Coexist: Christianity (Easter 2026)

Coexist (Christianity): Why Jesus Is Different

April 5th, 2026/Seventh Day Adventist

Intro:

There’s something about Easter that just feels… different.

Even if you didn’t grow up in church…
Even if you’re not sure what you believe…
There’s something about today.

It’s the worship songs.
It’s the tradition.
It’s being with people you love.

There’s this sense that… this day matters.

And maybe you’ve never been able to fully explain why.

Maybe for you, Easter has been:

• a family tradition
• a reason to get dressed up
• an Easter egg hunt
• a moment to pause

But underneath all of that… there’s a deeper question:

Why does this day feel so significant?

And here’s the answer the Bible gives:

Because everything about your life…
and everything about your future…

hinges on what happened on this day.

And here’s the tension I want to put on the table right away:

If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead… then He’s just one more voice.

But if He did rise from the dead… then He doesn’t belong in a category with anyone else.

1 Corinthians 15:14 says,
“If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.”

Verse 17 says,
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

So let me ask you the question I want sitting on you all morning:

Is Jesus actually different… or is He just one of many options?

Is He something you add to your life…
or is He the one your life is built on?

Because if He’s just one option… then Easter is just a tradition. But if He really died… and really rose… then this changes everything.

Tension:

If you’ve lived here for a minute, then you know that claim runs into real tension.

We’ve lived in Boulder for 9 years now, and I’ve heard this over and over again:

“Jesus is great… I just like parts of other religions too.”

“I grew up Christian… but now I kind of take the best from everything.”

“I’m glad you found your truth.”

And if we’re honest, for some of you in this room… that doesn’t sound crazy. That sounds normal.

So what happens is we build a version of faith that looks like:

Jesus… and a little spirituality.
Jesus… and the universe.
Jesus… and energy.

Jesus and whatever podcast we listened to last week.

(smile, pause)

And if I’m honest… the tension for me has never been, “Do I believe this?”

It’s been… “What does this do to my relationships?”

Because when you actually believe Jesus is the only way…
that creates real tension with people you care about.

Friends. Neighbors. People you love.

And you don’t want that to change the relationship…
but you also don’t want to pretend like it’s not true.

Because Jesus doesn’t fit into our categories.

Series Setup:

And that tension… that’s exactly why we’re doing this series.

Today we’re starting a series called Coexist.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to explore belief systems that represent over 90% of the world’s population, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and secular worldviews.

Not to attack people.
Not to win arguments.

But to understand clearly… and love people well.

Because these conversations are already happening:

• in your home
• in your workplace
• in your friend group

And every week, we’re going to ask one question:

What does Jesus offer that is different?

Tolerance:

Before we talk about belief, we need to define a word our culture cares deeply about: tolerance.

We fully affirm legal tolerance.
Everyone has the right to believe what they want.

We practice social tolerance.
We can build real relationships with people who believe differently.

But intellectual tolerance says:
“All beliefs are equally true.”

Let me show you how this plays out in real life.

Illust: The Mountain(s)

You’ve probably heard it:

“All religions are different paths up the same mountain.”

It sounds peaceful.

But it only works if you ignore what each path actually teaches.

Christianity says salvation is by grace.
Others say it’s by effort.

Christianity says Jesus is God.
Others say He’s not.

Christianity says the problem is sin.
Others say it’s suffering or awareness.

Those are not different routes to the same place.

Those are different destinations.

Jesus’ Claim

And this is where Jesus steps right into the conversation.

Memory Verse: John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Not a way.
Not one truth.

The way.
The truth.
The life.

You don’t get to call Him a good teacher and ignore what He said.

And here’s the truth:

Indecision about Jesus… is still a decision about Jesus.

Heart Moment:

Now for some of us, this might still feel like a conversation about ideas…

But this isn’t just about ideas.

This is about your life.

You can feel it.

You can achieve things and still feel empty.
You can be doing your best, at work, at home, as a parent, and still feel like something’s missing.

Like you hit the goal… got the promotion… fixed the house…

and then sit down and go,

“…that’s it?” Or maybe… “I can finally rest… and watch the sunrise on a grateful universe.”

You can carry pressure… responsibility… expectations…

And for some of you…

you’re carrying pain too.

Loss.
Grief.
Questions you don’t have answers for.

And underneath all of it is this question:

What’s actually wrong… and is there a real answer?

The Problem:

Romans 3:23 says,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Not some people.

All people.

The problem isn’t just behavior.

It’s the condition of the human heart.

The problem isn’t just out there.

It’s in here.

And if the problem is deeper than behavior…

then trying harder won’t fix it.

So if that’s the problem…

what’s the solution?

The Gospel:

And this is where Christianity stands completely apart.

Because every other system says:

Do more.
Try harder.
Be better.

But Christianity says:

You couldn’t reach God… so God came to you.

Romans 5:8,
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus didn’t just die.

He was rejected.
Beaten.
Mocked.
Nailed to a cross.

Not for His sin…

For yours.

Every regret.
Every failure.
Every moment you wish you could take back.

He carried it.

And on that cross, He said:

“It is finished.”

Not “try harder.”

Not “earn it.”

Finished.

The Resurrection:

And three days later…

He didn’t stay dead.
He didn’t stay buried.
He didn’t stay in the grave.

He got up.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 says,
“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day.”

Death didn’t win.
Sin didn’t win.
The grave didn’t win.

Jesus walked out.

And this is where it stops being history…

and starts becoming personal.

Speak To The Room:

So if you’re here trying to figure this out…

trying to lead your family well…
trying to be a better husband…
trying to be present as a dad…
trying to make your life count…

This matters more than anything else.

Because following Jesus isn’t about getting it perfect.

It’s about staying close to Him.

And this changes your home.

This gives you something solid to build your life on.

And the same Jesus who walked out of that grave…

He’s not distant from your life.

He meets you in your pressure.
He meets you in your questions.
He meets you in your pain.

Series Hook:

And once you start to see this clearly…

you realize something.

What you believe about Jesus doesn’t just shape your Sundays.

It shapes everything.

Your anxiety.
Your relationships.
Your purpose.

And next week, we’re going to talk about Buddhism.

Buddhism says the problem is suffering… and the solution is detachment.

Christianity says the problem is sin… and the solution is a Savior.

And if you’re honest…

you’ve probably picked up pieces of both without even realizing it.

So don’t just come back.

Bring someone with you.

Altar Moment:

I want to speak to three people in the room.

1. If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus… this is your moment. Not someday. Right now. You don’t clean yourself up first. You come to Him.
2. If you would say you believe in Jesus… but He’s become one option among many… This is your moment to come back to clarity.
3. And if you’re following Jesus… this is your moment to live with confidence and compassion in a world full of competing voices.

Next Steps:

Here’s what I want you to do this week:

Talk to God.

Even if you don’t have the words.

It might feel a little awkward at first… like, “I think I’m doing this right?”

That’s okay. He’s not grading your prayer.

Open the Bible, start in the Gospel of John.

Don’t start in Leviticus… just trust me on that.

Just take one step.

Start now, start small, and stay faithful.

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God has raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free!

Closing:

We don’t water down truth to love people.
We hold onto truth because we love people.

And Jesus is not one of many ways.

He is the way.
He is the truth.
He is the life.

And today…
He is risen.