1 Corinthians focuses on what it means to be part of a gospel-shaped community of God's grace. In conclusion mode, Paul is getting very practical and talking about future plans and is sending his own greetings along with greetings from other believers.
The final chapter of 1 Corinthians seems a bit anticlimactic. But through these final instructions, we see a portrait of the kind of community that the church is supposed to be. It's one that mends what's torn, that rights what's wrong — that reconciles.
What does the reality of the resurrection say about the present and future for God's people? Paul answers this with the language of victory. When Jesus returns, He will not only resurrect His saints who are dead but will also transform those who are living.
From time immemorial, humanity has considered the certainty of death and what comes after. God has planted within every person a desire for an eternal existence. In the remaining part of this chapter, moves from the resurrection of the Savior to the saint.
What makes Christianity so different can be traced to a simple moment in time — Jesus Christ was permanently and eternally resurrected from the dead in an incorruptible, immortal, eternal, heavenly body. On that rock lies the foundation of Christianity.
Christianity hinges on the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ! After many chapters detailing the Corinthians sinful past, Paul makes the turn in 1 Corinthians 15 to describe their glorious future that is only possible through the Gospel itself.
Since 1 Corinthians 11, Paul has been talking about life within the body of Christ and orderly worship. Every gift must be exercised in a way that is fitting and orderly. This order includes important distinctions in God’s roles and design for men and women.
Dealing with the subject of speaking in tongues is akin to handling spiritual nitroglycerin. This subject has fueled debates, ignited arguments, and divided churches. Wherever you land on the issue, we must agree on building up the body and loving one another.
In all of Paul's writings about the Holy Spirit, one thing we can derive from this chapter is that the fruit of the Spirit, namely love, is more important than the gifts of the Spirit. No spiritual gift, ability, or human achievement is greater than love.
Different gifts are given to believers, and all gifts are for the glory of God and the good of the church. As that gift is exercised in the body of Christ, the believer will be fulfilling his or her role of ministry and service to which all of us are called.
Some of the most interesting and richest teaching of Christian doctrine and practical Christian living is found in 1 Corinthians, and perhaps no part of the book is more interesting from that perspective than chapters 12-14, which deal with spiritual gifts.
Few acts are more expressive of companionship than a shared meal. The dinner table is a place where community is created and sustained, where hospitality is extended and conversation experienced. It is also a place where communal dysfunction or breakdown is seen and felt. This past Sunday we explored the most famous meal - the Lord’s Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 can be a very confusing passage to our modern ears. This passage marks a thought transition in the letter to the Corinthian believers. Paul has been talking about how the members of the church were to exercise their rights and liberties outside of the context of worship. Now Paul begins to talk about how the members of the church should exercise their rights and liberties within the context of worship.
"Why did God create me?” “Why did God save me through the Lord Jesus?" Interestingly, the answer to both of those is the same. God created us and saved us so that we may glorify him every day and in every way throughout our lives (1 Cor 10:31; cf. Rom 11:36).
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, Paul gives an Old Testament history lesson and warning for Christians moving forward - Idolatry in any form is deadly, because it puts you at odds with God.
The present era has been dubbed “the Age of Entitlement”. We expect to get what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. We’ve grown up in a culture that tells us life is about us. Live your truth. Do what makes you happy. It’s all about you.
The Corinthian church was well versed in knowledge; yet that knowledge was being used in a prideful way, and ultimately harming the conscience of new converts and babes in the faith. As we continue this week in 1 Corinthians 8, Paul steps in to explain that knowledge blows up, but love is what builds up, and the Christian must always be willing to yield their preferences and rights for the sake of others.
Like we all do, the Corinthians struggled with contentment. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Paul provides principles to help focus our devotion and reset our perspective. Whatever season of life we’re in or circumstances we are facing, our highest aim and greatest goal is to serve Christ.
Much like our day, the Christians of Corinth were confused about the basics of singleness, marriage, and divorce. As we continue our series in 1 Corinthians, Paul explains the four familial categories everyone will find themselves in, and gives answers on how to operate in a way that brings honor to Christ. While not easy, honoring Christ in all circumstances is always best.
Similar to our own culture, the sexualized culture of Corinth had confused Christians about marriage and appropriate sexual conduct. In response, Paul provides clarity on the importance of marriage, and how a couple should be selfless in the marriage bed.
Our new identity in Christ should direct everything we do. We no longer belong to ourselves, we belong to Christ. Sadly, the Corinthian church still believed that they could follow Christ with their soul, while using their bodies for anything they wanted to, including sexual sin. Paul instructs them that Christ died for their body, and has a future for their body; therefore, their body must be used to glorify Him. In all things, Christ must be Lord!
The Corinthian church had splintered and was using pagan civil courts to solve their petty disputes. They forgot that Christ gave them a new heart, Spirit and Word to guide their relationships. We are called to live differently and show each other Christ's love.
As we continue our study of 1 Corinthians, Paul confronts Corinthian sin head-on, enacting church discipline in order to protect the purity of Christ's bride. In this sermon, we learn what church discipline is, why it exists, how it’s done and the right heart that goes along with it. The process of caring for one another in this way is critically important in the life of a believer and the life of the church.
Our lives are influenced by many things - our attitudes, beliefs, people. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul challenges us to be leaders who faithfully follow Christ, who allow our lives to be an example to others and he urges us to be wise in who we let influence us.
The church at Corinth looked effective on the outside, but was quite immature on the inside. So much so, that Paul calls the congregation spiritual infants. It’s clear, Christians are expected to grow and profess in their maturity in Christ, but how does this happen. In 1 Corinthians 3, we see the marks of an immature church along with the path to Christian maturity.
In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Paul details the Holy Spirit's role in revealing and inspiring God's Word to the Apostles and the Spirit's role in helping us interpret and extract wisdom from his word. We need God’s wisdom and this only comes by His word and His Holy Spirit.
Not unlike today, Corinth was a city with differing ideas of wisdom and worldviews. Some worshipped pagan gods. Others trusted human ingenuity and wisdom. The Corinthian church had begun to get caught up in trusting celebrity preachers and human philosophies, which was ultimately dividing their congregation. So, Paul reminds them of the simple and humble gospel message, that to the world the cross seems foolish, but it is actually the wisdom of God.
The Corinthian church had begun to get caught up in trusting celebrity preachers and human philosophies, which divided their congregation. Paul humbles them with the simple gospel message: To the world the cross seems foolish, but it is the wisdom of God.
Times of confusion and chaos demand clarity and courage. God’s letter to the Church of Corinth, penned by the apostle Paul, contains a frank discussion on a number of issues related to both life and doctrine that are equally as relevant to The Church today.