If Christ is not risen

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

I. If Christ if not risen, then PREACHING IS POINTLESS

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
- 1 Corinthians 15:14 -

II. If Christ is not risen, then FAITH IS FOOLISH

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- Romans 10:9 -

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 1:4 -

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
- 1 Corinthians 15:14 -

III. If Christ is not risen, then our believe is fruitless, we live in fear

IV. If Christ is not risen, then SIN IS SUPREME

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
- Romans 4:25 -

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
- 1 Corinthians 15:17 -

V. If Christ is not risen, then DEATH IS DOMINANT

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
- 1 Corinthians 15:18 -

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people must to be pitied.
- 1 Corinthians 15:19 -

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 -

Kingdom Continues

Pastor Calvin Lee

Mark 16:1-8

Do not be afraid of your mountain

4 questions asked in above verse :

(1) Why no men only 3 women came to the tomb in v1?
Answer : Mark 14:50
Then everyone deserted him and fled

(2) Why was Peter's name specifically singled out here in v7?
Answer : Peter was very much in the mind of Jesus Christ. No matter what, God loves him despite his failures

(3) Why Galilee in v7?
Answer : Galilee was where the first disciple was being called, Galilee was where the kingdom of God's message first being preached. Galilee is a place of new beginning

(4) Why were the women so afraid in v8?
Answer : They were in a state of shock even though Jesus mentioned a few times He would die and rise again. They could not connect the dots that's why when it happened, they trembled and fled. We must listen and believe.

4 words to highlight :

(1) Saviour
Mark 16:9
Christianity is about the risen saviour. We serve a risen Saviour, thank God

"If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said; if He didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about what He said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like His teaching but whether or not He rose from the dead."
- Timothy Keller -

"Without the resurrection, the cross is meaningless."
- Billy Graham -

(2) Souls
Mark 16:15-16
Here is the great commission given to all.
a. These were last words of Jesus Christ before ascended to heavens
b. Here God basically laid down the plan as to how He wants the world to be saved
c. This commission is for everyone of us, Jesus Christ last command must become our first priority

(3) Supernatural
Mark 16:17-18
a. Drive out demons when you are doing God's work
b. Speak new tongues
c. Pick serpents with hands when you are doing God's work
d. Drink poison not hurt when you are doing God's work
e. Place hands on sick and got well

When we do the work of the kingdom, God will provide protection. He will demonstrate supernatural power as we do the work in and through Him!

(4) Surrender
Mark 16:20
Surrender to God and to the mission of the servant King. The church of God will not move forward if there is no surrender to the risen Savour.

# When you grow weary in the battle and think that what you do doesn't count, that you are a failure, remember God is in control.

# He has a purpose for everythink He allows in our lives.

# We never know what our impact has been in someone's life.

# In God's economy, nothing goes to waste.

Jesus our life coach

John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Move from fear to peace with God.

5 points to note :
(1) Jesus gave us a better future than anything on this earth. Don't lose that.

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

(2) Jesus gave us an identity

John 14:7
If you really know me, you will know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.

(3) Jesus gave us the permission to use his name
John 14:12-14

(4) Jesus promised us the holy spirit. The great helper. What's with you can be taken away from you but what's in you will never be taken away from you and that's the holy spirit.
John 14:16-18

(5) Jesus gave the relationship to us

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I gave to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Fruitful prayers

Pastor Calvin Lee

Be Fruitful (Mark 11:12-25)
First, the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14)
Observation : This fig tree gave the appearance of being fruitful from a distance but had no fruit.

The fig tree is a symbol of the spiritual state of Israel. They were observing the feast and sacrifices. Observing religious in every way. But spiritually Israel is dead. The cursing us a prophetic act if the impending judgement of Israel.


Second, the cleansing of the temple courts (Mark 11:15-21)
Observation : The religious leaders made a show of piety but underneath there was no fruit

Fruitlessness instead of fruitfulness. God desires Israel to bear fruit but Israel was fruitless.


3 important areas for us to note :

1. God wants us to be fruit bearers (John 15:8)
- we must bear fruits to show the evidence of a transformed life out from receiving the grace of God.

2. We must be faith possessors (Mark 11:22-24)

3. We must be forgiveness Givers (Mark 11:25)
- unforgiveness can be a prayer stopper. We got to deal with it else it will affect our prayer life. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and the prisoner is yourself.


A. We are to be fruitful (Colossians 1:10)

B. We can't bear fruit without God (John 15:4)

9 fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance


3 important principles :
1. That you can command a mountain to be removed into the sea and it will be so.
2. That whatever you pray believing you will receive it, that you will have your prayer answered.
3. That you must forgives others if you want your prayers answered.