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Pastor Rob Carlson: 
"The Crux of the Cross: 5 Words Say It All" 
series: PASSION--Experience Christ's Love
Sunday, March 14, 2004 

Building a Contagious Faith 

1 Corinthians 15:1-11--Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 
2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 
4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 
5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 
6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 
7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 
8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 
10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 
11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 

1. Understand, believe, and remember what God has done for you.  15:1 

• Key words: Brothers, remind, gospel, preached, received, taken your stand. 
• Gospel = “good news” 
• Received, taken your stand. 

Faith in God is... understanding (knowing/facts), believing (truth), trusting (stepping out) 
...then remembering. 

2. Hold firmly to your faith with passion and conviction.  15:2 

• Key words: By this gospel, saved, if, hold firmly, preached word, believed in vain 
• “Hold firmly” - even facing the threat of martyrdom 

3. Affirm that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  15:3,4 

• Key words (verse 3): Received, passed on, first importance, Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures 
• Key words (verse 4): Buried, raised, third day, Scriptures 

4. Realize that faith in Christ is built upon objective fact, as well as faith.  15:5-8 

• To Mary Magdalene, in John 20:10-18 
• To the other women, in Matthew 28:8-10 
• To Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, in Luke 24:13-32 
• To 11 disciples and others in Luke 24:3-49 
• To 10 apostles and others, with Thomas absent, in John 20:19-23 
• To Thomas and the other apostles, in John 20:26-30 
• To 7 apostles, in John 21:1-14 
• To more than 500 in 1 Corinthians 15:6 
• To James, in 1 Corinthians 15:7 
• To the disciples, in Matthew 28:16-20 
• And He was with the apostles at the Mount of Olives before the Ascension, in Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:4-9 

5. Remember the power of changed lives.  15:9-11 

• Verse 9: Paul, the miracle conversion 
• Verse 10: God’s grace 
• Verse 11: This is what we preach and believe! 

5 Words Say It All - Christ died for our sins.

Small Group Discussion Questions: 

1. What must it have been like to be a believer at the time of Christ’s death? 
2. Review the points and Bible verses from this lesson. 
   What personal application can you make from this week's teaching? 
3. What does your faith mean to you? 
4. Take some time right now to pray for the needs of those in your small group. 

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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