Paul’s Great Adventure 3rd Mission

1st Epistle to the Corinthians Ephesus Corinth Have students look up in the Bible Dictionary - p743 - Bottom of 2nd Column - under heading - The 2nd Group Pauline Epistles - Epistles to the Corinthians - to see that it was written from Ephesus - click for circle and arrow Have student put Paul on map in city of Ephesus & star on Corinth Written from where?

The City of Corinth What do you think would be the toughest place to grow up or live as a Latter-day Saint? A place - today - that would have the most moral and ethical challenges for someone trying to live the gospel and keep their covenants? Las Vegas? Atlantic City? New York? LA? SF - Stanford/Berkley? Why - in particular did you suggest that location? What about it would make it difficult? Well the saints in Corinth had just a similar problem... Ancient Greek City, half way between Athens & Sparta. At this time Greece was being ruled by the Romans so Corinth was in a Roman province. It had a magnificent situation on the isthmus connecting the Peloponnesus with the mainland of Greece, possessing harbor on both eastern and western sides. Corinth was the meeting point of many nationalities because the main current of the trade between Asia and western Europe passed through its harbors. It was practically destroyed at the Roman conquest, 146 B.C., but was rebuilt by Julius Caesar. Paul had lived here for a year and six months during his 2nd Mission (Acts 18: 1-18). The choice location of the city allowed for a flow of commerce, philosophy, and religion from the East and the West. The Corinthian converts were mainly Greeks, men gifted by race with a keen sense of the joys of physical existence, with a passion for freedom and a genius for rhetoric and logic, but reared in the midst of the grossest moral corruption, undisciplined and self-conceited. Idol worship dominated Corinth’s religious culture. People worshiped in twelve temples throughout the city. They engaged in ritual prostitution in the temple of Aphrodite, and their leaders encouraged immoral behavior. With these challenges for the Corinthian saints, after Paul’s departure during his 2nd mission, the city was visited by other Church leaders but problems with the saints continued so Paul continued to write letters to them. Paul had several concerns for the Saints in Corinth - and it took him 16 chapters to cover it all - but to illustrate what was his chief concern, the concern he opened with - led with - I have a couple of sticks - Do object lesson - with individual crafts sticks - and then a bundle of sticks to illustrate unity - and the dangers of division.

1 Cor 1:10-13 After Paul gets done with his intro - to his letter to the Corinthians - this intro only takes 9 verses before Paul gets right into it and opens with his FIRST concern - it must have been important - cause it’s the concern he opens with.... Have someone read 1 Cor 1:10-13 What’s Paul’s concern? What’s the problem? Click for pictures of people- Why would this be such a problem? Not everyone gets along right? Do we really have to be “friends” with EVERYONE?

3 Nephi 11:29 Why do division, jealousy and contention making living the gospel difficult? What impact would the members being divided have on a ward? On a Stake? On missionary work? Why do division, jealousy, and contention make living the gospel difficult? (see 3 Nephi 11:29).

“Is Christ divided?” He pleads for them to get rid of the Divisions and Contentions & then Paul then asks them a really GOOD question in the first part of - 1 Cor 1:13 - Click for picture of Christ. Christ is NOT divided - the Church - as a Body of Christ - should not be divided but instead - What should it be?

Mosiah 18:21 Knit together Unity Love Click for reference & Heart Picture Have someone read Mosiah 18:21 Discuss the “process” of knitting. Knit together

Knit together in Unity & Love God has promised that blessing to His faithful Saints whatever their differences in background and whatever conflict rages around them. He was praying for us as well as His disciples when He asked His Father that we might be one. Our Hearts Knit as One, Henry B. Eryring, Oct 2008 God has promised that blessing to His faithful Saints whatever their differences in background and whatever conflict rages around them. He was praying for us as well as His disciples when He asked His Father that we might be one. He cannot grant it to us as individuals. The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. He cannot grant it to us as individuals. The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others.

Knit together in Unity & Love It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve.

So how do we do it? What will get us there?

that if we follow them will lead us to greater unity Principles... Principles, that if we follow them, will lead us to greater unity Divide scripture references up and distribute puzzle pieces - have them put their pieces together and determine what the principle is for their section. When all the groups are ready have them put their section of the puzzle on the board and then explain what their Principle was & how it will help lead us to greater unity. Have them pick out one of the scriptures or verses that they like best in explaining the benefits of their principle. 1) 1 Cor 2:10-16 1 Cor 2:11-15 - Revelation 2) 1 Cor 1:18-20, 1 Cor 1:25-27 1 Cor 2:1-5 1 Cor 3:18-19 Be Humble 3) 1 Cor 4:6-7 D&C 38:24 Romans 12:10 Speak well of each other 4) 1 Cor 3:6-11 1 Cor 3:23 1 Cor 4:7 Mosiah 4:19 1 Cor 4:15 - Recognize the unifying power of the Atonement that if we follow them will lead us to greater unity Search then Share

Blessings of Unity 1) 1 Cor 2:10-16 1 Cor 2:11-15 - Revelation Next slide: Video: Hearing His Voice Prophets & Revelation 3:57min

Hearing His Voice Prophets & Revelation Mormon Message: Hearing His Voice Prophets & Revelation 3:57min https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-10-005-prophets-and-revelation-hearing-his-voice?lang=eng Hearing His Voice Prophets & Revelation 3:57min https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-10-005-prophets-and-revelation-hearing-his-voice?lang=eng

2) 1 Cor 1:18-20, 1 Cor 1:25-27 1 Cor 2:1-5 1 Cor 3:18-19 Be Humble Next slide: Mormon Message God’s truths even a child can understand, 2:19 min Blessings of Unity

Mormon Message God’s truths even a child can understand, 2:19 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSItCKMmi0 Insert Mormon Message God’s truths even a child can understand, 2:19 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSItCKMmi0

Blessings of Unity 3) 1 Cor 4:6-7 D&C 38:24 Romans 12:10 Speak well of each other Next slide: Mormon Message The Civility Experiment 3:55 min

Mormon Message The Civility Experiment 3:55 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CiCYPisD5w Mormon Message The Civility Experiment 3:55 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CiCYPisD5w

Blessings of Unity 4) 1 Cor 3:6-11 1 Cor 3:23 1 Cor 4:7 Mosiah 4:19 1 Cor 4:15 - Recognize the unifying power of the Atonement Next slide: video - Mormon Message: Lifting Burdens: the Atonement of Jesus Christ 3:32 min

Mormon Message: Lifting Burdens: the Atonement of Jesus Christ 3:32 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coef8G5ax6E Mormon Message: Lifting Burdens: the Atonement of Jesus Christ 3:32 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coef8G5ax6E

Considering the blessings, why not try? Unity Considering the blessings, why not try?

Tomorrow: 1st Corinthians 5-7