1 Corinthians

‘Looking for (and finding) the source of real hope (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

AudioPhilip

The motto of ‘let’s eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die’ is sadly all too common in our society. In fact, such a motto is nothing new, but was around in the prophet Isaiah’s day at least 700 years before Christ! The motto is often held as a philosophy of life, because many have no hope beyond the grave. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul lays down some of the fundamentals of the gospel message that centres on Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a message of hope…in fact, on this Easter Sunday, it is the only message that brings real hope.

Message

Outline

The Uni student & the hope-less professor

  • Confusion about the after-life
  • See how Paul wrote about some fundamental building
    blocks…
  1. There’s truth to be believed (v.1,3-4)
  2. There’s evidence that can’t be ignored (v.5-11)
  3. There’s a challenge to be met (v.2)
    Is this hope yours?

‘Meet the final encouragements given to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 16:1-24)

AudioPhilip

In the final chapter of this letter of Paul to the church at Corinth, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 16:1-24, the Apostle comes down from the high point of the resurrection of Jesus and the hope that that brings to His people, to speak of more down to earth, day-to-day matters – especially relating to the Corinthians’ financial stewardship, some travel plans he could share with them, some news regarding fellow workers they knew and final prayers and blessings up this often wayward church. These matters may not be weighty theologically, but they do matter on a practical basis and they remind us of what kind of church we ought to be – living out the gospel in the world in which God has called us.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Come People Of The Risen King
00:16 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
06:12 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-11
Song: Christ is Mine
07:33 Devotional
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
09:07 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 16:12-24
10:43 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24
Song: Jesus Master Whom I Serve
33:56 Closing

‘Meet the solution to the chaos at the church in Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 14:1-40)

AudioPhilip

There’s something to be said about a church than runs smoothly and orderly. As a Presbyterian church, we usually don’t know any other way. The worship is ordered and everything is in its place. That’s certainly not how Paul would have described the very un-Presbyterian Church in Corinth! Instead of order there was chaos. Choas when it came to the use of tongues. Chaos when it came to the use of prophecy. Chaos when people were interrupting! Rather than ordered it was disordered. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, the Apostle Paul had quite a bit to say about these things and we learn from them and seek to do them today.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Only a Holy God
00:15 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
07:04 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Song: Jesus Thank You
10:13 Devotional
Song: This Live I Live
12:01 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 14:20-40
15:38 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 14:1-40
Song: Search Me O God
45:40 Closing

‘Meet the resurrection teaching shared with the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

AudioPhilip

When it comes to ‘life after death’ there are a whole lot of questions and lots of different ideas. The Corinthians too had questions about what happens to our bodies after death, and these questions were the subject of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, where Paul likened what happens to our bodies when they die to the whole process of pplanting seeds – what you get is not what you put in the ground! This portion of text gives rise to the Christian’s understanding about the resurrection bodies that God will give to His people. To last the distance of eternity, they need to be and must be of a different kind to what we have now! This hope ought to encourage and inspire us to get busy with God’s work and put the fear of death away – as it one day will be – forever!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship The King
00:19 Introduction
00:43 Prayer
02:04 Bible reading: Psalm 16
Song: Nothing Can I Boast In
03:17 Devotional
Song: The Power Of The Cross
03:45 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
07:08 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Song: In Christ Alone
31:40 Closing

‘Meet the resurrection hope offered to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:12-34)

AudioPhilip

Sometimes that ‘what if?” question of thought just passes through your mind. “What if I’d married someone else?” “What if I’d been born in another country?” So many options to think on like these! In 1 Corinthians 15;12-34, Paul asks the question ‘What if Christ was not raised?” and comes up with some devastating answers. The resurrection of Jesus is so crucial to the Scriptures that without it, everything else falls. Paul even says that we may as well live the the rest of the world and adopt their philosophy ‘eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!’. But he doesn’t leave it there. One of the great ‘buts’ of the Bible puts things into their proper perspective!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:16 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
05:14 Bible reading: Revelation 1:4-18
Song: Before the Throne of God Above
08:00 Devotional
Song: By Faith
10:00 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
13:02 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
Song: See Him Coming
35:20 Closing

