Slices
Prepare
‘On Christ the solid rock I stand.’* Come again to reaffirm your faith in him.
*‘My hope is built’, Edward Mote, 1834
Bible passage
The resurrection of Christ
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve 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 to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Explore
Despite tensions in Corinth, something held them together. They had all heard and gladly received the good news about Jesus. They now stood together on that solid ground. Like them, remaining loyal to that commitment is critical for us because ‘final salvation will not come without perseverance’.** As Jesus taught us, sprouting seeds may have inadequate roots or life choked out of them (Matthew 13:20–22).
Can you sum up the gospel in one word? ‘Jesus’ is Scott McKnight’s answer.*** Sometimes it’s made primarily about us and our needs! Jesus is the fulfilment of all God’s plans. He really died and was buried to confirm it. He rose again and his appearance to numerous people validated it. His death accomplishes something that had plagued humanity since creation: the separation sin causes between humans and God. Jesus’ resurrection proclaims that sin and death could not hold him (Acts 2:24). Far from simply passing on a story, Paul is personally wrapped up in this. To his immense surprise, Jesus chose to appear to him (v 8). Personal testimony has its place; the reality of Jesus ‘appearing’ to us. But of first importance is centring people’s attention on Jesus, his death and resurrection. This is a life-giving story which draws people to give themselves unremittingly for Jesus.
**TR Schreiner, 1 Corinthians, IVP, 2018, p301
***S McKnight, ‘The One Word Gospel’, Substack blog, 3 July 2023
Respond
What’s so good about the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection? Why do you think so many don’t think it’s good news? Can we change that?
Shortly after writing these notes, Andy went to be with his Saviour in heaven.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Mark 14; 1 Thessalonians 5
Pray for Scripture Union
The Track is a motorsports holiday restarting this year for the first time since the pandemic. Please pray for David and Nicola as they lead the holiday for the first time, for Tony as he supports them and for the team and young people to rediscover together the excitement of the holiday and of following Jesus.
