back to index2015-04-23 Study of 1 Corinthians Week 1
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the authorship and recipient parts of the First Corinthians, 00:00:13.820 |
when we say that we want to do an inductive study, 00:00:22.600 |
of observing all there is to observe of the passage, 00:00:26.880 |
of appropriately interpreting the things that we observe, 00:00:30.200 |
and doing a thorough study as to apply it, okay? 00:00:37.560 |
we want to make sure that we take it verse by verse. 00:00:41.080 |
We want to make sure that we're not just skipping over 00:00:44.360 |
Because there can be another approach we take, 00:00:46.760 |
which is what I did when we did the Psalm study, 00:01:03.320 |
because there were things that were emphasized, 00:01:05.840 |
I just used those major points to give you a devotion, 00:01:28.400 |
which we've done in our previous Bible studies, 00:01:30.220 |
where we say, hey, we want to talk about counseling. 00:01:37.640 |
than saying, we're gonna work through this passage, 00:01:42.040 |
we're gonna observe all that it has to say to us, right? 00:01:45.600 |
So by nature, we're gonna take smaller chunks, 00:01:50.000 |
and we're going to do an in-depth study, okay? 00:01:56.600 |
Nonetheless, our study is truly for the purpose 00:02:05.120 |
So we do have to have moments when we're sitting here 00:02:09.080 |
asking ourselves, how do I now evaluate myself 00:02:16.680 |
And that's gonna be a necessary part of our study, 00:02:23.160 |
And obviously, I'm gonna bring up certain points 00:02:26.600 |
But one of the things that we really have to commit to 00:02:33.400 |
Reason being is because if we literally pause at each word 00:02:42.760 |
we can be in 1 Corinthians for like three years. 00:02:49.080 |
that I'm gonna assign homework for every single time, 00:02:52.480 |
and I'm gonna try to make sure that the homework 00:02:54.560 |
is both useful and that the homework is also reviewed. 00:03:00.160 |
and also we don't feel like we're just doing busy work, okay? 00:03:04.040 |
All right, so we covered the nature of our class. 00:03:07.640 |
Again, for small group-wise, the groups that you're in, 00:03:10.040 |
these are just kind of mutual discussion groups, 00:03:14.800 |
Lastly, one of the things that we do with each Bible study 00:03:21.440 |
This is for the purpose of covering some of the costs, 00:03:26.120 |
I'm gonna purchase, I think I'm gonna purchase 00:03:31.560 |
So I'm gonna pass around a little snack sign-up sheet, 00:03:37.320 |
If you guys have lines all through your thing, 00:03:43.240 |
So I'm gonna pass this around along with the pouch, okay? 00:03:52.280 |
Cool thing is, the Collegians contacted me and said, 00:03:55.560 |
in the month of May, every single week in the month of May, 00:04:11.320 |
but if you guys would sign up for the other months, 00:04:19.840 |
I'm still gonna give them a portion of what we collect, 00:04:22.720 |
so that it kinda covers, 'cause I'm not exactly 00:04:26.560 |
but also, if you decide to sign up for doing snacks, 00:04:31.320 |
and to do snacks, it's gonna be quite a big sum, 00:04:37.360 |
All right, so I'm gonna start this over here. 00:04:39.040 |
If you guys can make sure that it kinda goes all around, 00:05:12.520 |
We thank you for your truth that's given to us. 00:05:19.440 |
children who are receptive of your instruction. 00:05:22.920 |
God, as we study a book that has many exhortations, 00:05:28.760 |
that these things all would be precious convictions for us, 00:05:47.760 |
by talking a little bit about the first verses of this book. 00:05:57.040 |
So, we're gonna actually skip the authorship recipient stuff 00:06:23.960 |
If you can just join whatever group you want. 00:06:28.200 |
Let's start here in 1 Corinthians, chapter one. 00:06:31.560 |
And I'm gonna read for us verses one through nine. 00:06:47.320 |
to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, 00:07:20.320 |
waiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:07:32.120 |
into the fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:07:44.160 |
we wanna make sure that we observe all that we can. 00:07:55.800 |
start off by asking you something that occurs in verse one. 00:08:04.800 |
and as a casual reading, you might be thinking, 00:08:07.160 |
this is how Apostle Paul always introduces himself. 00:08:12.720 |
Apostle Paul does not always introduce himself in this way. 00:08:17.760 |
Very emphatically, Apostle Paul calls attention 00:08:25.920 |
So he says, "Called an apostle of Jesus Christ 00:08:29.120 |
"by the will of God and Sosthenes, our brother." 00:08:33.160 |
So, if you would just jot down really quickly, 00:08:38.040 |
