Week 29 - Abiding in Steadfast Service Part 2 | Alex Spry

Week 29 — Abiding in Steadfast Service Part 2 | Alex Spry | 1 Corinthians 15:58 & Psalm 127:1-2

Full Sunday Morning Bible Class including; lesson of the day, discussions, questions and answers. Speaker: Bro. Alex Spry

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:58 & Psalm 127:1-2

Tension: Discouragement in labor vs. confidence in the Lord

Formation Outcome: Steadfast service

Grounding Questions:

•  What causes people to grow discouraged in serving the Lord?

•  How does knowing that God sees our labor change the way we serve?

Expository Teaching:

First Corinthians 15 is Paul’s great chapter on the resurrection. After explaining the reality of Christ’s resurrection, the future resurrection of believers, and the victory God gives through Christ, Paul ends with a practical command:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”

The word therefore matters. Paul grounds present faithfulness in future hope. Because Christ is risen, and because resurrection is real, Christian labor is not empty.

This verse gives three important descriptions of faithful service:

Steadfast — settled, firm, not easily shaken.

Immovable — not pushed away from conviction or calling.

Always abounding — not minimal or reluctant, but overflowing in the Lord’s work.

But Paul adds the key phrase:

“in the Lord.”

This connects directly to the ABIDE theme. Labor that is “in the Lord” is not vain. This echoes Psalm 127, where labor without the Lord is vanity. Paul assures believers that labor rooted in the risen Christ has lasting significance.

The tension is between discouragement and resurrection confidence.

Sometimes service feels unseen, unappreciated, repetitive, or slow. But Paul reminds the church that nothing done in the Lord is wasted.

Abiding gives believers the stability to serve without quitting and the hope to continue when results are not immediately visible.

Group Discussion Questions:

•  Why does Paul connect resurrection hope to present labor?

•  What does it mean for our work to be “in the Lord”?

•  How does this verse correct discouragement in ministry?

•  Where do you need renewed confidence that your labor in the Lord is not in vain?

MacDonald Ave Church of Christ, Richmond, CA Sunday Morning Bible Class, Aug 2, 2026 (Revision.1)