Sermon Outline Mar 30, 2008 Morning Service

Topic: Who’s On First?

Text:     1 Corinthians 15:1-3 (NIV                          

Introduction

I.        What is most important in your life?

A.       How do you even decide what’s most important?

B.       Once you do figure it out, how well do you do at keeping what is truly most important most important?

II.       We can easily become confused.

A.       So many of us are confused over what should be most important.

B.       Paul said he wanted to remind us what is “of first importance”.

Text

I.        A Reminder Of The Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

A.       What is the gospel?

1.       Jesus died for sin according to the scriptures (Isaiah 53:4-5).

2.       Jesus was buried.

3.       Jesus was raised according to the scriptures (Isaiah 53:11).

B.       Why is the gospel important to remember?

C.      We are saved by the gospel (Romans 16:16).

II.       The Reality Of The Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:5-11).

A.       The message of the gospel sets Christianity apart from other beliefs.

B.       Four things about Jesus’ resurrection that prove the reality of the gospel:

1.       The empty tomb.

2.       The testimony of the eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

3.       The change in the lives of the disciples.

4.       The work of Jesus in people today.

III.      The Relevance Of The Gospel (Corinthians 5:12-19).

A.       We don’t all see things the same way, but we all need to see the relevance of the gospel in the same way.

B.       Paul points out four things of relevance if the gospel isn’t true:

1.       If Christ has not been raised then the resurrection is a hoax.

2.       If the resurrection is a hoax, then our preaching and our faith are empty and useless.

3.       If the resurrection isn’t true, then none of it’s true and we have misrepresented God

4.       And perhaps worst of all: If Christ wasn’t resurrected we’re still in our sins and His death was for nothing.

IV.      The Reassurance Of The Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

A.       The gospel reassures us that death is disarmed.

B.       The gospel reassures us that the devil is defeated (Romans 6:23) (its one of those “good-news, bad-news” situations).

C.      The gospel reassures us that our destination is secure (Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Conclusion

I.        We began this study by asking, “what is most important in your life?”

II.       Jesus provides the way out of the power of sin and death.

III.      Won’t you then make it Jesus “Who’s on first” in your life through obedience to His saving gospel?