It sounds too easy, but the truth is, a word of encouragement can lift up a heavy heart. If you are discouraged, this message is for you. If you want to become an encourager, this message is for you.

In this section of 1 Corinthians, Paul uses Israel's history to warn us about temptation to sin. He also encourages us with the reality of God's presence and provision with us whenever we face trials and temptations of different kinds.

Paul uses his own life as an example for us. Discipleship is not just about learning to follow Jesus, its about actually doing the things He wants us to do. This is what it means to run with purpose in every step, instead of just going through the motions.

Have you ever come to a morally gray area? How do you resolve questions about what is ok or not, when the answer isn't clear? In this chapter, Paul addresses a gray area for the church of ancient Corinth. We will discover that it is better to surrender your freedom for the sake of others than to exercise it at their expense.

Jesus changes how we do relationships. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul addresses two questions that he had previously received from the Corinthians. His answers give us direction on how to move forward in our relationships. We discover that we because we are so loved in our relationship with God, we can love others well too.

We are living in a sexual revolution. Our culture is sex-saturated. Yet, the God's plan for sex is very different than we might expect. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, we discover that our bodies are sacred and we ought not to settle for casual sex. Instead, we should honor God with our bodies and only engage in sex in the context of marriage.

Paul addresses the issues of church members sewing each other. He tells us that the church should be able to settle disputes within the community instead of seeking justice from a corrupt judicial system. He then echos the teachings of Jesus, "Why not just accept the injustice...?" This hard teaching reveals a core truth in Christianity - if our lives are built on something we don't deserve, we can give others what they don't deserve... forgiveness.

In this tough chapter of 1 Corinthians, we discover the secret of healthy communities: boundaries. Paul gives us two reasons why boundaries and discipline are essential: for the sake of the individual and the community.

Guest speaker Pastor Elaine Jones brings a message about parenting in the modern age.

We study 1 Corinthians 4. In this chapter, Paul describes the role of the Christian leader as a servant. These attributes describe can be applied to all Christians everywhere and drastically changes our approach to our leaders and each other.