2026.04.05 | When the Old Story Becomes Good News Again

I’ve heard the Easter story more times than I can count.

Jesus lived a perfect life.

Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus rose from the dead.

I believe it. I’m all in on that. But if I’m honest, there are seasons where those truths feel more like “background music” than the loud, clear song in my heart.

This Easter at Hope, sitting with Philippians 2 again, something shifted for me, not because I learned something brand new, but because something old felt fresh.

“Though he was in the form of God… he emptied himself.”

I’ve read that verse before. But this time, I slowed down with it. Jesus didn’t just do a good thing for the world in general. He chose to step down, to serve, to suffer, for people like me who already know the story and still stumble.

I needed that reminder. As someone who has walked with Jesus for a while, it’s easy to quietly slide into a “I should be past this by now” mindset. I know better. I’ve heard better. So when I hit familiar struggles, old sins, old fears, old patterns, I can slip into shame.

But hearing again that Jesus came for me, died for me, and won for me, right where I am today, was surprisingly encouraging.

He didn’t just come for the person hearing the gospel for the first time. He came for the worn-out parent who still loses their temper. For the long-time church member who battles doubt. For the weary heart that keeps trying and failing and getting back up.

Then there was this line: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

I’ve always loved that verse, but this year it felt less like a distant scene and more like a daily invitation. As a believer, my knee already belongs to Him. My life already belongs to Him. And yet, there are places I still hold back, little pockets of control, buried worries, unspoken plans.

It was strangely comforting to realize that bowing my knee to Jesus isn’t a one-time, “I did that years ago” moment. It’s a daily posture. A daily choice to say, “You are Lord here too.”

The ABCs that Jeff shared: Admit, Believe, Confess, Surrender aren’t just for people coming to faith for the first time. They’re a simple pattern for long-time followers too.

Admit: I still need Him today.

Believe: His life, death, and resurrection are still enough for me today.

Confess: He is still Lord, not just of my eternity, but of this moment.

Surrender: I can let go again, of control, fear, and self-reliance, and trust Him.

As a long-time believer, I walked away from Easter not with brand-new information, but with renewed affection. The old story felt like good news again.

Maybe that’s what I needed most.

Reflect & Respond:

If you’d like to hear the full message and sit with these truths more, you can watch the full sermon on our YouTube channel.