Pastor's Blog

Raised with Christ – Romans 6:1-14'

Notes:

1)___________________ the new life you have in Christ.

United in Christ’s Death and Resurrection:

• I am ___________/ no longer ______________.

• I am _______________ and ___________ to God.

2)______________ the new life you have in Christ.

• _________ yourself dead to sin and alive to God.

• Use your body to _________________.

Digging Deeper:

• How does conversion change a person’s relationship to sin and God? 
• What does it mean to be dead to sin?
• What should a Christian do when tempted to sin?
• This past week, how did you use your body to sin?  How could you instead use it to serve God?

Other passages to consider:

Ps 19:14; Jn 8:31-34; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 1:15-23; 2:1-6; Col 3:1-3; Titus 3:3.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ – Matthew 28

Sermon Notes:

1)   What happened? – vv1-10, 16-17

2)   What does it mean? – vv18-20

a)   Jesus is Lord of all – v18

b)   Jesus is the Savior of all who believe – v19

c)   Jesus is with us – v20

Discussion Questions:

• What does the resurrection declare about Jesus?
• What all does the resurrection of Christ promise for all Christians?
• Where is Jesus now?  How is He with us?
• How does the Lordship and presence of Christ encourage you?

Other Passages to Consider:

Acts 2:22-41; 4:12; 10:34-43; Rom 4:24-25; 1 Cor 15:12-20 Eph 1:18-20; 1 Pet 1:3-6

God’s Final Victory Over Death - 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What is a mystery in the NT?  What is the mystery that Paul is making known to the Corinthians?
• How does this mystery answer the question the Corinthians were struggling with?
• What is the connection b/w knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain and our resurrection?

Other passages to consider: Isa 25:8; 27:13; Joel 2:1; Hosea 13:14; Matt 24:31; Rom 5:12-21; 7:7-8:30; 1 Cor 3:8-14; 9:17-18; 15; 2 Cor 5:1-4; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Heb 1:11-12

Digging Deeper:

• What things can hinder me from being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord?
• How was this victory over death secured?  Whose victory is it?  How do we come to share in it?
• How should the truth of resurrection and eradication of death impact our lives now?

Radically Different (Better) Physical Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:35-44

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What were the Corinthians asking?  What were they really doubting?
• How does a seed growing into a plant/tree relate to bodily resurrection?
• What do we learn about God’s creative power by observing the different earthly and heavenly bodies?

Other passages to consider: Gen 1; Ps 8; Rom 8:18-30; 1 Cor 1:18 -2:16; 2 Cor 4:16-5:10; Phil 3:21; Rev 21:1-6

Digging Deeper:

• How do you envision your future resurrection body?  Do you grasp how different and awesome it will be?
• In what areas are you tempted to doubt God’s power or wisdom?  What shall you do?
• How does remembering our hope help us follow Christ now?
• What will it be life to worship Christ with no weakness or sin?

God's Sovereignty Ensures Our Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:23-28

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• Where is Jesus now? How did He get there?
• How is Jesus like Adam? How does Jesus succeed where Adam failed?
• What will happen when Christ returns?

Other passages to consider: Gen 1:26-31; 3:1-19; Ps 8; 110:1; Matt 28; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:15-23; Col 1:15-20; Rev 19:11-21:5

Digging deeper:

• How much authority does Jesus have? Where did it come from?
• What is the final goal of history?
• How does the truth that Christ reigns encourage you today?
• Why does it often not look like Christ is reigning?

First of Many – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• Why do people die? 
• How has Paul already in this chapter pointed to the certainty of Christ’s resurrection?
• What are firstfruits?  What does it mean that Christ is our firstfruits?

Other passages to consider: Gen 1; 3; Lev 23:10; Luke 23:32-24:12; John 11:25; Rom 5:12-21; 8:18-30; Phil 3:21; 1 Pet 1:3-9

Digging Deeper:

• What two groups/representatives do you see in this passage?  How do you get into those groups?
• What can we learn about our future resurrection by looking at Christ’s?
• How does knowing my future affect how I live in the present?
• What does the resurrection tell us about Christ?

The Paramount Importance of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What are the essential components of the Gospel?
• What is the connection between Christ’s resurrection and our future resurrection?
• Is it that big of a deal if someone denies the resurrection of the dead?  What is at stake?

Other passages to consider: Ps 19:7-11; Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 6:14; 15:1-20; 2 Cor 4:14; 5:8; Phil 1:21,23; 1 Thess 4:13-18

Digging Deeper:

• Why is it so important that the Bible is without error?
• How does our salvation depend on Christ’s resurrection?
• How does our sure hope of a future resurrection impact our lives in the present?