1. “Living the Gospel in a Corinthian Culture” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

2. Changing Culture, But We Have This Same Gospel Whirlwind 3 weeks! 1.6% of the population is homosexual Bakers (Kleins), $135K judgment due tomorrow But the Gospel can/will prosper anywhere: * communism; socialism; dictatorships

3. Apostle Paul’s Strategy To Evangelize Corinth What Paul did (18 months): Acts 18:5-6 – turned from resisting Jews 18:8 – “many heard, believed, baptized” 1 Cor. 1:26 – 28 – God has chosen … foolish over wise; weak over strong; the base/despised; things that are NOT over things that are…

4. The Challenge in Corinth Great metropolis: sea and land trading routes *Culture of wisdom / enlightenment (Impact of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates) *Culture of sexual liberty Temple of Aphrodite – the goddess of sex, affection, and the attraction that binds people together. * 1,000 prostitutes at its height *picture how lonely hearts were enslaved

5. 1. The Church Must Be United! 1 Corinthians 1 Fractures in the family: vss. 11-13 * smaller concerns/agendas vs. the Gospel (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) Unifying factors: 1 Cor. 1:18 – the call of the cross (John 3:16) Humility of those who respond to its call vss. 29-31 “no one should boast” “by His doing you are in Christ Jesus” “let him who boasts, boast in the Lord”

6. Paul’s Strategy to Achieve Unity, And Outreach: 1 Cor. 12:31 “And I show you a still more excellent way” Followed by 1 Corinthians 13 on “love” * Centrality of love – vss. 1-3 * What love is like – vss. 4-8 The two extremes in our culture 1) love (acceptance, affirmation) + but no truth 2) truth but no love (repeat vss. 1-3) The church = those “coming out of the world,” born again into the Kingdom of God! (Acts 2:37)

7. 2. We Pursue Holiness in the Body 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “walking like mere men” As stewards, we must exemplify life change: a people saved from sin, transformed by Him (1 Cor. 4:1-2) CHURCH = “ekklesia” – “ones called out” Rejection of immorality “PORNEA” literally, “a selling off” (1 Corinthians 5) * Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pornography, sexual sins of all sorts * Hope found in transformed lives (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

8. 3. We Operate By Spiritual Giftedness For Anointed Outreach 1 Cor. 12-14 – theme of gifts from the Lord (purpose: contribution “giving” to community) 1 Corinthians 12 – church is likened to a human body – parts work together for good 1 Corinthians 13 – driving force is love 1 Corinthians 14 – spiritual gifts in assembly, with an eye to unbelievers!

9. 4. Cornerstone of the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15 Profound, concise teaching on the resurrection from the dead in 1 Corinthians 15 * vs. 13 – no resurrection? - Christ is not raised; - our preaching is in vain - our faith is in vain + vs. 17 “worthless” * vs. 18 – “those fallen asleep in Christ have perished”

10. Why the Resurrection is Critical to Our Flat Creek Message It portrays our eternal destiny: heaven (1 Cor. 2:9); or hell (1 Cor. 6:9) and the message that defines it (1 Cor. 15:3-4) The resurrection provides accountability (2 Cor. 5:10) It is the solution / answer to our last enemy (death) (1 Cor. 15:26)

11. Flat Creek’s Strategy in 2015! Diligently preserve unity of the Spirit Love one another, our community, calls to repentance! Use our giftedness in service to Jesus Eagerly embrace His resurrection; 2 nd coming!