Develop a compelling sermon series for the weeks leading up to Easter that builds anticipation and prepares your congregation for the celebration of the resurrection. This prompt helps you create a cohesive multi-week series with themes, passages, and sermon ideas.

Help me plan a sermon series leading up to Easter Sunday. I want to build anticipation and create a meaningful journey toward the resurrection celebration.

Series Parameters:
- Number of weeks: [e.g., "4 weeks" / "6 weeks (full Lent)" / "3 weeks"]
- Starting date: [e.g., "March 9, 2025"]
- Easter Sunday date: [e.g., "April 20, 2025"]
- Include Good Friday message? [Yes/No]
- Worship style context: [e.g., "contemporary evangelical" / "traditional mainline" / "charismatic"]

Congregation Context:
- Primary audience: [e.g., "young families" / "multigenerational" / "many unchurched visitors expected"]
- Spiritual maturity mix: [e.g., "mostly mature believers" / "many new Christians" / "significant seeker population"]
- What they need most right now: [e.g., "hope" / "renewed faith" / "understanding of the Gospel" / "call to commitment"]

Series Direction (choose one or describe your own):
- [ ] Journey to the Cross - Following Jesus' final weeks
- [ ] Characters of Easter - People who witnessed the resurrection
- [ ] Seven Last Words - Jesus' statements from the cross
- [ ] Questions of Easter - Addressing doubts and exploring faith
- [ ] Road to Redemption - God's rescue plan culminating in resurrection
- [ ] Other: [describe your vision]

Please create a complete sermon series including:

1. SERIES OVERVIEW
- Series title and tagline
- Big idea/theme that ties it all together
- Visual/branding concept suggestions
- How each week builds toward Easter

2. FOR EACH WEEK, PROVIDE:
- Sermon title
- Primary Scripture passage
- Big idea/main point
- 3-4 supporting points or outline
- Key application
- Suggested illustration themes
- Worship song theme suggestions
- Connection to the overall series arc

3. EASTER SUNDAY MESSAGE
- How it serves as the climax of the series
- Approach that works for both regular attenders AND first-time visitors
- Clear Gospel presentation woven naturally into the message
- Appropriate response/invitation

4. GOOD FRIDAY (if included)
- Tone and atmosphere suggestions
- Scripture focus
- How it bridges to Easter Sunday

5. SMALL GROUP TIE-IN
- Discussion questions for each week
- How groups can reinforce the series

Format as a comprehensive planning document.

Customization Tips: Begin planning your Easter series 2-3 months in advance to give your worship team time to select songs and your creative team time to develop graphics. Consider printing a series devotional guide for your congregation to use during the weeks leading up to Easter. Coordinate children’s and youth ministry to follow similar themes.