Today’s text contains two important components of Christianity. 1. The importance of a humble heart. and 2. The essential doctrine of the resurrection of Christ and eventually, Christ’s followers.  Read the Apostle Paul’s dissertation in the New Living Translation and allow God to speak to your heart…

For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed. But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:9-20 (NLT)

Do you believe the Gospel? Have you embraced the truths of the Gospel? Or have you believed in vain?

 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, IF you hold fast that word which I preached to you–UNLESS YOU BELIEVED IN VAIN.” 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2, NKJV.

The essential elements of the Gospel are the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. (1Cor 15:3-4)

Is this what you believe?

 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. 1 Corinthians 15:14 NKJV

You either believe in the empty tomb or you have an empty faith.

 Pastor Mike