1 Corinthians

Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. The Corinthians were struggling to let go of their sinful flesh and put to death the jealousy and strife that had taken root in their church.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Paul warns them that their man-centered approach to ministry was hindering their ability to grow in Christ. Therefore, if they want to move forward in their walk with the Lord, they need to place God at the center of the church, seeing his sovereign hand at work. Paul knows that when we see God’s sovereignty over the ministry of man, he gets the glory and we grow in our faith. Therefore, Paul wants us to see the outcomes of these two approaches to ministry:

Man-centered ministry hinders growth and creates division. (1-4)

God-centered ministry fosters growth and promotes unity. (5-9)

Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.

In 1 Cor. 2:14-16, Paul teaches the distinction between the natural man and the spiritual man. This is really important because our theology always informs our methodology. Or to put it another way, what we believe about God impacts how we do ministry, how we live our lives as ambassadors for Christ, and how we interact with the world. Therefore, having a firm grasp and understanding of the distinction between the natural person and the spiritual person is crucial as we pursue obedience to the Lord. Misunderstanding this can lead us to make some really bad decisions as followers of Jesus.So, let’s seek to understand the distinction between the natural person and the spiritual person and think through the impact that distinction should have on us as we walk with Christ.

The natural person.

The spiritual person

Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

The pattern of human history is that we trust our wisdom over God’s. We elevate our wisdom as the pinnacle of human achievement. This is what was happening in Corinth. They had laid aside the wisdom of God displayed on the cross and placed their confidence in human wisdom and human values. This is what caused the factions and divisions to form in the church. They were celebrating the wisdom of man. Therefore, Paul is spending these chapters teaching them the foolishness and inability of the wisdom of men. He wants them to see that it’s foolish to rely on, find pride in, or trust in the wisdom of men over against the wisdom of God.

That, of course, leads to an important question. How do we grow in godly wisdom? How do we learn to take our eyes off human wisdom and instead look to God’s wisdom? We’re humans, after all. The wisdom of man is what comes natural to us. So, the question before us is: How do we grow in godly wisdom?

Recognize the inability of human wisdom. (6-9)

Depend on the revealing power of the Spirit. (10-13)

Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

Paul is answering three questions about his ministry. What outcome should we pursue? What approach achieves that outcome? And, what content leads to that outcome? Answering these questions should shape our approach to ministry to be sure we are pursuing the outcomes God desires. As we answer these questions, we’ll actually work our way through the passage backward so that we can see the outcome we ought to aim for first. These are the three questions we’re working through:

What outcome are we pursuing? (5)

What approach best achieves God’s desired outcome? (3-4)

What content leads to God’s desired outcome? (1-2)

Passage: Matthew 13:44-46

Join us as pastor Danny Rurlander from Moorlands Church in UK, teaches on Matthew 13:44-46.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Paul wants to drive the Corinthians to the depths of their identity in Christ. He challenges them concerning where they find their identity, meaning, and purpose. In doing so, he exposes the corruption of their hearts and the selfish, prideful, motives that are driving their divisions and robbing Christ of the glory he alone deserves. Here’s the transforming theological truth God wants us to know: God chose the lowly to humble mankind so that Christ would be exalted.

God chose the lowly

. . . to humble mankind

. . . so that Christ would be exalted.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Paul wants the nature of the gospel to humble us and help us see that the gospel doesn’t leave room for pride and arrogance. It doesn’t leave room for boasting in human wisdom and achievement. Instead, the gospel only leaves room for humility and thanksgiving.

Paul firmly believes that as we soak in the nature of the gospel, its foolishness to the world, and its power to save that we will be able to reject conformity to the world and pursue unity as God’s people around gospel truth. So, Paul gives us three truths about the gospel that will humble us, sanctify us, and unify us as God’s people:

The gospel divides the world.

The gospel destroys worldly wisdom.

The gospel saves those who believe.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.

Unity in the church is essential for a powerful gospel witness. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, we learn that the gospel makes unity possible (v. 10), divisions obscure the gospel (v. 11-13), and the gospel is the power of God for salvation (v. 14-17). Paul urges us to agree on core gospel truths, avoid factions, and focus on Christ rather than human leaders. By treasuring the gospel, avoiding divisions, and promoting unity, we can display the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Join us as our pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Paul received news that the Corinthians were struggling to apply the gospel to their lives. They were filled with pride, arrogance, selfishness, and self-centeredness. Therefore, Paul knew the best solution was to help them see how the gospel, when understood rightly, should be transforming their lives. It would have been tempting to write a letter that was only about “you guys have to do better.”

But, Paul knows that meditating on and applying the gospel is the sledgehammer that destroys pride, arrogance, and self-reliance. It’s the truths of that very same gospel that we need to break down our pride and self-reliance. Therefore, even as Paul opens his letter, he wants the sovereign grace of God seen in the Gospel to humble the Corinthians and drive them to holiness. He reminds them of three important truths of the gospel as he opens the letter.

Everything you are called to be is already yours. (1-3)

Everything you need has already been given to you. (4-7)

Everything you will need has already been promised to you. (8-9)

Passage: Revelation 5

Join us as our associate pastor, Nathaniel Miller, teaches on Revelation 5. The glory of Jesus Christ is the resounding heartbeat of the Scriptures. Such glory should transform us into focused, devoted, passionate worshipers of the Lamb.