Sermon Central
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The Book Of 1 Corinthians
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 7, 2022 (message contributor)
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1. Knowing Who You Are
Contributed on Mar 7, 2022
In his opening, Paul directed the Corinthians' attention to WHO they are and WHAT they have received in Christ.
Dn Michael gave us the backdrop and overview of 1 Corinthians last Sunday. • Corinth was a prosperous and bustling city because of its strategic location as a seaport situated at the crossroads of commerce and trade. • It was a melting pot of many different cultures and the city then was known for ...read more
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2. Uniting A Fractured Family
Contributed on Mar 11, 2022
We unite in Christ, around Christ, because of Christ and for Christ. Let us not be distracted by our selfish desires, men's ways and the affairs of this world.
We covered Paul’s opening words of the letter last Sunday, from 1 Cor 1:1-9. • He addressed them as those who are sanctified and called saints in Christ. • He gave thanks to God for the many gifts that they have been blessed with. • The faithful God who started the work in them will see them ...read more
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3. The Power And Wisdom Of God
Contributed on Mar 20, 2022
We did not get to understand the Gospel and be saved because of human wisdom but the power and wisdom of God. There is nothing man can boast about.
The church has been plagued by divisions, with groups taking sides and pledging their support for various leaders. • This competitive and partisan spirit was tearing the church apart. They pride themselves on men and not on Christ. • They were boasting in human wisdom, eloquence and influence, and ...read more
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4. Proclaiming Christ Crucified
Contributed on Apr 3, 2022
Our faith is in the testimony of God, the work of the Spirit of God and the power of God. Our faith lies in the message and not the messenger, in the work of His Spirit and power and not in human wisdom.
1 Cor 2:1-5 1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and ...read more
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5. Watch How You Build
Contributed on May 4, 2022
We are all builders in Christ, but there is only one foundation. Watch how you build upon it and be rewarded for what remains on the day we face God.
Let us RECAP THE CONTEXT. • Paul has been addressing the divisions in the Corinth church, honestly and directly. • The believers were taking sides, glorifying certain leaders and human wisdom. • Paul said it clearly in 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people ...read more
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6. Being Servants And Stewards Of God
Contributed on May 16, 2022
We can learn from the words of Paul to his accusers the perspectives we need to adopt in the face of opposition in ministry. Paul understands where his authority comes from, knows to whom he is accountable, and trusts in God's final appraisal of his works.
1 Cor 4:1-5 Being Servants and Stewards of God We have covered the first 3 chapters of 1 Corinthians over the last 10 weeks. Today is our 11th Sunday on this book. • I believe by now we have an idea of the problems the church in Corinth is facing. • Surely this is not a happy thing for Paul, who ...read more
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7. The Redemptive Purpose Of Discipline
Contributed on Jun 9, 2022
Paul's judgment reveals the redemptive purpose of discipline - for the sinner as well as for the purity and witness of the church.
Paul, like a spiritual father, admonishes the Corinthians whom he regards as his spiritual children. • He cares for them like a nursing mother and corrects them like a father would, urging them to walk in a manner worthy of God. (cf. 1 Thess 2:7,11) • Paul taught them in word and by his example, ...read more
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8. Living By A Different Standard
Contributed on Jun 19, 2022
Paul warns and urges the Corinthians to break away from their old lifestyle of visiting the prostitutes, counting their excuses with the truth of God's gift and design for sexual relations.
As Christians, knowing God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, we live by a different code of conduct. We live by God’s standards. • They are not standards we abide by to gain God’s favour; they are standards we live by because we have been saved from sin and changed by God. • We are redeemed, forgiven ...read more
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9. Keep The Marriage Intact
Contributed on Jul 5, 2022
Divorce is a concession and not God's original intent. If separated, remain as we are. Do not initiate divorce even if your spouse is an unbeliever. Stay and bless the marriage and family, by the working of God's grace through you.
The word “intact” is beautiful, it means “not damaged or impaired in any way.” • Keep the marriage intact, so that the marriage union is not damaged or impaired in any way. Keep it intact and complete. From chapter 7 onwards Paul was answering the questions raised by the Corinthians in a letter ...read more
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10. Single And Blessed
Contributed on Jul 17, 2022
Singlehood can be an option for some who are gifted by God to remain unmarried. Paul highlights the reasons for staying single - the present distress, the passing world and the pressures of life.
