WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MESS (2 OF 53)
by Mike Stone
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:9
This content is part of a series.
What a Beautiful Mess (2 of 53)
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 1:9
In our next lesson, we will begin a year-long, verse-by-verse, study of First Corinthians. I've chosen to take a few lessons and established the historical and Biblical context for this entire epistle. In recent weeks, we have investigated the salvation of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9 and the ministerial resume of Paul in Acts 20. In our last lesson. we examined the founding of the Corinthian church in Acts 18.
Before we begin this systematic study, I want us to look at the theme verse of 1 Corinthians. Found here in the 9th verse of the first chapter, this verse really is an encapsulation of the entire letter. I pray it will serve as an overview of where we are headed in this exciting study together.
Imagine a church wracked with divisions and factions.
Cliques where members favor one preacher over another
A church filled with sexual immorality
Some of the members are visiting prostitutes
One member is having an affair with his stepmother
Imagine a church where believers don't work out their problems. Instead, they sue each other in secular courts.
Imagine a church where debates rage on topics like
Christian liberty
Men's and women's roles
Prophecies, speaking in tongues, and other spiritual gifts
And to top it off, imagine a church where some of them do not even believe in the coming bodily resurrection of the dead! That church is the first-century church of Corinth...a church that the apostle Paul founded!
Question: How did Paul respond to this mixed up, messed up church? He responded, at least at first, with words of gratitude! In this one verse, Paul gives a real synopsis of why there was still hope for the beautiful mess at Corinth.
His reasoning reminds me of a poem written by a homemaker:
Thank God for dirty dishes; They have a tale to tell.?While others may go hungry, We're eating very well
With home, health, ...
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 1:9
In our next lesson, we will begin a year-long, verse-by-verse, study of First Corinthians. I've chosen to take a few lessons and established the historical and Biblical context for this entire epistle. In recent weeks, we have investigated the salvation of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9 and the ministerial resume of Paul in Acts 20. In our last lesson. we examined the founding of the Corinthian church in Acts 18.
Before we begin this systematic study, I want us to look at the theme verse of 1 Corinthians. Found here in the 9th verse of the first chapter, this verse really is an encapsulation of the entire letter. I pray it will serve as an overview of where we are headed in this exciting study together.
Imagine a church wracked with divisions and factions.
Cliques where members favor one preacher over another
A church filled with sexual immorality
Some of the members are visiting prostitutes
One member is having an affair with his stepmother
Imagine a church where believers don't work out their problems. Instead, they sue each other in secular courts.
Imagine a church where debates rage on topics like
Christian liberty
Men's and women's roles
Prophecies, speaking in tongues, and other spiritual gifts
And to top it off, imagine a church where some of them do not even believe in the coming bodily resurrection of the dead! That church is the first-century church of Corinth...a church that the apostle Paul founded!
Question: How did Paul respond to this mixed up, messed up church? He responded, at least at first, with words of gratitude! In this one verse, Paul gives a real synopsis of why there was still hope for the beautiful mess at Corinth.
His reasoning reminds me of a poem written by a homemaker:
Thank God for dirty dishes; They have a tale to tell.?While others may go hungry, We're eating very well
With home, health, ...
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