‘Meet the evidence for the resurrection supplied to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

Philip

When you compare the leaders of world religions, it’s clearly a no-contest. Only Jesus lives. The rest are dead. And the evidence for this resruuection of Jesus is something that the Apostle Paul was keen to share with the church at Corinth. So in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul did just that, reminded his readers of not only the information that had been passed down to him personally, but also of his own experience (not to mention that of at least 500 others) of the risen Christ. But this message of the resruuection is not just fact, it is fact that leads to a changed life and a living hope in the face of death.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: In Christ Alone
00:22 Introduction
00:44 Prayer
Song: The Servant King
04:26 Bible reading: Matthew 27:57-28:15
07:28 Mission Spot
Song: Be Unto Your Name
10:45 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
12:12 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Song: Thine Be The Glory
34:01 Closing

‘Meet the ‘more excellent way’ for the church at Corinth'(1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

AudioAndrew

There’s something about love that means that thousands of songs are written about it and everyone seems to want it! In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, the Apostle Paul speaks about love quite extensively in a well-known text that has been used at many a wedding, but what he has to say really applies in the first instance to the church at Corinth, who had forgotten that the grace of love is better than any spiritual gift. And what he wrote was really for the church to put into practise – in loving each other – and loving in the way that Jesus loved the church, by laying down His life for her. Ultimately, our lack of love or lovelessness, is because we have moved far away from the cross – where we learn what love really is.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: 10,000 Reasons
00:14 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
05:35 Bible reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Song: Behold our God
08:18 Mission Spot
Song: Jerusalem
11:46 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
13:55 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Song: When I Survey
34:57 Closing

‘Meet the metaphor to describe the church at Corinth (part 2)’ (1 Corinthians 12:14-31)

Philip

There’s no doubt that the human body is a wonderful invention. The fact that we can move, breathe, talk, eat sleep, is so often taken for granted. So much has to happen for everything to work together. If the church is the ‘body of Christ’ as 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 indicates, then it’s likely that the same holds true. Every part of the body not only has its own place but its own purpose and function. And every part of the body, each individual in the body is linked to the One who is the Head of the body for His purposes. That’s the wonder of being part of ‘the Church’, which exists for His glory and not that of the individual parts!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All My Days
00:15 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
07:16 Bible reading: Romans 12:1-13
Song: Only A Holy God
09:09 Mission Spot
Song: Jesus Paid It All
12:32 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 12:14-31
14:42 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:14-31
Song: Church of God
37:14 Closing

‘Meet the metaphor used to describe the Church at Corinth (part 1)’ (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

AudioPhilip

The Church. What is it? Some say a building. This is true, but only one aspect of the answer. The idea of the Church being a ‘body’ is found in the New Testament, especially in 1 Corinthians 12:1-13. The church is made up of individuals, all saved by grace, and all united to the one Head (Jesus) who brings us together and makes us part of His body. It’s this that unites us and this unity should be evident to the whole world throughout all generations as witness to the the one truth, ‘Jesus is Lord’.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: The Power of the Cross
00:13 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
05:39 Bible reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
Song: There is a Redeemer
07:14 Mission Spot
10:55 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Song: Nothing can I Boast
13:03 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Song: The Church’s One Foundation
36:48 Closing

‘Meet the cultural issue in the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

AudioPhilip

There’s little doubt that 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 is a difficult text that over the years has been interpreted and applied in many ways. But, as difficult as it is to grasp at first glance, the text must be and is there for a good reason. It seems there was a fair bit of confusion in Corinth about gender roles (is anything new?) and this seems to be at the heart of Paul’s words – which apply to us today in the realm of what you have in your heart, rather than what you do or don’t wear on your head.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God
00:14 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
06:22 Bible reading: Genesis 2:4-25
Song: By Faith
09:24 Mission Spot
12:57 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Song: Before the Throne
14:48 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Song: May the Mind of Christ
36:40 Closing