Paul planted the church in Corinth on his second preaching journey (Acts 18:1-11). Paul later penned two inspired letters to this church.  While these disciples were certainly the people of God (1 Corinthians 1:1-12), they did have problems.

They were experiencing quarrels and spiritual immaturity (1 Corinthians 1:11; 3:1). They were tolerating sinful behavior (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). They were dragging one another into the public courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-2), dealing with matters of marriage and divorce (1 Corinthians 7:1-4), and idolatry (1 Corinthians 8-10). They were also perverting the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:22), misusing their miraculous spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), and had misunderstandings about the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).

Imagine being a member of this church? Would you leave? Would you start another church across town? Would you give up on the Lord? Consider four things that being a Christian in Corinth involved.

Being guided by inspired teaching from Jesus

  • The Lord’s teaching offered the prescriptions to their problems (1 Corinthians 7:10-11; 9:14; 11:23-24). The things that Paul taught them came from the Holy Spirit and were the Lord’s commandments (1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 14:37).
  • Seeking to grow and apply the inspired teachings of Scripture is critical to maintaining unity, love, worship, and work that pleases God!

Being committed to staying together

  • When experiencing conflicts, divisions, and problems, Paul doesn’t encourage these saints to split up. He doesn’t tell them to break up and start another church across town. Instead, he urges them to stay together and work out their problems.
  • They were to strive for unity (1 Corinthians 1:10-15).
  • They were to be patient and considerate towards one another (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
  • They were to practice the Spirit’s teaching about love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
  • They were to continue working, growing, and putting the Lord first!

Being held accountable

  • Instead of turning a blind eye to a brother among them in immorality, Paul instructs these disciples to get busy disciplining and hold him accountable (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Allowing him to be in their fellowship wasn’t going to help save his soul!
  • As local church members, we should expect disciples to be in our business! If we begin veering off the path of truth, we should anticipate our spiritual family to execute the Lord’s commandment in Matthew 18:15-17.
  • God wants members of a local church to watch out for another. This will ensure that no Christian falls through the spiritual cracks.

Being an active part of the body

  • Just like the physical body is made up of various parts and each part doesn’t have the same function, so is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11-18).
  • What are you doing in the body? We all must strive to do our part in the body. If we are not connected, working, and growing in the body, the entire body will suffer.

Conclusion:

The Corinthians had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Have you been as well?