that Apostle Paul is both emphasizing his apostleship 00:08:42.920 |
to the fact that he's describing it as a calling from God, 00:08:46.280 |
but also by way of the language he placed it in Greek, 00:08:50.480 |
he emphasizes the fact that he is an apostle. 00:09:20.840 |
and let's have some participation from the group. 00:10:27.800 |
So one of 'em, I think I have four blanks in there, 00:10:54.720 |
Wait a minute, what do you know about the gospel? 00:11:21.000 |
to assert his authority and introduce the letter with, 00:11:46.880 |
but I think it's important to say is because, 00:11:56.880 |
there's a sense in which he needs to assert that authority 00:12:00.000 |
because of the state of the people he's speaking to. 00:12:22.200 |
I can't believe you're away and you're traveling 00:12:51.920 |
but I wanna give you just kind of the description 00:13:01.360 |
that background information and historical information 00:13:07.160 |
in elaborating the picture of what's happening, okay? 00:13:12.400 |
What's really interesting about the city of Corinth 00:13:28.440 |
a bigger map kinda showing you generally where it is, 00:13:51.680 |
Corinth was always a really important region in the area. 00:13:58.120 |
you can imagine anywhere where there's high traffic, 00:14:00.920 |
anywhere there's a lot of different people coming, 00:14:03.440 |
there would be also a lot of different religions. 00:14:11.720 |
that had over 10 monumental, huge temples to idols, okay? 00:14:16.720 |
So I think I have a picture there of one of the temples, 00:14:22.480 |
So here you have a city that's high in commerce, 00:14:37.360 |
about any of the cities the New Testament talks about, 00:15:08.240 |
which is called the Anacropolis or something like that, okay? 00:15:13.560 |
it's like the pinnacle of all of that kind of idolatry 00:15:17.160 |
and all that kind of trade and all that kind of movement. 00:15:48.280 |
So much so that even some of the early pagan writers, 00:15:52.040 |
I'm talking about people like even like Aristotle 00:16:00.800 |
and if they said, "Oh, she's a Corinth girl," 00:16:26.320 |
which literally is to be Corinthianized or something, right? 00:16:37.160 |
it was probably even worse than Vegas, right? 00:16:49.080 |
because there was a huge contingency of the Jews. 00:17:04.160 |
So here you have a city that's pagan as can be, 00:17:07.600 |
but it also have huge contingencies of Jewish people, okay? 00:17:27.840 |
but they were so affected by their surroundings 00:17:31.320 |
that much of the world existed in the church, okay? 00:17:48.560 |
it's like a father who's been away for some time, 00:18:07.920 |
and I'm speaking as one who is representing God. 00:18:25.080 |
"Called an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God," 00:18:36.000 |
it reveals that Sothenes was actually the leader 00:18:52.720 |
Apostle Paul, who also was a leader amongst the Jews 00:18:59.400 |
with another individual who's been converted, okay? 00:19:09.480 |
take a look at that whole passage again, okay? 00:19:32.320 |
but as you kind of evaluate what he is saying 00:19:37.280 |
can you try to identify what are some things he repeats? 00:19:41.280 |
What are some things that appear multiple times 00:20:12.420 |
- [Audience Member] He talks about being called. 00:20:26.460 |
We'll talk about that in just a moment, okay? 00:20:29.580 |
What's another thing that's repeated many, many times 00:20:35.940 |
because it's always repeated many, many times? 00:20:55.700 |
and all that kind of stuff in other passages are repeated. 00:20:57.820 |
Here is Christ Jesus, God, Christ Jesus again, 00:21:17.600 |
You know, I know that for me, I'm personally okay with it, 00:21:21.800 |
but I know some people have a problem with it 00:21:26.060 |
and you just kind of say his name multiple times, right? 00:21:30.180 |
For me, actually, it's okay if that's the way, 00:21:31.940 |
you know, you've been kind of accustomed to pray, 00:21:37.120 |
But the thing about it is, when Apostle Paul does it, 00:21:49.700 |
There are two things he's repeating multiple times. 00:21:55.660 |
and if you guys can fill that in a little bit more 00:21:57.140 |
and say calling as saints, okay, calling as saints. 00:22:06.960 |
we said that the church, mimicking the world, 00:22:11.060 |
being heavily influenced by all the gross immorality 00:22:13.380 |
that's around them, and Apostle Paul is coming 00:22:55.080 |
The question is, yeah, he's beginning this letter 00:22:59.080 |
and he's repeating actually the name of the Lord 00:23:12.160 |
make note of them, or make sure that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:23:21.600 |
