The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 1 - April 1st

Happy Easter!  He is risen!  Risen indeed!

For the next 50 days, we will celebrate the Great Fifty Days of Easter.  For Christians, Easter is not just one day.  The season of Easter, or Eastertide, begins at sunset on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost -- 50 days.  (Unlike Lent, we count Sundays during the Great 50 Days of Easter.)  These 50 days should be a chance for us to explore our faith.  It's a time to rejoice and understand what it means to say, "He is risen!  Risen indeed!"  

Our focus for these 50 days will be from Paul's letter to the Corinthians -- 1 Corinthians 15.  The foundation of this letter is that Jesus died and was raised from the dead to save us from our sins.  Each day we will be looking at one or two verses from chapter 15 and the key word for that day.  There will be suggestions for personal devotional activities for each day, as well as a closing prayer.  My prayer is that this will help guide you through the fifty days until Pentecost and help you with your faith journey.

Day 1:  April 1st -- Easter Sunday

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NIV)

Gospel

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Activity:  Use the letters in the word "GOSPEL" and write an acrostic based on the words and theme of 1 Corinthians 15:1-2.  Share your acrostic on this blog or Facebook page.

Closing Prayer:

O God of our salvation, who gave the Apostle Paul inspired words to preach, help your brothers and sisters in Christ stand firm so that the gospel message that we have received from you may not be heard in vain; through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.