Here is our new reading schedule. We will be reading and re-reading much of the NT this year as there are less chapters than the OT AND, more importantly, that is one way the Holy Spirit uses to get these great truths into our lives by grace 🙂 !!!

It was a joy to our hearts to be together last night for the Word and the game. Have a great day! Here are the notes and appendix item / quote below as well for those we missed due to the weather!
In His love,
Eric & Jodi

11: 1 Corinthians: the Organization of the Kingdom

Intro: in contrast to a more “teaching” book of Romans, in this book “get the opportunity to peek over the apostles shoulders as they deal with real problems that real churches were facing during the New Testament period… Corinth was a cosmopolitan city, situated in Greece on the main route from Rome to the East. It was a center of business, travel and culture and diversity.” (D);

Corinth was a great hub for spreading the gospel (and other ideologies too) by people naturally coming and going through Corinth; they loved ideas therefore orators were like “rock stars” who charged large sums of money for people to hear them speak beautifully about whatever ideas; this church was founded on Paul’s 2nd missionary journey (Acts 13); most likely four Corinthian letters from Paul: the first has since been lost (1 Cor 5:9), this is the 2nd letter probably written in 55 AD, the 3rd letter is the “harsh” letter (2 Cor ___); and the 4th is our 2nd Corinthians; Paul showed great concern and care for these saints;

Theme: Paul wants this church, divided because of the arrogance of its more powerful members, to work together for the advancement of the gospel. He wants them to drop their divisive one-upmanship, build up the faith of those who are weak, and witness effectively to unbelievers[1].

Key Question: “How ought the church behave so as to reflect to the watching world the character of God?” (D)

Outline: Introduction (1:1-9)

I. Sin in the Body of Christ (1:10 6:20): A. Divisions (1:10-4:21); B. Discipline (chapter 5); C. Lawsuits (6:1-8); D. Impurity (6:9-20);

II. Paul’s Answers to their Questions (7:1 11:1); A. Celibacy, Marriage & Divorce (Chapter 7); B. Rights and Responsibilities (8:1-11:1); C. Public Worship (11:2-14:40); 1. The role of Women in the church (11:2-16); 2. Lords supper (11:17-34); 3. Spiritual gifts (12-14); D. The Resurrection (chapter 15)

Conclusion (chapter 16)

I. A Gospel-CenteredChurch Promotes UNITY

v 1:10-12, 26-31 rival factions: culture of following popular speakers and “amazing” ideas had crept into the church; answer: God is the one who placed you in Christ, not your leader

v 3:1-4 disunity’s root: “The root cause of the churchs division was and continues to be worldliness and immaturity” (D).

v 11:18, 15:1-8 true unity is around common, “bulls-eye” beliefs: What are the doctrines that if not believed one is not saved? “In things essential unity; in things indifferent liberty; in all things charity.”[2]

II. AGospel-CenteredChurch Promotes HOLINESS

v 5:1-3 blatant immorality accepted to show their great tolerant liberty

v 6:9-10 purity and 3:18-20 strangeness to the world: call to radical holiness

v 5:4-5, 11, 13 church discipline – holiness maters: if not living like a Christian we should be concerned for their salvation; done in love to restore

III. AGospel-CenteredChurch Promotes EDIFICATION

v Disorderly church gatherings – selfishness abounding: “the role of men and women in the church (11:2 16); abuse of the Lords Supper (11:17-34); and the exercise of the Spirits gifts, especially those that seem more spectacular [tongues,
teaching, etc.]. This church was so disorderly that their meetings do more harm than good (11:17)” (D). Answer: “Use our liberty in Christ to serve and care for others (8:4-6, 9, 12; 12:14-27)

Application: 1. Love one another without selfishness: Christ says what good is it if we just love those who love us (Luke 6:27-36)? Which of the five ways the Bible speaks of God’s love is the ground for our loving our enemies (inter-Trinitarian love, providential love, yearning/saving love, seeking love, or conditional love)?[3] Agape love is misunderstood to only mean love of the will (see D.A. Carson quote in Appendix section); if so we could do nice acts towards another while “hating their guts” to quote Carson; 1 Cor 13:3 makes this void; so what IS this LOVE for enemies? 1 Cor 13:4-7 answers it; What is the implication and therefore root of this in our Love for God? Matt 22:34-40 quotes Deut 6:5; key verse: Deut 28:47-48 do we have joy and a glad heart in God? How do we do this? Love God, overflow in love to others from new birth;

2. How does Paul say we can promote holiness? 10:4-6, 11-12 learn the lesson from Israel about the dangers to your soul in grumbling; what is the sin? unbelief that God is enough and will fulfill his promises to you; they failed to live in hope of this future grace and promises as certain; holiness is promoted in community by the Holy Spirit through hoping in the promises of God;