Easter 2010 1 Cor. 15: 1-4, 12-19
The importance of the resurrection

Intro…VIDEO What does Easter mean to you?

Big Picture:The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event in the Christian faith.

• Yes, Jesus did a lot of other great things like modeling a life of service, performing miracles, and saying some profound truths.
• Yet, the greatest thing Jesus did, the one thing he really came to earth to accomplish was to die for our sins and to be resurrected.
• Like we saw in the opening video, people have various ideas about Easter.
• I’m a bit amazed at some of the non-Christian churches I’ve seen around town that advertise Easter services. I’m not exactly sure what they are celebrating.
• Today, I’m going to remind us all of the Christian view of Easter. In church, we get to see God’s perspective...
• Yes, Easter is a big deal…

Text: 1 Cor. 15:1-4, 12-18

When we look at proofs for the resurrection, we need look no further than at those right here.
• The proof is all around us...Christians, the Christian church, changed lives!
• There are 12 scriptures in the Bible that speak of Jesus’ appearances after his death.
• One of those references is right here in 1 Cor. 15:5-6a
• I’m guessing that just by the fact that you are here this morning, you either already believe that Jesus rose from the dead or are pretty close to that assumption.
• Palm Sunday-Easter: Holy Week, the pinnacle of the Christian faith.

Why are the events of this last week critical to the Christian faith?
• If Jesus didn’t defeat death, than Christianity would be no different from all other religions. Christ’s death/rez. was necessary for our salvation.
• No other religious or philosophical leader of any of the world’s religions or philosophies has ever been proclaimed as a risen Savior. Instead, many have shrines at their crypts. They lie decayed with nothing remaining but their dust and their man-made philosophy or religious sayings and ethic.


1 Cor. 15 tells us why Christ’s death and rez. is critical:
• The book of Corinthians was written by Paul about 23 years after Christ died and rose. It was his first letter to the new believers in Corinth.
• This was/is a practical letter, helping them deal with spiritual and moral problems. Paul wants them to be rooted and grounded in their faith.
• In his letter, Paul covers divisions in the church, moral disorder, marital issues, food and idols, public worship, and then in chapter 15 the rez..
• He knew that one of the key foundational doctrines they needed to be squared away on was Christ’s resurrection.
• Most Greeks did not believe that people bodies would be resurrected after death. To them, the afterlife was something that only happened to the soul.
• Christianity in contrast affirms that the body and the soul will be united in heaven. 1 Cor. 15:35-50 (40 in particular)
• Since the church in Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture, many of the new “Christians” had a hard time believing in a bodily resurrection.
• Thus Paul’s emphasis on the importance of the rez. of Christ.

Today, we too need to be rooted and grounded in what we believe, and Christ’s rez. is KEY!
• In chap. 15 Paul covers the importance of the resurrection, the consequences of denying the resurrection, the Christian hope, the resurrection body, and the Christian’s victory through Christ.
Key points:
15:1 Gospel, preached to you, on which you have taken your stand.
15:2 “ By this gospel you are saved.”
• What are we saved from?
Ourselves, our sin, hell, a life of turmoil…God’s wrath.

Now that we realize we need to be saved, What saves us?
Vs. 2 “By this gospel we are saved.” “Gospel” (good news.) “euangelion”
That’s what makes Easter such a great thing. This is good news!

Vs. 3 The good news we celebrate today is that Christ lived, died and rose.
• Without this, we could not come to God.


Consequences for denying the resurrection? (V. 12-19)
• Vs. 14 There is literally no reason for me to preach every Sunday unless Christ rose from the dead.
• Otherwise, I’m just the latest self-help guru...spinning my own tales, selling my own ideas and goods.
• If the rez. of Christ is not true, then preaching the gospel is a lie (v. 15), the Christian faith is without meaningful content (v. 17), and Christians are hopeless concerning their prospects for the future (v.18-19)

So, what is the Christian hope? (v. 20-22)
• V. 20 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
• V. 21 Death came through one man (Adam), life comes through one man (Jesus).

Conclusion:
• So, you came to church on Easter, you want to do the right thing. Good for you.
• What about the rest of the year? There is a lot more to learn about the Bible.
• Kids Bible quotes..
KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.
ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AN ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.


• We can’t do the Christian life on our own. God created us for relationship and community. 15:57-58
• To me, Easter is always a good time for reflecting on your life.
• Let’s say you’re in this place, reflecting …are you living a good life, being nice to others, paying your taxes, going to church? Not good enough.
• As we celebrate life today, I also want to ask you if you are prepared to die…GOSPEL

VIDEO Second half