Easter at Timberlake | Dave Nelson

·36 min·3 clips

Dave Nelson's brother insists he must try rattlesnake hunting, sparking a conversation about what truly excites us.

The episode is an Easter sermon by Pastor Dave Nelson at Timberlake Church. He opens with a lighthearted story about his brother Scott from Wisconsin recommending rattlesnake hunting, using it as a metaphor for sharing transformative experiences. Nelson transitions to discussing personal passions like hiking, having completed over 30 hikes and 160 miles last year, to connect with the audience. He then delves into the biblical accounts of Jesus, detailing the backgrounds of Matthew as a tax collector, Mark as a friend of Peter, Luke as a doctor who investigated eyewitnesses, and John as a disciple. Nelson explains Jesus' claim to divinity, his crucifixion, and the resurrection, citing over 500 eyewitnesses who never recanted despite persecution. He addresses common misconceptions of God as distant, angry, or indifferent, contrasting them with Jesus' revelation of a relational and compassionate God. The pastor introduces the concept of spiritual sloth from the seven deadly sins, describing it as apathy toward eternity and purpose. He shares various alarm clock analogies to illustrate how God uses life events like suffering, grief, or failure as wake-up calls. A personal anecdote about losing Bose speakers while distracted by collecting shopping carts underscores the ease of losing focus on important matters. The sermon features a video testimony from Gemma, a Timberlake Church member who found faith during personal struggles, describing her journey from emptiness to surrender. Nelson also shares his father's story of breaking cycles of abuse through faith and his own awakening from self-righteousness. The episode concludes with a prayer inviting listeners to surrender to Jesus or renew their faith, emphasizing experiencing the resurrection beyond mere knowledge or belief.

As heard by us

An Easter sermon moves from rattlesnake humor to Paul’s prayer for resurrection power made visible in ordinary lives.

Dave Nelson’s Easter message asks what resurrection power might actually change in a believer’s life. It opens with a dry family story about his older brother Scott from Wisconsin and an enthusiasm for rattlesnake hunting that Nelson plainly does not share, then turns to Paul’s…

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Why you'd press play

You want an Easter sermon that turns resurrection power into a personal question: who sits on the throne of your life?

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