Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 16:13-24

Everything begins with who God is, and God is most clearly revealed in the gospel of Jesus.  The Corinthians had allowed the thinking of the world to infiltrate their thinking, and it began to denigrate their love and unity.  Paul writes to them to view everything through the lens of the gospel.  The idea is gospel wisdom produces godly love, moral living, and true Christlike community.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

​1 Corinthians 15:35-58

​God is holy and we are not.  God is immortal and we are mortal. Our bodies are corrupted by sin and cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.  God’s plan is for our mortal bodies to be transformed into sinless and glorified bodies.  We can’t change who or what we are, but in the resurrection God is going to change who and what we are, and it will be glorious.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 16:5-12

We have learned over the last few years, we are not in control.  We are not in control of other people, our circumstances, or even our future, but we can thank God He is in control.  God wants to rule and reign over every area of our life, including our time.  Our attitude ought to be “How can I honor God with my day today?  Lord, what are Your plans for my weak or my year?”  We should make plans, Bible encourages it, but we should always give God ultimate control over our plans.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

​1 Corinthians 16:1-4

God expresses His love for us by graciously gifting us financially, and we express our love for others by graciously gifting them with the gifts God has gifted us.  We receive love, we give love.  We receive grace, we give grace.  We receive financial blessing, we give financial blessing.  We constantly thank God for what He given us, and ask God to use what He has given us to bless other people.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Most of the Corinthians were Greek who held to a type of dualism where the spirit is good, but the body is evil.  They followed Plato who believed in the immortality of soul, but not the body.  Christianity taught the immortality of both the soul and the body in resurrection.  Paul argues from cause and effect, that Jesus’ resurrection is the great cause, and the effect is our resurrection.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

​The gospel is the most important message we have ever preached, and we have ever heard.  It is of first importance because all we believe hinges on it.  Our salvation, the truth of Scripture, the witness of the church, the faith we share and the God we serve all point to the truth of the gospel.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 14:20-40

​The apostle Paul says edification our goal in worship, that the church be strengthened and grow.  Understanding is necessary for spiritual growth because what we share must be understood to do any good.  In this passage, Paul says order is necessary for spiritual growth, and so we are to conduct the worship service in such a way to remove confusion, promote unity, spiritual growth, and honor God.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

​The Corinthian Christians were zealous for the gifts, but often careless in love.  This whole passage is an illustration and application of how to exercise our spiritual gifts, specifically tongues, in love for the purpose of building up others.  Paul is saying what matters more than what you can do is how deeply you love.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

​Our spiritual gifts are useless and even harmful if not used in love.  Love is what gives our gifts meaning and lasting significance.  When we use our gifts in love, the result is humility, unity, and maturity.  When we use them without love, the result is pride and division.  The gifts are partial and temporary, but love is the nature of God and the essence of all God has planned for us.

Sermon by: Pastor Matt Spradlin

​1 Corinthians 13:4-7

​Everyone wants love, but few can define it.  Love is not the same as liking.  Love is not a feeling.  Love is not a behavior.  Love is a choice to wish the good of another.  While love is not a feeling, it does lead to feelings; while love is not a behavior, it does demonstrate itself in our behavior.  But the most important things about love is God’s nature and our love is to reflect His nature or His love.