Why did we study 1 Cor.?

2. Why did we study 1 Cor.? • Corinth was a key city in the Roman world…

3. Capital City of Province of Achaia

4. Acts 18:1-18a 1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5. Acts 18:1-18a 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

6. Acts 18:1-18a 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

7. Acts 18:1-18a 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. There were some amazing trophies of God’s grace that came to Christ in Corinth!

8. Acts 18:1-18a 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

9. Acts 18:1-18a 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. We know more about Paul’s leadership in Corinth than any other location.

10. Acts 18:1-18a 12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

11. Acts 18:1-18a 12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” This helps us confirm the historical reliability of the Bible.

12. Acts 18:1-18a 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

13. Acts 18:1-18a 18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

14. Acts 18:1-18a 18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Paul found some life long partners in the Gospel in Corinth.

15. Summary of the Founding of the Corinthian Church • Jewish background believers • Conservative, moral people • Greek background believers • Liberal, immoral people • Opposition • From many sides

16. Summary of the Founding of the Corinthian Church • Jewish background believers • Conservative, moral people • Greek background believers • Liberal, immoral people • Opposition • From many sides The Corinthian correspondence is a great study on the need for us to unite together under the Gospel!

17. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) 1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother: • Acts 18:17a Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul • 1 Cor. 4:12 When we are reviled, we bless…

18. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) 1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother: • Acts 18:17a Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul • 1 Cor. 4:12 When we are reviled, we bless… We have some Sosthenes in our midst, and their stories need to be told!

19. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) 2 To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

20. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) • “The Corinthians are identified as ‘Those who were made holy’ and who are ‘called out as saints (i.e., holy ones)’. They were getting drunk at Holy Communion and shouting insults at each other. One of them was sleeping with his mother-in-law. The prophets (preachers) were all talking at once in their worship services and some of the women were chatting and not listening to anyone. They had split into factions, and some thought that polished language was more important than historical realities like the cross. Others denied the resurrection. Yet Paul called them ‘saints.’ Remarkable! Clearly, for Paul, ‘a saint’ meant a person who had received the Holy Spirit and not a person who had reached some undefined stratospheric level of piety. The troublesome Corinthians were saints!” • -Kenneth Bailey in Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians 2 To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

21. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, 

22. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (HCSB) 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus,  They were not beyond the reach of God’s grace, but they had serious ongoing problems!!!

23. Why did we study 1 Cor.? • Materialism vs. Generosity • Sexual Immorality & Marriage Issues • The Role of Men & Women in the Church • Nature of Quality Christian Meetings • Relating to the Non-Believing World • Divisions within the Church • The Wisdom & Power of the Cross • The Truth of the Resurrection of Christ

24. HYMN TOLOVE #4: Meetings #4: Meetings #3: Freedom #5: Resurrection #2: Sexuality #1: Unity

25. World’s Wisdom

26. God’s Wisdom

27. World’s Wisdom

28. God’s Wisdom

29. World’s Wisdom

30. God’s Wisdom

31. Why did we study 1 Cor.? We ALL have great need to grow in self-giving love!

32. TOPICS COVERED: • Gifts and Building Up the Body • Materialism vs. Generosity • Sexual Immorality • Marriage & Singleness Issues • Role of Men & Women in the Church • Nature of Quality Christian Meetings • Relating to the Non-Believing World • Divisions within the Church • Wisdom & Power of the Cross • Truth and Motivation of the Resurrection of Christ • Taking THE HIGH ROAD OF LOVE in Every Situation MAIN ESSAYS: Unity in the Body Sexuality & Marriage Freedom & Responsibility Good Christian Meetings The Resurrection