Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
• How does this passage relate to the previous section in 15:12-19? What is the context of this passage?
• Does "first fruits" mean that Jesus was the first person to ever be raised from the dead? What does the concept of “first fruits” mean?
• Read through the Old Testament concept of “first fruit” offerings in Leviticus 23:3, 10-14. What is the first fruits offering?
• Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-20 and note the times “fallen asleep” has been used. What does it mean and why does Paul use this terminology?
• According to 15:21 what was the origin of humanity’s physical death. And who is the “man” Paul is referring to who brought death and how do you know? How did death come to humanity through this man?
• And who is the “man” Paul is referring to who brings resurrection from the dead and how do you know?
• How many will be made alive according to 15:22? Is this the same “all” as die in Adam? How do we know?
• What is the final enemy of Jesus to be subjected? And what is the significance of death being the final enemy destroyed?
• What do you think it means that God will be “all in all?” How did you arrive at that answer? What does this not mean?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Verse 23 describes an order of events to the coming physical resurrection. List the order described here.
• Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16. Describe the resurrection of the saints recorded here. When does this resurrection take place and where do those resurrected and caught up go?
• According to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, list the order of events that will take place when the dead in Christ have been raised.
• Notice the phrase in verse 27, “but when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection under his feet.” This is a reference to Psalm 8:6-8. Read psalm 8. Who is the psalm speaking of specifically and how is it applied to Jesus?
• How would you sum up 15:20-28 in one sentence?