Rescue: Ultimate Rescue — Easter

RESCUE! Easter Series: Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

The Ultimate Rescue! April 20, 2025

The Ultimate Rescue!

• Rescue: Process of being saved.
• Rescued: Saved!

The greatest danger isn’t being lost. It’s being lost and not knowing it.

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Story: Iceland Woman: September 2019

The most dangerous place to be….. is in need of a rescue but convinced you’re just fine.

You can’t cry for help when you don’t believe you’re drowning.

God triggered a rescue plan after Adam and Eve realized they had sinned; however, He also made that rescue plan available to anyone in the future even before they realize they will need it.

• Normally, there’s an end to a rescue plan… THE RESCUE!

“Remember, you don’t cry for help when you don’t think you’re drowning.” So, God’s rescue plan doesn’t end, it’s the ultimate rescue plan… It’s always available when you need it!

The greatest spiritual danger isn’t sin, brokenness, or failure—it’s not knowing you need rescued.

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In the Jesus Rescue Plan

Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

HOW? A RISEN RESCUER!

• Jesus defeated what we needed rescued from once and for all!!!
  • Sin & Death!

Luke 24:1-12 (NIV) Jesus Has Risen

Death defeated, victory and hope restored! The ultimate rescue secured forever!

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Q) How are we so sure?

• Today: Resurrection would be worldwide news!
• Ancient Times: Witness account! (over 500 people!) They wrote it down!

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)

• Jesus gave Simon the new name Cephas: Pivotal role in the new church!
• Paul uses Cephas
• Peter—who had denied Jesus three times—was even rescued!

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Many Are Unaware But in Need!

Revelation 3:17 (NIV)

• Jesus’ message to Laodicea Church
• self-perception vs. spiritual reality
• Unaware But In Need..

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Examples: Unaware But In Need..

1. A Functional Drug Addict

• “They don’t look broken… but they are.”

2. An Overachiever but Burned out

• “Success has masked their suffering.”

3. The Marriage on the Edge

• “Silence doesn’t mean healing. Sometimes it means hopelessness.”

4. Wounded Pretender

• “They’ve buried the wound so deep they think it’s gone.”

5. Comfortable & Complacent Christians

• Life is easy. Bills are paid. No major storms.
• But they’re asleep spiritually- unaware they need rescued.

1. Religious but Lost

• Church, songs, scripture..
• “They have routine without relationship.”

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All Unaware but all still in need…..

1. The Reality of The Need to be Rescued!

Story: Glacier National Park Hiker

Greg was quoted about the reality of his need…

“I had no idea. I would’ve kept walking straight into danger—maybe even death—without ever seeing it.”

The Reality is…..

Romans 3:23 (NLT)

You can’t receive a Savior, you don’t believe you need.

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2. What about The Danger of Deception?

Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)

People can be:

• Morally upright but spiritually lost: I’m a good person!
• Churchgoers but unrepentant: I attend church,
• Survivors but not surrendered: I’ve been through so much!

Remember, the most dangerous place to be…. is in need of rescue but convinced you’re just fine.”

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3. What about The Compassion of The Rescuer?

Luke 15:8-10 (NLT) Jesus teaches by stories.

God didn’t wait until you felt lost. He established a rescue plan so you immediately could be rescued once you realized you were actually lost!

Luke 15:3–7 – Parable of the Lost Sheep

• 100 sheep one goes missing.
• Don’t you leave the 99 and go looking?
• When found, aren’t you excited?
• Try as a Parent..
  • You have 4 kids; one goes missing.
  • Don’t you leave the 4 and look for the 1?
  • When found, aren’t you excited!!

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4. What about our Response to the Rescue?

Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

When you realize you need saving, that humility brings on a rescue.