1 Corinthians by Jim Leffel (2010)

At the beginning of this letter, we are introduced to the Corinthian church. This network of wealthy churches has steered away from the things of God and compromised many of their values. Paul addresses this church to challenge their morals and their ideas of truth based on God's grace. What makes someone acceptable to God is by the sufficiency of Christ's death on the cross and the forgiveness he provides in a relationship with him. Through God's undeniable grace, it can lead to real transformation.

As Paul writes to the Corinthian church, one problem he addresses in this church is the lack of harmony between them. Instead of focusing on areas that bring disharmony, the Biblical basis for unity between God's people is rooted in the Spirit, diligence, and by grace. When God's people are unified with one another it brings joy to those who are united together by God's Spirit and draws others in who do not have a relationship with God.

Paul in this part of his letter to the church in Corinth speaks to one of the biggest questions of Christianity: what is the meaning of the cross? In order to apply the purpose of the cross, human wisdom cannot reveal this. Through God's revealed wisdom, people are able to comprehend the mercy of the cross. By God's grace, the death of Jesus reconciles, regenerates, and redeems human beings to God through a relationship with Him.\r\n

Some people think the Bible is a book of super secret knowledge, a mystery such as in the book The DaVinci Code. Well, the Bible itself does say it is a mystery! But instead of some secret society type of mystery, the Bible says that God's wisdom can be a mystery. God's wisdom and His plan for humanity have been hard for people to see since the very beginning, even though it is actually in plain sight! This passage lays out how you can see the truth of God, and all it takes is a bit of willingness.\r\n

This is part one of a three-part series that explains how God transforms people into spiritually mature believers. Important steps include taking the time to reflect on our own beliefs and where those beliefs come from as well as actively searching out the truth. The key to this process is daily, prayerful reading of the Bible.\r\n

This is part two in a three-part series on how God transforms people into spiritually mature believers. Part two explains how to build an adequate foundation for following God. Just as a strong foundation for a house must be built on solid ground, so our spiritual foundation must be built on solid ground as well. That solid ground is Christ and the foundation is our relationship with him and the grace he has given us. He wants to transform each of us into servants who can put the needs of others before our own.\r\n

What does it look like to be a spiritually mature believer in Christ? In this third and final part of the series on spiritual maturity, principles of maturity are discussed. Topics include: trustworthiness, integrity, gratitude, sacrifice, and humility.\r\n

What does God say about sex? The Bible addresses issues about sex that impact our identity, spirituality, morality, and relationships. In responding to a specific situation in the Corinthian church, Paul brings up some answers to common questions about sex. Questions include: How does your sexuality relate to who you are? What is the relationship to body and soul? Is sex in the realm of taste or ethics? Is sex a purely private matter?\r\n

Following an overview of how sexuality and spirituality intersect, this teaching covers the dynamics of a sexual relationship in marriage. The proper place of sex in marriage avoids the extremes that the people in the Corinthian church were drawn to: namely seeking sexual gratification outside the marriage on the one hand, and denying sexual desire altogether on the other. The Bible advocates sexuality as both an expression of marital oneness and an act of self-giving love.

What does God have to say about sex as it relates to being single, married or divorced? Is it better to stay single or get married? There are unique tensions in living a single life such as: 1) sex and your identity; 2) finding the right person or becoming the right person; 3) disappointment; and 4) legalism. Difficulties resulting from a broken marriage are discussed: 1) what does God say about divorce; 2) are there legitimate reasons to end a marriage; and 3) what's after divorce? A testimony from Paco, who teaches a class called "How not to fall for a jerk" is included.

The Bible says husbands and wives are united in one purpose and should nurture one another spiritually. What does the Bible have to say about a marriage when one spouse is a Christian and the other is not? Paul gives three principles for a spouse in this situation: 1) have influence over the other person by bringing God into the marriage and home; 2) bring peace into the relationship because God calls on us to be peacemakers; and 3) show your spouse who God is and the relationship He wants with them.\r\n

One aspect of God's purpose in reconciling people to Himself is to create a community to show the world what He is like. One way believers in Christ can show God's love to others is to gain biblical knowledge tempered with discerning love when interacting with other people. Under grace, believers have God-given freedom with a clear conscience, but in this passage are encouraged to use this freedom to love and serve others instead of self.

