Week One: The Appearances of the Risen Christ

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” —1 Corinthians 15:3–8

Before the Church could be empowered, it needed to be convinced.

I keep going back to that.

When Paul writes to the church in 1 Corinthians 15, he doesn’t start with what they should do. Instead, he reminds them of what is true—what is most important and what everything else is built on.

The gospel is based on real historical events.

Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
He was raised on the third day.
And He was seen.

The resurrection was not just a private spiritual experience; it was a public event witnessed by many.

And I think sometimes we move too quickly past that.

After the resurrection, Christ appeared—not just once, but again and again—to ordinary people whose lives would never be the same. Everything about the Christian faith hinges on this: the risen Jesus was seen.

These weren’t just secondhand stories—they were genuine experiences that turned grief into joy, doubt into confidence, and fear into courage. And it was these experiences that set the stage for everything that came afterward.

We want to grow.
We want to live with purpose.
We want to walk in the power of God’s promises.

But before anything else… something must be settled within us.

The early followers of Jesus didn’t become brave overnight. They weren’t instantly fearless. In fact, we know they struggled, doubted, and hid.

So Jesus met them there.
He didn’t rush them forward—He made sure they were convinced he had risen from the dead.

Because once that settled in them… everything changed.

I think that matters more than we realize.

Because even now, when we face difficult challenges in life, we can carry questions in our hearts. Not always loud enough to be named, but present enough to be felt.

Can I really trust Him?
Am I building my life on something real?

And instead of rushing us past those places, I believe God meets us there.

He doesn’t shame the questions—He answers them.
He doesn’t demand instant boldness—He builds deep conviction.

Sometimes gently.
Sometimes gradually.                                                                                                                        But always personally.

And it’s from that place—not striving, not pressured—that real strength starts to develop.

Because when your heart is rooted in what is true…when you know—not just in your head, but deep within you—that Jesus is who He says He is… your faith grows.

Before the Church was empowered, it was convinced.

And maybe that’s still where God begins.

May God meet you in every question—until your heart is steady, your faith is settled, and you are fully convinced.