Resurrection: The Heartbeat of Our Faith and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Hold on to the Hope of the Resurrection—It Is Central to the Gospel

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event to be acknowledged, but the very foundation of Christian faith and hope. Without the resurrection, both preaching and faith are rendered useless, and humanity remains trapped in sin. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection assures us that death is not the end, and that God’s power is at work to bring new life. This hope is not only for the future, but shapes our present, reminding us that our faith is rooted in a living Savior who conquered death. [04:21]

1 Corinthians 15:12-18 (ESV)
"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to believe that the resurrection of Jesus truly changes everything? How might you invite God to strengthen your hope in that area today?

Day 2: Rely on the Hope of the Resurrection to Shape How You Think About Eternity

Eternity is not a vague, disembodied existence, but the fulfillment of God’s good plan—a renewed creation where we will have physical bodies and live on a redeemed earth, free from sin, death, and evil. The biblical vision of eternity is robust and exciting: a life of joy, creativity, community, and purpose, where every tear is wiped away and all things are made new. Let the hope of the resurrection reshape your imagination about what is to come, and fill you with anticipation for the life God has promised. [14:40]

Isaiah 65:17-22 (ESV)
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”

Reflection: What is one misconception you have held about eternity or heaven? How does the biblical vision of resurrection hope invite you to see your future differently?

Day 3: Live in the Freedom and Joy of Sin, Death, and Evil Defeated

The promise of the resurrection is that all the enemies of God—sin, death, and evil—will be swallowed up forever. God will wipe away every tear, remove disgrace, and bring an end to grief, pain, and injustice. This is not a flimsy or abstract hope, but a gritty, real promise that empowers us to live with courage and joy even in the face of suffering. The victory of Jesus means that nothing can ultimately separate us from God’s love, and we can look forward to a world made right. [16:10]

Isaiah 25:7-9 (ESV)
“And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’”

Reflection: Where do you most need to experience the freedom and joy of Christ’s victory over sin, death, or evil? What would it look like to invite God’s healing and hope into that place today?

Day 4: Allow the Hope of the Resurrection to Change How You Live Today

The resurrection is not just about the future; it transforms how we live in the present. Because Jesus is alive, we are called to stop living in patterns of sin and instead walk in the new life He offers. Every ordinary moment—whether mundane or challenging—becomes an opportunity to reflect God’s kingdom and bring heaven to earth. Our daily choices, attitudes, and relationships matter for eternity, and the power of the resurrection enables us to live with purpose, freedom, and hope. [25:06]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Reflection: What is one ordinary area of your life where you can intentionally live out the reality of the resurrection today—at work, at home, or in your neighborhood?

Day 5: Face Suffering with the Living Hope of Jesus

Even in the midst of suffering, disappointment, or uncertainty, the resurrection of Jesus gives us a living hope that cannot be shaken. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us, enabling us to endure trials with faith and courage. No matter what you are facing—broken relationships, illness, loss, or confusion—Jesus is back from the dead, and His victory is yours. Let this hope fill you with peace, strength, and the assurance that God is with you in every circumstance. [27:35]

Romans 8:11 (ESV)
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Reflection: Think of a current struggle or area of suffering in your life. How can you invite the living hope and resurrection power of Jesus into that situation today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the centrality of the resurrection—not just as a historical event, but as the very heartbeat of our faith and the anchor for our hope. The resurrection of Jesus is not a distant doctrine; it is the foundation that gives meaning to our lives, our suffering, and our future. Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind us that the resurrection is not only about Jesus rising from the dead, but about the promise that we, too, will be raised. The Corinthians struggled, as many of us do, to connect the reality of Christ’s resurrection with its implications for our own lives and eternity. Surrounded by cultural philosophies that devalued the physical and elevated the spiritual, they lost sight of the robust, embodied hope that the gospel offers.

We traced the story back to Genesis, where humanity’s relationship with God, each other, and creation was fractured by sin. In Adam, all die; but in Christ, all will be made alive. Jesus steps into our brokenness, undoes the curse, and inaugurates a new creation. The resurrection is the firstfruits—the guarantee—of what is to come: a renewed earth, resurrected bodies, and life as it was always meant to be.

Eternity is not a disembodied, endless church service, but a vibrant, physical existence on a redeemed earth. We will work, create, rest, and rejoice—free from sin, death, and evil. This is a hope that is gritty, real, and worth longing for. It is not escapism, but the fulfillment of God’s good plan from the beginning.

But the resurrection is not just about the future. It changes how we live today. Paul’s own life was radically transformed by encountering the risen Jesus. We are called to live as new creations, to break free from the patterns of sin, and to let the hope of resurrection infuse even the most ordinary moments of our lives. Our daily choices, our suffering, our relationships—all are touched by resurrection power. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, empowering us to live with hope, courage, and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. The resurrection is the linchpin of our faith, not just a historical fact. Without it, our faith is empty and our hope is futile. The reality that Jesus was raised from the dead assures us that God’s promises are trustworthy and that our own resurrection is certain. This truth calls us to anchor our lives in the living hope of Christ. [02:10]
2. The biblical vision of eternity is not an escape from the physical world, but its renewal. We will have resurrected bodies and live on a redeemed earth, engaging in meaningful work, creativity, and community. This hope is not abstract or boring, but deeply satisfying and rooted in God’s original design for creation. [14:40]
3. The resurrection reframes our understanding of suffering and the ordinary. Even in the mundane or in seasons of pain, the power of the resurrection gives purpose and hope. Our daily lives, no matter how small or routine, become opportunities to participate in God’s kingdom and to reflect the reality of new creation. [25:06]
4. Transformation is possible because of the resurrection. Paul’s life is a testament to the radical change that comes from encountering the risen Jesus. We are invited to break free from the chains of sin, not by our own strength, but by the power and grace of Christ, living as new creations in the world. [21:37]
5. Resurrection hope is not just for the future, but for today’s challenges. Whether facing suffering, uncertainty, or disappointment, we can hold fast to the truth that Jesus is alive. The same Spirit that raised him empowers us to live with courage, faith, and joy, no matter what we face. [27:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - The Centrality of the Resurrection
[02:10] - If Christ Has Not Been Raised: The Stakes
[04:21] - Adam, Christ, and the Story of Brokenness
[08:55] - The True Meaning of “The End”
[10:30] - Rethinking Eternity: Not Boredom, But Fulfillment
[14:40] - Isaiah’s Vision: Life on a Renewed Earth
[16:50] - Sin, Death, and Evil Swallowed Up
[17:26] - Baptism for the Dead: A Difficult Verse Explained
[19:30] - Paul’s Suffering and the Reality of Resurrection
[21:37] - Stop Sinning: Living as New Creations
[25:06] - Resurrection in the Ordinary and Mundane
[27:35] - Resurrection Hope in Suffering
[30:13] - Prayer and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:12-34 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole passage together, or select key verses such as 12-23, 29-34.)

