1 Corinthians 9:19-23 / In chapter 9 we are discussing what it means to prefer the weak over ourselves, even in the way we share the gospel. Paul teaches us how to have a relational gospel, built on personal sacrifice and flexibility. We take time to answer the question, is my personal life optimized for preaching the gospel?

1 Corinthians 9:15-18 / In our previous sermon, Paul was discussing principles associated with why the church should support the elders that invest in their lives. Paul builds on those thoughts this week as we consider what whether or not our motives have the potential to taint the potency of the gospel. Have we been doing gospel ministry ‘our way’?

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 / What does it mean to make provision for the leaders in your life? Do my own personal desires cloud by ability to honor my authorities? Would I prefer to protect my self-interests over the risks of the mission? There is a lot to consider as Paul addresses how the gospel is what sustains him, even when those he seres fail to support with him.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 / Paul continues to address tough questions that the Corinthian church had, this one, “is it wrong to eat meat that has been offered to false idols?”. Though this question is steeped in cultural history, it is very relevant to us today. Our question is “do we have the will to resist our desires for the sake of others?”

1 Corinthians 7:25-40 / Corinth was a church filled with confused ideas of marriage and divorce. Paul provides them with principles to find satisfaction in either their singleness or marriage. In this sermon, we ask ourselves “Do I have a proper perspective on my singleness in light of God’s mission? Do I see potential in my marriage for distraction from the mission?”.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 / Corinth was a church filled with confused ideas of marriage and divorce. Paul provides them with principles to find satisfaction in either their singleness or marriage. In this sermon, we ask ourselves “Am I content with my current circumstances? Am I grateful for who God has called me to be?”.

1 Corinthians 7:6-16 / Corinth was a church filled with confused ideas of marriage and divorce. Paul provides them with principles to help them see their marriages as hopeful. In this sermon, we ask ourselves “how do I deal with spiritual disparity in my marriage or romantic relationship?”.

1 Corinthians 7:1-5 / Corinth was a city filled with wicked views of marriage and sex and the church was confused by what they were hearing and seeing. Paul provides them with principles to protect them from falling prey to their lusts. Do you know how to guard your self from sexual sin?

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 / As Christians we have been saved from our sin: past, present, future. The church in Corinth was struggling to go back to their old sins and Paul tells them - “feel free”. But he begins to address the issue of their identity, perspective and motives. What motivates you to follow Christ over the temptation to sin?

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 / The church in Corinth has some unresolved conflict among their members and rather than dealing with it, chose to go before Roman law to seek mediation. Paul has a problem with this and we should too. God has given us everything we need to seek and find resolution in moments of disagreement or frustration with those in the family of God.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 / In the family of God there are sometimes situations that require difficult and decisive decision-making. The church in Corinth had one of these situations; a member was involved in egregious sin that was harmful to them, harmful to the testimony of the church and harmful to the integrity of the assembly. What must be done when someone refuses to do what is right?

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 / Paul had some serious issues he needed to address in Corinth, but how could he challenge the church to follow Christ if they were unwilling to follow him? In this part of our study on biblical leadership, we learn that leadership that loves is a leadership that has permission to correct and challenge. Are we willing to love and correct? Are we willing to receive that same kind of leadership in our own lives?