Sermons on Fuller:

Who Do You Belong To? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 16, 2010

Often times we think of our society today as so different from Bible times. But it may surprise you that the things facing the Corinthians are much the same as today, and so is God's grace!

1st Corinthians was written in A.D. 56 from Ephesus at the close of Paul's 3 year residence there (Acts 20:31, 1 Corinthians 16:5-8). Paul's relationship with the Corinthian church is in Acts 18:1-18. He met Aquila and Priscilla there and taught in a house next door to the synagogue for 18 months. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Worship Your Pastor Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 20, 2010

You might never think of yourself as worshiping your pastor. But that's just what has happening in Corinth and it happens in churches all over the world to this day. What are the dangers, how to spot it, and how to avoid it are the subject of part two in

It had been only 18 months since Paul left his newly formed church at Corinth. A trusted family had filled him in on what had happened to this fledgling body: fights, divisions, class envy, a return to paganism, and out and out sin. I picture Paul pulling his hair out and tearing his clothes as he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 3: Don't Confuse The World's Values With God's Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 27, 2010

In today's politically correct world it seems more and more Christians are swallowing some pretty bad stuff in order to 'get along.' The culture pushes back to get us to conform to the values of our culture. Paul comes against that and says you should thi

In lesson three Paul takes aim, not at superstar pastors, but the philosophies and values of the world around us. The Corinthians were very much in the middle of a culture that valued philosophy and discussion as a way to arrive at truth. Paul's time before the Areopagus in Acts 17 was like that, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 4: Don't Trust Your Mind - Trust God's Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 4, 2010

The mind is one of the most amazing and most dangerous things we possess. It is incredibly creative, self-justifying and horribly deceiving and sick. So Paul tells us when it comes understanding God, using our minds only will never get us there.

In our series: Lessons in how NOT to be a Christian, we have seen: Lesson 1: You (and your church) do not belong to you, but to God Lesson 2: Don't worship your pastor Lesson 3: Don't confuse the world's wisdom with God's And now Lesson 4: Don't rely on your own mind Scientific ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 5: Don't Remain A Baby Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 11, 2010

One of the most dangerous places to find yourself as a Christian is thinking you are more mature than you really are. This was one of the main reasons the Corinthian church had so many problems and may be a reason you are not moving forward in your walk.

I have a granddaughter, little Maya. She is our first grandchild and, of course, she is the cutest baby on planet earth. Up until now Maya has only known her mama's milk as her food. She is just starting to eat puréed foods like bananas and the like. We saw the cutest video of her and she actually ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Should You Change? 1 Corinthians 7:17 - 40 Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 13, 2010

When we experience new life in Jesus Christ we might think a change in our external appearance, position, or circumstances will make us more useful to the Master. But you might just miss out on one of the greatest opportunities available to you.

Last time we talked about how some in Corinth, especially women who were just experiencing new freedoms in the body of Christ, thought it best to divorce their pagan husbands, or remain celibate in marriage in order to be better Christians. In the context of an overly-sexualized society, and of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:16-40

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Put Yourself Above The Gospel Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 28, 2010

What's permissible for me to do once I believe in Jesus Christ? The answer to that question is actually tied up in how Jesus wants to use you in spreading the gospel. Learn in this lesson how to put His love above your freedom.

As we begin chapter 8, Paul answers a second question the Corinthians posed. And for that I want to mention two things: 1. I want to go back to what I’ve said throughout this study. As believers in Jesus Christ we are first being transformed into the character of God (Rom 12:1 , 2 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Good Are You? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 3, 2011

Sometimes we feel like God has to completely change us in order to use us. Paul shows us that God takes the background, weaknesses, and even difficulties and uses them for His kingdom, if we let Him.

Who are you as a person? Who are you as a Christian? Do those two questions get two different responses from you? I think often times we think that when we come to Christ, Jesus basically considers us to be a blank slate that needs to be redrawn into the character of Jesus and that everything about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Let Temptations Sink You Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 10, 2011

Though so often we start out with such good intentions, things happen in our life to trip us up from serving God. What are those things and how can we avoid them?

Paul has just gotten finished encouraging us to pursue our relationship with the Lord and our being used by Him in the furtherance of the gospel like we were competing for the Olympic games, or in a boxing match where winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing! It’s a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Let Temptations Sink You

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 10, 2011

Though so often we start out with such good intentions, things happen in our life to trip us up from serving God. What are those things and how can we avoid them?

Paul has just gotten finished encouraging us to pursue our relationship with the Lord and our being used by Him in the furtherance of the gospel like we were competing for the Olympic games, or in a boxing match where winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing! It’s a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What's More Important: You Or The Gospel? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 18, 2011

We have a lot of sources that would like us to imitate them: sports stars, movie stars, politicians, movers and shakers, even religious icons and leaders. Though we know we should imitate Jesus Christ, it is often hard for us to do that because He isn't h

In the latter half of chapter 10 Paul comes back to the argument he was making in 8 about food offered to idols. The Corinthians were arguing with Paul that because idols aren’t anything, and certainly aren’t gods, that eating food sacrificed to them was of no consequence. Paul tells ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Letting The Gospel Shine Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 25, 2011

1st Corinthians 11 is one of the most controversial and misunderstood sections of Paul's writings. We'll explore it using culture, context, character, and language to find out what Paul is and is not saying to the Corinthians and to us today.

The first thing to know about this section is that it is not about marriage or the role of women in the church. It is about having respect in worship for each other within our culture. Just prior, Paul was telling us to have respect for the conscience of others who are weak in terms of the freedoms ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Who Am I More Important Than? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 30, 2011

Divisions are never good in the body of Christ. But when the divisions take place over a celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, things get serious real fast. In this lesson, we learn about avoiding the things that separate us, and clinging to that

Among the many problems of the Corinthian church was division. Earlier in the letter he talked about division around choosing one leader over another. In the second half of chapter 11 he focuses on another type of division that was splitting the Corinthian church: the division of rich and poor and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-35

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 7, 2011

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit has split churches and The Church for thousands of years. Paul delves into this lively and controversial subject in the next three chapters of 1st Corinthians. His reason for the discussion is not to provide a complete guide t

Chapter 12 might look to some as a right turn in the letter—Paul introducing a totally new subject that has nothing to do with what came before. Although it appears to an answer to yet another question from the Corinthians, the undertone of the letter continues—“let the gospel shine brighter than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How To Find Your Place In The Body Of Christ Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 13, 2011

Finding your place in the body of Christ is made difficult by the very nature of the spiritual gifts. People with upfront or flamboyant kinds of ministries can make the rest of us feel insignificant, like we are not contributing or maybe just aren't a par

As humans we like two things: to impress and be impressive. That was one of the main problems the Corinthians faced in many areas including spiritual gifts. The more flamboyant the gift, the more impressive the show of the Spirit, the better. So in chapters 12 through 14 Paul corrects this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel