Eastertide: First Things First

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

In most modern streams of the church, Easter is a day. But throughout much of church history, it was celebrated for a whole season! 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, where believers would intentionally contemplate and celebrate the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Over the coming weeks we are seeking to do just that, beginning with 1 Cor. 15:1-11 where Paul puts the resurrection “in its place,” theologically. If we call ourselves Christians, we must allow the central message of the early church as well as Scripture itself to become our central message as well.

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. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would help your heart be captivated by the story of Jesus, specifically His death and resurrection.
  2. Pray for our church as a whole to faithfully live in light of Jesus’ resurrection and keep the story of Jesus at the center.

Hear the Full Message Here