Long Island Abundant Life Church長島豐盛生命教會
  • Home
    • About Us 關於教會 >
      • Mission Statement - 使命宣言
      • Statement of Faith - 信仰立場
      • Biblical Marriage - 合乎聖經的婚姻
      • Church Leadership - 教會同工
      • Doc, membership - 文件, 會員
      • Contact Us - 聯絡我們
      • Directions - 路線圖
      • Ministry opening - English Pastor
  • Chinese Ministry 華語事工
    • 崇拜
    • 講道集 >
      • 主日信息
      • 特會 / 講座
    • 主日學
    • 門訓小組 >
      • 門訓小組介紹
    • 團契
    • 讀經
  • English Ministry 英文事工
  • Youth 少年事工
    • Worship
    • Sunday School
    • Youth Fellowship
    • Events
    • Our Vision
    • Connect with Us
    • Parent Resources
    • Youth Prayer Requests
  • Children's Ministry 兒童事工
    • Children's Worship - 兒童崇拜 >
      • Children's Songs - 歌曲
      • Junior Worship, Archive - 學習內容
      • Junior Worship, Current - 學習內容
      • Preschool Worship, Archive - 幼兒崇拜
    • Sunday School - 主日學 >
      • Preschool - 低年級
      • Middlers, Current - 高年級
      • Elementary, Archive - 高年級
    • VBS-特别暑期聖經班 >
      • EVENTS- 特別活動
    • Nursery - 幼兒照顧
    • Resources - 資源
  • Missions/Evangelism 宣教/佈道
    • *Global Missions 全球宣教
    • *Missions Ministry 宣教事工
  • Chinese School 中文學校
  • Church Activities / News / Calendar 教會活動 / 消息 / 行事曆
    • 教牧心聲Pastoral & Coworkers' Sharing
    • 教會事工Church Ministry
    • Special/urgent 特別/緊急
    • Calendar 教會行事曆
    • Bulletin 週報
    • Archive 檔案 >
      • Pray for Hindus 2018 為印度人禱告
      • Seek God 2019 尋求神
      • Misc. 其他
  • Chinese Student Ministry 学生事工
    • Campus Ministry 校园事工
    • CSF 衣
    • CSF 食
    • CSF 住
    • CSF 行
  • Links 资源鏈接

1 Corinthians 1:1–17

8/28/2012

 
Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.

Introduction to 1 Corinthians: Don't Empty the Cross of Its Power
As always, I want to give some quick introductory material as begin a new book (in this case, letter).  Here's what the ESV notes have to say as an introduction to 1 Corinthians:

"The city of Corinth was at the heart of an important trade route in the ancient world. Like many cities that thrive on trade, Corinth had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. The church that Paul planted there (Acts 18) floundered under all of these influences and began to divide over various issues. First Corinthians addresses many practical questions dividing the church—questions concerning such things as spiritual gifts, marriage, food offered to idols, and the resurrection. Paul urged the Corinthians to be unified and to give themselves fully to “the work of the Lord” (15:58). Chapter 13 includes a well-known passage on the nature and importance of love. Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus about A.D. 55." [1]

Also, here's a really helpful outline of the book to give you the "big picture" of what it's about:

" A.      Introduction (1:1–9)
      1.      Greeting (1:1–3)
      2.      Thanksgiving (1:4–9)
    B.      Reported problems at Corinth (1:10–6:20)
      1.      Factions within the church because of the misunderstanding of Christian leadership’s (Paul, Apollos, Peter) motives and message (1:10–4:12)
      2.      Shocking immorality (5:1–13)
      3.      Christian lawsuits (6:1–11)
      4.      Christian freedom limited by responsibility (6:12–20)
    C.      A letter from Corinth asking the nagging questions (7:1–1–16:4)
      1.      Human sexuality (7:1–40)
      2.      Relationship to an idolatrous culture and Christian freedom (8:1–11:1)
      3.      Christian worship and spirituality (11:2–14:40)
      4.      Insights on eschatology, especially the resurrection (15:1–58)
      5.      The contribution for the mother church in Jerusalem (16:1–4)
    D.      Concluding remarks
      1.      Paul’s (and his fellow ministers) travel plans (16:5–12)
      2.      Final exhortation and greetings (16:13–24)
" [2]

In closing, I just want to say that I think this is a VERY important book.  Romans is important for its deep theology; 1 Corinthians is important for its deeply practical nature.  The church in Corinth was messed up, but the fact is that many of our churches today are ridiculously messed up as well (many of them in exactly the same ways).

Take a look at today's reading: what's the issue?  Division.  Why?  Because rather than following Jesus, people instead follow factions and heroes.  Paul appeals to them to have unity FOR THE NAME OF JESUS.  Jesus is not divided, therefore we shouldn't be.  The Gospel is not for the purpose of making "teams".  The Gospel is not about who wins and who loses.  The Gospel is not about eloquent words, lest the cross be emptied of its power.

Our goal is not to be the most powerful or liked or to have our group "win" the argument with nice words.  The cross is about sacrifice.  Don't empty the cross of its power.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co.
[2] Robert James Utley, vol. Volume 6, Paul’s Letters to a Troubled Church: I and II Corinthians, Study Guide Commentary Series (Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2002), 5.
Andrei
8/28/2012 03:01:32 pm

The opening of 1 Corinthians made me think about Paul's opening remarks. Not sure if it is similar in the other Epistles, but I love the way that Paul starts out the greetings by always pointing to Jesus over everything, and, in the case of Romans and 1 Corinthians at least, communicates sincere love, thanksgiving, and concern.

Greg
8/29/2012 04:04:02 am

Good observation. We probably won't be able to spend much time on it, but Paul's opening remarks (also in other letters like Peter and John) are often very significant both theologically and in understanding the letter. They're good in their own right, showing his care and prayers, but there's often even more than that there if you're looking closely. I think Philippians is a good example - we'll probably zero in on that one later.

Thanks for the good thought!


Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.