Easter is a significant and holy Christian observance. So as church leaders prayerfully enter this season, we know you want the right Easter sermon ideas to preach that will lead your guests and congregation into a more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which is a foundational belief in Christianity.
Whether you’re looking for Easter sermon series ideas for the weeks leading up to or following the holiday, or sermon ideas for Sunday, we have you covered in this post with ten incredible approaches.
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Table of contents
- The Significance of Easter Sunday
- 10 Easter Sermon Ideas
- 1. Resurrection Power
- 2. Son of God
- 3. Forgiveness
- 4. From Death to Life
- 5. Victory
- 6. Easter Symbols
- 7. Witnesses
- 8. Evidence
- 9. On Mission
- 10. Hope
- Best Easter Sermon Ideas
The Significance of Easter Sunday
As Christians, we know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected by God three days later. This story and belief is a cornerstone of the Christian faith!
For Christians, Easter symbolizes new beginnings and victory over death. It signifies that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers can receive salvation. The resurrection of Christ is seen as a triumph over sin and death, which gives believers hope for their own future and eternal life with God.
Easter also marks the end of the Lenten season, a period of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual growth. It is a time when Christians focus on repentance and renewal as they prepare to celebrate the joyous occasion of Easter Sunday.
It is also the most attended day at most churches. According to Thom Rainer, 8 out of 10 people will say yes to attending an Easter service if someone were to invite them. Churches must be prepared for the Easter season and ensure their service planning, church building, and church website are ready for the year’s biggest day.
Overall, Easter represents one of the most important events in Christian history and serves as a reminder of God’s love for humanity and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus.
10 Easter Sermon Ideas
Whether you’re looking for Easter sermon series ideas or stand-alone messages, you can use the topics and principles presented below to craft your messages.
As a pastor, you preach Easter sermons every year. So you may find yourself looking for fresh ideas to unpack the scriptures and tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thankfully, the rich themes and timeless truths never grow old!
Each heading below will give you a general idea, key Easter scripture, and sample message graphic.
1. Resurrection Power
An Easter sermon on “Resurrection Power” can focus on the transformative power of the resurrection. Jesus’ death was not the end of His story – it was God’s plan for redemption!
You can explore the story of Jesus’ resurrection and its impact on His disciples and followers. Although the disciples had doubts and fears after Jesus’ death, those doubts were transformed into bold faith and confidence after they witnessed the resurrection.
This Easter sermon idea might also focus on what resurrection means for new life and how it can inspire us to let go of our old ways and embrace a new way of living. You can unpack the idea of how resurrection power can transform our lives today. It would be a great message to preach for an Easter sunrise service.
Ultimately, the raised Christ gives us power, grace, and strength to overcome our fears, doubts, and struggles, and to live with purpose.
John 11:25
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”
2. Son of God
Who was the Lord Jesus Christ? What was it about Him and the life He lived that resulted in crucifixion?
An Easter sermon on the “Son of God” could explore Jesus’ identity as both fully human and fully divine.
Deep dive into God’s Word and examine how Jesus was alluded to throughout the Old Testament. Then, you could pick a gospel or use all four to trace his biography.
As believers, it’s important to understand the history and context of Jesus’ life. If this is your Easter sermon series idea, you could focus on different phases of Jesus’ ministry and life in the weeks leading up to Easter.
Emphasizing our personal relationship with Christ and how we are also sons and daughters of God makes this Easter sermon idea relatable. And we may be encouraged that even when we endure accusation, suffering, and persecution, these troubles are only temporary because our ultimate reward is eternal life!
Matthew 3:17
“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
3. Forgiveness
In some of Jesus’ most famous last words, before He died, He asks His Father to forgive those responsible for His death.
Jesus was willing to forgive those who betrayed Him, brutally hurt Him, mocked Him, and killed Him.
So what does that mean for our own lives?
An Easter sermon on forgiveness could explore the power of grace and forgiveness as demonstrated when Christ died for us. The sermon could consider how, through His sacrifice, Jesus offers us a way to be reconciled with God and freed from guilt and shame.
It could also talk about how God calls us to forgive and extend grace and mercy to others.
Luke 23:34
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
4. From Death to Life
Can you relate to being spiritually dead? Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us that no matter how deep in darkness we may find ourselves, there is always a way out.
Ephesians 2:1 tells us, “you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Easter sermons on this topic could talk about the power of Jesus to bring us from death to life. You could examine how, through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are given a new identity as beloved children of God.
It could also explore how Jesus’ victory over death and the powers of hell symbolize our freedom from sin, evil, and spiritual darkness. Through Jesus, we can have new life and hope for eternity!
