Cosmic Calling (1 Cor 1:1-9)

Always Thank God (1 Cor 1:1-9).

• Count how many times "Jesus Christ" is repeated in the first 10 verses? What does this repetition teach us about Paul? What should this mean to us?

I. An Epic Cosmic Calling (1-3).

1. What does it mean to be:

• "called...by the will of God" (1 Cor 1:1)?

• "called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere" (1 Cor 1:2; Exo 19:6; 1 Pet 2:9)?

• "sanctified" (1 Cor 1:2)?

• What does this tell us about God and the church (Jn 15:16; Phil 1:5)?

2. What is "grace and peace" (1 Cor 1:3)?

II. Always Thank God (4-9). Paul thanks God for:

1. Grace [charis] (3-7a) [gift - charismata]
2. Hope [eschatology] (7b-8)
3. Fellowship [koinonia] (9)

3. Is grace earned or deserved (1 Cor 1:4, 7)? Is there any place for elitism or superiority?

4. How does grace [charis] enrich us (1 Cor 1:5)? How might this be ironic (1 Cor 3:18-20; 4:6-8, 10)?

5. What is "the revelation [apokalypsis] of Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:7) and "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8)? How would this be a corrective for them / us / the church? How do you "live eschatologically"?

6. What is Paul's confidence in them based on (1 Cor 1:8-9a)?

7. What has God called us into (1 Cor 1:9b)? How did they fail (1 Cor 1:10)?

Reference: Richard B. Hays. First Corinthians. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. 1997. 

Upcoming sermons:

1. Always Thank God (1:1-9) [1 Cor 1:4]. Cosmic Calling [1 Cor 1:2].
2. All Agree (1:10-17) [1 Cor 1:10]. Perfect Unity. No Divisions.
3. Foolish Cross (1:18-25) [1 Cor 1:18].
4. No Boasting (1:26-31) [1 Cor 1:31].
5. Christ Crucified (2:1-5) [1 Cor 2:2].
6. Mature Wisdom (2:6-16) [1 Cor 2:6].
7. Field Laborers (3:1-9) [1 Cor 3:5].
8. Construction Workers (3:10-15) [1 Cor 3:10-11].
9. God's Temple (3:16-22) [1 Cor 3:16].
10. True Self (4:1-5) [1 Cor 4:4].
11. Become Scum (4:6-13) [1 Cor 4:13].
12. Final Warning (4:14-21) [1 Cor 4:19].