Introduction
In this session, I Corinthians 1: 1-17, we focus on understanding Paul’s commendation and rebuking of the disunity of the church of God at Corinth.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Identified the author of the letter to the Corinthian Church
- Understood why he commended the church of God in Corinth and why he rebuked them
- Understood the first main cause of divisions in the church of God in Corinth
Outline
- Commendation of the Corinthian church
- Condemnation of the Corinthian church
- The main cause of the division of the church at Corinth
Group Study Time
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- What did Paul say concerning himself? 1 Cor 1: 1-2, who was Sosthenes Acts 18: 17.
- What did Paul say concerning the ideal Church of God in Corinth? 1: 2-3
- What did Paul commend the Church of God in Corinth for? 1 Cor. 1: 4-9. List four things.
- What did Paul condemn in the Church of God in Corinth as told by the household of Chloe? 1 Cor. 1: 10-17. List some indicators of division in this gifted church.
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
Let there be no division among you
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Audio Summary
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Context
- Paul, with Sosthenes, writes to the Corinthian church, which he founded, to address issues stemming from their former sinful lifestyles and to guide them in living under God’s rule.
- The letter responds to reports from Chloe’s household about divisions and other disorders, aiming to align the church with God’s kingdom principles across all aspects of life.
Paul’s Message to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:1-17)
- God’s Rule Over Life: The letter emphasizes that God’s kingdom, through His Word, should govern all domains—physical, educational, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual—transforming believers from their old ways.
- Egyptian Mentality: Like the Israelites freed from Egypt but pursued by a slave mentality, the Corinthians are hindered by their former life—sin, self, Satan, and worldly systems—threatening their spiritual survival.
- Old Enemies: The church faces sins such as division, sexual immorality, taking others to court, and eating food sacrificed to idols, reflecting a worldly mindset that Paul seeks to correct.
- Greek Philosophy’s Influence: Some Corinthians adopted a Greek belief that the physical body is inherently sinful and cannot be redeemed, leading to immoral behavior while claiming spiritual purity.
- Commendation: Paul commends the church for their rich spiritual gifts and their anticipation of Christ’s return, affirming their calling to serve God with these gifts.
- Condemnation of Disunity: Paul rebukes the church for divisions, as reported by Chloe’s household, where members aligned with different leaders (Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ), worshipping messengers instead of the message.
- Church’s Issues: The letter addresses disorders like disunity, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, and improper worship practices, responding to concerns raised by the Corinthians in a prior letter.
- Purpose: Paul aims to unify the church under God’s Word, urging them to reject their former worldly mentality and live as a transformed community, faithful to Christ until His return.
Application
- Reject worldly influences and divisions, let God’s Word guide all aspects of life, use spiritual gifts to serve Him, and maintain unity as you await Christ’s return.