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Weekly Inspiration for Preachers from Pastor Phil Brandt

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Easter Sunday – Series C 

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Jesus has risen from the dead. He is not in that tomb. Even the disciples have a hard time with this message, so give your people a bit of a break if they are also struggling here, as were the people in Paul’s day (I Cor 15). In fact, let that befuddlement be the reason God has sent you to preach today. Just as God sent angels long ago to that empty tomb to straighten out the misguided apprehensions of those women, he has sent you. Just as he sent those women to bring good news to the disciples, he has sent you. You are here, preaching today to make sure they can hear the truth and rejoice with angels and archangels in heaven today. God is doing something very strange today. Do not look to the world for clarification or any pattern which will help us make sense of Easter. This is a shattering of those old ways. We must set aside our expectations of normal and natural today. God is doing something very strange indeed.

The angels directed those women to the promise which Jesus had made. Epiphany told us Jesus is God. Lent pointed Jesus to the cross. The events of Holy Week unfolded exactly as Jesus predicted, confrontation, betrayal, suffering, and death on Friday. Now, listen to the rest of the promise. On the third day, Jesus would rise. And rise he did! This is all according to God’s inscrutable and strange plan. Death itself is rolling backward.

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I value Sunday Sermon notes for their ease of use, the contribution of many others to the discussion and for the sermon starters, especially when you have writer's block!
Pastor Glen Emery
Pastor Glen EmeryGrace Lutheran Church | Fairbury, NE
My sermon preparations are much easier made and more enriched. There is always good stuff in the introductions and background information. What a blessing!
Rev. Dr. Nicholas Salifu
Rev. Dr. Nicholas SalifuGhana, West Africa
Sunday Sermon notes are extremely helpful for many, not just proclaimers. I've shared them weekly with Elders of the small church I'm privileged to serve and suggest they be used as devotional thoughts during the week. They are appreciative.
Rev. Lloyd Willweber
Rev. Lloyd WillweberKailua, HI
Not only is Dr. Brandt’s sermon studies a great help in preparing sermons, they also are great for use in bible studies and personal devotions. Thank you, Dr. Brandt for all your good work! 
Pastor Toby Joeckel
Pastor Toby JoeckelIntentional Interim Pastor Pilgrim Lutheran | Spokane, WA
I often use Phil’s Sunday Sermon notes to get ideas. His insights are thought-provoking and I appreciate that he often poses questions rather than supplying (or attempting to supply) answers. I’ve used them for a number of years and have been blessed because of them. Thanks brother Phil!
Pastor Skip Nizinski
Pastor Skip NizinskiGood Shepherd | York, PA
Sunday Sermon has been an incredible resource for me in my first four years of pastoral ministry. Pastor Brandt’s work with all of the weekly lectionary texts offer wonderful Law/Gospel insights which have been integral to my weekly sermon prep, reducing the amount of overwhelm I felt as I learned to develop a rhythm of preaching each Sunday. Pastor Brandt’s reflections were helpful not only in sermon prep but also in my own devotional life as well.
Nick Shults, Chaplain
Nick Shults, ChaplainCrowley County Correctional Facility | Pueblo, CO
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