that Jesus Christ is the Lord of them, that kind of thing? 00:23:33.880 |
and to some of the issues that are struggled with, 00:23:36.840 |
and perhaps in part due to getting without Christ. 00:23:43.080 |
So, Dr. David was saying Christ is foundational, 00:23:54.160 |
connects back foundationally to either knowing Christ 00:24:01.840 |
the foundation, and I almost think about it this way, 00:24:12.920 |
would be to remind them of their relationship with Christ, 00:24:17.120 |
Because if Christ is supposed to be the greatest love, 00:24:19.880 |
if Christ is supposed to be the greatest, most important, 00:24:22.000 |
most precious, most valuable thing in their lives, 00:24:43.680 |
you know, 'cause we do that in our strategy, don't we? 00:24:53.800 |
But sometimes, that's not the most convicting thing. 00:25:02.400 |
And if that's in danger, if that's been severed, 00:25:07.680 |
that's going to be the biggest point of conviction, 00:25:15.720 |
that he would talk about their calling, okay? 00:25:20.160 |
the second thing that I had you guys write is 00:25:33.760 |
to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, 00:25:39.240 |
And then, if you look down in verse nine, he says, 00:25:42.060 |
"God is faithful through whom you were called 00:25:45.120 |
and to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord." 00:25:56.520 |
Because the church is very far from being saints, right? 00:26:01.520 |
It's surprising that he would call them saints, 00:26:15.480 |
and trying to correct you about something you did, 00:26:19.440 |
"Oh, yeah, that was so stupid, that was so dumb of me," 00:26:41.300 |
The way that Apostle Paul was saying this, truly, 00:26:43.680 |
was a way to call them back to their identity in Christ, 00:26:51.700 |
The truth of the matter is that when they're in Christ, 00:26:55.300 |
they are saints because they are set apart from him. 00:27:08.100 |
So, the Greek word for holy and the one for saints 00:27:23.500 |
the way in which God sees us when we are in Christ 00:27:29.560 |
is that in the moment God has called us effectually, 00:27:33.340 |
then God has called us to be separate from him. 00:27:40.760 |
although they were far from being saintly in practice, 00:27:43.900 |
they needed to realize that in standing before God, 00:27:59.020 |
And he's gonna bring them back foundationally 00:28:22.220 |
that Apostle Paul spends a lot of time describing them. 00:28:31.900 |
towards the Corinthians church in this passage? 00:28:42.900 |
What is Apostle Paul's attitude towards the church? 00:29:19.560 |
for the grace of God which is given you in Christ Jesus. 00:29:38.860 |
Apostle Paul actually spent the most amount of time 00:29:51.160 |
And then there are churches he never got to visit, okay? 00:30:03.520 |
And he probably wrote more than just two letters to them. 00:30:07.160 |
But that being the case, they were frustrating. 00:30:10.520 |
Can you imagine if you invested all your time, 00:30:16.160 |
and in the end, they just didn't bear the kind of fruit? 00:30:20.880 |
Typically speaking, you would be tempted to be like, 00:30:27.880 |
Just do whatever the heck you want, you know? 00:30:59.400 |
I think one of the things that I was surprised by 00:31:07.960 |
And we realize 1 Corinthians is an entire book 00:31:11.120 |
An entire book about like the number of different problems. 00:31:36.440 |
when not only is he thinking of their best interest 00:31:44.280 |
You say grace to you and peace from God our Father 00:31:50.160 |
You know, that might sound like too rigid or harsh, 00:31:54.960 |
who don't have grace, who don't have peace of Jesus Christ. 00:32:00.480 |
is the only peace that comes from the only Savior 00:32:05.960 |
That kind of peace is only a fruit of the grace of God. 00:32:12.320 |
look at all the stuff he says to the church of God, 00:32:14.920 |
which is important, to those who have been sanctified 00:32:29.600 |
He mentioned people who try to be in the church 00:32:44.880 |
"who in every place call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:32:49.560 |
He says, "I thank my God always concerning you 00:32:51.260 |
"for the grace of God which is given you in Christ Jesus." 00:32:57.240 |
is he's talking to them generally as a church of God, 00:33:00.360 |
generally as those who are Christian and saved. 00:33:03.680 |
And I think, again, that kind of goes to show 00:33:10.160 |
His attitude is not so much dependent and determined 00:33:16.160 |
Apostle Paul beautifully always has a very spiritual eye 00:33:25.360 |
And we're gonna see that a little bit more right now. 00:33:37.960 |
I don't know if any of you guys are like this, 00:33:39.680 |
