S227 The Power of the Gospel
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· 8 viewsWhat is the gospel? Why does it matter? Does it affect me?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Introduction
A. Imagine you get a phone call...
A. Imagine you get a phone call...
1. Your wife had been off on a trip with her friend to Los Angelos. They were seeing some sights.
1. Your wife had been off on a trip with her friend to Los Angelos. They were seeing some sights.
She calls you and says, “Honey, you won’t believe it! I was just hanging out with Sue, and we decided to catch a show of the Price Is Right, sort of last minute. But then, we got called down, well, really I got called down, and then I somehow got in the second time. The guess was a fridge, it was the same one we were looking at in the Black Friday sales, and I remember thinking it was over priced, but I remember the price, and I was closest! Then I just sort of got lucky and kept winning and they made it to the final show and I guessed it all right! We got it! We got it all!!”
Your response: WHAT?!?
Her response: “We won $793,000, a vacation, and a new Corvette!”
2. What is your reaction?
2. What is your reaction?
Oh no! I don’t want to pay the taxes on those winnings!
Of course not! You are going to be so excited!!
That is the best news you’ve had all day! Maybe all week!
3. That is what the ancient world might have called a “gospel phone call”
3. That is what the ancient world might have called a “gospel phone call”
B. Defining “gospel”
B. Defining “gospel”
1. Maybe you’ve never been quite sure what the “gospel” is
1. Maybe you’ve never been quite sure what the “gospel” is
A “churchy” word thrown around.
Used in different ways by different people.
Maybe you remember it’s one of those books at the start of the New Testament.
2. Perhaps you’ve heard it means “good news”
2. Perhaps you’ve heard it means “good news”
Something nice to hear.
Good news like, oh, we got a new puppy!
3. It really means, “amazing, too good to be true, news”
3. It really means, “amazing, too good to be true, news”
It is life changing news.
Amazing news.
Birth of a new child! Cancer is cured!
C. Paul is going to talk about the “gospel” in our passage today (1 Corinthians 15.1-11)
C. Paul is going to talk about the “gospel” in our passage today (1 Corinthians 15.1-11)
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit 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 toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
D. Why is Paul writing this?
D. Why is Paul writing this?
1. He is reminding the people of what he told them when he was there
1. He is reminding the people of what he told them when he was there
2. They had been taught some different things by wrong teachers, recently
2. They had been taught some different things by wrong teachers, recently
3. It led them to believe wrong things:
3. It led them to believe wrong things:
a. No hope of life after death
a. No hope of life after death
b. No big deal if I want to just live in sin
b. No big deal if I want to just live in sin
c. The wrong things are what make a person “spiritual” or right with God
c. The wrong things are what make a person “spiritual” or right with God
E. What does Paul tell us about the gospel? 4 Things
E. What does Paul tell us about the gospel? 4 Things
1. The Importance of the Gospel (1Co 15.1-2)
1. The Importance of the Gospel (1Co 15.1-2)
2. The Basics of the Gospel (1Co 15.3-4)
2. The Basics of the Gospel (1Co 15.3-4)
3. The Evidence of the Gospel (1Co 15.5-8)
3. The Evidence of the Gospel (1Co 15.5-8)
4. The Application of the Gospel (1Co 15.9-11)
4. The Application of the Gospel (1Co 15.9-11)
F. Today is Easter
F. Today is Easter
1. As our community, nation, and world think about Easter, we should be reminded of what goes beyond the eggs and candy
1. As our community, nation, and world think about Easter, we should be reminded of what goes beyond the eggs and candy
I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a fun day with Easter egg hunts, candy, and small gifts.
It can be fun, but it can also be distracting.
There is much more to the anniversary of this time of year.
2. People are remembering something about Jesus and the foundational beliefs of what it means to be a Christian
2. People are remembering something about Jesus and the foundational beliefs of what it means to be a Christian
3. People are reminded of the gospel message
3. People are reminded of the gospel message
TRANSITION: Does it matter? Is there any significance in this message?
Body
I. The Importance of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-3a)
I. The Importance of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-3a)
A. The gospel was Paul’s primary objective (1Co 15.3a)
A. The gospel was Paul’s primary objective (1Co 15.3a)
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B. The gospel is a message (1Co 15.1a)
B. The gospel is a message (1Co 15.1a)
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C. The gospel is the key to salvation (1Co 15.1b-2a)
C. The gospel is the key to salvation (1Co 15.1b-2a)
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D. There is a warning: The gospel only helps those who remain loyal (1Co 15.2b)
D. There is a warning: The gospel only helps those who remain loyal (1Co 15.2b)
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TRANSITION: If this is such an important and life changing message, shouldn’t we understand it? Is it complicated? What is the message Paul preached?
