EXCERPT AND INTRODUCTION
But you know the reason that has happened is because worldliness has pervaded our individual hearts and minds. And when I say that I am not just talking about the church at large…I am talking about us…I am talking about me…and the fear that I have that the world may have also pervaded my own mind and impacted the way I reason…the way I look at things.
I think deep down maybe all of us are a bit afraid to look too closely at ourselves for fear that we may indeed find that worldliness has not only pervaded not only our corporate life but our individual thought and worship as well.
That is why, in the next thirteen weeks, I thought it might be a good idea to take a fresh look at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
You see…First Corinthians has something important to say. It was a letter addressed to a church in trouble…a church that no longer lived in the midst of world but rather lived with the world in its midst. But it is because of that that it is an important book for us to look at. You see…when you get right down to it there are a world of similarities between the church at Corinth and that church over on Riverside…or the one over on I35…or even the one over on Beach St. It is because of that…and it almost causes me pain to say it…that First Corinthians is one of the most practical books in the New Testament.
You see First Corinthians was written to the Church in the Mall…and because it was it has a lot to say to us today.
Lesson 1…The Church in the Mall
Lesson 2…I Hear There Are Divisions
Lesson 3…The Way Paul Preached
Lesson 4…The Carnal Christian
Lesson 5…The Plowboy and the Waterboy
Lesson 6…How To View Christ’s Ministers
Lesson 7… Like Men in the Arena
Lesson 8… Cast Out the Wicked Man
Lesson 9… Is There Not One Wise Person
Lesson 10… God, Even Over Our Chips
Lesson 11…What About Sex
Lesson 12…As Things Are
Lesson 13…Eating Meat Offered to Idols
Lesson 14…I am Free but Do Not
Lesson 15…Baptized and Yet Overthrown
Lesson 16…Headcoverings for Women
Lesson 17…I Do Not Commend You
Lesson 18…Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 19…A more Excellent Way
Lesson 20…Intelligent and Orderly Pt.1
Lesson 21…Intelligent and Orderly Pt.2
Lesson 22…The Gospel and the Resurrection
Lesson 23…Let’s Say for a Bit It Ain’t So
Lesson 24…Baptism for the Dead
Lesson 25…Now About the Collection
Lesson 26…Bibliography of 1st Corinthians