Think of what you were when you were called

In this session, I Corinthians 1: 1-2, 26-28, Acts 18: 1-17. we focus on understanding how the church of God started at Corinth. Who were the people who made up this church? Who were the first converts of this church at Corinth. we will be mentioning the people who were involved in the starting of this church. we will consider what was the state of their hearts when they started this church? How long was Paul at this place? we will see the place of Sosthenes Acts 18: 17 and Crispus Acts 18: 8, who were the synagogue leaders before they got converted. In reading Acts 18: 12-17, we will describe the spiritual state of the Jews at Corinth considering that the Jewish people were supposed to be God’s missionaries to the Gentiles and how they fell short of that privileged position?

Full Bible Study

Teaching Summary: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

Context

• Paul, along with Sosthenes, writes to the Corinthian church, which he founded during his missionary work, as described in Acts 18, to address issues of their former sinful lifestyles.
• The letter aims to guide the church in aligning with God’s Word, overcoming worldly influences, and fulfilling their calling as God’s people.

Founding and Purpose of the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 1:1-2)

• Church’s Origin: Paul planted the Corinthian church after leaving Athens, arriving in Corinth as a Jewish missionary, joined by Aquila and Priscilla, who were expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius.
• Missionary Work: Paul, a tentmaker, worked alongside Aquila and Priscilla, preaching every Sabbath in the synagogue to persuade Jews and Greeks, later focusing on Gentiles when faced with opposition.
• Overcoming Opposition: Despite resistance from Jews who rejected his message and became abusive, Paul persisted, converting key figures like Crispus and Sosthenes, synagogue leaders, and many Corinthians who believed and were baptized.
• God’s Encouragement: In a vision, God urged Paul to continue preaching in Corinth, assuring him of His presence and many believers in the city, leading Paul to stay for one and a half years, teaching God’s Word.
• Jewish Missionaries’ Failure: The Jewish community in Corinth had forgotten their role as a light to the Gentiles, adopting worldly behaviors and opposing the gospel, mirroring the Israelites’ desire to return to Egypt.
• Egyptian Mentality: The church struggled with remnants of their “former life”—sin, Satan, self, and worldly systems—similar to the Israelites who carried a slave mentality after leaving Egypt, hindering their spiritual growth.
• Paul’s Strategy: When rejected in the synagogue, Paul went house-to-house, converting synagogue leaders like Crispus and later Sosthenes, who co-authored the letter after his conversion.
• God’s Word as Authority: The letter emphasizes that God’s Word must govern the church’s thinking, emotions, worship, and gatherings, transforming believers from their old nature to live as God’s kingdom representatives.
• Purpose: Paul writes to remind the Corinthians of their calling, urging them to reject their sinful past and live under God’s rule, becoming transformative agents in the world.

Application

• Reject worldly influences, embrace God’s Word as the guide for life and worship, and actively share the gospel, trusting in God’s presence to overcome opposition and fulfill your calling.