VERIFIED

ME

*show pic of Cameron and PK at lock-in*

7 years ago, we had a lock-in here at church and I invited former UK player and national champion Cameron Mills.

(This is me looking like I got electrocuted… and how I look is exactly what I feel like at lock-ins…just done…)

Some of you may know Cameron personally as he lived here in Somerset as a kid.

I was excited to hear him share what God laid on his heart that night, but I also felt like I was a kid back in 9th grade watching him take down Duke in the NCAA tourney with the “shot heard round the world.”

Upstairs in my office I have UK championship banners, autographs of former players, and anything else UK you can think of.

I even have this UK cologne (show cologne) that I’ve had since the 90’s

And among the memorabilia, I have an autograph of Cameron Mills.

So on the night of this lock-in I take Cameron up to see my office.

He took a look at his autographed picture and confirmed that he in fact signed it and that it wasn’t a fake, and he also confirmed some of his former teammates’ autographs.

It was VERIFIED, and I walked a little taller that night knowing that a UK player had been in my office and authenticated it.

WE

Our world is full of information like never before in history.

Literally at our fingertips, we have access to the entire world’s information.

Thousands of authors who spent lifetimes writing books, directors and actors who spent their lives making movies, and random cat videos and soccer mom memes.

We can read the life works of Plato, the wisdom of Proverbs, and then watch things like this:

*Dude Perfect Record Basketball Shot*

We can watch this and have different reactions, like “wow that’s amazing!” or for the skeptics in the room “that’s totally fake, the ball would have exploded because of the atmospheric pressure at 533 feet” and some of you guys are out here like “I could do better than that...”

But we have all this information on the internet, some true, some false, then we have fact-checkers that aren’t always factual, people hacking our social media accounts pretending to be us, and it all seems like a big mess sometimes.

For years on twitter, there have been people out there making faking accounts of celebrities, so twitter came out with this blue check that would “Verify” you if your account was big enough.

Recently, twitter came out with blue checks that you can pay $8/month for to be verified, no matter how many followers you have.

But even with this kind of “verification” people tend to hide themselves on social media.

Putting the best version of themselves out there and not letting people in on the bad stuff.

And we do this wherever we go.

Someone sees us at the store or the ball game and asks “how’s it going” “Great!”

“How are the kids?” “Amazing, just finished up school, straight A’s” (Right after this kid just got grounded for talking back, not doing the chores, and hitting their sibling) Maybe that’s just my family…

And then if someone does find out that our lives aren’t perfect, our tendency as humans is to cover up, hide and justify all the bad stuff.

And with the way we like to put our best face forward and hide this bad stuff, it can be hard to know (verify)who people REALLY are…

GOD

*Title Slide*

There was one man who never needed to hide a thing because he never messed up, never did wrong, and throughout His life was unafraid to show who He really was.

Hundreds of years before He came to earth, people wrote of His coming.

Isaiah, David, Moses, Micah, Hosea, and even all the way back in Genesis 3:15 we see a prophecy of this man crushing the serpent’s head.

At least 300 prophecies were fulfilled in this man we know as the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.

Many of you have heard the Gospel message more times than you can count.

You’re going to hear it again today.

Some of you here today or watching online may have never heard about this Gospel or don’t really know what it’s about or you’re skeptical about this whole God thing.

I hope you listen to this truth that can change your life and eternity.

We live in a society full of toxicity that is drawing many farther and farther away from God, and it’s harder than ever to know the truth from lies.

And if culture becomes the dominant voice in your life instead of the voice of Jesus Christ, it will mess with your head, your heart and draw you away from the truth.

So whether you’re a Christ follower who is firm in your faith, a Christian who’s a little shaky about what you believe, or you don’t believe in Jesus Christ at all, this message is for you.

Let’s go back to the 1st Century AD.

Around 1,970 years ago in the year 53 AD.

A man named Paul, who was once a bitter enemy of these people called “Christians,” is now a devoted and tireless follower of Jesus of Nazareth, known as the Christ (anointed one.)

He’s writing a letter to the church in Corinth, which he founded 3 years prior.

Paul found out some disturbing things about this church.

He’s taught them one thing about Jesus, and they’re getting duped into believing weird things that are a far cry from what he taught them.

And their lives are a hot mess, looking nothing like Jesus at all.

So let’s dig in to what Paul has to say to this struggling church:

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 NIV

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.

