“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58

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You can’t fly in a plane from here to anywhere without dozens of final systems checks. (Can I get an amen?!) It doesn’t matter if you’re headed to Pittsburgh or the Philippines, the pilot and tower work just as hard so take-off happens without a hitch. But what if your mission is more critical? What happens if you’re heading to the moon and back? And what does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 15? Stay seated, your captain will turn off the “fasten seat belt” sign soon.

If you want to get your heart rate up, imagine yourself in an astronaut’s seat and watch the launches of Apollo 11 (BBC) and Apollo 13 (1995 movie). It’s intense! Everything leading up to “We are ‘go for launch’” makes or breaks the mission. Success requires hundreds of faithful people behind the scenes and dozens of system checks—from launch to landing, and all that’s in between. Whether they believe in God or not, it’s impossible to overlook the amount of anchored faith needed for space travel. And that’s what Paul is getting at before he signs off 1 Corinthians 15 with verse 58.

When it comes to trusting and stepping out into life with God, hear the heart of this pivotal chapter. Paul essentially says to you and me, “You took your stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You’re saved by grace, now stand your ground. God really defeated sin and death, so living for that mission is never a waste. You are ‘go for launch!’”

1 Corinthians 15:58 continues to inspire scores of believers who seek to follow Christ. But it’s not merely inspiration; it’s a mandate for our most critical mission. Anyone compelled to love God, love people, and change the world while walking with Jesus knows this! And so, if you find yourself waffling when God’s Spirit stirs you to step out, remember you’re officially “go for launch.” 

Share your faith story boldly. Step into Christ-centered community deeply. Serve people God puts in your path intentionally. You may not see the significance in the moment, but you can know for sure your grace-empowered, God-honoring hard work is never in vain!

Next Steps

As Easter week wraps up, how does hearing “You are ‘go for launch!’” inspire or challenge you? Ask God to show you where you can take a step to share your faith story with someone, step into Christ-centered community, and/or serve people around you. If you are still unsure about trusting Jesus to save and lead you, simply pray that God will reveal Himself more clearly to you each day.

Don’t miss this—you’re more prepared to connect in community and serve than you may think! Sign up for a group or volunteer at your Willow Creek campus.