Proclaiming the Resurrection

Transcription

1 SPECIAL SESSION Proclaiming the Resurrection Summary and Goal The resurrection of Jesus calls for His followers to look both backward and forward. It points back to what Jesus has done in history through His life, death, and resurrection and to the work of God in saving us and raising us spiritually. But at the same time, the resurrection of Jesus points forward to the day when Christ will return and we will experience ultimate victory over sin and the final consummation of our faith in Him. Main Passage 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 Session Outline 1. The Good News of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-11) 2. The Importance of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12-19) 3. The Guarantee of Our Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-28) Theological Theme Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus. Christ Connection The resurrection of Jesus is not merely an odd event from the past. It represents the beginning of the new world God has promised. Jesus resurrection is the firstfruits of the future resurrection of His people, the guarantee that God s kingdom will come fully to earth, and the first nail in the coffin of death, which will one day be defeated forever. Missional Application God calls us to hold fast to the truth of Christ s resurrection and to proclaim this good news with great hope in Christ s return. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan Proclaiming the Resurrection Special Session Introduction Option Prior to the group meeting, on a board or large sheet of paper, put the heading Miracles. As group members arrive, ask them to write down miracles they remember from Scripture. Refer to this list as you introduce the session, highlighting (or adding, if needed) Jesus resurrection. For Further Discussion In addition to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, what other doctrines would you say are important in undergirding the gospel? Introduction Note that since the Enlightenment, it has become popular to question the possibility of miracles, especially Jesus resurrection. Address why this miracle is so controversial (leader p. 58; personal study guide [PSG] p. 46). How did you come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Was it a difficult step of faith for you? Why or why not? Summarize this session on how the resurrection of Jesus calls us to look both backward and forward (leader p. 58; PSG p. 47). 1. The Good News of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-11) Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. State that according to Paul, the gospel is not just what begins new life but also what frames daily life. Highlight the progression of Paul s language in verses 1-2 and its significance: We grow in Christ not by going beyond the gospel but by going deeper into the gospel (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How should remembering the past, present, and future implications of the gospel help us live our daily lives? Review the gospel s basic content (leader pp ; PSG pp ): Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures (v. 3) Jesus was buried (v. 4) Jesus was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (v. 4) Jesus appeared to many people (vv. 5-8) What qualifies Christ s resurrection to be considered as good news? What are some ways Jesus resurrection demonstrates the power of the gospel to transform our lives? 56 Leader Guide

3 2. The Importance of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12-19) Ask a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 15: Highlight the logical chain of cause and effect Paul used to address the erroneous teaching that there is no physical resurrection from the dead (leader pp ; PSG p. 50). Why do you think Paul said we should be pitied more than anyone else if we have placed our hope in a Jesus who did not rise from the dead? For Further Discussion How should Jesus resurrection and the promise of ours affect how we think about and treat creation, including our physical bodies? Show why believing in the spiritual resurrection of Jesus Christ isn t enough: The Bible deeply connects the physical resurrection of Jesus to the future physical resurrection of those who believe. The gospel without Christ s resurrection is no longer good news (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How should we celebrate Easter in light of Paul s emphasis on the importance of Jesus resurrection? 3. The Guarantee of Our Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-28) Read 1 Corinthians 15: Explain the meaning of the term firstfruits and its Old Testament background: Jesus is the first of the crop, the pledge of the future resurrection of believers (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Ask group members to make this connection on Pack Item 4: Handout from the list on Pack Item 3: Hearing the Old Testament in the New ( The Firstfruits with Christ s Resurrection ). How should the future resurrection frame how we think, feel, and act in our daily life? Explain that the sequence of the resurrection demonstrates Christ s superior rank. Also note that the resurrection of believers will bring history to its conclusion and full restoration of the creation back to God the Father (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How should our hope of future resurrection and the restoration of all things through Christ impact our evangelistic efforts today in the world around us? Conclusion Emphasize that the resurrection gives our faith in Christ confidence and gives us hope for what lies ahead. Comment that it also reminds us things are not the way they are supposed to be and there are still many who need to experience resurrection life (leader p. 65; PSG p. 53). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 54). Christ Connection: The resurrection of Jesus is not merely an odd event from the past. It represents the beginning of the new world God has promised. Jesus resurrection is the firstfruits of the future resurrection of His people, the guarantee that God s kingdom will come fully to earth, and the first nail in the coffin of death, which will one day be defeated forever.... Missional Application: God calls us to hold fast to the truth of Christ s resurrection and to proclaim this good news with great hope in Christ s return. Easter 57

