Big Idea: Jesus is Lord Over All, or not Lord at all! 

1 Corinthians 15:12-28

I. Jesus is the Lord with all power. 

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

II. Jesus is the Lord who goes before you.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23

But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.

III. Jesus is Lord over all your enemies.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28

Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Next Steps: 

• Believe: I need Jesus to change my dead heart today.
• Become: I will trust Jesus to fight my battles this week. 
• Be Sent: I will explain the resurrection to someone this week.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Did the resurrection give you hope in the midst of a challenge last week?  If so, explain.
2. Who do you long to spend time with in eternity? 
3. If you could ask them today, what would you want to know about eternity? 
4. Describe how your closest relationship would change if you both lived forever.
5. How is it possible that someone with power over death and the grave could die?  
6. Who do you know facing a spiritual battle this week? 
7. Pray for the opportunity to push back darkness in their lives this week.