Paul has preached the Gospel to the Corinthians, they believed it, and now they have drifted from the truth of the Gospel.

Reminder

I. The Gospel Message (verses 1-4):

Paul begins this passage by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel message that he preached to them. He emphasizes the importance of holding firmly to this message, which is centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the foundation of our faith, and it is through the resurrection that the power of holiness is made available to us.

A. The Death of Christ:

The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross is a demonstration of God's love and mercy towards humanity. It is through His death that our sins are forgiven and our broken relationship with God is restored.

B. The Burial of Christ:

The burial of Jesus signifies the finality of His death. He was laid in the tomb, and it seemed like all hope was lost. Yet, even in the darkness of the grave, God's plan of redemption was unfolding.

C. The Resurrection of Christ:

The resurrection is the pivotal moment in human history. By conquering death, Jesus demonstrated His power over sin and provided the means for our transformation. It is through His resurrection that we find the hope of eternal life and the empowerment to live a holy life.

But the Corinthians weren’t living this holy life AT ALL.

Corinth was affluent, and had a history of worshipping all sorts of false gods.

Like Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.

Corinth was known as “Aphrodite’s city” during this time, with three shrines that were built to her in it.

And sexual immorality was rampant.

For some in this young Corinthian church, it seems they had all kinds of struggles with this sin bc Paul writes this to them:

1 Corinthians 6:12–13 NIV

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 NIV

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

This message is certainly needed for the church in America today.

Our “Christian” nation has within it the kind of sexual immorality that hasn’t even been heard of until a few years ago.

And many Christians will harp on LGBTQ lifestyles, but if we’re being honest as Christians we can’t ignore things like heterosexual couples living together before marriage.

Or being flirty with someone when you’re already married, on and on we can go.

God words is consistent on sin- ain’t none of it good!

What does Paul say about all this stuff (not just the stuff we’re uncomfortable with?)

FLEE!

RUN AWAY FROM IT!

You’re body is a temple, and if you’re engaging in any of these sins, you’re desecrating that temple.

“The church is constituted of “those sanctified in Christ Jesus”.

We are set apart by our relationship to Christ. But we are also “called to be … holy.” Holiness of commitment is to be accompanied by holiness of character.”

-Alex Deasley

You can’t be set apart to Christ if you’re actively engaging in a lifestyle of sin.

Raise your hand if you’ve heard of celebrities who put on a good face for the camera and then are rude to people behind it?

Maybe some were just having a bad day, but when you hear a lot of stories like this about a particular celeb, it’s likely they’re fakes and hypocrites.

This happens in the church too.

My dad was a Gospel quartet singer for years, and I grew up travelling with him all over the Southeast.

Many of the guys he sang with were wonderful Christian people.

Some of them put on a good “Christian” face for the stage but were fakes off of it.

Having an engaging personality so they could woo people in meant more to them than having godly character.

And I’ve seen this in local churches sometimes.

Here’s the amazing thing about it:

People can know that a person has a rotten character, but if they have a great personality, people in the congregation will ignore it.

And this harms everyone.

I don’t believe that people set out to be fake Christians.

I believe they first become lukewarm, sidetracked by other things like getting hurt by other church people, which makes them not want to go to church, or they see church people engaged in sinful attitudes and habits and start following that same pattern. Then they slowly grow away from God and start to live this two-faced lifestyle which may look good on the outside, but is ugly inside.

Jesus met some guys who lived like this:

Matthew 23:25–26 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

We, like the Corinthians, need to be reminded of our first love:

Revelation 2:4 NIV

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

Remember when the Gospel took hold of you! When you were passionate about going to church because it wasn’t an obligation, but a joy for you to be among God’s people in God’s house because He is number one in your life!

You were inviting people to church each week because you wanted others to experience the uncontainable joy you had!

You were sharing the Gospel with your coworkers because you couldn’t contain it!

Remember what you have taken your stand on: The Good News of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

IMPACT

II. The Impact of the Resurrection (verses 5-11):

In verses 5-11, Paul provides a list of individuals who witnessed the resurrected Christ. Their experiences testify to the reality of the resurrection and the transformative power it brings. We can glean valuable insights into how the resurrection impacts our lives today.

A. Personal Encounters:

The apostle Paul himself experienced a life-transforming encounter with the resurrected Christ. This encounter led to his conversion, as well as his dedication to spreading the gospel message. Similarly, the other eyewitnesses mentioned, such as Peter, James, and the twelve disciples, along with 500 others who witnessed the risen Christ were forever changed by their encounters with Him.

