1 Corinthians 1

Intro into Paul’s Epistle to the church at Corinth.

Paul was at Ephesus when word was brought to him on 3 different occasions that the church in Corinth was having problems…

We know from reading the letter that news came from the household of chloe that disputes and divisions had arisen in the church.

We know that paul had a visit from 3 people who brought him personal experience from the church.

we know that he received a letter from the church asking him for guidance.

So Paul… troubled… wrote this letter to address things he heard was going on, things he knew was going on, and things that he was asked to provide guidance on.

In this letter… coming weeks…

Church division

personality iolatry

questions about divorce and remarriage

gender roles in the church

questions on spiritual gifts

teachings on sexual immorality

sexual immorality in the church

questions on sexuality

church discipline

freedom in christ

how are freedom can effect others

so much more

So let’s get into this letter…

1 Corinthians 1:1–10 (NIV)

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Paul sets the tone in the first 10 verses of this letter… if you noticed… the name of Jesus Christ was used 10 times…

Because this letter is going to be difficult.. because this letter is going to be heavy and deal with difficult situations… he knew that first and foremost they needed to be reminded of Christ.

Sometimes… our first response when dealing with problems and tough situations… church… personal lives… is to run to a self help book.. to run to our own wisdom and strength… our own knowledge and experience… but Paul is taking this situation, problems, issues straight to the one who can deal with it… Jesus.

Come back to that…

Intro…

Verse 2… Church of God… church may have been in Corinth… but the church is God’s… his church… Paul was always going to think of what unified the church… Jesus… than what separated local bodies/denominations… always… church of God… God’s church… God’s people… didn’t belong to Corinths… it wasn’t their opinions and knowledge that defined it… but it was God’s will… god’s word… god’s purpose…

Also… in his intro Paul says three things about Christians…

Sanctified or Consecrated in Jesus… Set apart… made holy.... it means that as believers we recognize what God did for us… giving his one and only son… we recognize what Jesus did for us… on the cross… that the sacrifice made purchased us and now we belong to God. We are set apart.. we don’t belong to ourselves… we don't belong to the world… but we belong to the Lord! He knew… that before addressing problems in the church and in personal lives he needed to remind them of this… PURCHASED AT A PRICE… SET APART… BELONG TO JESUS.

Called- Root word here means separation… separated from the things of the world so that you can specially belong to God. Set apart not so that you can hold yourself in high esteem but set apart so that you can serve the Lord

Paul addresses his letter to those who have been called.... EVERYWHERE.... all people who call on the name of the Lord. Here on earth, we set boundaries… this is ours… won’t associate with others… breaks the heart of God. His church. 1 church.

verses 4-9

Thankful!!

Grace given them...

in him… enriched...

our testimony is confirmed...

Promise of the Gospel was true....Jesus could transform them… save them… sanctify them… work had begun… jesus had begun to do all those things....

verse 8… till the end.... problems… divisions… sin… issues.... forgetting who he is. Jesus… jesus… jesus… he is the one that will keep you strong… remember the grace you received… his grace is new everyday.

puts verse 10 in perspective...

1 corinthians 1:10

this is where he starts to address issues…

begins the mending process…

look at 10 through 17...

Paul makes the appeal… not on his authority as an apostle… this church is already having issues with men of God.. Gentiles, Greeks, Jews… reasons… Paul… Cephas… apollos…

Paul makes his appeal based on the Lordship of Jesus Christ…

Gospel of Jesus… what the church cannot get away from… precious possession… nothing more needed… powerful.... essential… risen savior… Jesus…

Have ONE mind!!! No matter your differences.. backgrounds… education… preferences… they can’t become truth. ONE MIND. GOSPEL OF JESUS. LORDSHIP OF JESUS.

John 17:20–23 NIV

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Gospel of Jesus must be central. EVERYTHING we do must be centered around the Gospel of Jesus. One mind…

There are other things that are important… there are other things that deserve our attention… but nothing more important than the gospel of Jesus… nothing worth distracting and dividing us… unity. Gospel.

Paul begins with Jesus… 10 times… then speaks on unity… then follows it with verses 18-19…

So good…

* cultured and educated greeks… story of Jesus.. cross.. resurrection… foolishness.... not possible… follow a man who was beaten and killed?

* devoutly religious jew… foolish… messiah… coming with a sword to conquer… no way that’s him.. my messiah didn’t die on a cross...

foolishness....

BUT… TO US… TO US… TO US… BEING SAVED… BEING… HOLDING YOU TO THE END…

ITS THE POWER OF GOD.

POWER OF GOD.

GOSPEL… CROSS… HAS NOT BEEN EMPTIED OF IT’S POWER… JESUS.. CROSS… SAVE YOU… CONTINUE TO SAVE YOU… CONTINUE TO DELIVER YOU.

UNITY… THAT’S ALL THAT IN THE END MATTERS. JESUS… CROSS…

Here’s the question… is the Cross… power for you? Do you believe it? Is your faith in it? Do you believe Jesus… can deliver you? Chnage you? Save you? The message of the Cross is either foolishness.... perishing.

Or the POWER OF GOD… to those who are being saved.

Where do you stand?

COMMUNION:

Bread: Luke 22:19

Blood: Luke 22:20