1 Corinthians 1:1-3_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1:1-3_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (ESV)

1 

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In a good Study Bible or solid commentary, read the introductory section on Corinth. How does the gospel message strike against the values and practices of Corinth?

2. What would you identify as the dominant cultural values of our day? How have those values infected and affected the church today? How does the gospel help us confront these values and realign us with gospel values?

3. What makes the cross of Jesus Christ so objectionable? What should it look like for you to ―deny yourself‖ and take up the values of the cross instead of the values of our culture? For example, what would cross-centered values affect how you approach your work? your marriage? how you handle money? how you use technology (i.e. texting, Facebook, email, using the internet)? your view of sex? how you treat ―lower class‖ people? how you interact with other Christians in your church? how you interact with non Christians in your neighborhood?

Sermon Highlights from "Rich Because of Jesus"

In what way are the lives of those in Christ rich?

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Rich Because of Jesus."

Missionary: Who I am, Not What I Do

“Mission is not just one more task of God’s people, but it is our very identity: we are sent with the good news to embody in our lives, demonstrate with our deeds, and announce with our words God’s end time salvation. This defines the meaning of our entire lives.”

–Michael Goheen

Participating in God’s mission is not an option, it is our reality. The fact is, if you are a follower of Christ, then God has adopted you and you are his son or daughter. You may be a son or daughter who is representing your father well or you may be representing him poorly, but either way you remain his child.

My children love giving credit to what they do to the fact that they are “Pierre children.” They find all sorts of creative things to attribute to being a Pierre. Throughout the week I hear my children say things like, “Pierres read” or “The Pierre family serves others” or “Pierres belong to Jesus” or “Pierres work hard.” I am not sure how this line of thinking developed in our children, but I smile every time they say it.

They are right, all of those things (among many others) are things we want to define our family. But of course, each of us often fail. I like to remind my children that remaining a “Pierre” is not dependent on living like a “Pierre.” When they fail to do one of the above things mentioned, their status does not change in our family.  Our 20 month old doesn’t have to wait to be a “Pierre” until he can start serving us. When I am being lazy, I’m still a Pierre.

Of course, this is a great lead in to the fact that we are actually a part of an even better, more amazing family then the Pierre family. We are a part of God’s family and there are many, many things that we can say God’s family does. God’s family talks about Jesus. God’s family cares for the orphan. God’s family loves his Word. God’s family doesn’t gossip. God’s family is full of the fruit of the Spirit. And I could go on and on. I tell my children that once they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, that there is nothing they can do stop being a part of God’s family.

Now the question each day is if we will bring glory to God’s name or if we will bring shame. Will we live like we are a part of God’s family or like we belong to a different family? Will we show the world that God’s family is what God’s word says it is to be or will we hide God’s family from the world?  Whatever we chose each day, we remain in God’s family. And what is so precious about being God’s child is that on our most shameful day of living we will be just as much a son as the day we act most like Jesus. What a gracious God we serve!

I say all of that to say that being a Christian does not leave us with an option to join God’s mission or not. What if we lived each day fully convinced that we were to be the embodiment of the good news of Jesus Christ? What would our churches look like if we made decisions based on the fact that our life does not belong to us, but that it has been bought with a price and belongs to God and his purposes? Being a part of God’s mission is a part of our identity. It is who we are and it is to “define the meaning of our entire [life].” We cannot take a few days, weeks, or years “off” from being a part of God’s family anymore then I can take time “off” from being a mother, wife, daughter, or sister.

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Rich Because of Jesus” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Rich Because of Jesus” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

by Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

1. Given all the problems within the Corinthian church it is striking that Paul begins this letter by giving thanks for them. Even with all their problems Paul sees evidences of God’s grace amongst these Christians and he wants to begin this letter by pointing them out.

2. Christians are a people who are richly blessed. But it is not because of anything we have done or could do. It’s not of any of the things that are commonly seen as signs of being successful or “rich” in our society. Christians are richly blessed entirely because of how God has graciously invested himself into our lives through Jesus. Thus, the Christian life is one that is ALL God, but especially it is on that is ALL Jesus.

3. What are some examples of God’s grace towards us in Jesus?

a. We have a deeper knowledge of and ability to communicate the truth about life (1 Cor 1:5-6). The result of this is that we have no present lack in any of God’s gifts (1 Cor 1:7, cf 2 Peter 1:3). 

We too often settle for the dollar store quality gifts that our world gives us instead of enjoying the eternal, “never perish, spoil, or fade” gifts of God such as love, joy, peace, patience, holiness, righteousness. 

b. We have all the support we need to stay strong in our faith (1 Cor 1:7-8). The result of this is that we will have no guilt in the future when we stand before God and must give an account of our lives.

So many people are imprisoned by their guilt and shame. In Jesus however we are released from our guilt and shame and ensured that when God renders his verdict about our lives he will say, “Not guilty! You are righteous. You are a holy. You are my child!”

4. Ultimately the real gift of God’s grace to us is Jesus himself. Every blessing and gift of God comes to us in Jesus. Jesus is the reason we have all of God and the riches of his grace in our lives. He is the reason the Christian life is “rich” and will remain rich all the way until eternity. God confirms us in Christ now and will confirm us in Christ in the end.

The word used to describe our union with Jesus is “fellowship” (1 Cor 1:9). The idea here is that Christians together have a common participation with Jesus. We share together in the full breadth and depth of Jesus. We participate together in his righteous life, his atoning death, and his redemptive resurrection. We participate together in his power and his love and his grace. We participate together in his Sonship and in his Spirit. We participate together in all of Jesus.