1 Corinthians 15:6 NIV

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.

The large number who witnessed this appearance at the same time confirms that it’s true.

The same point is made by the statement that most were still alive and therefore could be questioned. The observation that some have fallen asleep implies Paul’s personal knowledge of at least a fair number of these witnesses.

If the Corinthians had questions, they could go and ask one or more of the 500 who witnessed Jesus raised from the dead all about it.

Pastor and Author Lee Strobel says:

“Do I believe the evidence points powerfully and persuasively toward the truth of Christianity? Yes,” he continued. “Do we ‘definitely prove’ it? That’s a matter of opinion. We all take a step of faith one direction or the other. The question is, is the step of faith in the same direction as the evidence is pointing?” He finished by adding: We take that step because the evidence gives us confidence that he [Jesus] is who he claimed to be. So I don’t think we need to “definitely prove” anything. I think we have to show that the evidence points in a direction where the most logical and rational next step is to take a step of faith, and to receive this free gift of grace that God offers.”

Ultimately, what Paul is saying here is not an abstract exercise in the theology of the resurrection. It is a pastoral attempt to salvage the faith of those who no longer believed in the resurrection and, consequently, had believed in vain.

Chapter 15 works as a sort of hinge in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church. After pleading, rebuking, instructing, and lamenting, Paul hits pause and essentially says, “Let me remind you why we're even doing this at all.” Why does he talk about love? Why does he talk about hypocrisy? Why does he put his neck out on the line and initiate this tough, candid conversation? Because Jesus is who he said he is. He died, was buried, and rose again.

THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND IT HAS NOTHING TO HIDE.

*Archers Pic*

In his book The Resurrection of the Son of God, N.T. Wright describes a king who commanded his archers to shoot the sun:

They aimed their bows all day, but to no avail. After preparing for their task during the night, the archers tried again. Nothing. The king became angry until the youngest archer, with the smallest of bows, approached the ruler while he sat beside a pond. The inexperienced soldier, looking down at the sun’s reflected image in the water, shot the arrow at the reflection. The image of the sun shattered into a million pieces. Wright follows, “All the arrows of history cannot reach God. … And Yet. Deep within both Jewish and Christian tradition there lies a rumour that an image, a reflection, of the one true god has appeared within the gravitational field of history” (100–101; N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God [Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003], 11).

YOU

Title Slide

Maybe you’re like me and you’ve been hurt in church.

Maybe you’ve seen people who talk a good talk but live like the devil.

Maybe you haven’t been to church much at all and think this whole Christianity thing is sham.

It’s disillusioned you, and you wonder:

“if these people who hurt me or live like that are supposed to be followers of God, is God like that?”

That’s a valid question...

But may I tell you that’s not the case.

Those people just lost their focus and strayed away from God.

We have a clear picture of what God is like in this Jesus we read about in the Bible.

He lived a sinless, perfect life and loved people right up to his dying breath.

Then he conquered death, hell and the grave so that you could live forever with Him.

So that you could cross over from death to life.

And a reminder for those of you who are in Christ:

We’ve got all kinds of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, but the evidence people will see each day is the change that Christ has made in you.

Are you living changed?

WE

Gratitude and Worship:

As we think about the greatness of God's love and the power displayed through the resurrection, our natural response should be one of worship and adoration. Let’s cultivate a heart of gratitude for the transforming work of the resurrection in our lives.

Surrender and Yielding:

Embracing holiness requires a willingness to surrender our lives to God. It involves yielding our desires, ambitions, and even our weaknesses to Him. The resurrection reminds us that we serve a God who can bring life out of death and transform our weaknesses into strengths. Let us surrender ourselves to His transforming power.

Renewed Purpose and Mission:

The resurrection infuses our lives with renewed purpose and mission. Just as the resurrected Christ commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, we too are called to be ambassadors of holiness. Our lives should reflect the transformative power of the resurrection, drawing others to experience the love and grace of God.

The resurrection is more than a historical event; it is a living reality that continues to shape and transform our lives today. Through the power of the resurrection, we are called to embrace a life of holiness. So let us hold fast to the gospel message, allowing the resurrection to impact our thoughts, actions, and desires. May we allow the transforming power of Christ to help us live as a holy people, set apart for God's purposes.

Prayer