~ LISTENING CENTER ~

Date: December 3 Title: The Church of God Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Speaker: Bob Corbin Sermon Note Sheet (PDF) Download Audio

Today, we are beginning a new series of studies - a consideration of Paul's first epistle to the church of Corinth. As we will see throughout the book, the church of Corinth truly sat at the crossroads of clashing cultures ... and they struggled in knowing how to apply their new faith in the One True God in a world of hedonism and idolatry. Sound familiar? > THE CITY OF CORINTH - Located at the isthmus which connected the main body of Greece with the southern body ... and was a short-cut for east-west travel - It was the site of the Isthmian games ... and a melting pot of nationalities > THE CHURCH OF CORINTH - Comprised potentially of many nationalities ... this spawned a large cultural divide between Jews and Gentiles - They were dealing with the conflicting Libertine views of the Gentiles and the Legalistic views of the Jews - Additionally, due to their location they soon began to deal with many false teachers and doctrines. * As we study this letter, we will be touching upon many issues and doctrines with which the church is still struggling. Our struggles and temptations have not changed. It is our heart that needs to change and submit to the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. * The only way to properly deal with trials within the church is to remember exactly whose church it is!