4 Expanded Session Content Proclaiming the Resurrection Special Session the Church There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three. 1 Billy Graham Introduction Since the Enlightenment, it has been popular to question the possibility of miracles because nature has been viewed as a closed system of cause and effect. Every action has a clearly defined natural cause, leaving no room for any violation of this strict rule. But of all the miracles that cause problems for the enlightened naturalist, the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the most controversial, debated, and denied. Many people might find it is easier to believe in the parting of the Red Sea, manna appearing from heaven, or flour and oil not running out than to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Why? Why is this one miracle so much more contentious and divisive than all the rest? Perhaps because it is the one miracle, above all the others, that demands a personal decision about who Jesus is. The reason is simple: The resurrection is essential to the gospel message because it displays God s vindication of the life and work of Jesus Christ. If you believe in the resurrection, it forces you to reckon with the claim that Jesus is the Son of God. But if you deny the resurrection, you can continue in your rejection of Jesus. For this reason, the resurrection is one of the most important events in human history. It not only changed the course of history, but it also has the power to change a person s eternal destiny if it is believed. How did you come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Was it a difficult step of faith for you? Why or why not? Session Summary In this session, we will see that the resurrection of Jesus calls for His followers to look both backward and forward. It points back to what Jesus has done in history through His life, death, and resurrection and to the work of God in saving us and raising us spiritually. But at the same time, the resurrection of Jesus points forward to the day when Christ will return and we will experience ultimate victory over sin and the final consummation of our faith in Him. 58 Leader Guide

5 1. The Good News of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-11) Along with the depictions and discussions of the resurrection in the Gospels and sections in Romans, 1 Corinthians 15 is a central passage in developing a biblical understanding of the resurrection, its meaning for our faith, and its implications on everyday life. 1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed. Further Commentary Paul lists the historical witnesses to the resurrection (15:5-8). These include Peter (see Luke 24:34), the Twelve (a general name for the apostles, excluding Judas) and more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time. This last appearance is not recorded in the Gospels, but there is no reason to doubt that it happened because the Gospels do not claim to have recorded all of Jesus appearances. Moreover, the fact that most of these witnesses were still alive at the time when Paul was writing means that people could have checked that what he was saying was the truth. There were also appearances to James (Jesus half-brother) and to all the apostles (a term used very broadly see also 12:28). The final appearance was to Paul, who describes himself as abnormally born, by which he probably means that his miraculous, instant conversion on the Damascus road is not the normal way that believers meet the risen Christ. 2 Dachollom Datiri Up to this point in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul has addressed several ongoing sins and struggles in the church, so he seems inclined to end by reminding them of the great antidote for all that ails them the gospel. He begins with a high-altitude view of the vital content of the gospel, including Christ s resurrection. I want to make clear for you might sound odd to say about the gospel, especially since Paul was writing to a group of believers. At the beginning of the letter, Paul greeted them with these words: To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints (1 Cor. 1:2). They had received the gospel, but they needed a reminder that the gospel is central for all of life. Easter 59

