Paul addresses the issue within the Corinthian church of believers taking "trivial cases" to be judged by individuals outside of the church. His overall focus is that this approach is not unifying for the church and then he goes on to list a few other reasons as to why believers should be dealing with these "trivial cases" within the church.
Those include:
1. Because Saints will one day judge the world and angels.
2. Because Saints have a higher position and wisdom than unbelieving judges.
3. Because Saints are brothers.
4. Even if you win, you lose.
Paul then wraps up this passage with such an encouraging passage for all people.....saying that at one time we were sinners.....lost. But now we are washed....sanctified.....and justified.
The gospel isn’t just what we believe—it’s what shapes how we live. 1 Corinthians calls us to let Jesus transform every part of our lives, both as a church and as individuals.
1 Corinthians is a letter for messy people in a messy world—it's an honest picture of what happens when imperfect people try to follow Jesus. It is the real gospel being worked out among real people in real life.
The church in Corinth believed the gospel, but they hadn’t yet let it shape every part of their lives. They had division in the church, confusion about sexuality and relationships, misuse of spiritual gifts, arrogance, and apathy toward sin. This is a letter as relevant to us in 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa as it was to the church in Corinth.
Throughout 1 Corinthians Paul is clear that the gospel isn’t just the entry point to Christianity; it’s the pattern for all of life. Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus redefines what power looks like, what love looks like, what maturity looks like, and what it means to be truly spiritual.
As we preach through 1 Corinthians we want the gospel to reshape how the people of One Hope Church live in community, how we understand our bodies, how we worship and so much more. It is an invitation to us as a family of God to apply the grace of the gospel to all areas of our lives.
