Bailey Methodist Church
2/9/2025
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • We Believe
  • Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
  • Trust In God
  • Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow!
  • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 ESV
    1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
    Belief is at the core of our faith. What we believe shapes how we live, how we hope, and how we relate to God. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul reminds the church about the foundation of the gospel and the importance of holding firmly to the truth. Today, we will explore three key aspects of why what we believe matters.

    1. The Gospel We Believe Saves Us (vs. 1-2)

    Acts 4:12 ESV
    12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
    "Now, brothers and sisters, 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." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
    Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians that their faith must be anchored in the gospel.
    The gospel is not just a religious idea but the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).
    Believing in the wrong things can lead to a misplaced or ineffective faith.
    True belief in the gospel leads to salvation, while a distorted or shallow belief can be in vain.
    Application: Are you standing firm in the gospel, or is your faith being shaken by worldly influences?

    2. The Gospel We Believe Centers on Christ (vs. 3-7)

    1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV
    2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
    "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..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
    The core of the gospel is Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection.
    This is not just a story but historical truth, confirmed by eyewitnesses.
    The gospel is not about human wisdom, self-help, or personal success—it is about Jesus Christ.
    False teachings often distort the gospel by removing Christ as the center.
    Application: Do you truly believe in the Christ-centered gospel, or have you allowed other ideas to take its place?

    3. The Gospel We Believe Transforms Lives (vs. 8-11)

    Romans 12:2 ESV
    2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
    "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect..." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
    Paul himself was a living testimony of the transforming power of the gospel.
    He went from a persecutor of the church to a preacher of the gospel.
    True belief in the gospel leads to a transformed life—one shaped by grace, faithfulness, and mission.
    Our belief should not just be intellectual; it should change the way we live.
    Application: Is your belief in the gospel producing real transformation in your life?
    What we believe matters because it determines our salvation, our foundation, and our transformation.
    The gospel is not just a set of ideas—it is the truth that saves, centers on Christ, and changes lives.
    Let us hold firmly to the gospel and allow it to shape everything we do.
    Call to Action:
    If you have never fully embraced the gospel, today is the day to believe and receive it.
    If you are struggling in your faith, renew your commitment to stand firm in the truth.
    Let your life be a testimony of the gospel’s power to change lives!
  • How Great Is Our God
Bailey Methodist Church
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