Sermon: Risen Indeed

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Quotes for Reflection

Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Christ rose once from the dead, and now dies no more. Death shall no longer have dominion over Him. Rejoice, for you are called to share in His victory.

C.S. Lewis, Miracles
The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits,’ the pioneer of life; He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so.

Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline
The Easter message tells us that our enemies, sin, the curse, and death, are beaten. Ultimately, they can no longer start mischief. They still behave as though the game were not decided, the battle not fought. We must still reckon with them, but fundamentally we must cease to fear them anymore.

N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone
Christianity, you see, isn’t a set of ideas. It isn’t a path of spirituality. It isn’t a rule of life. It isn’t a political agenda. It includes, and indeed gives energy to, all those things; but at its very heart it is something different. It is good news about an event which has happened in the world, an event because of which the world can never be the same again. And those who believe it, and live by it, will (thank God!) never be the same again either.

Application Questions

1. If there were no resurrection, what impact would that have on the Christian faith?

2. Why is it significant that the resurrection was a physical reality, not just a spiritual one?

3. How does the resurrection give you hope in an area of your life marked by grief, fear, or uncertainty?