Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 15:3-10.
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 Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Paul recounts to the Corinthians the death and resurrection of Christ, not that they have not heard it, but as many of us know, repetition is one of the best teaching methods. He prefaces this with the statement that it is of “first importance” (v. 3). I believe Paul means of first importance in our faith, but also in our daily lives.
There are many people who put Jesus first…every Sunday…and then pay no attention to what He taught us the rest of the week. Gathering as the body of Christ is an important part of our faith, but it is only a part. What we take out of that gathering to share with the world is just as important as our being there.
I invite you to consider daily what you heard at services to begin the week. If you were unable to attend, perhaps find out what the sermon topic was and what scripture readings were shared. It is essential to stay connected to the body, but equally essential to take those lessons out into our society, to put the teaching Jesus gave us into practice on a daily basis. Hearing the word is important, living the word in a full relationship with God is the way we are saved.
Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of Jesus and the way He taught us to live. Bless us to be Your messengers, sharing Christ with all the world. Amen.