God's Church: To the Church in Corinth
This is the first sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘to the church in Corinth’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church · The Rev'd Adam Lowe
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (media.transistor.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Sermon & Small Group Resources
This is the first sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘to the church in Corinth’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).
Next Steps this Week
BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge — God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
CONNECT:What is one way this week that you can demonstrate that Jesus has sent you?
WARM-UP
Can you remember a funny example of a time when you made a bit of a mess of things?
How had the church in Corinth made a mess of things? Yet, how does Paul speak of it?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-4 - Called by God
What was the city of Corinth like? What was the history of Paul’s connection with Corinth?
Whose church was it? Whose church is St Bart’s? Why is it so important to recognise this?
For what reason does Paul give thanks for the church? Does this surprise you at all?
How can you give thanks for the same in our life together at St Bart’s? Can you think of examples?
How is being called by God to be his church fundamental to our ultimate identity?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:5-7 - Supplied with Gifts
In what way does Paul say that the Corinthian church (and us!) have been enriched?
What were some of the issues for the Corinthian church when it came to gifts? Can we be similar?
When it comes to God’s gifts, do you usually have a view of scarcity or abundance? Why or why not?
How do you see God’s gifts at work in our life together at St Bart’s? Is there anyone you could encourage or enable to use their gifts in the life of God’s church at St Bart’s?
For what reasons should our gifts never be a source of boasting?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 - Kept Blameless
What does it mean for God to keep us firm? In what way will we be blameless? On what basis?
Does this guarantee give us freedom to obey rather than freedom to rebel?
How does belonging to Jesus shape your identity on one of your frontlines?
APPLY: How would others recognise that your identity is shaped by your relationship with Jesus?
PRAYER
Gracious Father, thank you for the grace, gifts, and guarantee of a secure future that we have in Jesus. Please shape the identity of our lives and church on the basis of who you are and what you have done in the Lord Jesus. Amen.
GOING DEEPER
On Your Frontline This Week: Amongst holidays, what new opportunities do you have to visit, love, or listen to someone?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
Series Resources:
Some helpful resources for our Series:
WITH CHILDREN
Grow as Families
Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.
Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray
High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions
Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk
eBook: Watch the eBook