1 Corinthians Week 1

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 1:1 

¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes. 

Paul would have some stern things to say in his letter. He wanted the recipients to know that he had been chosen by God, not by men, to be an apostle. It is not certain which Sosthenes it was to whom Paul referred. He may have been the one mentioned in Acts 18:17, or it may have been one by that name copying what Paul was dictating in his letter to the Corinthians.  

REFLECT 

Do you understand that there were many names that were common names in Bible times even as there are today? This was especially true of the name “Mary.”  

RESPOND  

Join with a friend and read Acts 9:1-19 about Paul’s conversion when he was on the road to Damascus. He was chosen by God to be an apostle but did not have the credentials to be chosen as one of the 12 (see Acts 1:21-22). 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 

² I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. ³ May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 

Paul reminded the people in the church in Corinth that they had been called to be God’s own holy people. The word “holy” is similar to the one for “sanctified.” As such they were also called “saints.” He explained how they were made holy. It was the result of them calling on the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul also gave them a greeting that included both grace and peace. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus and the result is peace with God (see Romans 5:1). 

REFLECT 

Do you realize God also considers you holy if you have trusted in Jesus as Savior?  

RESPOND 

The word “holy” refers to one who is “set apart.” Although the believer’s position is that he or she is holy at the time of salvation, by their practice they become more set apart through the Scriptures. See John 17:16-17 for what Jesus said about this. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 1:4-6 

⁴ I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ⁵ Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. ⁶ This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 

It is interesting to notice in a letter’s introduction how items are mentioned that are later referred to in the letter. Paul will have much to write the Corinthians about gifts and speaking in tongues. Here verse 5 seems to be a reference to those matters. God had enriched their church in many ways, but it will be seen that the Corinthian church had many problems.  

REFLECT 

Do you realize that, as a believer, God has enriched your life, but it does not mean you are without problems?  

RESPOND 

With a friend talk about the importance of having harmony in the church fellowship. Read John 13:35 for what Jesus said about how to show the world that believers are really His disciples.  

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 

⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1 Corinthians 12 will discuss spiritual gifts, and here Paul tells the believers in the church that they have every spiritual gift they need. Above all Paul wanted them to be without blame on the day Jesus returns. No one is perfect, but to be without blame would at least mean when one does wrong he or she will admit it and endeavor to make it right with the wronged person. 

REFLECT 

As a believer think about how blessed you are to be a partner with God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this you should forgive others as He has forgiven you. 

RESPOND 

To see that Paul will answer questions about spiritual gifts, read 1 Corinthians 12:1-3. He will have much to say in that chapter.  

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 1:10 

¹⁰ I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 

Paul wanted believers to live in harmony with each other. He did not want there to be any divisions in the church. He did not mean they all had to think alike, but they needed to have the same goals in mind. Some churches lack a distinctive purpose; that would not have pleased the apostle Paul. 

REFLECT 

Even though there are differences of opinion in your church, do the people have the same goals in mind? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Philippians 2:1-8 about what Paul wrote the Philippian believers about using Christ as their example. Especially notice what Jesus’ attitude was.