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1 Corinthians With Mark Dever: When Church HurtsSample

1 Corinthians With Mark Dever: When Church Hurts

DAY 2 OF 5

Count your blessings

Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Paul will need to correct and challenge this church in many areas. But first he wants them to count their blessings. And what blessings they have as those who “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 2)!

Grace

The church in Corinth had been founded by Paul. Since then, it had been full of problems. And, as we’ll see, there was some dissent towards Paul himself.

  • What is astonishing about what Paul is doing here?
  • Whatever challenges this church faces, or poses, the most important thing about its members is that they have received God’s grace. Which is cause for great thanks!

    Pray

    Every true Christian, however much they are struggling, should prompt us to give thanks. Each congregation of Christians, however problematic, is a triumph of God’s grace.

    Pause now to praise God for Christians you know. Praise Him particularly for any Christians who have caused you problems or heartache.

    Knowledge

    Corinth was a place that valued knowledge. Paul reminds these Christians that in Christ they have the richest knowledge possible. In Christ they have found the purpose of their lives, the way they can be forgiven, the way they can know God Himself. What better knowledge is there?

  • Where does Paul say his claims about Christ are shown to be true (verse 6)?
  • Apply

  • How is your life a display of the truth of the gospel? Are there any ways you could display it more clearly?
  • Certainty

  • What can Christians look forward to (verses 7-8)?
  • How can struggling Christians be certain they will reach this future (v 8a)?
  • Our eternal well-being rests in hands safer and more powerful than our own!

    Fellowship

  • What has God called us into?
  • The Christian life is not about rituals, or rules: it’s about relationship. God has given us the best He has—His Son.

    Apply

    Grace. Knowledge. Certainty. Fellowship. All these are yours as a Christian.

  • How do these things make you feel? How do they remind you to focus on, and pray about, what you have been given, rather than on what you haven’t?
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    About this Plan

    1 Corinthians With Mark Dever: When Church Hurts

    The Corinthian church—perhaps like ours—was struggling with division, immaturity and immorality. The apostle Paul pulls no punches, but points them to the cross; because “to us who are being saved it is the power of God”. This is a free sample of Explore daily Bible reading notes, published by The Good Book Company.

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    We would like to thank The Good Book Company for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.thegoodbook.com