Seeing the Invisible God: Christ’s Resurrection and the Church’s Confession (1 Timothy 3:16)

While every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection, this last Sunday we celebrated the very day when Christ rose from the grave. In Sunday’s sermon from 1 Timothy 3:16 we consider the full impact of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

In six compact statements Paul outlines the major turning points associated with Christ’s resurrection. Truly, the church is built on this one who rose from the dead and as Paul is explaining to the church how to be the church, he highlights what stands at the center of the church’s life—namely, the resurrected Christ.

In Sunday’s sermon, I considered how this confession relates to Paul’s letter and to us. From there we looked at the six different confessions Paul lists and why they mean so much for us today. You can listen to this sermon online; discussion questions and resources related to the resurrection are listed below.

Discussion Questions

When you think about the resurrection, what is the biggest obstacle to believing? What is the most important truth (to you) about the resurrection of Christ?
How does the revelation of God, especially in the resurrection, make clear the purposes of God who is invisible (see 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15–16).
What is the great mystery of godliness? Why is it important that Christ is the center of this mystery?
Take time to consider each of these statements
- He was manifested in the flesh,
- vindicated by the Spirit,
- seen by angels,
- proclaimed among the nations,
- believed on in the world,
- taken up in glory.

What questions or observations does each confession elicit? Why does Paul spend so much time on each after Christ’s death?

How does this confession produce godliness in God’s people? How does this confession prepare the people of God to be a pillar and buttress of truth?
How can keeping this confession and the vision of Christ help churches walk with God and avoid deviation from the truth?