1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Messengers of the Gospel
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 31, 2020 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 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. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
(Understanding the Text) It is important to remember that the Corinthians were in factions saying that they followed one leader who was better than another leader. Now, Paul says to go back to the basics. Here are the fundamentals that are the same regardless of the leader who taught them. Salvation does not come from a leader but from faith in Jesus.
The beliefs are 1. Jesus, the Messiah died for our sins. 2. This was spoken of beforehand in the scriptures. 3. Jesus was buried. 4. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, which was also foretold. 5. Jesus appeared to Peter first. 6. Jesus appeared to the 12 (minus one). However, maybe Judas’ replacement, Matthias, was present at that time, so maybe Paul really meant the 12. 7. Jesus appeared to more than 500 men, most of whom were still alive at the time of Paul’s writing. 8. Jesus appeared to his brother James. 9. Jesus appeared to Paul.
Paul calls himself the least of the apostles because of his activities persecuting the church before his conversion. Then he contrasts his present work and claims to work harder than any of the other apostles. He is not bragging or calling the other apostles lazy. He is trying to make a point with the fighting Corinthians that he had the credentials to call them to account for their actions and attitudes. He clarifies that his hard work is only through Jesus’ power and strength and mercy, not because he himself had any merit.
(Revelation of God) Paul says that we receive this gospel. We stand in this gospel. We are being saved in this gospel. This is the only truth that saves us and gives us strength to stand, but only if we continue to receive it. Then Paul gets to the main point. All the legitimate leaders, the apostles, teach the same doctrine–Jesus’ death and resurrection verified by hundreds of witnesses. This is the gospel. Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the scriptures, who died and was resurrected to take our sins away.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to remember that while there are numerous details to understand in the Bible, they all point back to Jesus and His death and resurrection. Everything is about Jesus, and I need to trust You that You love me and died for me and live to bring me to You. I pray to trust You, Jesus, especially, now in these trying times.