1 Corinthians 15:1-4,55-58

"Dear Beloved, Yesterday, I used parts of one of Paul's letters to the Corinthian Christians to emphasize the authenticity of the gospel message...."

"Dear Precious Disciple, While many things in life are complicated, the basis for saving faith shouldn't be. I want you to know that your faith is on...."

"I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on..."

"Dear Father, God of the living, Thank you for the Good News that Jesus Christ, your Son, is risen from the dead. Thank you that by it I am saved and...."

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

What is most important? Phil Ware begins a series of messages on what is core, or what is at the heart of what we must believe?

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us..."

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

"But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable...."

Do you really believe? Phillip Morrison challenges us to face the resurrection and believe or disbelieve, and he promotes believing because you can trust the testimony of those who have their throats cut.

Why do we make things more complicated than they need to be? Phil Ware compares 1 Corinthians 15 and Romans 6 and reminds us that what saves us is Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection and we get to participate and experience these in baptism and the Lord's Supper!

Jesus walked triumphantly out of the tomb and transformed the lives of defeated and afraid friends into world-changing witnesses! Phil Ware and James Nored remind us that the center of our faith is Jesus' resurrection and that the Lord's resurrection from the grave has changed everything.

Jesus has not only given us the final victory, but he has also promised to be alive in us! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us that Jesus is the strong man who binds Satan and is Greater than any who set themselves up as our enemy.

"Dear Friends, My resurrection should not have been such a big surprise to My disciples. While My resurrection was not something anyone would have..."

"Dear Father, God of the living, Thank you that Christ's revelation of himself within my soul as Lord of my life and as the living Spirit of truth and..."

You have anything more going for you than just living to pay taxes? During tax season it is always important to be reminded that life is a whole lot more than living to pay taxes, in fact, God wants us to have life that is full of purpose and meaning.

"Dear Disciple, All religions, in fact, all worldviews including those couched in the language of unbelief, are built on a belief in something. This....."

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised..."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 -- For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Script

"Dear Father, keeper of every promise, Thank you for disclosing to us the mystery of what is to come! Keep us looking forward to that moment when we....."

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us and how they helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

Good news is not just something you get to hear, but something you get to do. Gospel means good news. Jesus died for your sins. You can make this good news part of your life.

With all the information in the Bible, what is the most important thing to know? The Bible itself says this is the most important thing to know: Jesus died for your sins and was raised on the third day.

How are we to respond to such an extravagant gift? Phil Ware thinks through the implications of Jesus' death for us.

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand."

"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the..."

"By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which...."

"Dear Father, Thank you for the assurance that my work for you will never be lost. The Lord Jesus promised that even a cup of cold water given in his...."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:1 -- Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:2 -- By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:58 -- Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Scripture image of 1 Corinthians 15:57 -- Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:55 -- Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

How can two rich guys save Easter? Phil Ware continues his series called unpredictable on Jesus in the Gospel of John and focuses on Jesus' death and burial through the eyes of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

"Dear Precious One, The writer of the "word of exhortation" (Hebrews 13:22) that you call the book of Hebrews wrote this:When God spoke from Mount..."

"Dear Child of God, After the apostle Paul spent years opposing My followers and My message, I revealed Myself to him on the road to Damascus (Acts..."

It is simply not true that your best is always good enough; there are countless people every day who could witness to that. Patrick Odum reminds us that sometimes our best isn't good enough, it doesn't count, unless our focus is on the Lord Jesus and his work, then his resurrection ensures our work is not in vain!

We've allowed our modern definition of faith to be drained of depth and turned into a shallow kiddie wading pool of little more than mental assent. Phil Ware reminds us that faith as understood in the New Testament was much more robust than what we often call faith today.

Who has the final say in our lives? Death has been defeated by Jesus' resurrection so we need to only ask whether or not we belong to him.

What gives us hope in the middle of crisis? A funeral helps a couple of ministers understand more clearly the grace of God and the power of the human spirit.

When is it time to surrender? Sometimes we need to resign from the war and surrender, trusting that we have the ultimate victory in Jesus.

What time of the year is it? While it is time for Easter, we need to realize that there are many who would use this time to cast doubt and bash the very idea that Jesus is Lord and rose from the dead.

What are you going to do on the next day? We all face the let down of failures on the next day; how will we handle the next day?

"Dear Precious One, Yesterday I talked to you about the importance of My grace leading you to forgive those who have wounded you. That is hard. Today...."

What is most important for us to believe and do as disciples of Jesus, today? Phil Ware begins a series of messages on what is core, or what is at the heart of what we must believe and do to be true disciples of Jesus, today.

Finding God's place for us to connect with Jesus' saving work. Phil Ware continues his series on What is Core by talking about baptism and why it is important.

"Dear Beloved, I know that believing in Me is not always easy or natural. So I want to remind you of My half-brother James. My apostle James had been...."

"Dear Child of God, Family is important. Your spiritual family is important to you. Your physical family is important to you. Family is important to....."

It was a haunting sound, carried by the wind It was a haunting sound, carried by the wind as it seemed to float around those of us gathered there. The lone bugler sounding Taps

So what is the most important day in your life? Phillip Morrison reminds us of the importance of the last week of Jesus' life.

What in the world did were they for? Jesus' resurrection fills all of our life with meaning.

