Joining the Rise Up Bible Journaling Study
There is no charge for joining the Rise Up study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using this article, calendar, and mini-kit provided when you sign up at the bottom of this article. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#RiseUp” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.
There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!
- Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
- Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
- Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
- Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before April 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!
Note: This article about the resurrection of Christ may be a bit graphic or cause you to feel emotions you’re not prepared for. If this is the case, you may prefer to skip over the sections labeled, Did the Resurrection Happen? and How the Apostles Died.
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen! For Christians, these three words bring pure joy and hope to their lives. Believing in the resurrection comes down to having faith. If you’ve lost faith or need a reminder of the importance of the resurrection, read on!
Why is the Resurrection Important?
Without the resurrection, faith would be pointless. The apostle Paul tells us that “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). Put simply, if Christ’s resurrection didn’t take place, having faith would be worthless. If Christianity is just about physical life, it really doesn’t matter what we do, or how we live, or what we believe. Fortunately, Jesus was resurrected, a truth that changed the lives of the children he suffered for on the cross.
Looking for proof of the resurrection? Keep reading.
Daily Importance
Believing in the resurrection plays an important part in our daily lives. For instance, believing in the resurrection makes it easier to deal with the challenges and persecutions we face. When we run into problems, believers don’t give up because we know this earthly world isn’t the end for us. It’s only the beginning. Things get better when it’s our time to head home to Heaven.
Eternal Reward
Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, the purest sign of unconditional love, we will live forever by his side. There isn’t a greater reward than this – a reward that is well worth dealing with any trials and tribulations we may face as Christians.
Did the Resurrection Happen?
Yes – it’s in the Bible. – “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee” Luke 24:6. Those who’ve attempted to disprove Jesus’ resurrection have come up short, and in many cases, have embraced Christianity. CS Lewis is a great example. But if you need more, here’s a great article on historical evidence for the resurrection.
Assuming that a person didn’t believe in the Bible, understanding what the apostles did after the resurrection and how they died should be evidence enough. What makes a person believe in something so much they’re willing to be skinned alive, beheaded, stoned to death, or crucified? What did they see? What did they experience that made it ok to die such unfathomable deaths?
How the Apostles Died
It’s easy to forget the past, but somethings should be remembered. The details of the deaths of the apostles are still debatable, but here’s what I’ve discovered and believe to be true.
- Simon: Martyred in Rome during emperor Nero’s reign, Simon, also known as Peter, asked to be crucified in an upside-down position, so that his death wouldn’t be equal to Jesus’.
- Andrew: Scourged, and, instead of being nailed to a cross, Andrew was purposely tied to the cross because it took longer to die (2 days).
- James: Also known as James the Greater, James was beheaded with a sword along with his accuser who converted because of his courage.
- John: The only apostle of the twelve that wasn’t murdered. John died of old age.
- Philip: The first of Jesus’s disciples, Philip was scourged, put into prison, and later crucified.
- Bartholomew: There were two reports of how Bartholomew died. One that said he was beaten, then crucified, the other that was skinned alive then beheaded.
- Thomas: Thomas was martyred by having a spear run through him.
- Matthew: A swordsman stabbed Mathew in the back.
- James: At 94, James, also known as James the Less, was beaten and stoned by his persecutors, then clubbed to death.
- Thaddaeus: Also known as Jude, Judas, and Lebbaeus. Thaddaeus was crucified.
- Simon the Canaanite: Simon, also known as a zealot, was also crucified.
- Judas Iscariot: The infamous, treacherous apostle hanged himself. It was also said that he threw himself from a high place located on land he had purchased with blood money.
- Matthias: While not one of the original 12, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas. He died of old age or by stoning.
- Paul: Paul was also not one of the original 12, but perhaps the most influential. Most historical documents refer to his beheading at the command of Nero.
Please leave a comment with a link to our source if you believe I need to update my list. Thanks!
What to Do About Your Belief
Read the Bible and understand the resurrection and its significance to your faith.
1. Consider What Happened after the Resurrection (in Acts)
Read the book of Acts. Following His resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to his followers which caused dramatic changes in their lives. Because of the preaching of His faithful disciples, inspired by the resurrection, the Christian church was founded and expanded.
If you don’t fully believe the Bible, read about the apostle’s lives and deaths, and ask yourself why someone would go to such extremes for something that might be false. It’s incomprehensible.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to Help You with Any Disbelief You’re Experiencing
When you chose to give your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit entered you and is still within you. When you feel lost, turn to the Holy Spirit, pour out your feelings and open your heart to the purest form of love and acceptance. Remember, glorious joy comes from not just visually seeing Christ, but by believing in Him. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that you’re never really alone. Once you’ve reconciled your beliefs, you can start sharing your faith wherever you go, thereby sharing your life-changing joy.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to Provide Opportunities to Share Your Faith
“Ask and it shall be given to you.” When you open your mind and heart to the Holy Spirit, opportunities will appear to share your faith. There are a lot of lost souls in the world today that need loving, patient guidance. Be God’s right hand.
4. Do It in a Loving and Respectful Way
Always be prepared to share your faith, ready to give an answer to anyone who is looking for a reason to have hope – to believe in something greater than themselves. The important thing is to share your faith gently and with respect. Use your God-given gifts to serve others through Him.
5. Be Prepared for the Battle and have Courage
There are naysayers out there that will do their best to blow out the candle of your faith. When you face attacks, stand strong and realize that these precious people are dealing with internal struggles and past experiences. Hopefully one day they’ll believe, perhaps because you planted a seed. It’s important to remember that any conversation about God is going to necessitate a degree of faith. The crucifixion and resurrection were unprecedented acts of sacrificial, selfless, love. These were acts that were so significant that believing should and will come naturally. If you need a reminder from time to time, reaching out to the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible will help get you back on track.
The most important thing to remember is to never stop believing and sharing the good news. It’s time to Rise Up!
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