Questions from the Scripture text: What is Paul declaring to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:1? What did he preach? What had they received? In what did they stand? By what are they saved (1 Corinthians 15:2)? What other kind of faith is there than saving faith (end of verse 2)? What had Paul—first of all—delivered to them (1 Corinthians 15:3)? For what had Christ died? In accordance with what? What was done with Him then (1 Corinthians 15:4a)? But what did He do after He was buried? In accordance with what? By whom was He seen (1 Corinthians 15:5a)? Then by whom (verse 5b)? Then by whom (1 Corinthians 15:6)? After the gathering of over 500, by whom was He seen again (1 Corinthians 15:7)? By how many of the apostles? Who was last (1 Corinthians 15:8)? What does Paul say about the timing of his own becoming an apostle? What does Paul say about his place among the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9a)? Why (verse 9b)? How did such an one as Paul become an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:10a)? What else did God’s grace enable Paul to do (verse 10b)? But what is the same, no matter which apostle was preaching it, or which believer was believing it (1 Corinthians 15:11)?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with I Love to Tell the Story.
The apostle has already preached the gospel to them, and they received it, and in fact they are standing in it (1 Corinthians 15:1, 1 Corinthians 15:11). So what does he declare to them now? The gospel again! The rest of their salvation is going to come from this gospel (1 Corinthians 15:2). Christ crucified for sins, buried, risen, and witnessed—all according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-7).
Believers don’t begin in the gospel and then move past it. The gospel is exactly what they need for every part of their growth and for everything through which they go.
It also keeps the apostle himself thinking rightly. Our flesh would want to boast in what we have done or who we are. But the gospel that is all about who Jesus is and what He has done puts such self-glory in its proper place (which is to get rid of it altogether!).
Even when identifying himself, for fullness and accuracy, as a witness and an apostle, Paul hurries to point out that he is “like one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8) and “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). He names how bad he was (persecutor of the church), and attributes only to the grace of God what He is now (1 Corinthians 15:10).
This is what Paul loves to tell, and this is what the Corinthians should love to hear. Sanctified hearts will never weary of hearing the glorious gospel of Christ!
From whom do you enjoy hearing the gospel? Whom do you enjoy telling the gospel? In what situations are you too tempted to talk about yourself? How might you work on avoiding doing so?
Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH438 “I Love to Tell the Story”
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