MAIN IDEA || The significance of the resurrection cannot be overstated because if Jesus did rise from the dead, Christianity can stand against any and all objections. How important is the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith? Corinthians 15:12–20 (NLT) 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised,… ...all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God… ...your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 ...all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NLT) 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. Two arguments for traditional teaching that Jesus was literally raised from the dead: 1. No one was ever, and haven’t since, been able to produce Jesus’ . 2. The disciples were not the only ones who & touched Jesus. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. Resurrection Inspection Questions: 1. Who would a defeated leader? 2. Why would be so bold in the face of execution? 3. Why would the disciples include heroes in their story? Why does this truth matter? “If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” ― Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism 1 Corinthians 15:22–23 (NLT) 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. Don’t wait any longer, if you believe & belong to Jesus now you will be given new life after you die. Take heart, the “Day of the Lord” is approaching – the day God will make everything right, the day that “everything sad comes untrue”. CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. What’s your reaction to what Paul is telling the Corinthian church about the importance of Jesus’s bodily resurrection? a. 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised,… i. ...all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And ii. we apostles would all be lying about God… iii. ...your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. iv. 18 ...all who have died believing in Christ are lost! b. 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 2. Why do you think some people are still waiting, even after hearing the news that if you believe & belong to Jesus now you will be given new life after you die? 3. Does it help you to take heart when you seriously consider that the “Day of the Lord” is approaching – the day God will make everything right, the day that “everything sad comes untrue”.