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In 1 Corinthians Chap. 3, Paul presented three pictures of the local church.

Now he presents three pictures of the minister. We will cover the first two this

morning.

1. A Steward - (1 Cor.4:1-6)

2. A Spectacle - (1 Cor. 4:7-13)

3. A Father - (1 Cor. 4:14-21)

We saw the issue which Paul addresses is the fact that the Corinthian Christians were acting like people who do not have the Holy Spirit. This is how he defines carnal believers. They were spiritual in that they had the Holy Spirit and were saved people. Verse 9 is a transition verse. Paul now changes his metaphor from that of a field to that of a building. (9) “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.”

To truly live the Christian life is not an endeavor for cowards. As opposed to what the world believes the Christian life is not easy. There are many ways in which the believer’s life is far more demanding than it was before salvation. As a Christian we are opposed by three powerful forces; the world, the flesh and the devil. At birth we inherit the fallen nature of Adam. When we are born again the old nature is dethroned but it is not destroyed. The tendency to evil remains. The Holy Spirit compels me in the opposite direction from the world. Worldliness is an orientation, a way of thinking and believing. Satan knows how to tempt us according to our sinful desires in concert with the world’s influence. Harry Ironside, “Many a Christian’s life is made up of mingled victories and defeats.” This was certainly the case with the Christians in the church of Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Daren Ritchey

4 Reasons why Jesus is the most unique person to ever exist.

Sermon Title: Spiritual Realities

Who are the spiritual people? What is a cruciform gospel? Who understands the mystery? And what role does the Spirit play in all of this? We’ll seek to answer these questions and unpack some intense spiritual realities as we continue our series in 1 Corinthians this week.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Main Idea: God’s people understand God’s wisdom because they have God’s Spirit.

Bryan Kurty

Paul from the beginning began to address the key overall issue in the church.  That issue was disunity.  They like us were struggling how to navigate their Christian lives against the influence of their culture.  One key issue was and is the indoctrination of the world’s wisdom.  Notice the repetition of the word “wisdom” in these verses.  The Greek word translated “wisdom” is sophia.  The Greeks were in love with human wisdom.  The word philosophy is “the love of wisdom.”  Paul is contrasting man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom.

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Daren Ritchey

Paul’s message to the Church of Corinth is particularly relevant for us today. Our culture in many ways mirrors the Greek/Roman culture of Corinth. Products from all over the world came to Corinth. If you wanted it, you could get it in Corinth. The two great Greek athletic festivals were held in Corinth, the Olympian, and the Isthmian games.

Corinth was famous for its decadence. The immorality was extreme even in the pagan world of the Roman Empire. In classical Greek, the word corinthiazesthai meant “to behave like a Corinthian.” This was the name for gross immorality and drunken debauchery. Corinth had a high place called the acropolis rising 1875 feet above the city. It held the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love (sex). It contained about 1,000 priestesses who were ritual prostitutes.

The church of Corinth is similar in many ways to our church. The believers would have been prosperous for the most part. We as a congregation have certainly been materially blessed. We are a gifted congregation with many of you faithfully exercising your spiritual gifts and talents. The Corinthian Christians struggled with being in the world but not of the world. God led Paul to establish a church in this city on his 2nd Missionary Journey. Chapters 1-6 contain Paul’s rebuke for the sinful conditions in the church. Chapters 7-16 Paul is replying to specific questions. There was overall a spirit of division in the congregation which Paul will first address.

Daren Ritchey

There are five recorded appearances of Jesus on the first resurrection Sunday.  He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to other women, also to Peter, as well as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and to a group of disciples minus Thomas.  It is these last two appearances that we are considering today.

Daren Ritchey

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Last Sunday we referred to the fact that Jesus’ anointing at Bethany by Mary marked the end of the Last Months period of Jesus’ ministry. This event marks the beginning of the Last Week of Jesus’ ministry. The church has traditionally referred to this event as Palm Sunday. It is the commemoration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. It is also titled as “The Triumphal Entry.” Many people celebrate this day as a religious tradition but have no real understanding of the meaning of the events of that day. John Piper has called this “an event of insight and misunderstanding.” Jesus was hailed as the Messiah, Son of David, and savior of Israel on Sunday. How was it that not even a week later on Friday the Jews in Jerusalem were calling for His crucifixion? Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of the charges they brought against Him. He knew that they had delivered Jesus to him because of envy. Pilate tried to keep from condemning Jesus to death by crucifixion. His own wife warned him not to have anything to do with Jesus. Yet the mob incited by the religious leaders demanded that Pilate condemn him. They played the ultimate political card. John 19:12, “From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.’” Pilate like so many people over these past 2,000 years tried to wash his hands of Jesus.

Scripture: John 12: 9-19

These are people who had come to comfort Mary over the death of her brother.  When they saw Lazarus walk out of the grave alive, they believed in Jesus.  Where you see belief there is always the accompanying unbelief.  As a result, the Sanhedrin called an emergency session.  Their jealousy and selfishness blinded them to see that Jesus was indeed their Messiah and the Son of God.  They were not judging on the basis of what was right but what was expedient.

Focus Scripture: John 11:45-12:8