On March 31, TSPM churches in China conducted Easter services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
In the second service at Centennial Church in Ningbo, Zhejiang, Pastor Zhou preached a sermon titled "This Is a Fact!", citing 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. He said that Jesus’ resurrection had been seen, recognized, and preached by people, and was declared an undeniable historical fact.
That night, the church held a musical evangelistic rally, with the great news of Jesus' resurrection declared through worship, hymns, video presentations, and sermons. "If we died with Christ, we believe that we will live with him," preached a church worker named Shi Yijiu based on Romans 6:8. Shi pointed out that, to prevent the disciples from stealing the body of Jesus and deceiving the people, the chief priests asked the Roman officers and soldiers to guard the tomb. They blocked the front of the tomb with a large stone. This, in turn, ensured that the empty tomb left behind by Jesus was not formed by the disciples stealing the body. He also reminded believers that the most important thing during their short sojourn on earth was to be freed from sin by believing in Jesus Christ's name and serving and glorifying God wholeheartedly. At the end of the sermon, dozens of newcomers stood up to accept the call of God.
"There are three precious things in Christianity: the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb. Behind each of them is a story." On Easter 2024, at Ningbo International Church, Senior Pastor Shan Weixiang gave a sermon titled "The Good News of the Resurrection." After the brief sermon, believers performed a stage play, telling the story from Jesus' preaching on the Sea of Galilee to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection from Peter's perspective. Diverse art forms, such as musical instrument playing, singing, dancing, and sand painting, were used for display.
In an Easter Sunday service held at Kunshan Church, Jiangsu Province, Rev. Gu Xuemei gave a sermon titled "Meet the Resurrected Lord" based on John Chapter 20: 1, 19-20, and 24-29. Gu said that the three most precious symbols of Christianity were the manger, the cross, and an empty tomb, which represented the birth, death, and resurrection of the Lord. It mentioned that under the strength of the Lord, Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, no longer feared the persecution and preached God’s words bravely. Gu told believers they could renew their strength in the Lord, who blesses them with peace.
At Jesus Church in Yichun City, Jiangxi Province, which hosted an Easter thanksgiving service, Rev. Lin Guanfu, vice president and general director of Jiangxi Christian Council, shared a sermon titled "The Way of Rebirth" about the old self before rebirth, the new person after rebirth, and eternal life after resurrection, reported the church.
Guangdong Union Theological Seminary conducted a morning service in Union Church, with a teacher named Zou Qinquan sharing the meaning of Jesus' resurrection.
Believers from Lvhua Street Church in Anshan, Liaoning, attended praise meetings in the morning and afternoon. Rev. Yuan Ming, dressed in holy robes, preached the significance of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. After the sermon titled "The Resurrection of Jesus," varied fellowships and groups of the church presented nineteen programs, including chorus and poetry recitation, with the finale being the dance named "A Grain of Wheat."
During the evening worship service themed "Peace to You" at Yaodu District Church in Linfen, Shanxi, two white-haired old men took the stage to present a Shulaibao (doggerel) performance titled "Get Jesus: The Treasure of Treasures", using a humorous performance to demonstrate the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