Paul has been addressing issues regarding marriage and divorce. Today he ends the chapter with the last question about marriage – what about singlehood? • Is it good to remain unmarried? Is staying single alright? 1 Cor 7:25-40 ESV 25Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the ...read more
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11. Foregoing Our Rights
Contributed on Aug 8, 2022
Paul did not use his rights because of his concern for the witness of the Gospel and the welfare of the people he is reaching out to.
Everyone has rights. We can stand up for our rights. We ask for what we deserve. • Yet it is not always necessary for us to do so. There are times when we need to forego legitimate rights for a higher good. I came across what was trending two days ago – “Don’t Treat Us Like We Owe You a Living” – ...read more
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12. Learn From The Past
Contributed on Aug 20, 2022
Paul warns the Corinthians of the dangers of exposing themselves to temptations by drawing their attention to the lessons from the past, highlighting the failures of their forefathers.
1 Cor 10:1-13 Learn From the Past Paul makes his concluding remarks here in chapter 10 still on the subject of exercising self-control and not becoming a stumbling block to others. • We have rights and freedom but watch our conduct because not everything we do is beneficial. • In the preceding ...read more
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13. Do Everything For The Glory Of God
Contributed on Sep 7, 2022
Paul set two principles for the conduct of Christians: (1) Seek the good of others, and (2) seek to glorify God in everything we do.
1 Cor 10:23-11:1 Do Everything for the Glory of God Finally, we have come to the end of the discussion on eating food offered to idols and the need to exercise self-control and not stumble another. • Paul wants the Corinthians to watch our conduct so that everything can be done to the glory of ...read more
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14. We Come Together As One
Contributed on Sep 17, 2022
The church comes together as one in the Lord's Supper, with no distinction of class or race, no division or faction. We remember not just our redeemed relationship with Christ but also with one another. The Lord's Supper is a corporate witness.
1 Cor 11:17-34 - We Come Together as One From 1 Cor 11-14 Paul addresses the conduct of the Corinthians when they come together for worship. • 1 Cor 11:2-14 Keeping to Good Traditions • 1 Cor 11:17-34 Observing the Lord’s Supper • 1 Cor 12:1-14:40 Using of the Spiritual Gifts Last week, we ...read more
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15. God's Gifts To The Church
Contributed on Sep 25, 2022
Paul corrects the Corinthians' preoccupation with the gifts and draws them back to God's intent, highlighting the nature, the Giver, the purpose and the diversity of the gifts.
1 Cor 12:1-11 God’s Gifts to the Church When the church comes together, God blesses us with gifts to serve Him. • It is however very easy for us to end up boasting about them as if they are our achievements. • On the flip side, some think that they do not have any gifts and so they sit on the ...read more
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16. Our Oneness In The Diversity
Contributed on Oct 3, 2022
We are designed to be different, to be interdependent, and to be one in Christ.
1 Cor 12:12-31 - Our Oneness in the Diversity Paul explained in the previous section that God has given the Body of Christ the various gifts necessary for the growth of His church. • The spiritual gifts come from a common source (the Holy Spirit) and for a common purpose – the building up of the ...read more
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17. The Sure Hope Of Our Resurrection
Contributed on Nov 6, 2022
Paul argues for the resurrection of the dead because Christ has been raised. He lists the implications of Christ not being raised and then of Christ being raised.
Last week we read how Paul reiterated the message of the Gospel and the certainty of Christ’s resurrection. • He has to re-emphasize that because among the Corinthians was a group of believers who denied the resurrection of the dead. • They were the arrogant troublemakers who were immature but ...read more
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18. The Resurrection Life
Contributed on Nov 20, 2022
Paul defended the resurrection of the body with two illustrations from nature and creation and used two contrasts of the old and new body, and the first and last Adam to make his point.
1 Cor 15:35-49 The Resurrection Life Do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead? • Do you believe that there will be a bodily resurrection and not some kind of spiritual existence with us floating around as spirits? • Or for the non-Christians, believing ...read more
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19. The Servant Heart Of Paul
Contributed on Dec 5, 2022
In his closing remarks, we see the heart of Paul. He meets the practical needs of the saints. he plans but submits to God's leading. He cares for those in ministry.
1 Cor 15:1-24 ESV CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE POOR – Paul Meets the Practical Needs of People 1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ...read more