The BBC recently reported that 25% of Christians surveyed did not believe in the Resurrection.   This is not a new problem in the Church – but it is a problem.  The Apostle Paul addressed this same problem in the ancient Corinthian Church.  To that church he wrote.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.     1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Note what Paul says, “in fact Christ has been raised.”  But is the Resurrection a verifiable historical fact?   Or is it is just a wishful Christian myth or fairy tale, as skeptics claim?   The women who were the first witnesses of the empty tomb and the angel’s proclamation of the resurrection were astonished!  Likewise when confronted by the truth and significance of the resurrection we ought rightly be astonished.  The resurrection is hard to believe and conceive, yet it is the lynch-pin of our faith.

Join us this week in worship at Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church on the square in Pottsville as we examine these two astonishing facts: the truth of the resurrection and the significance of it for our faith.   Worship begins at 10:45 am.  For directions click here. We look forward to seeing you.