Chronos - 1 Corinthians 1 Series

This week we continue our series called Chronos. A term which means time. We have decided to study the scriptures this year in the order they were published. It gives us a very unique insight into the early church and the struggles of a growing movement. This review of history is important because The Center’s leadership believes we are on the cuspid of a great awakening in America. An awakening that will challenge the status quo of the current Christian industrial complex. An institution more concerned with Attendance, Buildings and Cash than the Gospel, Grace and Growth of the kingdom.

This week we begin the book of Corinthians. It’s another book written by Paul around 25 years after Jesus' earthly ministry. Corinth is the original sin city. It was a transitional city and as such there was a lot of anonymity. As a Coastal town people were always coming and going. Some for vacation, most for business. The community was know for their worship of the goddess of sex. They had one of the largest temples devoted to her and the idea of fertility. The temple operated with over 1000 prostitutes where every man was supposed to go once a year and participate in “worship” to ensure all aspects of creation would be favorable for him and his family. You can see why when you called somebody a corinthian back then, you were saying they were living without morality. After his 1 ½ years planting the church, Paul left behind Apollos who was an amazing preacher/teacher and yet, we can see from this book the people still had questions. The immorality of the culture was so rampant that Paul had to address everything from why church potlucks should not turn into drunken frat parties and worship to the one true God like kids first birthday party at chuck e cheese restaurant. The book of Corinithians is a great resource for the early church and the struggles a new body of faith must wrestle with and why it's so important to have good leaders willing to engage in and walk beside people who are dealing with life on life’s terms. We will begin our study today by opening your bible or bible app to 1 Cor 1:1:

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the style of the day, the person writing the letter declares himself and to whom the letter is written. Now, there is a churchee word in the second verse. Sanctified means “set apart.” Paul is reminding everyone by this statement that as followers of Jesus we are “set apart” from the standards of this world and called to a higher standard. We are to try to be like Jesus, and as a part of that commitment, we are bonded to one another like people of the same family. Which in the eastern context, unlike our western context, meant reliant on and loyal to each other for survival, safety and reputation. There wasn’t a welfare system. There wasn’t a social security system. A government food program. A retirement check. When you made a commitment to a group outside your birth family or class, you said goodbye to the old and relied on the new.

Now, knowing the church he had planted had gone off the rails a little, it’s so inspiring to see Paul’s leadership. He doesn’t give up on them or disassociate from them. Paul lives the gospel message and His commitment by writing letters that begin and end with love and care. Take a listen

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Underline the word grace. Grace means unmerited favor. It is closely tied to mercy which means unmerited forgiveness. Paul is gently reminding them of God’s favor or blessing that is upon them. A favor from God is different from a favor provided by anyone on earth. God’s favor provides you with more than you can imagine or know or understand. It is without equal. I struggle with an equal analogy because they all break down in the end. The closest I could come up with was: Imagine for one moment that Your greatest adversary in life is coming to you handing over all they have, telling you everything about themselves and then sincerely helping you to achieve the greatest victory of all time that has you playing a significant role in saving humanity from extinction.