6 Further Commentary Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians what they should have remembered. With a twinge of irony, he actually says I make known to you, using their favorite language about knowledge (gnosis), as if they had never heard of this central doctrine before (v. 1). But this was what they believed when they first became Christians, and only by continuing to believe in a bodily resurrected Jesus can they demonstrate the reality of their faith and persevere until the end (v. 2). 3 Craig L. Blomberg Church History He hath changed sunset into sunrise, and through the cross brought death to life; and having wrenched man from destruction, He hath raised him to the skies, transplanting mortality into immortality, and translating earth to heaven. 4 Clement of Alexandria (circa ) The gospel of Jesus is not just what begins new life and a relationship with Christ, it also frames daily life in Christ. The church in Corinth was not living according to the gospel. They were experiencing divisions in the church, sexual immorality, boasting of every sort (especially in spiritual gifts, knowledge, eloquent speech, and status), greed, and idolatry. In other words, they were building their lives, hope, and status on things other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, Paul gave them a gentle rebuke, calling them to live like those sanctified in Christ Jesus by reminding them of the gospel. Notice the progression of his language in verses 1-2: You received (past conversion): The gospel is the good news that through Jesus through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection we have right standing before God. On which you have taken your stand (present sanctification): We continually take our stand on the gospel. The gospel continually reshapes our emotions, motivations, self-understanding, and identity. It has been said that a saint is a sinner who falls down and gets back up in the power of the Spirit. By which you are being saved (future glorification): The gospel proclaims the coming of a new kingdom, a new world. This promise of future salvation provides the believer with a hope that cannot be taken away. Therefore, hold fast! Remember the good news. As all of us grow in the faith, we see more and more our need for the gospel. Returning to the gospel and applying it to our hearts again and again is how we grow in our faith. We grow in Christ not by going beyond the gospel but by going deeper into the gospel. How should remembering the past, present, and future implications of the gospel help us live our daily lives? People always wondered how basketball legend Larry Bird made complex plays look so simple. His answer was this he never got over the fundamentals. Bird s meticulous work in practice on the fundamentals of the game, on the simple stuff, bore the fruit of polished play in games. After his gentle rebuke of the Corinthians for not remembering the gospel in their daily lives, Paul stated that the gospel is of first importance. The details of the gospel are the fundamentals of our faith that we should never get over, the simple stuff that we need to dwell on each day. We should never underestimate how much we need to hear the gospel! So often we want to take matters into our own hands and work at transforming ourselves in other ways apart from the gospel, or we get impatient at the pace of God s growth in our lives. Yet we never move beyond God s central means of transforming our lives through the gospel, and for that we should be grateful. But we need to be reminded constantly of this truth. 60 Leader Guide

7 What is the basic content, the simple stuff, of the gospel that we need to remember daily? Paul broke it down step-by-step: Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures (v. 3): This statement presupposes that sin is a problem. The world s way of dealing with sin is redefinition. The world wants to redefine what is right and wrong and change the standard. But God s way of dealing with sin is redemption. Jesus died in our place, paying the penalty for sin we owed, to redeem us from sin. As John Stott said, Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us we have to see it as something done by us. 5 Jesus was buried (v. 4): Paul verified the reality of Christ s death a death that was necessary to pay the penalty of sin. Jesus consumed the wrath of God against sin on the cross and took it with Him to the grave. Jesus was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (v. 4): Jesus has been raised and is still raised. The verb tense here tells us that Jesus resurrection happened in the past but has ongoing implications. Jesus still lives! Jesus came out of the grave, securing our hope of freedom from sin and our future resurrection. Sin and death have been overcome! Jesus appeared to many people (vv. 5-8): Jesus does not exist in some vague form of spiritual existence. Just as His death was physical, so was His bodily resurrection. The array of witnesses listed here testifies to the good news. At the time of his writing, Paul was inviting the skeptic to consult with those who had witnessed this truth firsthand. Christ did not die and rise again in some dark corner of the universe in private. The combination of His death and resurrection was a public declaration of good news to the whole world. Anyone who believes in Him can be saved! What qualifies Christ s resurrection to be considered as good news? What are some ways Jesus resurrection demonstrates the power of the gospel to transform our lives? 2. The Importance of Christ s Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12-19) Remember, the entirety of the Christian message hinges on the truth that Jesus was raised from the dead. If Jesus did not rise, we are still left in our sin. If Jesus did not rise, death still has the last word. In this sense, our lives don t validate the gospel but the gospel validates and transforms our lives. All of the aspects of the gospel, such as Christ s sinless life and sacrificial death, are vital. But it is this part the resurrection that gives us our greatest confidence and hope in the entirety of the gospel. This is why Paul focused on the resurrection in this passage, because the resurrection is the means of a transformed life. the Church The gospel should impact us not just theologically but also practically. From our preaching to our parenting, the good news gives us the blueprint for how to function within these spheres in a way that glorifies Christ. 6 Jackie Hill Perry 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 96. Resurrection Both the Old and New Testaments teach that one day believers will experience a resurrection of the body from the dead (Isa. 26:19; Ezek. 37:12-14; John 11). The promise of the resurrection is found in the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and it will take place at the future return of Christ. Because Christ was the firstfruits of the resurrection, Christians can be assured that their resurrection will be similar in nature, meaning it will be both bodily and glorious (Phil. 3:20-21; Rom. 8:22-23). The hope of the future resurrection gives Christians confidence that death has been defeated in the death and resurrection of Christ. Easter 61

