2. 1 Corinthians Themes Unity/oneness in the local church Relationships in the local church Righteous living/church discipline Interacting with unbelievers/marriage Lord’s Supper and baptism Spiritual gifts Worship wars The Cross/Resurrection Themes Unity/oneness in the local church Relationships in the local church Righteous living/church discipline Interacting with unbelievers/marriage Lord’s Supper and baptism Spiritual gifts Worship wars The Cross/Resurrection

3. Why We Should Believe the Gospel

4. Where is hope when death remains? Why We Should Believe the Gospel

5. Non fui; fui; non sum; non curo “I was not; I was; I am not; I care not” -Epicurean Epitaph Non fui; fui; non sum; non curo “I was not; I was; I am not; I care not” -Epicurean Epitaph Why We Should Believe the Gospel

6. The Gospel saves those who believe Why We Should Believe the Gospel

7. 1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NET Bible)

8. Gospel = “Good Message” Why We Should Believe the Gospel

9. We are “saved” from: Sin Hell Wrath of God We are “saved” from: Sin Hell Wrath of God Why We Should Believe the Gospel

10. Our default destination is heaven because we are good Why We Should Believe the Gospel

11. Our default destination is heaven because we are good Our default destination is hell because we are sinful Our default destination is heaven because we are good Our default destination is hell because we are sinful Why We Should Believe the Gospel

12. The Gospel saves those who believe Why We Should Believe the Gospel

13. The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection Why We Should Believe the Gospel

14. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (NET Bible)

15. Jesus Glorified for eternity past Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension Glorified for eternity future Jesus Glorified for eternity past Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension Glorified for eternity future Why We Should Believe the Gospel

16. Cephas The twelve More than five hundred James All the apostles Cephas The twelve More than five hundred James All the apostles Why We Should Believe the Gospel

17. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. Psalm 16:10 (NASB)

18. The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection Why We Should Believe the Gospel

19. The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection The Gospel transforms sinners The Gospel saves those who believe The Gospel includes Jesus’ death and resurrection The Gospel transforms sinners Why We Should Believe the Gospel

20. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy 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 has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed. 1 Corinthians 15:8-11 (NET Bible)

21. God is in the business of bringing the dead to life. God is in the business of bringing the dead to life. Why We Should Believe the Gospel

22. Creed of Nicaea We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man…

23. Creed of Nicaea For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.