1 Corinthians 15:1-5, 1 “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. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Illustration: Devil’s Convention. To distract Christians from reading the Word, praying, and attending church.
The Diagnosis: Our souls are distracted. A distraction is an unfavorable situation in pursuing our life’s ambition. For example, your intention is to go from point A to point B through a straight line, but because of many distractions, it results in delay or failure to achieve your ambition in life. (Vehicle illustration: car crash, pulled-over, wrong turn, etc.) The church in Corinth was distracted and out of gospel focus. The symptoms were (1 Cor):
- Worldliness or pagan secularism (5-7; materialism, immorality was a norm, vulgar talk)
- Grace-abusing activities (5-10; prostitution, pornography, vices, alcoholism)
- Divisive spirit and rivalries (1-4; who is better, man-centric instead of Christ-centric)
- Chaos in worship (6-11; speaking in tongues, Lord’s supper)
- Uncharitable (16:1-4; non-tithers, ungenerous)
- Denial of Christ’s gospel (15; changing the gospel)
Compared to today: (1) social media, (2) work, (3) secularism, (4) schoolwork, (5) email, (6) video games (FB games), (7) amusement parks, (8) sporting events, (9) movies and Netflix series, (10) outlet sales and more. We are not different from the Corinth church. We are diagnosed with the ‘soul’ issue of distraction and losing the priority of the gospel of Christ.
Transition to Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Image: cart before the horse
The Remedy for the Soul Issue: The only cure for our distractions is Christ himself (Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.) The key verse in our passage is in verse 3, the phrase “as of first importance.” The main priority is Christ, Christ, Christ, and Christ. If we become self-centered, Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-43) reminded us, “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in his almighty arms.”
The most satisfied person in Christ is the happiest person in the world. The growing Christian is the most assured Christian. And the Christian who is focused on Christ is content in his or her local church and does not compare it with other churches. The Christian who prioritizes Christ is not insecure but is stress-free and joyful. The secret to a youthful life is not Zumba, sports exercises, a healthy diet, or plastic surgery. The secret is found in prioritizing Christ in your life.
Practical Applications in the Christian Life:
- Prioritize Prayer and Personal Devotion (first hour of your day)
- Prioritize Group Discipleship and Prayer Meetings (first avenue to grow and find accountability)
- Prioritize Sunday Worship (first day of the week)
- Prioritize Grace-giving in your finances (first tenth of your income)
- Prioritize Gospel living and proclamation (first message all people must hear)
Conclusion: If Christ is not first in your life, anything else will falter and shatter into broken pieces. It is Christ, through his Spirit, who binds our lives together and makes us able to live this world in a joyous manner. Christ is our all-in-all. Do not sell your soul to the distractions of the devil, the world, and sin. TGIF: Today, God is first!
Sermon delivered at Union Community Bible Church – Pathway on March 10, 2024. Powerpoint link
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