8 Further Commentary In 15:12-19, Paul correlates the tenet that Christ has been raised with the Corinthians denial of the resurrection of the dead to expose the logical implications of this denial. He sets up, as it were, theological dominoes that fall, one after another, when the first domino if Christ is not raised is knocked over The nub of the issue is precisely the connection which Paul has taken as self-evident, namely, that the raising of Christ cannot be neatly extracted from its eschatological setting, which includes the resurrection of the dead (15:13). Christ s resurrection entails the resurrection of the dead. 8 David Garland Further Commentary Although Paul believed that those who died went to be with the Lord immediately after their death and prior to their resurrection (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21,23), he also conceived of the believer s eternal existence as an embodied existence. If there is no such existence, then there is no eternal life. 9 Frank S. Thielman Church History Union with Christ not only involves identification with His death, but participation in His resurrection. 10 A. W. Pink ( ) 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, There is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. Having explained the primacy and essence of the gospel, Paul then turned his attention to address a false teaching spreading through the Corinthian church that there is no physical resurrection from the dead. Saying that the dead in Christ won t rise, however, is calling the resurrection of Jesus a powerless and fictitious act. To combat this erroneous teaching and show its impact on the gospel, Paul developed a logical chain of cause and effect, marked by a series of if/then statements. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ cannot have risen from the dead (vv. 13,16). And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then the gospel message and our faith are empty because we are still in our sin (vv. 14,17). And if we have placed our hope in a Christ who did not rise from the dead, then we should be pitied more than anyone else (v. 19). Why do you think Paul said we should be pitied more than anyone else if we have placed our hope in a Jesus who did not rise from the dead? The bodily resurrection of Christ was central to the preaching and teaching of the church from its earliest days. In the church s infancy at Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that God raised [Jesus] up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death (Acts 2:24). Remember that Peter s sermon was mere weeks after the crucifixion and resurrection, giving both Jewish and Roman authorities ample opportunity to disprove this teaching if it were not true. But they were unable, of course, to present a convincing case to the contrary. 7 Paul noted the fact that some of the Corinthians may have believed in the spiritual resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that wasn t enough. The Bible connects the physical resurrection of Jesus to the future physical resurrection of those who believe. If you deny one, you must deny the other. Each component of the gospel is tightly woven together as a unit. 62 Leader Guide

9 When you remove an important ingredient from a favorite dessert, you change what it is. The same thing happens when you remove a fundamental ingredient from the gospel it is no longer the gospel. If Christ s sinless life of obedience is removed from the gospel, then we can no longer be credited with His righteousness. If Christ s physical death is removed from the gospel, then the penalty for our sin remains unpaid. And if Christ s resurrection is removed from the gospel, the gospel is no longer good news at all, for Jesus Himself would be a liar, as He said He would rise again on the third day. If Christ has not risen from the dead, then we as Christians are to be pitied above all. How should we celebrate Easter in light of Paul s emphasis on the importance of Jesus resurrection? 3. The Guarantee of Our Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-28) The framework of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration is the overarching gospel story that runs throughout the pages of Scripture. From cover to cover, this framework plays a significant role in how we understand God s active work in all of creation. It is this last part of the framework, restoration, that Paul focused on next in 1 Corinthians 15. Restoration is Christ s future act when He will restore all things to God s intended design. Restoration, then, speaks of consummation and renewal: consummation of the gospel story and renewal when everything God created as good in Genesis 1 2 will once again measure up to that standard. All of God s work is moving toward this end. One day all things fallen will come to an end, yet it won t really be an end but a new beginning, a new beginning where Christ is all in all. 20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says everything is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. 28 When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. Church History It is certain that Christ fought and overcame all his enemies: he gave them the last blow upon the cross, he seized on the spoil at his resurrection, and led them in triumph at his ascension into heaven, and by his peaceable possession of his throne his subjects enjoy the benefit of all. 11 Thomas Boston ( ) Further Commentary The concept of firstfruits is rooted in the Old Testament. In Leviticus 23:9-14 the term describes a consecrated portion of the harvest offered to God in sacrifice The emphasis falls more on the temporal sequence and the representative aspect; that is, Christ is the first to be raised from the dead and representative of more resurrection bodies to come. The metaphor of firstfruits functions similarly to the metaphor of a downpayment or a pledge (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) and to the concept of the firstborn (Rom. 8:29). Thiselton helpfully summarizes the three emphases of the term firstfruits : (1) prior temporality; (2) representation of the same quality or character; and (3) promise or pledge of more of the same kind to come. 12 Mark Taylor Easter 63

