Now What do we Do?

Living After the Resurrection

By Darin Smith

Renovate Church – Centennial, CO

Last Sunday, we celebrated Easter.
Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. Death has been defeated.

But now comes the question we don’t always ask:

Now what?

Come As You Are… But Don’t Stay the Same

If you were at Renovate on Easter, you probably noticed—people showed up looking sharp. Pressed shirts, dresses, polished shoes. For some of us, it felt like a throwback.

I grew up in a church where what you wore mattered. Suits, ties, dresses, hard-bottom shoes—the kind you definitely weren’t allowed to play in. Faith wasn’t just something you believed. It was something you wore.

At Renovate, we’re different. We’re a come-as-you-are church. Hoodie or suit—it doesn’t matter.

But don’t misunderstand that.

We may be casual in dress, but we are not casual about Jesus.

Because what really matters isn’t what’s on the outside—it’s how you respond on the inside.

The Resurrection Wasn’t the End

Easter is not the finish line—it’s the starting point.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He didn’t disappear immediately. He spent time preparing His followers for what would come next. And He gave them a promise:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8a)

That promise changed everything.

From Fearful to Bold

To understand the impact, you have to understand the moment.

The Roman Empire ruled the world. Tension filled Jerusalem. Religious leaders were guarding their power. And Jesus had just been crucified.

From a human perspective, it looked like the end.

But it wasn’t.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days—physically, not symbolically—proving He was alive. Then He told them to wait.

And about ten days later, during the festival of Pentecost, everything changed.

When the Spirit Came

In a crowded city filled with people from all over the world, about 120 followers of Jesus were gathered together.

Suddenly:

A sound like a rushing wind filled the room
What looked like tongues of fire rested on them
They began speaking in languages they had never learned

People rushed in, confused and amazed.

But here’s the key:

The signs weren’t the point.
The Spirit was.

The Holy Spirit: Not a Force—A Person

The Holy Spirit isn’t a vibe.
He isn’t an energy.
He isn’t a feeling.

He is God.

He speaks.
He leads.
He thinks.
He can be grieved.

You don’t “tap into” the Holy Spirit.

He comes into your life.

And while you may not see Him directly, you will see His impact:

Anger turns into patience
Bitterness turns into forgiveness
Bondage turns into freedom

That’s not behavior modification.

That’s transformation from the inside out.

Peter: A Picture of Change

Then something incredible happened.

Peter stood up and boldly addressed the crowd.

This was the same Peter who:

Denied Jesus
Hid in fear
Struggled with doubt

But when he preached for the first time in Acts?

He was confident. Clear. Bold.

What changed?

Not his personality.
Not his circumstances.
The Spirit of God in him.

The Message That Cut to the Heart

Peter pointed everything back to Jesus:

You saw His miracles
You crucified Him
God raised Him
He is Lord and Messiah

And the crowd responded:

“What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37b)

That question still matters today.

The Answer: Three Steps

Peter’s response was simple—and powerful even for us today.

1. Repent

Not just feeling bad.

It’s a decision.

A turning point.
From your way → to God’s way.

2. Be Baptized

An outward declaration of an inward decision.

It’s saying:

“I belong to Jesus.”

3. Receive the Holy Spirit

Not just forgiveness—but power.

Power to:

Live differently
Stand firm
Grow and change

This Was Just the Beginning

That day, about 3,000 people responded.

And the early church was born—not as a building or a program, but as a people.

They were:

Devoted to teaching
Committed to community
Generous with one another
Consistent in prayer
Full of awe

They weren’t perfect—but they were real.

The Church Today

When we talk about wanting to be like the church in Acts, we’re not talking about style or structure.

We’re talking about:

A church that feels like family
A faith that shapes everyday life
A people led by the Spirit

And here’s the truth:

That same Spirit is still at work today.

The question is:

Will we lean into it?

So… Now What?

We don’t just celebrate Easter.

We respond to it.

So what will you do?

Will you turn?
Will you identify with Jesus?
Will you live empowered?

Because Easter answers who Jesus is…

But your life answers what you’ll do about it.

A Final Invitation

If you’re ready to take that step—to turn, to trust, to follow—don’t wait.

And if you’ve drifted?

You can come back.

God’s grace hasn’t run out.

Closing Thought

Easter wasn’t the end.

It was the beginning.

Now we get to live it out.