1 CORINTHIANS LETTER TO A PROBLEM CHURCH PAUL

1 CORINTHIANS LETTER TO A “PROBLEM CHURCH”

PAUL & THE CHURCH AT CORINTH q. Paul’s ministry there spanned 18 months q. Preached in synagogue, but b/c of opposition, turned to Gentiles q. Eventually wrote a total of at least 4 letters & made 4 visits to Corinth q. There was obviously some opposition to Paul’s authority w/in the church q. Paul wrote 1 Cor in response to (a) a report from “Chloe’s people” & (b) a letter from the Corinthians to Paul

THE PROBLEMS AT CORINTH Report from “Chloe’s People”: *Disunity (chaps. 1 -4) *Incest & Need for Discipline (5) *Immorality & Lawsuits among Members (6) Questions asked by the Corinthians by Letter: *Marriage Issues (7) *Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols (8 -10) *Lord’s Supper & Role of Women (11) *Abuse of Spiritual Gifts (12 -14) *Resurrection of Christian Dead (15) *Contribution for Poor in Judea (16)

RELEVANCE OF 1 CORINTHIANS v. Many practical concerns of 1 Cor have parallels today: Diversity of Beliefs about Matters of Opinion Worship (Role of Women, Use of Gifts) Church Discipline Marital Concerns Dealing with Misunderstandings/False Teachings

1 CORINTHIANS: LESSONS FOR TODAY 1. Believers should always respond to ____ & not to ____. 2. It is always a _____ to be Christian in an un-Christian world. 3. The ________ is the solution to problems of disunity. 4. The church is one _____, & what we do affects _____. 5. All churches have ______, & that doesn’t mean we’re not the church.

1 CORINTHIANS: KEY VERSE “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ” 1 Corinthians 2: 2