Believers have the supernatural, God-given freedom from being controlled by self-interest, and can instead use their freedom to serve other people. Indeed, the Gospel requires setting aside some of our rights. By doing so, Christians fulfill God's purpose to share and show God's grace to all people, as well as personally experience joyous freedom.

What does it mean to be ?all things to all people?? In this passage, Paul gives his own example of willingly using his freedom to cross cultural divides. Doing so removes any cultural obstacle from those considering a relationship with Christ and creates unexpected, yet sweet relationships based on the Gospel. Testimony by Carolyn Anson.

All people make goals, whether they realize it or not. Christians can participate in God's ultimate goal of reconciling people to Himself by setting spiritual goals within God's Will by using the gifts and talents He's given us. God also rewards Christians who participate in His plan: they hear from God; live a full, purposed life; and will experience the joy of sharing in God's family of believers in heaven.

The Bible claims divided loyalties have always been present in the human heart. Paul appeals to the Old Testament account of the Israelite's Exodus from Egypt to point the New Testament Church away from idols and back to Christ.

Paul addressed the cultural chaos that defined the Corinthian church by calling for genuine equality and genuine community. These two revolutionary Biblical principles taught to this church also apply to authentic Christian fellowship in today's culture.

Paul begins to answer the Corinthian's confusion about the nature of the church and it's purpose. Paul answers ?Who is the church?? ? a question which has relevant implications for today's church.

Paul continues to explain the nature of the church, namely the church's purpose. The ?why? and ?how? of the church's purpose is clarified, and some challenges are given for the community of people choosing to follow Christ.

How does a church that reflects God and His glory conduct itself in the world? Paul answers this question by encouraging each individual to use their God-given talents in order to cultivate a way of life through cooperative service in Christ's community.

Building onto his argument for how the church the should function in the world, Paul encourages using God-given talents in order to minister to others and meet their needs. Participating in ministry and it's effects is what glorifies Christ.

This famous passage on love unpacks "the most excellent way", detailing what love looks like in our relationship with God and others in Christian community. Love is at the core of true spirituality and is a tell-tale indicator of spiritual health. God's love has been uniquely demonstrated through Jesus Christ and we demonstrate God's love as we believe His Word, have confident hope in His promises, and endure all things.

Paul concludes his famous passage on love by unpacking the triumph and centrality of love in the Christian life. He details three dimensions of biblical spirituality: faith, hope and love (which he calls the greatest of the three). This is because now we see as "through a mirror dimly", knowing truth but not in its entirety; but one day we will be face to face with God. On that day, faith and hope will no longer be necessary. But love will endure forever, so we should pursue deepening love relationships that will last for eternity.

The interconnected community of Christian believers glorifies God the most when it's led by the Holy Spirit. Paul instructs the Corinthians on how they can build one another up through Spirit-led prophecy. When you commit to participating in this way, it combats pride and individualism, which are damaging to the interdependent Christian church.

Paul firmly states that the entire Christian faith stands or falls on the truth of Jesus's literal, bodily resurrection from the dead. Not surprisingly, this claim has come under fire, in both Paul's day and ours. Fortunately, Paul lays out plenty of solid evidence for this amazing, supernatural event that guarantees Jesus's victory over sin and death and authenticates Him as God. Because Jesus has in fact raised from the dead, we can have hope, boldness and an intimate relationship with Jesus Himself!

Paul concludes his first letter to the Corinthians with five exhortations toward a vibrant, God-glorifying community. The Christian church should be committed to generosity, expectant for God's action, grounded in their faith, collectively strong in sacrifice and, most of all, committed to self-sacrificial love.