Summer in Alaska brings long days, fishing stories, and—if you’re Aaron—moments of humbling defeat at the lagoon. But even in laughter, Aaron reminded us of something deeper: we all have assumptions about how things should go. Just like he assumed he’d catch fish (he usually does), we often carry assumptions about faith, eternity, and what really matters. In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul confronts a church full of mixed-up assumptions—chief among them, the belief that there is no resurrection. And Paul doesn’t mince words. If the resurrection didn’t happen, everything we believe falls apart.

Paul stakes the entire gospel on the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus. He’s not offering a metaphor or a feel-good idea—he’s pointing to an event witnessed by hundreds, including himself. This was a man who once persecuted Christians, only to have a literal come-to-Jesus moment that turned his world upside down. For Paul, the resurrection wasn’t just a doctrine—it was a Person. And that Person was very much alive. That changes everything.

Aaron pressed into this: if Christ was raised, and if we too will be raised, then we are living in a temporary rehearsalfor eternal reality. Our choices now echo into forever. Sacrifice makes sense. Suffering is reframed. Obedience isn’t about moral checklists—it’s about aligning with a future that’s more real than what we can see. The resurrection reveals what truly matters and what won’t last. And that should reorder our entire lives.

That’s why Paul says, “If the resurrection didn’t happen, we are of all people most to be pitied.” It’s a challenge: is there anything about your life that only makes sense if eternity is real? Have you said yes to Jesus in a way that would look foolish if the grave had the final word? That’s not a guilt trip—it’s an invitation to bold, surrendered living. Because if Christ has been raised, then your labor in the Lord is never in vain. No act of love, no quiet prayer, no moment of obedience is wasted.

Aaron closed with a simple but piercing question: If He is raised, and I will be raised with Him—what must change now? It’s worth sitting with. Not because we’re trying to earn salvation, but because we’re living in light of it. The resurrection is not just our past and future hope—it’s our present reality. Go to Him. Know Him. And live like resurrection life starts today.

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Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Paul says that without the resurrection, our faith is in vain. Why do you think the resurrection is so central to the Christian faith?
2. Aaron asked, “Is there anything about your life that only makes sense if eternity is real?” How would you answer that?
3. How does believing in the resurrection reframe how we deal with pain, disappointment, or loss?
4. Paul talks about a “glorious state change” after death. What excites or confuses you about the idea of resurrection bodies?
5. What would it look like to “always excel in the work of the Lord” in your current season of life?