New Las-lulu.John Farley
Pastor-Teacher Sunday, March 17, 2019
New Las-luluThe solutions are rooted in Christ, in the power of His cross and resurrection. Look back to the cross. AGENDA 1. Divisions and boasts 5. Marital problems 8. Abuses concerning the Lord’s Supper 10. Denying the bodily resurrection of believers 1. Divisions and boasts (1co 1:10-4:21) 5. Marital problems (1co 7:1-40) 8. Abuses concerning the Lord’s Supper (1co 11:17-34) 10. Denying the bodily resurrection of believers (1co 15:1-18) I just gave you an outline of the letter of 1 Corinthians! How might our worldly culture today be seeping into our church? What happened in Corinth … Corinth was probably the largest city in Greece at the time. It had a population of over half a million people.
Corinth was on an isthmus, and was called “the master of two harbors”. Corinth was at a natural crossroads for both land and sea travel. The greatest organized games of the 1st Century Roman empire were the Isthmus Games. 1Co 9:24-25 So it was famous as a sports town, a party city, and a trading center. There were a wide variety of false religions, gods and cults – including the imperial cult. “I pray to all gods.” There was a strong connection between idol worship, eating and drinking, and sex. Corinth was the center of the cult of Aphrodite, the goddess of erotic love. The Greek term korinthiazomai (to behave like a Corinthian) meant to practice fornication.
Corinth had a well-deserved reputation for immorality. They killed all the men, and sold the women and children into slavery. In 46 BC, Julius Caesar decided to establish a Roman colony on the site. The Romans colonized Corinth with the poor, former slaves, and military veterans. While a few became rich aristocrats, the overwhelming majority of the people were poor. “ I learned in a short time the nauseating behavior of the rich and the misery of the poor.” 1Co 11:20-22 Paul rebuked the wealthy for their insensitivity to the needs of the poor. The ills of the city of Corinth had crept into the church at Corinth. You may have noticed some similarities between 1st century Corinth and 21st century America. How might the infections of our culture be making our church ill? Luk 18:9-14
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