Explore Paul's message to the Corinthian church, urging humility, graciousness, and sacrificial living empowered by God's Spirit. This sermon from First Christian Church in Brazil, IN, delves into 1 Corinthians 4, challenging believers to live intentionally for God's mission.

In this fifth installment of the UnFiltered sermon series from First Christian Church in Brazil, IN, we dive into 1 Corinthians 4, where the Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church's struggles with pride, judgment, and complacency. Drawing from the sermon outline, Chris Gregg explores Paul's deep relational equity with the Corinthians, built over a year and a half of ministry in the vibrant, yet morally complex city of Corinth. The episode emphasizes the transformative power of the Gospel and the need for God's Spirit to live graciously, intentionally, and sacrificially in a world prone to criticism and division.

Key Topics Discussed

Paul’s Mission in Corinth: Introduction to Paul's church-planting efforts in Corinth, a wealthy, sex-obsessed city, and God’s encouragement to him in Acts 18:9-10 to persevere in sharing the Gospel.

Relational Equity: The importance of building trust and proximity in relationships to share hard truths, as Paul did with the Corinthians, rooted in love (1 Corinthians 4:20).

God’s Empowering Spirit: How the Corinthian church forgot their need for God’s power, becoming prideful and judgmental, and Paul’s call to humility (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Living Graciously: Practical steps to live graciously by embracing brokenness, trusting God’s strength, and staying curious to avoid toxic narratives and gossip.

Intentional and Sacrificial Living: Paul’s sarcastic rebuke of the Corinthians’ complacency (1 Corinthians 4:8) and the call to live sacrificially for the Great Commission, as exemplified by Paul’s hardships (1 Corinthians 4:9-13).

Conviction vs. Shame: Paul’s fatherly admonition (1 Corinthians 4:14-16) to follow his example, distinguishing between shame from the enemy and Holy Spirit-led conviction.

Additional Notes

This sermon challenges listeners to reflect on their own spiritual complacency and embrace God’s power to live out the Great Commission. Pastor references J.D. Greear’s insight on deepening one’s relationship with Jesus through helping others and encourages intentional living that sparks curiosity in others. The episode closes with a call to action: evaluate whether following Jesus is costing you anything, as inspired by Romans 12:1.

Links and Contact Information

Church Website: First Christian Church Brazil, IN

Sermon Podcast: First Christian Church Sermons on Apple Podcasts

Social Media:

Facebook: @fccbrazil

Instagram: @fccbrazil

Contact: Email office@fccbrazil.org for questions or to connect with our ministry team.

Further Reading: Explore more on 1 Corinthians with resources from The Gospel Coalition or BibleProject.