FACE 22 for Asia, Margaret Gibbs - BMS World Mission

FACE 22
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 by BMS Regional Team Leader
for Asia, Margaret Gibbs

Introduction
Some film accounts of Jesus’ life end with his death and miss out the resurrection. To
what extent does our hope in Christ rest not only in his dying for our sins but also in
his defeating death by rising from the grave? For many followers of Christ in Asia, it
is the evidence of the superior power of the living God over all other powers,
demonstrated especially in Jesus’ life by healing, deliverance, and, ultimately by his
rising from death, that gives them the confidence to trust in him through fierce
opposition and to put all their hope in him for their future.

Consider 1 Corinthians 15: 12-19
The context

 Corinth was a thriving city with a huge variety of ethnicity, belief systems and
commerce. It was full of the day’s different upwardly mobile groups, had a
busy sex industry, and was open to all and every new idea. It seemed to have
no clear moral foundation or fixed traditions.

 The Church in Corinth was lively and active yet deeply divided and
compromised. Paul had heard discouraging reports of the behaviour of some
members, but also received some questions from the church on a range of
matters regarding belief and practice. This letter is his initial response to both

Baptist Missionary Society: registered as a charity in England and Wales (number 233782) and in Scotland (number SC037767)

the reports and questions. It is a little like hearing one side of a many-sided
conversation.
 Paul had preached the gospel of salvation through Christ’s death and hope
through his resurrection in Corinth, but some were now apparently
questioning that. (Even before Christ a belief had arisen in some quarters of
Judaism (Sadducees) that there was no resurrection, contrary to Old
Testament teachings.)

The response

People in Asia often understand their world in a very spiritual way. In parts of Asia
people are very aware of the different powers and authorities that dominate their
lives. Some are understood to be gods, some evil spirits, some ancestors, some the
effects of magic. Some powers are considered small and local, some larger with a
wider reach. All forms of difficulty, bad luck, illness, and any suffering in general are
often attributed to them. People may believe they are receiving their justice for their
behavior in this or a former life. Often they respond to difficulties with remarkable
resignation and sadly don’t have any basis for hope that things could be different.

Suffering in a generalised Eastern cultural worldview is considered to be evil and
something to be avoided if at all possible, whereas followers of Christ understand
that suffering can also be redemptive and offer hope. Christ’s death is the key
example.

We often say: “Jesus died for me”, but how often do we say: “Jesus rose for me?”
For example, many Nepali people have come to faith in Christ when they, or a family
member, have seen the power of God at work through healing or deliverance. Often
they have already exhausted all their other channels first: the priest, the
witchdoctor, even human medicine. When miraculous healings take place they
understand the power of God in Christ to be greater than all the other powers that
may have been causing their suffering. The evidence that there is a loving power
greater than all other powers is the basis of their hope in Christ.

Lessons to learn

 Let’s be encouraged by the many that are hoping in Christ around the world
today.

 Let’s allow examples of how hope in Christ is helping people around the
world face opposition and live daily in difficult circumstances, and let those
examples inspire our own walk with God.

 In a time when all truths are being questioned in our own society we need to
be clear what we believe about Christ’s death and his resurrection.

 Let’s make sure we preach the full gospel not only Christ’s death but also his
resurrection and live resurrection lives that demonstrate the hope we have in
him.

Job 19: 24-27

I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes – I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

(TNIV)