Resources for Resurrection Hope

From time to time people ask me what resources I utilize in preparing sermons or series. This was something I encountered quite a bit with the series we just finished at Eastbrook, “Resurrection Hope,” on 1 Corinthians 15. So, let me pull aside the veil a little bit on how I approached five weeks on this brilliant chapter from Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.

I always begin series planning far in advance with in-depth study, meditation, and prayer over the text I am approaching. In this case, I spent time reading all of 1 Corinthians, giving particular attention to observe repetition of words, key themes, and flow of logic within chapter 15. I took some time to study parallel passages in Paul’s letters, such as 1 Thessalonians 4-5 and 2 Corinthians 4-5.

For each week ahead of preaching, I studied the passage from the NIV with consultation to various other English translations (e.g., ESV, NRSV, NLT) and the Greek text via the free Logos Bible app, which has an amazing amount of study tools accessible for free.

When I work through a book or chapter of the Bible for a series, I usually choose one biblical commentary as my main companion. This time my companion was Gordon D. Fee with his very helpful volume on 1 Corinthians in the New International Commentary series (I just discovered there is a revision due out in September 2014). Fee is a solid textual and exegetical scholar, with a balanced approach to academic and practical insights.

Along with Fee’s commentary, based upon the verses or themes of each week, I turned to a variety of other resources. Here is at least a partial listing of those other resources:

• Gerald Bray, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, 1-2 Corinthians
• John Bright, The Kingdom of God
• Gerald Hawthorne, et al, eds., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
• George Eldon Ladd, I Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus
• C. S. Lewis, Miracles
• Lesslie Newbigin, Signs Amid the Rubble
• J. B. Phillips’ words on the resurrection from Your God is Too Small
• John Piper, 4-part sermon series “What Happens When You Die?” available for free download here
• N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God and Surprised by Hope