but some people really hate marking their Bibles. 00:33:44.800 |
but if you don't like it, that's why I put that in there, 00:33:47.940 |
I would like you guys to please circle or underline 00:34:01.620 |
I asked you already to observe repeated words. 00:34:04.320 |
I asked you to observe like attitudes and so forth 00:34:08.560 |
But I also want you to mark every single verb that you see. 00:35:32.400 |
observations about these verses, verses two through eight, 00:35:42.480 |
from just going through perusing down these verbs? 00:35:51.280 |
because all you're doing is seeing what's in there. 00:36:05.240 |
Like what is he doing with these verbs, so to speak? 00:36:35.680 |
there are people viewing on the internet and stuff, 00:36:42.200 |
and it gives the idea of confidence, right, before God. 00:36:55.760 |
are describing the condition of the believers, okay? 00:37:00.760 |
And again, describing the state of these believers, 00:37:32.040 |
but I remember reading it, but not remembering who it's from, 00:37:42.960 |
visible evidence, to convict you of being a Christian? 00:37:46.620 |
Perhaps the Corinthian church may not have had that. 00:37:51.080 |
Because their external actions looked just like the world. 00:37:54.040 |
But what's interesting is the way that this begins off 00:37:57.840 |
is a lot of these verbs are all about confirming their faith. 00:38:02.840 |
So, I wanna go down through some of these descriptions, 00:38:08.480 |
descriptions of the saints and the grace of God. 00:38:21.640 |
Having been given the grace of God to be in the faith. 00:38:28.320 |
And I actually broke it down into three different things, 00:38:30.840 |
because I felt like there was three different, 00:38:40.920 |
it says that in everything, you were enriched. 00:39:16.720 |
incredibly valuable for you to have knowledge, 00:39:21.100 |
Not only that, but even in the faith, spiritually speaking, 00:39:25.600 |
isn't that surely the proclamation of the faith 00:39:32.320 |
that which we hold onto so dearly as a Christian, right? 00:39:59.680 |
and that are, as a state of being, is present. 00:40:06.960 |
awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:40:34.000 |
they're enriched, they have the testimony confirmed. 00:40:41.840 |
But furthermore, right now, they lack nothing 00:40:46.560 |
Now, the Greek term for the word gifts is charizoma, 00:41:15.740 |
That we can be content whether we have little, 00:41:22.400 |
we can be content in every single circumstance 00:41:28.460 |
because it's all found in our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:31.300 |
That describes the current state of a Christian. 00:41:45.720 |
but we're waiting for the revelation of Christ. 00:41:48.680 |
Whether there's gonna be vindication for the saints, 00:41:50.960 |
whether there's gonna be a righteous reign of Christ, 00:42:01.780 |
So he's describing the Christian in the present case. 00:42:08.740 |
I'm sorry, yeah, number three and verse eight. 00:42:17.800 |
blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:20.460 |
Blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:36.600 |
in the description of saints in the grace of God. 00:42:43.200 |
As we observe these things of what Apostle Paul is saying, 00:43:07.380 |
is not so discouraged just because the people 00:43:31.100 |
So you look at the perspective of Apostle Paul 00:43:50.200 |
and the description of the saints that he's giving, 00:44:03.560 |
So as we think about that, I ask you this next question. 00:44:08.020 |
I want you guys just to think about it a little bit more. 00:44:19.280 |
or tell me the main thrust of what he is doing, okay, 00:44:39.680 |
There are times when you have to say hard things to people, 00:44:51.560 |
and you really don't think he should dress a certain way, 00:44:53.520 |
like overall you have great fashion sense and stuff, 00:44:55.600 |
but that Phoenix shirt just really needs to go, you know? 00:44:59.800 |
so that you can crush him afterwards, you know? 00:45:03.800 |
Just being nice in the beginning so that I lift you up 00:45:10.520 |
Or just because he knows he has to say hard stuff, 00:45:14.120 |
at least he's starting with trying to reaffirm them. 00:45:24.200 |
What's his purpose and strategy in doing that? 00:46:19.880 |
So that is a truth, again, that perhaps it's not profound 00:46:29.520 |
because that truly is the foundation of his exhortation. 00:46:46.960 |
The imperative for you must, you should, and you ought to 00:46:54.040 |
by the Spirit and the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, right? 00:46:58.980 |
This is how we are challenged in the scripture. 00:47:01.000 |
