Firstfruits

I Corinthians 15:12-34

The theme of our series here in the latter part of 1 Corinthians is “Of First Importance.” Paul has several very important truths that he wants to make sure the Corinthian believers understand. We have love at the center of what it means to be a Christian: the love of God personified in Jesus, our response of love for Him and love for each other. This is what chapter 13 is all about. Then in chapter 14 we are to “follow the way of love” as we seek and apply the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday, Fred started us off on chapter 15 by bringing us back to the centrality of the cross. Why did Jesus have to die? What does it mean that he was a sacrifice for sin? And today, in the next part of that chapter, we home in on the resurrection of Jesus. We can accept that He died – even unbelievers do that – why is it important that He rose again? This is certainly a matter of first importance. This chapter tells us that it is essential to our faith. Paul asserts that if there is no resurrection we are of all people most to be pitied. Why does he get so intense about this topic? Why is it so important? Let’s begin reading at verse 12.

Died, Buried, & Raised

I Corinthians 15:1-11

Now, brothers, 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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, ⁸and 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 was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.—I Corinthians 15:1-11

When You Come Together

I Corinthians 14:26-40

Good morning and welcome!  It is a blessing to be together as a body of believers.  God has been gracious to us in so many ways that it is difficult to properly understand and express gratitude for all He’s done for us.

I am thankful to God for you His saints, His holy ones.  I am thankful for the opportunity to gather together.  We have the means to gather.  We have safety when gathered.  We have a place to gather.  We have abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.  Sometimes, I wonder what the saints of the first century church would think if they could see us now.  The chairs you sit on are comfortable.  Just the fact that you have chairs at all is a luxury even today.  Our stomachs are filled.  If there is anyone here who didn’t eat breakfast, it was because you chose not to, not because you didn’t have something to eat.  We have musical instruments and musicians to play them.  We have more Bibles here than there are people.  Everyone here can read.  Everyone can hear and see.  I fail to be properly grateful most of the time.  May we make time to be thankful each day.  Let’s give thanks now as we come together …

Signs & Secrets

1 Corinthians 14:6-25

Welcome! Today, as promised last week, we will really delve into the main body of I Corinthians Chapter 14 and explore the meaning of the gifts, especially prophecy and speaking in tongues. I’ve got a huge amount of ground to cover today. It is critical that we see the passage in context, so I am going to go back to I Cor. 12:7, going through to today’s passage, with brief comments as we go.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines. – I Cor. 12:7-11