Sermons on 1 Corinthians
Embracing Individuality in Relationships
In a world that often emphasizes conformity and societal norms, it’s easy to overlook the beauty and significance of each person’s unique identity, including within the context of marriage and relationships. In this sermon, we will discover that individuality is a gift from God, designed to enhance and enrich our relationships. Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 7:7-8 Preacher: Pastor Bill Limmer
How do we support people with different views on sexuality?
We are all equal in Christ, and every person we meet should be treated with love and respect as a child of God. But even amongst Christians, this looks different – particularly in how they interact with those in the LGBTQ+ community. Should Christians support the LGBTQ+ community? What does it look like for a Christian to truly “love the sinner, but hate the sin”? How can Christians support people whose beliefs and lifestyles are different than what God teaches…
Foolproof Hope
Our culture tells us that this life is all there is. Living things are just matter, and nobody really knows what kind of spiritual life there is beyond the grave (if any). The First Century Christians in Corinth had been influenced by their Greek culture to believe something similar. They believed that when a person died their soul might float up to heaven, but that was about it. Paul said, “That is not Christianity!” He goes on to speak in…
Foolproof Gifts
Some people seem more gifted than others. They might excel in music, sports, academics, or business. Some might even some more “spiritually gifted” than others, with greater knowledge of the Bible or the ability to do greater works of service than others. The danger with all these talents is that we can forget they are gifts of grace from God. In our arrogance, we can get puffed up because of our special talents. That was happening in the Corinthians church…
Foolproof Supper
Everyone loves a good party. We love good food, games, and having fun with friends. But there is also a time to gather with others reverently to worship and participate in the Lord’s Supper. That might seem foolish to the world. It certainly seemed foolish to the early Christians in the First Century. They turned the Lord’s Supper into a drunken toga party. So, Paul used their foolishness as an opportunity to teach the proper way to celebrate Holy Communion,…
Foolproof Choices
How do you make decisions about what you will eat or drink or about what you will wear? Our culture tells us, “If it feels good do it! It’s your right! It’s your freedom!” But making decisions based only on our personal happiness can harm others. And that would be foolish. Paul sees the Corinthian Christians living like that. They were eating at pagan festivals in front of new Christians who were trying to separate from their old, pagan way…
Foolproof Marriage
One of the most important decisions we make is who, when, or if we are going to marry. Our culture teaches that marriage is about our own personal happiness. Therefore, we should choose to marry someone only insofar as that person makes us happy. The new Christians in the Corinthian church inherited that same mindset from their culture. So, Paul teaches them to look at marriage as an opportunity to sacrificially commit to another person in Christ. (Paul does talk…
Foolproof Morals
Our culture tells us that happiness comes from having the freedom to choose your own morality. To be open-minded and accepting of every lifestyle is considered a virtue. First Century Corinthian culture was the same. They were proud to say, “Everything is permissible!” But Paul shared a message with them that seemed foolish. He said that all people could “come as they are” to the Christian church, but Jesus didn’t want them to stay as they are. Christians have been…
Foolproof Followers
We are all tempted to scroll through YouTube, Facebook, or the latest podcast to find the sage who will unlock the secret to true happiness. We look to leaders who have charisma and success. We can even look at our favorite spiritual leaders in the same way. But often, we find out that those leaders are broken people with flaws just like all of us. The Corinthians fell into the same trap. They put their faith in leaders who had…
Jesus the Victor (Easter at Victory)
Jesus is the King who not only leads us into battle; he fights our battles for us and wins. An empty tomb means that our “defeats” are hallow wins for our enemy. An empty tomb means that our victory in Christ is sure even when there are setbacks along the way. The victory that you have been looking for is already yours in the resurrected and victorious King. And because of that, it’s time to celebrate! Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11,…
Jesus: The Embodiment of Wisdom
Proverbs 8 personifies wisdom. It speaks of wisdom being the person who created the world. John 1 picks up on this idea, describing Jesus as the Word made flesh. Paul calls Jesus “the wisdom of God.” God’s greatest revelation of wisdom is in the Gospel. It seems foolish to us at first. But his death and resurrection to reconcile the world to himself reveal the height, depth, width, and length of his wisdom and love. Sermon Text: Proverbs 8:12, 27-31…
Core Values: Pursuing Excellence
The Apostle Paul pursued excellence. As best he could, he preached the truth in a way that everyone in his audience could understand. He knew that Jesus was the only one who could achieve perfection. Yet, Paul worked tirelessly to reach people with Jesus. We give God our first and our best, pursuing excellence in all we do to be positive representatives of His Kingdom. Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27