This is how we are to think when we think about 00:47:02.960 |
our exhortations, our disciplines, our works, 00:47:09.200 |
That this is the calling to which God has already given. 00:47:18.600 |
is designed to fulfill that calling God has given us. 00:47:33.980 |
the core of what's really important for them, 00:47:42.800 |
Okay, so, in your own time, you guys can write down 00:48:21.240 |
Then I hope that you guys have some good conversations 00:48:23.840 |
in your discussions, and here are some of the questions 00:48:37.540 |
in laying the foundation for his entire letter? 00:48:43.760 |
the identity in Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:48:48.700 |
their salvation, their identity as one's called, 00:48:53.860 |
and so this is the commands that are there, right? 00:48:59.360 |
What kind of convictions can we have in our lives? 00:49:13.720 |
what sort of personal convictions do you gain 00:49:32.540 |
Am I confident that I've repented before God, 00:49:37.040 |
It's not a faith that's on a doctrinal statement. 00:49:47.220 |
that for life of godliness, there's a passage 00:49:50.460 |
in 2 Peter 1 and 3, divine power has been granted to us, 00:50:03.300 |
Do you have confidence he's gonna perfect you? 00:50:05.500 |
There are so many people who are afraid of death. 00:50:07.260 |
There are so many people who are afraid of this and that. 00:50:12.100 |
if you guys can pray for me, I've been having, still, 00:50:18.660 |
And I've been battling it, I've been trying to battle it 00:50:23.380 |
And one of the things I just remind myself is, 00:50:32.020 |
but if you're a believer, death is just death, right? 00:50:35.420 |
Like, nobody dies, no sparrow falls unless God says so. 00:50:40.820 |
of my kids drowning in different scenarios and stuff, 00:50:45.420 |
And I can't go back to sleep 'cause I'm too afraid, 00:50:55.220 |
no person dies prematurely, not a single one. 00:51:08.100 |
But are these confidences, faith convictions, 00:51:18.020 |
Number three, how receptive are we to instruction? 00:51:21.900 |
I ask that because, given the context of things, 00:51:26.100 |
Apostle Paul, again, has to be like, I'm an apostle! 00:51:50.580 |
Do we feel like, you know, what did I put here? 00:52:02.420 |
and you're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:52:04.060 |
But then it's always put back on the backburners. 00:52:06.620 |
Have you tuned out certain people who annoy you? 00:52:11.380 |
by the third time, you're just like, off, please, you know? 00:52:20.180 |
Now, obviously, this is kind of like a yes or no question, 00:52:23.460 |
but just share at least more personally, you know? 00:52:26.460 |
As of lately, I've been having a great hunger 00:52:28.460 |
for more instruction, I've been really hungry, 00:52:30.180 |
or, you know what, actually, it's just been kind of, 00:52:34.540 |
Just be truthful with each other as much as possible, okay? 00:52:38.140 |
Alrighty, then I just wanna cover really quick 00:52:42.100 |
Now, it's a lot, but I'm gonna emphasize just two things, 00:52:47.780 |
please review the inductive Bible study process 00:52:52.260 |
Secondly, please read 1 Corinthians all the way through 00:53:03.680 |
please simply make closer observations of verse 10 through 17. 00:53:12.300 |
number one, I just recommend you to just read. 00:53:15.220 |
Exposure to the Bible is the best thing you can do. 00:53:24.420 |
so read 1 Corinthians as many times as you can, 00:53:26.900 |
at least once through, it'll be the first one. 00:53:30.860 |
And then the second would be, focus on verse 10 through 17, 00:53:34.340 |
and try to ask, you know, the best questions you can, 00:53:39.900 |
observe the verbal commands, observe what's the problem, 00:53:59.300 |
and have time in your small groups to discuss, all right. 00:54:13.180 |
and Lord, I pray that if anybody in this room is in sin 00:54:32.700 |
would be the pain of really affecting negatively 00:54:37.700 |
the relationship and the harmony that we have with you. 00:54:42.980 |
really causes us to return, it would always be you. 00:54:47.080 |
And Lord, we thank you, God, that you are such a God, 00:54:49.580 |
so patient, so kind, as to give instruction like this, 00:54:56.640 |
the calling that you've given to your people. 00:54:59.780 |
Father God, I pray that through this study again, 00:55:02.660 |
it would be so fruitful for our faith and our living. 00:55:06.460 |
God, that surely we would not be like the world, 00:55:11.060 |
we would not mimic and desire the many pleasures 00:55:15.820 |
But Father God, rather, as having once received 00:55:20.020 |
we would continue our lives by sinning no more,