Isaiah 65:17-22 (ESV) — (Referenced in the sermon as a vision of the new heavens and new earth.)

Romans 8:11 (ESV) — "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, what are the consequences if Christ has not been raised from the dead? ([02:10])
What does Paul mean when he calls Jesus the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep? ([04:21])
In Isaiah 65, what are some of the activities and experiences described as part of life on the new earth? ([14:40])
How does Paul describe his own life and suffering in light of the resurrection? ([21:37])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Corinthians (and many people today) struggle to connect the reality of Christ’s resurrection with its implications for their own lives? ([04:21])
How does the biblical vision of eternity differ from common cultural ideas about heaven? Why does this matter for how we live now? ([14:40])
What does it mean that the resurrection is not just about the future, but also changes how we live today? ([25:06])
Paul commands the Corinthians to "stop sinning" in light of the resurrection. What does this reveal about the connection between belief in the resurrection and daily choices? ([21:37])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “If Christ has not been raised, our faith is useless and our hope is futile.” Are there areas in your life where you live as if the resurrection doesn’t matter? What would it look like to anchor your hope in the living Christ this week? ([02:10])
The biblical vision of eternity is not an endless church service, but a renewed, physical life. How does this reshape your expectations or hopes for the future? Does it make you long for eternity more? Why or why not? ([14:40])
The resurrection reframes our understanding of suffering and the ordinary. Think about a mundane or difficult part of your week—how could resurrection hope give it new meaning or purpose? ([25:06])
Paul’s life was radically transformed by encountering the risen Jesus. Is there a specific area of your life where you need to experience transformation? What step could you take this week to invite Jesus’ resurrection power into that area? ([21:37])
The sermon challenged us to “stop sinning” and live as new creations. Is there a pattern of sin or a habit that you sense God is inviting you to leave behind? What support or accountability might you need to take a step forward? ([21:37])
Romans 8:11 says the same Spirit that raised Jesus lives in us. What would change in your daily life if you truly believed and acted on this truth? ([27:35])
When facing suffering, uncertainty, or disappointment, how can you practically remind yourself of the resurrection hope? Is there a verse, prayer, or practice you could use this week? ([27:35])

Sermon Clips

Just like Adam and Eve, every single one of us has given in to the temptation to define good and evil for ourselves, to be our own boss, to do things our own way. And the result is the brokenness that we see in our own lives and in the world around us. But Jesus stepped into that brokenness, and in doing so, he undid the sin of Adam. He made a way for us to experience life as it was always intended. [00:07:52] (28 seconds) #JesusUndoingBrokenness

``Sin, death, and evil. The enemies of God and all that comes with them. Abuse and violence and oppression and inequality and injustice and heartbreak and betrayal and disappointment. All of it is going to be gone. And we will live with King Jesus, ruling and reigning alongside him, living as we were always intended to live. That is not a flimsy hope of some disembodied existence. That is a gritty, real hope rooted in Jesus. It is robust and it is exciting and we should long for it. [00:16:25] (37 seconds) #ResurrectionTransforms

Second of all, begin living like your life matters for eternity because it does. It matters for eternity. The way that you live today, the decisions that you make, the posture that you have as you move through the world, it actually has echoes in eternity. [00:25:27] (17 seconds) #PowerOfResurrection

Because when we are moving through our days, when we are caring for our kids, when we are going to work, when we are changing the diapers or running the errands or whatever it is that we're doing, chatting with the neighbor at the mailbox, when we're doing those things, allowing the power of the resurrection to fuel us, all of those little moments become opportunities for heaven on earth. Opportunities for people to experience the goodness and the grace and the love of Jesus. And opportunities for us to live in that reality. [00:26:45] (33 seconds)

For some of you today, maybe you're sitting in here and you're thinking like, man, my marriage is on the brink of disaster. But I have good news for you. Jesus is back from the dead.Maybe some of you are here today and you're facing a really scary health diagnosis of some kind.Jesus is back from the dead.Maybe you're in a situation, maybe you just graduated from college or from high school, or you're at some point in your career where you just feel stuck. You just feel like you don't have a lot of purpose. You don't really know what direction you should go. You're not sure what to pursue. Jesus is back from the dead. Whatever it is that you're going through, whatever kind of suffering might be ahead, Jesus is back from the dead. [00:27:54] (43 seconds)

In Romans chapter 8, we're told that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and me. Can you imagine if we believed it? Can you imagine if we walked in it every single day? Our lives would look different. I know my life would look different. [00:28:37] (17 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What are the implications of the resurrection for eternity?

How does the resurrection transform daily living and habits?

What is the biblical view of life after death?