CONVERSION IN A CORINTHIAN CULTURE (1 OF 53)
by Mike Stone
Scripture: Acts 18:1-11
This content is part of a series.
Conversion in a Corinthian Culture (1 of 53)
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
Acts 18:1-11
In a few weeks, we are going to begin a systematic study of the book of First Corinthians. The series is entitled, ''Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church.''
In my ministry, I've preached through 26 books of the Bible. But I don't know of any of book that sounds more like the American church than this one. It will be a lengthy but profitable study. As we prepare for that study I thought it would be helpful to look at some events in the life of the Apostle Paul that might shed theological light on the Corinthian church and this inspired letter.
Things like:
The conversion of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9
The ministerial testimony of Paul in Acts 20
The founding of the Corinthian church here in Acts 18
In Acts 18 we find the Apostle Paul leaving the city of Athens and heading about 50-60 miles West to the city of Corinth. That made geographic sense.
Corinth was at a major East-West crossroads and on an isthmus between two major gulfs. East-West travelers in ancient Greece went through Corinth. And ships carrying cargo would dock on either side of Corinth and transport their goods across land, rather than sail the ''long way'' around Southern Greece.
The Romans destroyed ancient Corinth about 146BC and rebuilt the city around 44BC. So when Paul entered the city he walked into a MODERN major metropolitan city that would rival anything we have in the United States today...including the challenges of seeking to live for God and sharing the gospel with the lost.
Its geographic location and modern construction made it a hub for commerce, industry, and culture. Corinth is where IT was happening. WHAT was happening? YOU NAME IT.
In addition to the normal trappings of wealth and pleasure, Corinth had been home to the ancient temple of Aphrodite. She was the goddess of physical love and sexual pleasure.
Prostitution was rampan ...
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
Acts 18:1-11
In a few weeks, we are going to begin a systematic study of the book of First Corinthians. The series is entitled, ''Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church.''
In my ministry, I've preached through 26 books of the Bible. But I don't know of any of book that sounds more like the American church than this one. It will be a lengthy but profitable study. As we prepare for that study I thought it would be helpful to look at some events in the life of the Apostle Paul that might shed theological light on the Corinthian church and this inspired letter.
Things like:
The conversion of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9
The ministerial testimony of Paul in Acts 20
The founding of the Corinthian church here in Acts 18
In Acts 18 we find the Apostle Paul leaving the city of Athens and heading about 50-60 miles West to the city of Corinth. That made geographic sense.
Corinth was at a major East-West crossroads and on an isthmus between two major gulfs. East-West travelers in ancient Greece went through Corinth. And ships carrying cargo would dock on either side of Corinth and transport their goods across land, rather than sail the ''long way'' around Southern Greece.
The Romans destroyed ancient Corinth about 146BC and rebuilt the city around 44BC. So when Paul entered the city he walked into a MODERN major metropolitan city that would rival anything we have in the United States today...including the challenges of seeking to live for God and sharing the gospel with the lost.
Its geographic location and modern construction made it a hub for commerce, industry, and culture. Corinth is where IT was happening. WHAT was happening? YOU NAME IT.
In addition to the normal trappings of wealth and pleasure, Corinth had been home to the ancient temple of Aphrodite. She was the goddess of physical love and sexual pleasure.
Prostitution was rampan ...
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