You are going to die. How do you feel about it? I overheard a seven year old ask the question that many of us wonder about: Am I going to die?

Should this interfere with us being intimate? Joe Beam answers a question about low sexual desire after a heart attack and what a wife should do in this situation.

"Dear Faithful Follower, People are afraid of many different kinds of things. That's why one of the most frequent commands in the Scriptures is not to..."

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched. Phil Ware shares some great online resources for images for Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday.

The real question is whether or not we will choose to follow Jesus from the cross, to the tomb, and into the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings? Phil Ware reminds us that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were indisputable eye witnesses to the death of Jesus so the resurrection could be assured!

Our model, our hero, our example of great leadership, must always be Jesus! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize Jesus' example of being a servant and how we must resist worldly standards for our leaders in the Lord's church.

Jesus knew the sting of sarcastic ridicule and unbelief from his family Phil Ware continues his Resurrection 2.0 series reminding us this week that Jesus' own family did not believe until after his resurrection.

We are still a family gathered to remember Jesus, even when we gather virtually! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to challenge us to explore deeper biblical messages in the Lord's Supper than we often allow ourselves to consider.

Happy Mother's Day! Today is Mother's Day in many part of the world, so let's celebrate women of faith and courage who have blessed our lives and empowered the work of God in our world. Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins invite us to worship God and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit as we are transformed to be more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our....."

Why do we run after other things to add to Jesus? Phil Ware continues his messages out of Colossians; this one focuses on Jesus being enough and anything added to Him is less.

Jesus wasn't just raised from the dead; he is also now alive in us through the Holy Spirit! James Nored and Phil Ware emphasize the importance of the Holy Spirit in our resurrection from the dead.

So how do we know our mountains of greatest importance? Phil Ware continues his series on knowing the mountains on which we are willing to die -- both doctrinal and missional mountains of significance.

I remain convicted that these passages give us the CORE of what we must believe and practice as Jesus' disciples. Phil Ware brings his series on 'What is CORE!' to a close, giving us a short summary to help us remember these three CORE passages and what they teach and call on us to do.

"Dear Partner in Grace, You and I are joined! You believe that I died for your sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead. By now, you should..."

"Dear Disciple, I appointed My apostles as My emissaries to the world. I commissioned them to take My message everywhere to everyone. The original..."

What's so special about Sunday, everything! Phil Ware shares insights on Sunday, the Resurrection Day of the Lord and why the disciples miss it and why we often do as well.

So are you ready to stay up on that exercise thing this year? Teresa Bell Kindred talks honestly about the stuff of life, exercise, root canals, and other things.

He knew that people were fickle. They could cry out, “Hosanna!” one day, then cry out, “Crucify him!” a week later. Phil Ware continues his series on CRUCIFORMED focusing on the events of Jesus' last week from his Triumphal Entry to his resurrection.

Horatio Spafford knew about the storms of life The story of Horatio Spafford and his great hymn "When Peace Like a River" still inspires and encourages all of us who suffer.

How often do you celebrate it? Phil Ware shares with us the real meaning of Independence Day and how we can celebrate it every week.

What do you most fear? Phil Ware continues his 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross with the meaning of the line today of "you will be with me in paradise" and talks about the hope it brings in the face of death.

Do you think James was really there through all of this mess? Phil Ware shares some insight and background on James the brother of Jesus and how he disbelieved, but came to faith.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this meal, but be reminded that Jesus makes simple things glorious! Phil Ware reminds us that though the bread and wine of this meal are simple, so were Jesus' words to Jairus' daughter, and those words changed everything.

As we join together to honor Jesus as our Christ and Lord, we can lay every burden down and rejoice in the grace God has lavished upon us. Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a closing blessing for worship from home with family and friends in a meaningful way - we can be assured our righteous was purchased by

We believe in God the Father, the resurrection of Jesus the Son, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We choose to let nothing move us from our faith! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us that our faith is rock solid and built on the foundation of eyewitnesses and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

There are two kinds of faithful leaders, groups, and churches. Which are you? Phil Ware shares with us two kinds of early leaders and churches and groups, Paul and Barnabas become examples of those kinds of churches; each is faithful, takes risks, and faces opposition from the evil one.

God has given us a way to experience the saving work Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Phil Ware continues his series on "What is CORE" by talking about baptism and why it is important.

"Dear Follower, Resurrection is coming. I will return for those who belong to Me. At My coming, everyone who belongs to Me will be given an immortal....."

How can the younger brother of Jesus help us find our way to hope? Phil Ware lets us journey with James, the half brother of Jesus, through the cross and resurrection to find our way to hope and confidence about our future.

People "stand for" or "stand on" many things that waste their time, efforts, and lives on causes that don't really matter. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to stand in grace.

"Dear Friend, The text in the Verses to Live section comes from two different places. I want you to read them together to help you understand two very..."

What do you think about when they put you to sleep for Things you are glad to have figured out before surgery: Have I made a difference? I am going to die someday. I am not in control.

Because of our faith in Jesus and what he has done to save us, we can endure, stand fast, hold on, and let nothing deter us as we live fully for Jesus. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to truly believe that Jesus is the Holy One Whom God sent for us.

When we gather in Jesus' name, something transcendent happens: the Lord is present with us! Phil Ware talks about what is core to our faith and then ties it to everyday meals as well as our celebration of the Lord's Supper and the things of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15:1-7.