Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Topic: What life would be like without the Resurrection

• I have two groups of people standing here with me:

The people on my right believe Christ rose from the dead and have committed to follow him. A few of them will now introduce themselves and explain their convictions.

The people on my left have a bad view of religion and have difficulty putting their faith in Christ. Now some of these people will share their situations with us.

If Christ has not risen from the dead, our faith would be futile.

• Illustration: When testing, drug companies find that people who secretly receive a dummy drug imagine they feel better, because the mind is so powerful. If Christ has not risen, Christians are like these people; their faith has no basis.

If Christ has not risen from the dead, we would still be in sin.

• The most important question to ask of a religion is, "How does it deal with my sins?"

Illustration: When Smith sees spiritual teachers on Oprah, he asks this question of the philosophies they tout, and most of them claim sin is not an issue. This is an indicator that the faith is diametrically opposed to Christianity.

If Christ has not risen from the dead, we would be holding onto false hope.

• Illustration: Smith once ministered to a woman who clung to the hope her husband was still alive after Hutu militia in Rwanda had slaughtered people. When it was confirmed that her husband was dead, the loss combined with her false hope devastated her.

If Christ has not risen from the dead, we would be wasting our lives.

• Paul endured incredible suffering for the sake of Christ, but if Christ had not risen, it wouldn't have been worth it.
• Real Christians know it costs to follow Christ.