move beyond
the grave (like the men going to
Emmaus).
• The power of the God is in the past.
– At the cross.
– Power at work in salvation – but not in the
Christian Life (When baptized, I’m afraid
some of us should be held under water.
Because, although we die in Christ we never
seem to be resurrected in Christ).

18. The Crucifixion focused Christian
• So, is there a problem with the
Crucifixion focused Christian?
– Many Christians never move beyond
the grave (like the men going to
Emmaus).
• There is seldom power in the present.
– Present circumstances in life is viewed as a
result of barriers resulting from Adam.
– Life is a burden – we live in death.
– Self-centered – life is swallowed up in defeat.
– When mourning, it’s hard to serve others.

19. The Crucifixion focused
Christian
But Christ is no longer on the cross.
Jesus is no longer in the grave. So
why live as if He were?
Christ conquered Death.
Jesus is Alive.

20. The Return of
Christ Focused
Christians.

21. John 11:23-25
23
Jesus replied, “Your brother will come
back to life again.” 24
Martha said, “I
know that he will come back to life again
in the resurrection at the last day.” 25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection
and the life. The one who believes in me
will live even if he dies,

22. • We must look to the future.
– Biblical Prophecy and end time events where
ignored through most of Church history.
– One third of the Bible is prophecy.
– The future is where our hope is.
– The last days maybe at hand.
The Return of Christ Focused Christians (also
called “Future Hope Christians” or “Last Day Christians”)

23. • So, is there a problem for the Return of
Christ focused Christian?
– A person with his/eye and ears in the future
often is blind to God’s work in the present.
– Everything in the present world is seen as so
bad, that only the coming of Christ can make
good of it.
• Tendency to deny social responsibility
• Tendency toward a do nothing fatalism
• Extremism can lead to heresy.
The Return of Christ Focused Christians

24. • So, is there a problem for the Return of
Christ focused Christian?
– God put us in the present to have an impact
on the present. We have work to do in the
here and now.
– The power of God is not just in the past or in
the future, but also in the present.
The Return of Christ Focused Christians

25. • Acts 1:6-8 6
So when they had gathered
together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this
the time when you are restoring the kingdom to
Israel?” 7
He told them, “You are not permitted to
know the times or periods that the Father has
set by his own authority. 8
But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest
parts of the earth.”
The Return of Christ Focused Christians

26. The apostles never lost their hope for
Christ’s return, but such a hope did not
create in them a fatalistic outlook, rather it
gave them a sense of urgency to change
the world –
NOW!
Perspective:

27. Crucifixion Focused
Return of Christ focused
But above all, Resurrection Focused
We should be:

28. We don’t live in the past, nor in the future. I
want to know the power of Christ in my life
now!
So did Paul!
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians
Philippians 3:10
10
My aim is to know him, to
experience the power of his
resurrection, to share in his
sufferings, and to be like him in his
death,
Ephesians 1:18-20
18
– since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened
– so that you may know what is the hope of his calling,
what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the
saints, 19
and what is the incomparable greatness of his
power toward us who believe, as displayed in the
exercise of his immense strength. 20
This power he
exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

29. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s not the Apostolic gifts.
It’s not sign and wonders.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

30. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s power over death to live now.
Ephesians 2:5 (NET)
5
even though we were dead in transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ – by grace
you are saved! –
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

31. What is this resurrection power in the present.
It’s power to do good works – NOW!
Ephesians 2:10 (NET)
10
For we are his workmanship, having been created in
Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared
beforehand so we may do them.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

32. What is this resurrection power in the present.
It’s power to know the internal workings of Christ and to grasp
God’s love and power to love – NOW!
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NET)
16
I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he
may grant you to be strengthened with power through
his Spirit in the inner person, 17
that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith, so that, because you have
been rooted and grounded in love, 18
you may be able
to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth
and length and height and depth, 19
and thus to know
the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that
you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

33. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s power to overcome bitterness – NOW!
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NET)
31
You must put away every kind of bitterness,
anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous
talk. 32
Instead, be kind to one another,
compassionate, forgiving one another, just as
God in Christ also forgave you.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

34. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s power over fear and power of self-
discipline – NOW!
2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)
7
For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of
power and love and self-control.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

35. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s courage – NOW!
Philippians 1:20 (NET)
20
My confident hope is that I will in no way be
ashamed but that with complete boldness,
even now as always, Christ will be exalted in
my body, whether I live or die.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

36. What is this resurrection power in the
present.
It’s the power to fulfill God’s purpose in me.
Philippians 3:12 (NET)
12
Not that I have already attained this – that is,
I have not already been perfected – but I
strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
also laid hold of me.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

37. What is this resurrection power in the present.
It’s the power of financial contentment.
Philippians 4:12-13 (NET)
12
I have experienced times of need and times of
abundance. In any and every circumstance I have
learned the secret of contentment, whether I go
satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13
I am able
to do all things through the one who strengthens me.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

38. What is this resurrection power in the present.
It’s the power to witness.
Acts 1:7-8 (NET)
7
He told them, “You are not permitted to know the
times or periods that the Father has set by his own
authority. 8
But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

39. What are the Characteristics of a
Resurrection focused Christian?
– A life of excitement and adventure. Not a
life of gloom and doom.
• He envisions the future but does not live in it. He
makes the future happen.
• He exercises faith. He takes risks for Christ’s sake.
He is not timid. He believes in the power of God to
do great things in the present.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

40. What are the Characteristics of a
Resurrection focused Christian?
– He is not afraid to look deep within himself
and deal with the ugliness.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

41. What can I do to become a resurrection
focused Christian?
– Go to the Cross
– Confess your Need for the Savior
– Believe in the future Hope of Christ’s return
– Focus on Christ’s resurrection power to be at
work now.
Above all, be Resurrection Focused
Christians

42. The Tomb is empty
The Cross is bare
Christ is Alive
The power that raised Him
can resurrect your life –
NOW!