Easter Sunday

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Other Readings: Jonah 2:2-9, Colossians 3:1-4, and Matthew 28:1-10

 

  1. During the Easter season and for funerals, our altar has a parament hanging that says, “Awaken to new life.” Which verse(s) of our text speak to that?

 

 

 

  1. What does Paul mean when he says, “We will not all sleep” (v. 51)? Compare with 1 Thessalonians 4:14,15.

 

  1. How did the women in Matthew 28:1-10 show their thanks for the victory won on Easter Sunday?

 

  1. In our First Lesson, Jonah said that “salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). Salvation is a word that often gets said, but perhaps isn’t always understood. How can you use 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 to define what “salvation” is in the Christian faith?

 

  1. Paul makes it clear here that every believer in Jesus experiences eternal life and the resurrection of the dead. Which Christian who has “fallen asleep” are you most looking forward to seeing again?

 

 

 

  1. Verses 51 and 52 speak to it. Those verses describe death as a sleep and make clear that when the body is raised on the Last Day, it will be raised to a new kind of flesh and a new way of living in that flesh.

 

  1. When Jesus return on the Last Day (“at the last trumpet,” 1 Corinthians 15:52), there will be Christians who are alive and, therefore, won’t experience death. Their bodies will still be changed, though.

 

  1. They worshiped Jesus and did what they were asked to do – go tell others about the good news of Jesus’ victory over death.

 

  1. Salvation has the idea of rescue. These verses make clear the who, what, where, when, and why over that rescue. Jesus will rescue all believers in him (no matter where they are buried or are living) from sin and death when he returns because he himself had victory over death.

 

  1. Answers will vary. What a joyous thing to look forward to!