10 Further Commentary In ancient Greek, aparche was often used in connection with the beginning of an event and was the formal term for birth certificate. In the Greek OT, aparche was the term for firstfruits. The Israelites were to bring the firstfruits of their harvest to the priests to be presented before the Lord (Ex. 23:16-29; Lev. 23:9-14). In the NT, aparche refers figuratively to people as firstfruits in seven of eight occurrences (Rom. 11:16 excepted). Twice Paul used aparche in reference to the believers who were the first converts of a certain province (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15). A special group of believers in the end times are also called firstfruits (Rev. 14:4). Believers receive the Spirit as the firstfruits of salvation (Rom. 8:23), and this occurs through the power of God s word (Jas. 1:18). In discussing the resurrection, Paul referred to Christ as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20). Since Christ was the first to arise from the dead (v. 23), his resurrection is the basis for the resurrection of all believers. 14 F. Alan Tomlinson Paul here describes Jesus as the firstfruits of the resurrection. Firstfruits is a helpful word because it implies that Jesus is not the only One who will be resurrected. To have a first requires at least a second. Jesus was the first, but He is by no means the last. More fruit is coming! In using this term, Paul carried over a concept from the Old Testament that detailed bringing the first sheaf of the harvest as an offering and pledge to God in recognition that He had provided the entire harvest (see Lev. 23:9-14). Although this portion of the crop was given as an offering to God, the idea was that the rest of the yield was His as well and would be used for His glory. 13 In the same way, Jesus resurrection is the beginning of more that is to come, namely, our future resurrection. Jesus is the first of this crop, and His resurrection is the pledge that the rest will follow. Jesus resurrection sparked an organized procession of renewal that will one day result in a fully realized new kingdom. This is a fantastic reality for us as believers. In the days before the giant chain grocery stores, our family would sneak samples of fruit. There was a reason for this. We would sample the grapes to test the quality of those in the same bunch, and if the sample was good, we bought the bunch. This might help us understand how Jesus is the prototype of those who will be resurrected after Him. First John 3:2 says, Dear friends, we are God s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. Jesus is the firstfruits not only in sequence but also in quality. How should the future resurrection frame how we think, feel, and act in our daily life? The sequence of the resurrection that Paul describes occurs according to rank. Christ was resurrected first as the One who ranks highest. Then will come the resurrection of those who belong to Christ. In this sequence we see that Jesus resurrection inaugurates the resurrection of all those who are in Him. All those who are born into Adam s family die just as he did, but those who are born again into Jesus family will be made alive again just as He has been made alive again. If Christ has already been raised, then we can be sure that those who belong to Christ will be raised at His second coming (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Jesus will then hand the kingdom, which has undergone renewal as well (see Rom. 8:18-25), back over to God the Father. One day, God the Father will rule in fullness over all creation. 64 Leader Guide

11 This thought may have disturbed the Corinthians when Paul wrote them. The familiar authority structures they were accustomed to the emperor, the Roman senate, the provincial governor, the Roman army, the civic magistrates will all disappear. These structures, which brought peace to the Mediterranean world in their lifetime, will be no more. 15 But in their place, God will rule perfectly over all, and everything will be subject to Him. Everything will be once again as it was and as it should be, and sin and death will be no more. This is a powerful truth, our great hope, and the culmination of all things for which we long. How should our hope of future resurrection and the restoration of all things through Christ impact our evangelistic efforts today in the world around us? Conclusion Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus is one of the highlights of the Christian faith and provides us the opportunity to reflect deeply on its meaning. As we have seen from Paul s writing to the Corinthian church, the empty tomb has past, present, and future implications for us. The resurrection draws us back to remember who Christ is and what He has accomplished for us to the glory of God. The resurrection frames how we are to live today in light of our identity in Him. But the resurrection also moves our attention forward to the day when Christ returns, we experience our own resurrection, and all things are made new. Yes, the resurrection gives our faith in Christ confidence and gives us hope for what lies ahead, but the resurrection is not all about us. It is also intended to prompt us to lift up our eyes and look around us and see so many who are still in desperate need to experience what we have salvation through Jesus. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, let us marvel and rejoice in it as we should, but let us also be broken by the world around us and resolve to proclaim this good news with as many people as we can, both here and around the world. Church History If the earth and heaven are renewed, why should we doubt that man, on account of whom heaven and earth were made, can be renewed? If the transgressor be reserved for punishment, why should not the just be kept for glory? If the worm of sins does not die, how shall the flesh of the just perish? For the resurrection, as the very form of the word shows, is this, that what has fallen should rise again, that which has died should come to life again. 16 Ambrose of Milan (circa ) the Church People who believe in the resurrection, in God making a whole new world in which everything will be set right at last, are unstoppably motivated to work for that new world in the present. 17 N. T. Wright CHRIST CONNECTION: The resurrection of Jesus is not merely an odd event from the past. It represents the beginning of the new world God has promised. Jesus resurrection is the firstfruits of the future resurrection of His people, the guarantee that God s kingdom will come fully to earth, and the first nail in the coffin of death, which will one day be defeated forever. Easter 65

