Athey Creek: Audio Podcast

A Bible teaching titled “Through the Bible | 1 Corinthians 11:1-16” from 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 by Brett Meador.

Paul continues to address issues in the Corinthian church by confronting their improper behavior during communion. As he guides them on how to properly partake of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, we learn the purpose behind this practice, how to approach it with reverence, and how to avoid the same mistakes the Corinthians were making.

A Bible teaching titled “Through the Bible | 1 Corinthians 10” from 1 Corinthians 10 by Brett Meador.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul charges us to do everything for the glory of God. As we examine the reasons to heed his words, we see the benefits we are blessed with and the protection we receive when we honor Him instead of boasting in ourselves.

Paul tackles another controversy in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 9 – and this time, he’s directly affected by their debate. As Paul explains why those in ministry should have the right to be financially supported, why he is willing to forgo wages from them, and what ultimately mattered most to him, we see a model for the modern-day church when it comes to compensating those serving in ministry.

The Corinthian church faced a major controversy about whether it was acceptable to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and Paul provides guidance on how they should handle it in 1 Corinthians 8. So why should we study an issue that was so specific to their situation, time, and culture? Because the principle behind it still applies, and Paul’s answer helps us navigate the many gray areas in our own society and discern what we should and shouldn’t do as Christians.

The Corinthian church had many questions about singleness, marriage, divorce, and remarriage, which Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 7:10-40. As we listen to his answers, we step back to gain a comprehensive biblical understanding of God’s design for marital relationships and learn how to properly apply Scripture as we address these issues in our own day.

In 1 Corinthians 6:1-7:9, Paul continues to address the problems within the Corinthian church – many of which remain all too familiar among modern Christians. As he confronts matters such as lawsuits, sexual immorality, marriage and singleness, we see God’s design for how these should be handled and the consequences when we insist on doing things our own way.

Does Paul’s statement that “all things are lawful” in 1 Corinthians 6:12 mean we have the freedom to do whatever we want? While it might sound that way at first, as we unpack Paul’s argument, we discover what boundaries guard this statement, how this topic develops throughout Scripture, and how our liberty should be used to glorify God.

A Bible teaching titled “Through the Bible | 1 Corinthians 5” from 1 Corinthians 5 by Brett Meador.

The Corinthian church had a serious problem with sexual immorality to the point that they were no longer even ashamed, but proud of it. Sadly, not much has changed since Paul had to confront them with the urgent command to “flee fornication” in 1 Corinthians 6:18. As we see why sexual immorality is so destructive, we discover how we can put Paul’s charge into action ourselves and how mercy and forgiveness can be found in the midst of sin.

In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul confronts some of the major issues within the Corinthian church as he seeks to correct their divisions over favorite leaders, their tendency to judge by wrong standards, and their prideful hearts. Through a blend of sarcasm, tenderness, and hard truth, Paul points them back to what God cares about and shows them how to view their leaders, their church, and their conduct towards others in light of the Gospel.

Paul’s sole focus was on faithfully carrying out what God had called him to do: preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Paul shares his mindset about his mission in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, we pause to examine what God has called us to do personally and whether we are fulfilling our ministry faithfully with the single purpose of pleasing God.

The church at Corinth thought they were wise because they were worldly, yet they were spiritually immature and failing to build upon the right foundation. As Paul seeks to correct these deficiencies in 1 Corinthians 3, he lays out a roadmap for how they can grow into maturity, build wisely, and bear eternal fruit by keeping Christ at the center.

Just as a physical house must be built on a solid foundation with sound materials, Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 that the same principles apply to how we live our lives. As we consider Paul’s life building plan, we see what is essential for a firm foundation, how to gain the wisdom to build with lasting materials, and why what we do in this life will matter so much in eternity.

The Corinthian church had failed to grow in spiritual maturity and was embracing the world’s “wisdom” by adopting a worldview contrary to God’s Word. However, Paul provides the remedy in 1 Corinthians 2 by calling them to follow the wisdom of God, which comes through studying the Word, walking in the Spirit, and being rooted in the power of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Flashy stage productions, catchy viral soundbites, and attempts to stay relevant through pop culture are commonplace in many churches today. Though the methods were different in his day, Paul had to warn the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 about these same issues, reminding them that true faith is not built on spectacle, eloquence, or popularity, but on Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

After his initial greetings, Paul opens his letter to the church at Corinth by reminding them of God’s grace, the unity believers share, and the call to boast only in Christ. As we study Paul’s introduction in 1 Corinthians 1, the scene is set for us to see the challenges facing their church and how these same issues parallel the church in our own day.

First Corinthians 1:18–21 reminds us that the message of the cross seems foolish to the world, yet to those who believe it is the power and wisdom of God. This sharp contrast calls us to consider how we live out our faith, convey our convictions, and speak the truth in love to unbelievers.

Paul closes his letter to the Roman church by greeting notable believers and sharing final words of warning and encouragement. As we study this in Romans 16, we see who Paul highlights, what we can learn from their inclusion in this list, and join him in giving glory to God for His wonderful grace.