5. “Are your lives so bound up together that you draw from him forgiveness and strength and hope and guidance and joy while he draws from you faith and love and prayer and obedience?” John Piper

A Note From Pastor V about This Year's Men's Retreat

Hey RCC family,

I'd like to encourage all of our men to register this week for our multi-church men's retreat on Oct 7-9. The speaker, Patrick Smith, is a good friend of mine but even more importantly a solid Christ-centered scholar and preacher. He is legitimately one of those "rising stars" in the evangelical world that you will be blessed to meet and learn from, I guarantee it!

The men's retreat is also a unique opportunity for men to fellowship with one another. Every men's retreat I've been on I've come away thankful for having had the opportunity to connect with guys in ways that Sunday mornings don't always provide. And it's always cool to worship God together with a bunch of guys from churches all across the valley.

If you haven't already please hand in your registration to me or Kayla. Or better yet go register online at http://cbcaz.org/men. Don't let cost get in the way of you going. For $100 you get food, lodging, a solid speaker, and multiple workshops led by experienced pastors and teachers. And we have some funds reserved to subsidize up to half the cost of this for a few guys, but that will be given on a first come first served basis so talk to me or email soon if you haven't already.

I'm thankful for Roosevelt and all the guys there. Hope to see and connect with many of you at the retreat this October.

In Christ,

Pastor Vermon


vpierre@rooseveltchurch.org
Roosevelt Community Church

924 N. 1st Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Deadline for Men's Retreat 3 DAYS AWAY!!!

Men's Retreat :: OPERATION RECLAMATION

  

CALLING ALL MEN! Don't miss your chance at a great opportunity to get away from everyday stress and connect with God and other Christian brothers. If you didn't get a brochure and registration form in the foyer of RCC then check out Camelback Bible Church's registration and information page. This is one of those experiences you don't want to miss.

• Retreat: October 7th - 9th
• Deadline: September 23rd  
• Online Registration: http://cbcaz.org/men  

 If you need financial assistance please email or see Pastor Vermon. vpierre@rooseveltchurch.org 

Sermon Highlights from "Know Who You Are"

What is distinct about the identity of a Christian?

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Know Who You Are."

Pics from Last Night

Here are some flicks from last night's event, courtesy of our friends over at Apologia Church...

Thank you again to all the hard working volunteers who helped make this happen!

PS - there is also a rough version of the audio at Apologia's Sermon.net page right here. Please note this is for those who are just dying to hear it as we will have the real audio and video up later this month!

BACKPACK RADIO presents: WHAT DOES (AND DOESN'T) THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

Special guest speaker Dr. Michael Brown, nationally syndicated radio host of the Line of Fire program and author of A Queer Thing Happened to America will be discussing homosexuality with in the Bible. There is no charge but there will be a collection to support ICN ministries. The Backpack Radio hosts are hoping that you will become equipped to compassionately deal with this important cultural challenge as well as gain a greater love for God and His Word.

• Date: September 14, 2011
• Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
• Location: 924 N 1st St , Phoenix, AZ 85004

Loving Your Friend Through Infertility

Loving Your Friend Through Infertility
by Dennae Pierre

Let's just be real, Roosevelt has a RIDICULOUS amount of babies and baby showers. If you are a couple struggling with infertility Roosevelt should be an extremely hard church to be a part of. I say "should be" because I hope that we can be a church who can love and serve each other through our darkest moments and deepest pains. Infertility is a terrible thing to walk through and it can feel overwhelming and lonely. But we are called to be a community that carries each other's burdens, especially when they are suffering deeply.

We are also  a church that believes in adoption and while adoption is an AMAZING way to grow your family (in my unbiased opinion) it still doesn't cure the pain and heartache that comes with infertility. It would be terrible if couples struggling with infertility were fearful to speak about their suffering because they were worried they'd be expected to "cure" it through adoption. Adoption should be seriously and prayerfully considered by all families in our church, not just ones who struggle to get pregnant...so keep that in mind if you are going to encourage someone else to do it. :)

I write all of that simply to encourage you to read the series of posts written by a gospel-centered woman struggling with infertility: Loving Your Friend Through Infertility It will help us grow in our understanding of how to lovingly encourage our brothers and sisters to look to Jesus when their world is being turn upside down. If you don't know someone who is currently struggling with this issue, I'm sure it will happen at some point.

Sermon Highlights from Remember the Mission Sunday

What does it mean for a Christian community to be "on mission?"

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Remember the Mission Sunday."

Notes from 'Critics of the Early Church' [Roosevelt Institute Class]

ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE CLASS
“CRITICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH”

09/03/2011

Summary of some of the main pagan criticism of the early church:

1.       The doctrine of the resurrection is absurd

Example: Acts 17, 1 Corinthians 15

2.       There are contradictions in the Scriptures

Example: Porphyry, Thallus

3.       Atheism is widely held

Example: The Martyrdom of Polycarp (8.2; 9.2; 10, 1), a trial under Domitian

4.       Christianity is the worship of a criminal

Example: Early art mocking Christian worship, 1 Corinthians 1:21–25

5.       Christianity is a novelty

Example: Suetonius (Nero 16.2)

6.       Christianity evidences a lack of patriotism

Example: Pliny the Younger (Epistles 10.96.3-4), Tacitus (Annals 15.44)

7.       Christians practice incest

Example: Cornelius Fronto

8.       Christians practice cannibalism

Example: Athenagoras, Justin Martyr

9.       Christianity leads to the destruction of a society

Example: Decius, Diocletian and Julian

10.   Christians are ignorant and arrogant

Example: Celsus, Lucian of Samosata

*This list is adapted from the helpful “The Arguments of the Apologists” in Robert C. Walton’s Chronological and Background Charts of Church History, revised and expanded edition (Grand Rapids, MI: 2005), Chart 15.