The Undefeated Champion

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April 12, 2009 - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Open It

  1. How do people pass on their beliefs and traditions to others?

  2. What do you think is important to pass on from one generation to the next?

  3. What do you want others to remember about you?

Explore It

  1. How can a Christian avoid believing the gospel in vain? (15:1-2)

  2. Why is it important to "hold firmly to the word"? (15:2)

  3. Why did Paul pass on what he had received? (15:3)

  4. How did Christ's life fulfill the Scriptures? (15:3)

  5. What are the key points of the gospel? (15:3-8)

  6. To whom did Christ appear after His resurrection? (15:5-8)

  7. Why did Paul emphasize the facts of Christ's resurrection? (15:5-8)

  8. Why did Paul describe himself as one "abnormally born"? (15:8)

  9. Why did Paul feel unworthy to be called an apostle? (15:9)

  10. For what reason was Paul able to call himself an apostle? (15:10)

  11. On what did Paul's apostleship rest? (15:10)

Get It

  1. How would you describe, in your own words, the importance of the gospel to your life?

  2. What has God's grace accomplished in you?

  3. In what one area of your life have you been stubborn about allowing God's grace to work?

  4. What does it mean for you to hold firmly to the gospel?

  5. What are the implications of the fact that the truth of the gospel is of first importance to God?

  6. What difference does it make that Christ's death and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecy?

  7. How does Christ appear or make Himself known to us today?

Apply It

  1. What evidence could you use to persuade others this week about the truth of the gospel?

  2. How could you rely on God's grace in your efforts to tell your friends about Christ?

NOTES

1 Corinthians 15:2: Most churches contain people who do not yet believe. Some are moving in the direction of belief, and others are simply pretending. Imposters, however, are not to be removed (see Matthew 13:28-29), for that is the Lord's work alone. The Good News about Jesus Christ will save us if we firmly believe it and faithfully follow it.

1 Corinthians 15:5-10: There will always be people who say that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Paul assures us that many people saw Jesus after his resurrection: Peter; the disciples (the Twelve); more than 500 Christian believers (most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this, although some had died); James (Jesus' brother); all the apostles; and finally Paul himself. The resurrection is an historical fact. Don't be discouraged by doubters who deny the resurrection. Be filled with hope because of the knowledge that one day you, and they, will see the living proof when Christ returns. (For more evidence on the resurrection, see the chart in Mark 15:47.)

15:7 This James is Jesus' brother, who at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). After seeing the resurrected Christ, he became a believer and ultimately a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). James wrote the New Testament book of James.

15:8-9 Paul's most important credential to be an apostle was that he was an eyewitness of the risen Christ (see Acts 9:3-6). "Abnormally born" means that his was a special case. The other apostles saw Christ in the flesh. Paul was in the next generation of believers-yet Christ appeared to him.

15:9-10 As a zealous Pharisee, Paul had been an enemy of the Christian church-even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers (see Acts 9:1-3). Thus he felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ. Though undoubtedly the most influential of the apostles, Paul was deeply humble. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished much, but only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless, but recognizing God's work in you. It is having God's perspective on who you are and acknowledging his grace in developing your abilities.

15:10 Paul wrote of working harder than the other apostles. This was not an arrogant boast because he knew that his power came from God and that it really didn't matter who worked hardest. Because of his prominent position as a Pharisee, Paul's conversion made him the object of even greater persecution than the other apostles; thus he had to work harder to preach the same message.

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