Locations & Times

What if the thing you’re holding onto is the very thing holding you back from freedom?

This Easter message cuts through the noise and gets real about what it takes to experience new life. Using a simple farming story, it shows how growth only comes when something is buried first. Whether it’s guilt, anger, or fear, holding on keeps you stuck and alone. But letting go, even when it feels like loss, is where real life begins.

Jesus didn’t just talk about this, He lived it. He faced overwhelming pressure, chose the cross, and trusted God through the unknown so you wouldn’t have to carry your past forever. Because He walked through death and came out alive, you now have a path to forgiveness, purpose, and peace. The same power that raised Him is available to help you release what’s weighing you down and step into something new.

Jim Burgen
April 5th, 2026

// Bible References: Gal 5:1; John 12:20-28; Mark 4:27-28; Matt 26:36-39; Luke 22:44; Heb 12:2; Psalm 16:10; Rom 6:4

// Community Question:  What is your favorite Easter tradition?

// Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to be able to say 'It is well with my soul' regardless of life's circumstances? How might trusting Jesus more deeply in areas of your life where you struggle to say 'it is well with my soul' change your perspective and peace?
2. In the sermon Jim reminded us that Jesus was separated from God for three days so we never have to be, and He rose from the dead so we can live forever. Why does this matter for our relationship with God? How does understanding what Jesus went through change how you view your own struggles or feelings of separation from God?
3. Why do you think Jesus felt 'troubled' and experienced such agony in the garden of Gethsemane? Have you ever felt conflicted about doing something you knew was right but difficult? How can Jesus's example encourage you in your own struggles?
4. Going Deeper: Read John 12:24. How does this farming parable help us understand what Jesus was about to do on the cross? What does this parable teach you about the necessity of sacrifice in your own life? What might you need to 'bury' or let go of so that God can produce spiritual fruit in your life?

// Challenge: Jim used the metaphor of graves turning into gardens, explaining that just like a seed must die and be buried to produce a harvest, we can't experience new life without saying goodbye to our old life and accepting Jesus, or letting go of anger, bitterness, or hatred that is slowly killing us. What is a step you can take this week to begin to embrace the freedom Christ wants for us?