12 Additional Resources Proclaiming the Resurrection References 1. Billy Graham, The Reason for My Hope: Salvation (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2013), Dachollom Datiri, 1 Corinthians, in Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo (Grand Rapids: 2006), Craig L, Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, in The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012) [WORDsearch]. 4. Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen, in Ante-Nicene Christian Library, vol. IV, eds. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1867), John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove: IVP, 2006), Jackie Hill Perry, Foreword in Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life, by Jeff Vanderstelt (Wheaton: Crossway, 2017) [ebook]. 7. David W. J. Gill, 1 Corinthians, in Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon, vol. 3, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) [WORDsearch]. 8. David Garland, 1 Corinthians, in Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 9. Frank S. Thielman, in ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 2214, n. 15: Arthur W. Pink, Doctrine of Sanctification (Lulu.com, 2015), 63 [ebook]. 11. Thomas Boston, in The Whole Works of the Late Reverend and Learned Mr. Thomas Boston of Ettrick, vol. 1, ed. Samuel McMillan (Aberdeen: George and Robert King, 1848), Mark Taylor, 1 Corinthians, vol. 28 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 13. Ibid. 14. F. Alan Tomlinson, in CSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2017), David W. J. Gill, 1 Corinthians, in Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon, vol. 3, ed. Clinton E. Arnold [WORDsearch]. 16. Ambrose of Milan, On the Belief in the Resurrection, 87, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. X, eds. Philip Schaff and Henry Wallace (New York: Cosimo, 2007), N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (New York: HarperCollins, 2008), 214. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- The Resurrection Pages from The Work of Christ by Paige Patterson in A Theology for the Church -- Christ s Resurrection and Ours (1 Corinthians 15) Article by Stephen J. Wellum; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including A Risen Savior: Unique and Necessary?, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon D. A. Carson: What Is the Gospel? Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week A Missional Attitude A group seeking to be missional and an international missionary have something in common: an assignment to reach a people group. What people group is the mission of your group? All adults? Senior adult men? Empty-nest married couples? Forty-something single adults? Nearly-weds and newlyweds? Parents? College students? High-school boys? Middle-school girls? Preteens? First through third graders? Preschoolers? Babies? A group with a missionary mentality thinks like a missionary, asking the question What can we do to serve and reach those in our community? What can you do to help your group have an attitude a missional attitude? 66 Leader Guide

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide CSB Volume 6, Number 3 Spring 2018 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax General Editors Brian Dembowczyk Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by to daniel.davis@lifeway.com or mail to Content Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide CSB (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Unit 1: Alvin L. Doc Reid (sessions 1,6) serves as Senior Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry and holds the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He also serves as Pastor to Young Professionals at Richland Creek Community Church. Alvin and his wife, Michelle, have two married children and one grandson. He is the author of many books, including Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out. Katie Orr (sessions 2-5), creator of the FOCUSed15 Bible study method, is passionate about equipping busy women to experience God daily. She is a Bible teacher, speaker, and prolific writer for blogs, magazines, and Sunday School curriculum. A former Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) staff member and mother to three young children, she and pastorhusband Chris are part of the church revitalization movement. Eric Mason (special session) is the founding pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is married to Yvette and has three sons, Immanuel, Nehemiah, and Ephraim, and one living daughter, Amalyah. He is also the founder and president of Thriving, a resource organization committed to developing leaders for urban ministry. He earned a PhD from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has authored three books: Manhood Restored, Beat God to the Punch, and Unleashed. Unit 2: Jared C. Wilson is the director of content strategy and managing editor of For The Church at Midwestern Seminary, as well as the director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of thirteen books, including Gospel Wakefulness, The Imperfect Disciple, and Supernatural Power for Everyday People. He is married to Becky, and they have two daughters. WRITERS