Signed, Sealed And Delivered

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-26.

Subject; What does Jesus’ resurrection tell us about our inevitable(impending) death?

Compliment; his resurrection is the first fruits of our resurrection!

Big idea; Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection!

Introduction/attention -

Pastor Earl had an uncanny ability to hire outstanding staff. Mike & Brigitte…Bill Mugford… Wayne H…Billy Richards…. Dan McNaughton…Scott Doggart…Janice Foss… Harry Belyrian…

But not me!

A few months ago, during one of our visits, Pastor McNutt showed me his funeral service in detail – and asked me to preach the funeral message – not because I was his preferred preacher – but because he didn’t hire me!

…As a way of not choosing one of his exceptional former staff over another - he decided to ask me – the person he didn’t hire!

I quickly accepted with appreciation.

For a good number of years now, on the wall of my pastoral study (office) I have a picture of 5 influential men …

o My Dad – John Penney

o Val’s Dad – Ed Goodridge

o Haddon Robinson- my professor & mentor

o George Davis

o Earl McNutt

(all but George Davis – who is here today – are now “absent from the body and present with the Lord”)

I first met Pastor McNutt in the fall of 1984.

I was a student at Wycliffe College in the M Div program – just a 15-minute walk from Stone Church.

I needed an internship – Stone Church had hosted other Wycliffe students over the years – like Wayne Hilsden – and was therefore recommended by the school.

I attended a service with a couple of other Pentecostal students…and was fascinated by the cultural mix of the church and Pastor McNutt pastoral leadership.

I stayed at Stone for 3 years as an intern.

I was involved in the Men’s ministry, the mid-week prayer gathering and the thriving college and careers ministry. Through it all, Pastor McNutt became my Pastor.

When I was planning to propose to Val, he gave his endorsement and referred me to a jeweler who attended Stone named Joseph Gul.

Joseph supplied me with a beautiful diamond on a student’s budget!

Over the years, we became friends.

…and when I graduated from Wycliffe and got involved in planting Harvest Assembly in 1987, Stone church helped us out with some monthly support and Pastor Earl was a listening ear.

I must also acknowledge Janice Foss, Stone’s admin person too for her frequent admin. advice)

So, from age 23 to now… - is 40 years (!) – that’s quite an enduring relationship.

And now Earl has “graduated.”

My text for today is 1 Cor 15

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. …

… 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

…Life’s grandest problem is not can we land a spacecraft rocket booster – weighing 250 tons - back on earth – precisely into its cradle…