The Last Trumpet

Pastor Art; part of Table Talk Sunday

1 Cor 15:35-58

• what is the Biblical view of life after death?
  • resurrection is always missing from today’s discussions
• Resurrection: rising of the dead
  1. The Jews believe it (except for the Sadducees)
  2. Christians believe it
     • 300 years of first person accounts/testimonies about Christ’s resurrection, to the point of dying for it
     • 1 Thes 4:14, Rev 20…
  3. Greeks laugh about it
     • mocks resurrection because “soul is immortal BUT body dies, therefore separates and flies to the heavens, therefore resurrection is a joke”
  • discussed in Dan, Jn 11, etc.
• Art will bet his life savings that today’s churches spend more effort on Christmas than Easter (which is true and applicable to most churches)
  • Consider this about The Gospels…
    • if you cut out the Christmas narrative, what do you have left?
      • quite a lot
        • even John and Mark didn’t even bother with it…
    • if you cut out the resurrection, what do you have left?
      • almost nothing
• 1 Cor 15:12; some Christians say this too
  • if no resurrection, Christ is dead and we are done…”Christianity is a lie” becomes true
• v35; the Q’s are asked in mockery, not humility…
  1. The Seed Analogy: “in old comes the new”
     • the planting of the old body into the ground so the new one will grow like the seed
  2. Adam vs Jesus:
     • v40; comparison of the 2 bodies
     • still old body, but transformed into new magnificent things…
       • Jesus couldn’t be recognized by anyone…
       • …still had his scars to prove to Thomas
       • Art believes body can zip through space & time (ie. Jesus teleports to different place when recognized)
  3. Transformation from Old To New
     • our current bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom
     • at the twinkling of an eye…the sound of the trumpet will sound
  • Paul gives 3 A’s to 2 Q’s

And now…the Table Talk Q’s:

1. Prior to today’s sermon, what is your picture of life after death?
2. Prior to today’s sermon, what is your picture of heaven?
3. What do the words “bodily resurrection” mean to you?
4. If Jesus’ resurrected body gives us clues to what our future resurrected bodies will look (or behave) like, what do you think yours will be capable of doing?
5. Why is resurrection such an important concept to Christians?
6. Why are the “Corinthian Questions” regarding resurrection so foolish?
7. if the Christian hope lies in resurrection, what are some of the implications for present-day discipleship?
8. What does “Amen” mean? What is the significance of this word?