Sermon Title: Why the Resurrection Matters
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

If the Easter story isn’t true, then
1. All Christians are liars
2. Death is the end of reality
3. Christians are the most naive people on the planet.

If the Easter story is true, then
1. Death is not the end
2. Christians are onto something that has hope for the whole world
3. Each of us have a decision to make

“Jesus’ life on earth points us towards the future. His actions act as clues showing us how the story of creation will continue in the future. Jesus’ healing of the disabled points us toward a time when humans will be healed physically and mentally. Jesus’ deliverance of those possessed by evil demons points to a future when evil will be expelled from our world. Jesus’ feeding those without food is a glimpse of a future world where there will be no hunger, poverty or starvation. By turning over the tables of merchants selling religious products in the temple, Jesus shows us that our future will be a time when our worship of God will not be compromised by corruption and greed. Jesus’ honoring of women, Samaritans and children speaks of a time when no human will be marginalized. Above all, Jesus resurrection speaks of a time when death and suffering will be defeated and the world will be resurrected. Sadly though, most Christians miss these allusions, living as we do under the shadow of the hyperreal world. “The Jesus Reader” - Mark Sayers

All ancient cultures had a cyclical view of life: you sow, you reap, rinse and repeat… over and over again. “The gift of the Jews” - Thomas Cahill

2 Ancient Worldviews:
Tragedy: it was real but it wasn’t fun.
Comedy: it was fun but it wasn’t real.

*The resurrection of Christ introduced a third option, an entirely new way of looking at reality which wasn’t bound to a repeating cycle of life that goes nowhere. Instead, life and reality had a destiny, a purpose & meaning. *

Additional Notes: