Messages from

1 Corinthians

Spiritual Gifts: Ep 34–48 | Raised: Ep 18–24

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1
1 Corinthians, Ep 31 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 31 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1

This week's text ends Paul's three chapter teaching on Christian liberty - how should a Christian live, what choices should they make, when the Bible doesn’t speak specifically to a particular activity? Paul's fivefold answer: choose to build up not tear down, choose freedom over legalism, choose others over ourself, choose God's glory over our own, and choose Jesus above all else.

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1 Corinthians 10:14–22
1 Corinthians, Ep 30 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 30 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 10:14–22

John Calvin once called the human heart an “idol factory.” But if we’ve put our trust in Jesus to forgive us our sins, what’s the problem with chasing a few earthly pleasures for ourselves? In 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 Paul helps us to see that idolatry simply makes no sense for the Christian given the reality of our salvation and in fact it exposes us to very real and powerful spiritual forces.

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1 Corinthians 10:1–13
1 Corinthians, Ep 29 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 29 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 10:1–13

This passage is a warning and calls us to learn from the calamity of the Israelites in their forty-year wilderness journey. God's chosen people then had so many privileges and advantages and yet, Paul writes that God was not pleased with most of them. Christians today have advantages that exceed the people then and yet, we too are in danger of great calamity if we don't learn from their tragic example.

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1 Corinthians 9:24–27
1 Corinthians, Ep 28 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 28 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Paul often uses sporting analogies when talking about the Christian life. In this passage he compares the Christian life to running a race and boxing an opponent. And what he says is that Christians are to run and fight with self-control, with purpose and with perseverance so as to not be disqualified from receiving the prize.

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1 Corinthians 9:19–23
1 Corinthians, Ep 27 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 27 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 9:19–23

Paul's passion, Paul's mission entrusted to him by God, was to see as many come to saving faith in Jesus as possible. In this passage we consider what this meant practically in Paul's life, what it means to us now and how Jesus is the ultimate example to imitate.

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1 Corinthians 9:1–23
1 Corinthians, Ep 26 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 26 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 9:1–23

In chapter 9 Paul carries on with the topic he introduced in the previous chapter: Christian liberty. In this week's text Paul uses himself as an example of a proper use of Christian liberty. Paul highlights that he had every right to be paid by the Corinthians but gave that right up for the sake of the gospel and the sake of the lost.

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1 Corinthians 8:1–13
1 Corinthians, Ep 25 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 25 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 8:1–13

Christians are free to engage in activity that the bible does not clearly forbid. The Lord our God is Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of all that is, and all that exists… “For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (I Corinthians 10:26). In his/her eating and drinking… or whatever the Christian chooses to do, he/she ought to do it to the glory of God - I Corinthians 10:31. But what if the activity in question causes another Christian to fall into temptation… by luring him/her back into their former lifestyle with its beliefs and practices? Should a Christian curb his/her freedoms for the sake of those who may stumble? As the Apostle Paul tackles a question regarding “eating food offered to idols” in I Corinthians 8, he gives his audience guiding principles on how they are to handle their Christian liberties and freedoms. There is a lot we can learn from what Paul says to the Corinthian believers.

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1 Corinthians 15:50–58
1 Corinthians, Ep 24 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 24 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 15:50–58

This message ends a series on I Corinthians 15 with an Easter Sunday message that wraps up Paul's teaching on the resurrected bodies that those in Christ can expect at the return of Jesus. Why are they necessary, when will they be received and what should we be about in the time in between? 

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1 Corinthians 15:35–49
1 Corinthians, Ep 23 Midtown Church 1 Corinthians, Ep 23 Midtown Church

1 Corinthians 15:35–49

In this Good Friday message we look at the resurrection bodies received by those in Christ at the return of Jesus. Paul addresses two questions in this text: how are the dead raised and what will our resurrection bodies be like. The message ends with a reminder of what our new bodies cost and what, in turn, makes Friday so good.

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