1 Corinthians
  1. Introduction (1:1-9)
  2. Dealing With Problems in the Church (1:10-6:20)
    1. Divisions within the church (1:10-4:21)
      1. A call to harmony (1:10-2:16)
        1. God’s wisdom is manifest in the cross (1:18-25)
        2. God has chosen the lowly to confound the wise (1:26-31)
        3. Paul’s preaching was in the power of the Spirit, not in the wisdom of men’s words (2:1-16)
      2. A call to spirituality (3:1-23)
        1. Divisions are a sign of carnality (3:1-17)
          1. They are a sign of spiritual immaturity (3:1-11)
          2. They bring the judgment of God (3:12-17)
        2. Human wisdom does not produce spirituality (3:18-23)
      3. A call to stewardship (4:1-21)
        1. You are stewards of the gifts given by God (4:1-8)
          1. Be faithful to your stewardship
          2. Be careful in your criticism of others
          3. Remember that everything you have received comes from God
          4. Therefore, do not boast in your gifts
        2. Suffering is part of the Christian life
          1. We should respond properly to persecution
          2. We should remember that true spirituality is not measured by position, worldly power, prestige or possessions.
    2. Incest and church discipline (5:1-13)
      1. Deal with the sinful relationship (5:1-8)
      2. In the world, not of the world (5:9-13)
    3. Lawsuits (6:1-11)
    4. Purity (6:12-20)
  3. Answering Questions on Issues (7:1-15:58)
    1. Divorce & Remarriage (7:1-40)
      1. Introductory Principles (7:1-7)
      2. Issues on marriage (7:8-24)
      3. Issues on singleness (7:25-40)
    2. Questionable Practices (8:1-11:1)
      1. Meat offered to idols (8:1-13)
      2. Defense of Paul’s apostleship (9:1-27)
        1. Those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel (9:1-18)
        2. Those who preach should do their best (9:19-27)
      3. Israel as an example (10:1-11:1)
        1. It is possible to displease God
        2. We can overcome temptation
        3. Separation is essential
        4. Seek the welfare of others
        5. Do all to the glory of God

      In essence, if you want to decide a questionable issue, do all to the glory of God is the over riding principle in deciding whether a matter is right or wrong. The second issue is, will it help or hinder my brother?

    3. Public Worship Issues (11:2-34)
      1. Man/woman decorum (11:2-16)
      2. Lord’s supper (11:17-34)
    4. Spiritual Gifts (12-14)
      1. Diversity of gifts, unity of the body (12)
        1. One Spirit gives different gifts
        2. One body that needs each part
      2. Love is greater than gifts (13)
      3. Tongues vs. prophecy as an illustration (14)

      Again, Paul gives an overriding principle, "Let all things be done decently and in order." God is not the author of confusion and He wants things done orderly.

    5. Resurrection (15)
      1. The resurrection is essential to the gospel (15:1-11)
      2. What if there were no resurrection (15:12-19)
      3. Resurrection order (15:20-33)
      4. How does God raise the dead? (15:35-50)
      5. The result of the resurrection (15:51-57)
      6. Practical benefit of the resurrection (15:58)
  4. Conclusion (16)