Sermon Tone Analysis

Greet One Another: Before you sit down, say, “Good Morning” to the people around you. (Dismiss Children)

Welcome to North Village Church.

My name is Michael.

It is great to see you.

This morning we are going to continue a series in .

If you don’t have a bible grab one in the back, because we are going to be doing an in depth study of all the way to Easter.

Tablets: We do have a system to stay in touch with people.

We have these tablets that we pass through the audience.

We ask everyone to fill it out every Sunday, and if you are new, there is a place for you to provide more information so we can get in touch later.

Handout: We also provided a handout for you to follow along with us throughout this series, because this chapter is the premier chapter on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are teaching through , and in verses 1-34 the Apostle Paul is anchoring our lives and death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because one day Jesus is going to return, one day our bodies will be resurrected in glory, and one day Jesus will return and all things will be made new in heaven and on earth.

But, don’t you wonder what those new glorified bodies will look like?

Just imagine our bodies completely free from sin.

Imagine our brains having thoughts that are free from worry, anxiety, fear, shame and condemnation.

Imagine our relationships without insecurity, doubt, jealousy, and gossip.

Imagine our bodies without aches or pains.

In our passage this morning the Apostle Paul is going to draw out a little what those new glorified bodies might look like one day.

Look at verse 42: (SLIDE)

, “42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body”

In verse 42 we see the word, “so” which is a literary reminder to consider the previous words we looked at last Sunday.

Lets look at verse 35: (SLIDE)

, “35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?

And with what kind of body do they come?”

In verse 35 the Apostle Paul considers two questions of the Corinthian church is asking, “How are the dead raised, and what kind of bodies?”

Remember the Corinthian church didn’t believe the physical body would be resurrected in the future, therefore, they are asking the question, “How is that possible, and if it is possible, what kind of bodies?”

Last Sunday, Vinnie walked us through the first question, “How is that possible?”

and this morning we are focusing on the second question, “What kind of body?” Look at verses 42-44: (SLIDE)

, “42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

In verses 42-44 the Apostle Paul draws out a contrast of what our future, glorified bodies will look like one day when Jesus returns.

First, lets see the big picture.

When you believe in Jesus you will be eternally with Jesus.

At some point your life on earth will come to an end, and the moment that happens your soul is face to face with Jesus for eternity.

You’re not laying in the ground waiting, playing thumb wars.

You’re not floating around watching the funeral.

You’re not going to be playing tricks on your siblings as a mischievous angel.

You are with Jesus!

But, and I am not sure I fully understand this, you will be with Jesus, and at the same time longing for the day your body is raised in glory.

You can look at copied a portion of the passage in your notes, and if you keep reading the chapter on your own, you can see what I am describing.

Therefore, in verses 42-44 the Apostle Paul is describing what those glorified bodies will look like one day when Jesus returns and our bodies are raised.

Today we see a perishable body, but in glory we will see, (what), an imperishable body.

Today we see dishonor, but one day we will see our bodies raised in glory.

Today we see weakness, but one day we will see our bodies raised in power.

Today we see natural, but one day we will see raised a spiritual body.

You with me?

First, you need to see the emphasis is on a “body.”

The word, “body” is repeated 6 times in these verses to make it really clear we don’t become Casper the ghost.

We don’t become angels.

We don’t become a force of energy.

We have bodies that are physically raised in glory, and in verses 42-44 we see the contrast.

One day our bodies will become imperishable.

The word “imperishable” means incorruptible and unceasing.

One day our bodies will no longer display patterns of dishonor, but we will be pleasing to ourselves, one another, and to God.

One day our bodies will no longer be weak, but we will be raised in power.

I remember when we had newborn children I was so sad because I couldn’t sleep as long as I wanted to sleep, and I dreamed of the day when our children would be older, and I could sleep 10-12 hours a day, but now that I am into my 40’s those days are gone.

When I hit 40 there were parts of my body that just started hurting.

Now, I wake up at 6am with headaches, knee aches, backaches, and it is because our bodies are physically weak, but one day our bodies will be raised in glory.

One day our bodies will be eternal.

But, the key to remember, the key to see, the key to understand in verses 42-44 is that there must be an active agent of transformation.

This is what makes Jesus so important!

Gospel: Left alone humanity will continue in the trajectory of perishable, broken, weak, bodies, and we can insert some behavioral modification.

We can insert some Kale.

We can get better education.

We can get better politicians.

But, all none of those modifications disrupt the trajectory of humanity.

Our only hope is if the God of Scripture somehow brings an active agent of transformation into our lives.

Do you understand?

You need to understand the transformation being described in verses 42-44 isn’t a description for all of humanity.

These verses are not poetical language that sounds good at a funeral unless there is an active agent of transformation in Jesus Christ.

If the story of Jesus never shows up in your story, if there is never an intersection, if there is never a disruption in our trajectory where the Spirit of God enters into our lives as an active agent of transformation, then none of this happens.

Illustration: This is why it is so important for us to speak up about our faith in our culture today.

I know it is scary.

I know it doesn’t help that Donald Trump has identified as a Christian.

But, when people ask us about our faith we must say something more than “I follow Jesus because Jesus brings peace into my life.”

Is it true that Jesus brings peace?

Yes, Jesus brings peace that surpasses all understanding, but our culture hears that response and says, “Great.

That is you’re your religious systems and self-help systems are supposed to do!”

At that point Jesus is simply reduced to a self-help program just like any other cognitive or behavioral, religious or secular belief system in our culture today.

But, listen to me, Jesus isn’t just a self-help belief system to help you cope with your problems, because Jesus is a supernatural active agent of transformation in our life.

It is by grace through faith in Jesus that the glory of God enters into your biological ecosystem that begins the process being described in verses 42-44.

Does that make sense?

The process of what is being described in verses 42-44 isn’t just waiting for the day for Jesus to return.

The process of transformation described in verses 42-44 takes place the moment you meet Jesus.

So yes, Jesus brings peace into our live, but also, and more so, faith in Jesus is bringing God’s future glory into your present life the moment you meet Jesus.

That’s the gospel!

The gospel is you being able to live in the present old world with energy and power from the new world in Christ!

Illustration: It all kind of reminds me of Zoysia grass.

Stay with me.

Do you know about Zoysia grass?

Zoysia grass is incredibly durable.

I have St.

Augustine in my yard and you have to work, pray, and care for St. Augustine grass because it just doesn’t stand up under this Texas heat very well.

But, Zoysia grass is strong, resists foot traffic, drought resistant, but most important, if you insert a plug of Zoysia grass into your yard, eventually the Zoysia grass will squeeze out the weeds and take over your yard.

It’s like super grass!

In a similar way, when you believe in Jesus there is a plug of God’s glory, the Apostle Peter writes, “In Christ, we become partakers of the divine nature of God.”

We are given a plug of God’s glory placed inside your mind, body, and soul, and right now His glory is overtaking you until the day Jesus returns and your body is raised in glory.

Do you understand?

That’s why we study the Scriptures.