Summary of 1 Corinthians

• Paul had plenty of rights as an apostle, but he didn't make full use of his rights
• If he had, it might have created an obstacle for someone who with a weaker faith or someone who was just coming to faith
• We are Christ's servants, so we should be building up Christ's body (the church) instead of looking out for our own rights
• Idol worship is no laughing matter; make sure your "enlightened" outlook doesn't result in sin
• No one should seek their own interest; instead, we should look out for another person's best interests
• Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God

• Worship is about Jesus
• The Lord's Supper is a meal "in memory of Jesus." In other words, it's a Jesus-style meal
• Jesus sacrificed himself for other people rather than looking out for number one
• If we don't eat it the same way, we're not eating the Lord's Supper - we're just eating our own supper!
• Whenever we eat the Lord's Supper, we proclaim his death until he returns

Some people in the church thought is was okay to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols (statues of false gods).

Other people said that eating the meat was the same as worshiping those false gods.

They said:

The wealthier members of the church were having a potluck dinner/Lord's Supper without waiting on the members who were laborers or slaves.

• Our bodies belong to God
• That means they are important, and what we do with them is important
• Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial
• Being "free in Christ" isn't a license to do whatever you want; being free in Christ means that you're free from sin, but you are Christ's servant instead
• Being free in Christ means that we use our bodies in ways that glorify God

They said:

We know the false gods aren't real, and we have the right to eat a pagan burger

Paul, is it right eat a pagan burger?

The church was also having some problems with people misbehaving during worship; apparently some of the married women were acting like they were single, some of the men were dressed like women, and everything was out of order

The church in Corinth had some members that thought they could do whatever they wanted with their bodies, including sleeping with whoever they wanted.

Paul says:

What you guys are doing is not the Lord's Supper!

They said:

The more "enlightened" members of the church think they are the best Christians because they have the flashiest spiritual gifts

Knowledge puffs up,

"Everything is permissible for me"

but

Everyone is eating their own supper, not the Lord's Supper

love builds up

Paul says:

You all are the body of Christ

Paul says:

individuals are parts of it

Glorify God with your body

• The point of spiritual gifts is to build up the body (the church)
• Using our spiritual gifts selfishly doesn't benefit anyone except ourselves
• The greatest spiritual gift of all is love, because love builds up the body
• During worship, we need to exercise spiritual gifts in a reasonably orderly fashion
• If everyone talks at the same time, non-Christians or new Christians will lose out

Paul says:

The message of the cross is foolishness ...

• Pursue God's wisdom, even if everyone else thinks it's foolishness
• Human wisdom is not the same thing as God's Spirit!
• If we are truly "spiritual," then we will be focused on Jesus and his self-sacrificial death (a.k.a. "the message of the cross"
• If we cause division, or live according to human standards, or become "puffed up" with self-righteous pride, we are not wise or spiritual

Christ has been raised

according to human standards

but in fact

and we will be raised from the dead too

it is God's version of wisdom

Some people in Corinth don't think the body is important.

They say:

We don't believe in the resurrection of the dead

Some of the members of the church in Corinth think that they are better and holier than everyone else because they are

• The fact that our bodies wear out and decay is not evidence against the resurrection of the dead
• Our bodies are currently under the control of nature ("natural bodies")
• After the resurrection, our bodies will be under the control of God's Spirit ("spiritual bodies")
• From then on, our bodies will be "incorruptible" (or "industrial strength")

wise

spiritual

and

1 Corinthians