An Easter sermon series on “From Death to Life” could look at the story of Lazarus and how Jesus brought him back to life. It could also include a week on John 3 and Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about being “born again.”
And of course, you can crown it off on Easter Sunday with the story of Jesus who rose from the dead and lives forever.
John 5:24
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
5. Victory
Easter reminds us of the victory Christ won for all of us on the cross. He triumphed over sin and death.
The victory was not a one-time occurrence that exists solely in the past. Christ’s victory continues to empower us today!
Easter sermons could focus on the reality of this victory, and what it means for us: the power to overcome darkness and despair. You might share testimonies of how people have achieved freedom and victory over addiction, fear, depression, or other challenges.
Celebrating Christ’s victory on Easter Sunday also encourages us to share the light and love of Jesus with our lost and broken world.
Ephesians 2:4-6
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”
6. Easter Symbols
The Passover lamb, the cross, and the tomb are all symbols associated with Easter. But what do they really mean?
You could use the theme of symbols as an Easter sermon series idea, and unpack a different symbol or picture of Easter each weekend.
Many of these symbols have their origin in Old Testament Bible stories. You could explore the origins of Passover and the Exodus, for example, and what these powerful events meant for the nation of Israel.
You could also explore how the cross is an iconic symbol of triumph and victory over sin. Finally, you could discuss how the tomb is a reminder of death but the empty tomb is a promise of new life through resurrection.
John 1:29
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
7. Witnesses
Another Easter sermon series idea is to focus on the witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Many people were first-hand eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection.
These people could give us incredible insight into what it was like to witness something so miraculous and life-changing. For example, you could start with Mary Magdalene, who was the first witness of the resurrection and move on to Peter, John, James, and all the other disciples.
Each sermon or weekend could also focus on a modern witness and their testimony. You could explore what it was like for them to experience the life-changing event of encountering Christ.
And, finally, what it means to live as witnesses.
Luke 24:48
“You are witnesses of these things.”
8. Evidence
Got questions? You could take more of an apologetics approach to the Easter message and lay out the facts and evidence of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
You can find many books, podcasts, and blogs that tackle the subject of apologetics. Also, check out our post on Top 15 Apologetics Books and Resources For Every Christian.
So when it comes to sermon outlines, you could explore the historical and archaeological evidence, such as accounts from ancient historians that verify biblical texts.
You could discuss how even secular sources agree that Jesus existed and was crucified in the first century.
You could also explore the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection, such as Paul’s transformation from a persecutor of Christians to an advocate for the faith after encountering the resurrected Christ.
Finally, you could explore how eyewitness accounts and scripture all point to the reality that Jesus rose from death and ascended into heaven, fulfilling God’s plan for salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
9. On Mission
In a sermon about “mission”, you could look at Easter as a call to go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus’ resurrection is not just an event in the past but something that has implications for how we live today. We are called to follow Jesus!
You could use this sermon series to explore what it means to be on mission and how the Easter message shapes our lives.
Or, focus on how Jesus came to make all things new and how our lives ought to reflect that message of redemption and restoration. You could also look at what it means to be ambassadors for Christ in a broken world.
Although Jesus endured an extremely painful death, He rose from the grave and brought great joy to the world! The church needs to operate daily with this truth and resurrection power.
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
10. Hope
Finally, let’s talk about the subject we have mentioned in every suggestion above: hope!
Hope is the crux of the Easter story.
In this sermon series, you can explore the many themes of hope that can be found in the gospel message. We know how the week of Easter ends, and that encourages us even when we encounter daily struggles.
Life isn’t always easy. As Easter people, we sometimes endure difficult challenges and trials.
But we are called to keep our eyes on our Lord at all times and look forward to the future. Our hope is in Jesus and His resurrection! As Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Most people who walk into your church on Easter Sunday have some kind of challenging situations or fear about the future. Preaching on hope will bring light to people as they hear the gospel.
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Best Easter Sermon Ideas
The greatest story ever told is that of our Lord and Savior, the promised Messiah! For church leaders, as you make all the preparations for an outstanding weekend, don’t forget that the message you preach is the most powerful and important element of your Easter weekend activities.
What will you be preaching on this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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About The Author
Thomas Costello
In 2016, Thomas created REACHRIGHT while serving as a bi-vocational pastor in Madison, Wisconsin. With over two decades in ministry across states like California, Texas, and Hawaii, he has also become an expert in church marketing, web design, and SEO. Thomas and his family now call Honolulu home.
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