II. The Basics of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.3b-4)
II. The Basics of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.3b-4)
A. We see the outline of the gospel
A. We see the outline of the gospel
1. Sometimes, we use it like a “churchy” word…thrown around with little or no meaning
1. Sometimes, we use it like a “churchy” word…thrown around with little or no meaning
2. Be careful not to make every occasion fit just this (sometimes, “gospel” means the whole message from God)
2. Be careful not to make every occasion fit just this (sometimes, “gospel” means the whole message from God)
3. But this is what Paul means for the best news in the world
3. But this is what Paul means for the best news in the world
B. The gospel has three elements:
B. The gospel has three elements:
1. First, the death of Jesus
1. First, the death of Jesus
2. Second, the burial of Jesus
2. Second, the burial of Jesus
3. Third, the resurrection of Jesus
3. Third, the resurrection of Jesus
C. Notice, the gospel was foretold by God
C. Notice, the gospel was foretold by God
1. A pattern: according to the Scriptures
1. A pattern: according to the Scriptures
2. God’s plan was always to let Jesus die on a cross and then be resurrected
2. God’s plan was always to let Jesus die on a cross and then be resurrected
3. I see three important observations:
3. I see three important observations:
a. First, Jesus wasn’t a failure
a. First, Jesus wasn’t a failure
b. Second, there is evidence supporting this plan and its outcome
b. Second, there is evidence supporting this plan and its outcome
c. Three, it reminds us how important we are to God
c. Three, it reminds us how important we are to God
TRANSITION: This message is familiar and sounds nice, but can it be believed? How do we know it really happened?
III. The Evidence of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.5-8)
III. The Evidence of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.5-8)
A. Jesus appeared to witnesses
A. Jesus appeared to witnesses
1. First, He appeared to His closest friends (1Co 15.5)
1. First, He appeared to His closest friends (1Co 15.5)
2. Second, He appeared to many (1Co 15.6)
2. Second, He appeared to many (1Co 15.6)
3. Third, He appeared to others (1Co 15.7-8)
3. Third, He appeared to others (1Co 15.7-8)
B. The evidence is overwhelming
B. The evidence is overwhelming
1. The burden of proof: 2-3 witnesses (Deuteronomy 17.6)
1. The burden of proof: 2-3 witnesses (Deuteronomy 17.6)
2. These people would have known Jesus
2. These people would have known Jesus
3. These people could be cross-examined
3. These people could be cross-examined
4. These people died for their belief in this event
4. These people died for their belief in this event
C. The resurrection of Jesus is not just made up
C. The resurrection of Jesus is not just made up
1. Not just made up (2Pt 1.16)
1. Not just made up (2Pt 1.16)
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2. Evidence of MANY witnesses is overwhelming
2. Evidence of MANY witnesses is overwhelming
TRANSITION: If it happened, so what? Is there value in this event?
IV. The Application of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.9-11)
IV. The Application of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.9-11)
A. Paul felt unworthy as an apostle (1Co 15.9)
A. Paul felt unworthy as an apostle (1Co 15.9)
1. First of all, what is an apostle?
1. First of all, what is an apostle?
2. These people reading the letter understood Paul as an apostle
2. These people reading the letter understood Paul as an apostle
3. Why would Paul feel unworthy to be called apostle?
3. Why would Paul feel unworthy to be called apostle?
B. God’s grace changed everything (1Co 15.10)
B. God’s grace changed everything (1Co 15.10)
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C. Paul is a worker with others (1Co 15.11)
C. Paul is a worker with others (1Co 15.11)
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Conclusion
A. The significance in the gospel message
A. The significance in the gospel message
1. It is so important…the most important message
1. It is so important…the most important message
2. It is not just important...it is believable
2. It is not just important...it is believable
3. It is not just believable…it can change lives…your life!
3. It is not just believable…it can change lives…your life!
B. There is a response to this message
B. There is a response to this message
1. Remember, Paul didn’t just preach the message and leave it at that
1. Remember, Paul didn’t just preach the message and leave it at that
2. These people changed their lives
2. These people changed their lives
3. There is power in the message of Jesus’ resurrection that can change a person from a bad guy to a good guy (not to oversimplify)
3. There is power in the message of Jesus’ resurrection that can change a person from a bad guy to a good guy (not to oversimplify)
C. Now you know…do you need to act?
C. Now you know…do you need to act?