Paul, Sosthenes, and the Corinthians | September 3 and 6, 2020
INTRODUCTION Corinth is a church with abundant gifts. God’s grace has been poured on them. They are ministerially rich, gift-rich, knowledge-rich, communication -rich in Christ Jesus their Lord. But, while Corinth is awash in God’s riches they have squandered their opportunity for church health and ministerial success. They are like a group of spoiled rich kids, who despite their privileges, have turned to the beguiling, flashy offerings of the world’s wisdom and the practices that this “so-called-wisdom” both allows and applauds. But … there is a remedy! They must return Jesus to the center of every area of their personal and corporate lives.
Understanding Corinth and the Corinthian Church
The Priority of Jesus Christ: vs. 1-9
The Position of Paul the Apostle: vs. 1
The Position of the Corinthian Believers: vs. 2,3 • They belong to God • They are sanctified in Jesus Christ • They have been “called to be saints” • They have been called to be saints “together with all” who are in Christ • They are under the Lordship of Christ
The Privileges of the Corinthian Church: vs. 4-9 • The grace of God • Personal transformation • Gifts • Hope • Assurance
Please … understand, reflect, recognize, and return!
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2
Jesus in All of Life | David Hegg, Senior Pastor WEEKLY QUESTIONS
MONDAY What would it look like if Jesus Christ were Lord of every area of your life, even in those things you think are trivial? What about the areas that are most important to you? How about the areas of your thought life? Your dreams? Your moral perspective? Your everyday life?
TUESDAY Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks very directly to the failures and challenges of the church in Corinth. But he insists this is done out of love for them as “beloved children” (see Chapter 4:14). What does it look like to “speak the truth in love” (see: Ephesians 4:15)? How is this most important aspect of unity in the church too often eroded today? Why? What can we do to practice “speaking the truth in love” righteously?
WEDNESDAY In 1 Corinthians 1:7, Paul says believers are “wait(ing) for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” As we will see, Paul makes much of the return of Jesus (see: vs. 3:13; 4:5) as both a time of great deliverance and a time of great accountability and judgment. Why don’t we think more about the fact that, when Jesus comes, we will give an account for the way we have lived?
THURSDAY As we travel through 1 Corinthians, we will see it as a mirror reflecting many of the challenges we face as Christ-followers today, in Southern California. In fact, Pastor Tom Givens used to refer to this book as “1st Californians!” Will you pray for God the Spirit to use the loving, but very direct words of Paul to open your eyes to areas where Jesus needs to be first, the lens through which you see all of life? Please do, and make it a point to stay focused as we study this great book together over the coming weeks and months. God will certainly use this scripture to make us more useful for Him!
FRIDAY PRAY: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to see every area of my life through the lens of Jesus. And if my lens has gotten smudged, dirty, or scratched, restore my Jesus-centered vision, by Your grace, for my spiritual benefit, and mostly for Your glory, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
If you have any questions or need additional resources, email Pastor David at: [email protected]