1 Corinthians - 15 Sessions

A practical guides to Christian living. Written to encourage a diverse church community wrestling with the temptations and challenges of a bustling city, this letter speaks directly to believers everywhere about unity, holiness, and practical love in everyday life. As noted preacher G. Campbell Morgan observed, “The measure of failure on the part of the Church is the measure in which she has allowed herself to be influenced by the spirit of the age.”

Overview

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians stands out as one of the most comprehensive and practical guides to Christian living in the entire New Testament. Penned to encourage a diverse church community wrestling with the temptations and challenges of a bustling city, this letter speaks directly to believers everywhere about unity, holiness, and practical love in everyday life. As noted preacher G. Campbell Morgan observed, “The measure of failure on the part of the Church is the measure in which she has allowed herself to be influenced by the spirit of the age.” In 1 Corinthians, Paul calls us to correct the spirit of the age by anchoring ourselves in Christ.

Five Subjects of Interest

Christian Unity: Paul urges, “Now I beseech you, brethren…that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

The Power of the Gospel: The gospel addresses not only our personal salvation but prescribes solutions for church problems, personal integrity, and daily relationships.

Value of Godly Wisdom: “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). God’s way often defies the world’s standards and leads us to deeper truth.

Living as Saints: Regardless of our past, we are called “saints” simply because we belong to Christ—a promise grounded in God’s faithfulness.

Practical Holiness: Daily issues—temptation, worship, marriage, generosity—are all addressed, showing that every part of life can reflect God’s glory: “Whether…ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Timeless Wisdom for Today

1 Corinthians is as relevant today as in Paul’s era. The Corinthians balanced cultural demands with their newfound faith, often finding themselves more shaped by their city than by Calvary. This is a challenge every generation faces—including ours. As scholar David Guzik highlights, “Those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints:…of being set apart from the world and unto God”.

Practical Applications in Christian Living

Studying 1 Corinthians equips us to address division, worldliness, and compromise by focusing on the unity founded in Jesus. The book answers real questions about relationships, worship, service, and the importance of living as God’s people even in an often-hostile world. The lessons are clear: we find strength in God’s faithfulness, solutions in the gospel, and direction for daily living through Paul’s teachings.

Why this Book Matters

1 Corinthians invites us—whatever our age or circumstance—to discover that we are seen by God as saints, called to live in harmony, and enabled by His Spirit to overcome life’s most pressing challenges. As Paul himself wrote, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

To study this book is to deepen our understanding of Christian fellowship, strengthen our resistance to worldly pressures, and renew our hope in Christ’s power to transform every believer into a testimony of God’s grace.

(Another approach to the study)

The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address divisions, immorality, and other concerns within the early Christian church in Corinth, Greece. He emphasizes the importance of unity, love, and spiritual maturity, famously stating, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." (1 Corinthians 13:4) The letter provides valuable guidance on various aspects of Christian life, including worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of the dead.

1: "Unity in the Church" - 1 Corinthians 1:1–17

2: "God’s Wisdom vs. Worldly Wisdom" - 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

3: "Spiritual Maturity" - 1 Corinthians 2:1–16

4: "God’s Workers and Builders" - 1 Corinthians 3:1–23

5: "Faithful Servants of Christ" - 1 Corinthians 4:1–21

6: "Pursuing Purity in the Church" - 1 Corinthians 5:1–13

7: "Honoring God with Our Bodies" - 1 Corinthians 6:1–20

8: "Marriage, Singleness, and Devotion to God" - 1 Corinthians 7:1–40

9: "Freedom in Christ and Its Limits" - 1 Corinthians 8:1–13, 9:1–27

10: "Warnings and Encouragements from Israel’s History" - 1 Corinthians 10:1–33

11: "Order in Worship" - 1 Corinthians 11:1–34

12: "Spiritual Gifts and the Love Chapter" - 1 Corinthians 12:1–31, 13:1–13

13: "Orderly Worship and Speaking in Tongues" - 1 Corinthians 14:1–40

14: "Victory in the Resurrection" - 1 Corinthians 15:1–58

15: "A Call to Generosity and Final Greetings" - 1 Corinthians 16:1–24

The First Letter to the Corinthians remains one of the most practical and relevant books of the New Testament for modern Christians. Written by the Apostle Paul around 55 AD to the church in Corinth, this epistle addresses numerous issues that continue to challenge churches and believers today.

The city of Corinth was much like our modern metropolitan areas – wealthy, diverse, and morally permissive. As theologian N.T. Wright notes, "Corinth was a place where ambition, pride, and money combined to create a cocktail of arrogance and social climbing." The church there faced challenges that mirror our contemporary struggles: divisions within the congregation, moral and ethical dilemmas, questions about marriage and relationships, conflicts over worship practices, and confusion about spiritual gifts.

Paul's central message in 1 Corinthians speaks powerfully to today's church, particularly in his emphasis on unity and love. As he writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." This message resonates deeply in our current era of church division and denominational disputes.

Pastor and author John MacArthur observes that "First Corinthians confronts the issue of maintaining pure doctrine and pure living in the midst of an immoral, corrupt society." The letter addresses practical matters that senior believers still grapple with: how to maintain Christian unity in a divided world, the proper use of spiritual gifts, the importance of orderly worship, and the supreme significance of love as outlined in chapter 13.

The famous "Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13) remains particularly relevant, reminding us that all our actions and gifts are meaningless without love. As Christian historian Philip Schaff wrote, "Paul's hymn to love is the most beautiful passage in all of Christian literature, and is worth more than all the theological systems ever written." This message of love's supremacy over knowledge, eloquence, or spiritual gifts provides crucial guidance for modern church life and relationships.

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1 Corinthians - 15 Sessions