Sermon Summary

This week, Pastor Chris began a new sermon series through the book of 1 Corinthians. In this series, Chris will share a picture of a healthy church according to the apostle Paul. Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul encountered the city of Corinth—a diverse melting pot with a reputation for fierce independence, sexual immorality, and idolatry. Paul sought to spiritually diagnose the Corinthian church and encourage them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Acts 18:5–8 (ESV)
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

“Idolatry is any noun that we turn to as the source of life.”
–Tony Evans

7 Problems in the Church of Corinth

  1. Divisive Spirit
  2. Sexual Immorality
  3. Marriage and Divorce
  4. Eating Food Offered to Idols
  5. The Lord’s Supper
  6. Spiritual Gifts
  7. Resurrection of the Body

Highlights of 1 Corinthians

  1. The Meaning of the Cross
  2. The Story of the Last Supper
  3. The Poem of Love
  4. The Christian’s Destiny

1 Corinthians for Today

• The relationships between Christians and the surrounding secular culture.
• Divisions within the church.
• Ordering of church practices (ex: Lord’s Supper).
• The use of spiritual gifts in love.
• Personal morality such as sex, marriage, and celibacy.

1. Called by Jesus in Grace

1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Acts 18:15–17 (ESV)
15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV)
2 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:

2. Gifted by Jesus in Grace

1 Corinthians 1:3 (ESV)
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:4–7 (ESV)
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift

  • God’s grace is saving, sustaining, and healing grace that bears fruit and gives gifts.

1 Corinthians 1:6–7a (ESV)
6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift

Spiritual Gifts: Supernatural abilities to glorify God through acts of service.

Three Categories of Spiritual Gifts

  1. Serving Gifts
  2. Speaking Gifts
  3. Sign Gifts

Getting & Using Your Gift(s)

1 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

• Discover your gift(s).
• Learn how to use your gift(s).

3. Kept by Jesus in Grace

1 Corinthians 1:7b–8 (ESV)
as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:11 (ESV)
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 5:12 (ESV)
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Romans 8:33 (NLT)
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Discussion Questions

  1. How did Pastor Chris describe the city of Corinth? How did the church in Corinth’s culture compare to the city’s culture?
  2. Pastor Chris said that we are called by Jesus, gifted by Jesus, and kept by Jesus in grace. Do you ever struggle to believe any of these are true of you? Which one and why?
  3. Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-5. What does it mean to be “enriched” in Christ?
  4. Pastor Chris said, “the two most important things about you are what you believe about Jesus and how you respond to His call.” Share your answers with the group.

Application Questions

  1. Do you want to know your spiritual gifts? Take our Spiritual Gifts Test on the app this week!
  2. Think of your top spiritual gifts and where you could start using them in ministry. Fill out our “Use my Gifts” form and we will connect you with a ministry leader!