Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church (Toowoomba)

This is the sixteenth sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘The Basis of Faith."‘ Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

Show Notes

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the sixteenth sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘The Basis of Faith."‘ Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: How can you use your gifts in peaceful and ordered ways to build up the church?

WARM-UP

  1. What do you think most Australians believe happens after death?

  2. What are the common misconceptions that the Corinthians held about the resurrection?

  3. Do you see any similarities between the Corinthians and what our culture thinks about the afterlife?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

  1. What does Paul mean by reminding them of the Gospel which he preached?

  2. Why does it seem that Paul had to remind the Corinthians of the basic news of the Gospel?

  3. What are the contents of the Gospel as Paul describes them here?

  4. Are these words (vv.4-8) Paul’s? When do they date from? How does this give us certainty?

  5. How does Paul describe himself in these verses? What changed his perspective about Jesus?

  6. How does recognising Jesus’ resurrection as an event, increase your certainty of the future?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

  1. What, according to Paul, is the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and ours?

  2. Why is the bodily resurrection and our future resurrection so central to Christianity?

  3. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, what are the implications for us in ministry, life, and future?

  4. How does Jesus make this great reversal possible? What does it mean for all of creation?

  5. What is meant by Jesus’ resurrection being the firstfruits? What does it mean for us?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:23-34

  1. What does Paul mean by ‘each in turn’? What false teaching may he have been trying to correct?

  2. If someone believes that death will ultimately win out, why would we just “eat and drink”?

  3. What does it mean to live in recognition of Jesus’ resurrection and in anticipation of his return?

  4. Who are examples of people who help you remain faithful in anticipation of Jesus’ return?

  5. How is Jesus’ resurrection and coming return such good news for our world today?

  6. If we are promised future bodies, why does it matter what we do with our bodies today?

APPLY:  What is one priority in your life that is shaped by the certainty of future physical resurrection?

PRAYER

Gracious Father, we thank you for the certain news of Jesus’ resurrection and the guarantee of our future resurrection that it brings. Please help us to live in accordance with this reality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: Pray for the people on your frontline. Who might be one person you could invite along to Alpha?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

WITH CHILDREN

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook

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