Law -> Sin -> Death

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you receive GOD's Grace?

Ice breaker: Bring a large needle. Ask the help of a brother that if he can "fake" a sound of pain for other to hear and then show them the large needle. Line them all up in a straight line all facing you. Let them all close their eyes but for the one brother you've asked a help from. Now, while they all close their eyes, let the brother pretend that you're pricking him and let him cry out loud, see other's expression before doing so with them but pretend only. To add to the effect, bring alcohol, betadine and lots of cottons and tissues for the blood. :)

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that Grace is to be received by faith as GOD's Gift.

IV. TEXT:

1 Corinthians 15:56 (New International Version)

15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

V. THESIS:

Receive 100% GOD's Grace as Gift from GOD.

VI. TITLE:

Law -> Sin -> Death

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 56 A.D.

C. Purpose: To purify the church from divisions and immorality.

D. To whom written: Corinthian church

E. Main theme: Unified and pure living, in the midst of an impure world

F. Key word: love

G. Key verses:

1 Corinthians 1:12-17 (New International Version)

1:12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

1:14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

1:15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.

1:16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)

1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 3:4-7 (New International Version)

3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:21-22 (New International Version)

3:21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours,

3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,

1 Corinthians 4:6-7 (New International Version)

4:6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The sting of death is sin

"The sting of death is sin,"

1. Sting is "kentron" (noun:neuter) in Greek meaning:

a. a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. Since animals wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul attributes death, personified as a sting, i.e. a deadly weapon

b. an iron goad, for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden

2. Death is "thanatos" (noun:masculine) in Greek meaning:

a. the death of the body

b. metaphorically, the loss of that life which alone is worthy of the name

c. the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell

d. in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell

3. Sin is "hamartia" (noun:feminine) in Greek meaning:

a. that which is done wrong, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act

b. collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

Not believing and trusting in JESUS will cause people to die in their sins:

John 8:24 (Amplified Bible)

8:24 That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.