The Resurrection of Christ | Messy Church, Part 10

The Resurrection of Christ | Messy Church, Part 10

How do you really know if the thing most important to you is worthy of being in the place ofmost importance?

1. The Importance of the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:

Gospel – “good news”

we receive

we stand on

we are saved by

“…if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain”.

The Gospel is not a phase you go through but an event in history that you are being saved by!

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

“Christ died for our sins”

“He was buried”

“He was raised on the third day”

“In accordance with the Scriptures”

John 5:39-40

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Luke 24:27

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Gospel according to Paul…

Jesus died

Was buried

Rose again

According to the Scriptures

So that we could be forgiven of our sins

2. The Witnesses of the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:5-8

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Peter – denied Jesus

James – doubted Jesus

Paul – damaged the church

500 witnesses at one time

3. The Power of the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

The Gospel changes us

The Gospel empowers us

Acts 9:13-14

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Acts 9:26

“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.”

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

4. The Response to the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:11

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Romans 10:14-15

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Application

Refocus your life around the Gospel

Recommit your life to the Gospel

Respond to the call of the Gospel