Sermon Title: Introductions

Authorship: “This letter is from Paul...”

- Who is Paul? We got to know Paul in our journey through the book of Acts.

- What number letter is this? 1 Corinthians? more like 2-ish Corinthians.

There is another letter, that we do not have a copy of, that is lost to time, so what we are reading and studying through this letter is at least Paul’s SECOND letter.

Apostleship: “chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus...”

Paul’s reason for inserting this section about his "apostleship" is because there were those in Corinth who were not happy with Paul and they were openly questioning his divine appointment.

Friendship: “... and from our brother Sosthenes.”

- Who is Sosthenes? It’s uncertain. If may be the one mentioned in Acts 18:17.

Audience: “2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth...”

“God’s church”? In light of what follows in the letter, this assembly belongs to God, not any human leader - not to the church founder, any of its patrons, or one of its popular preachers/leaders.

Foundation Setting Remarks:
To be holy is to participate in the life of the holy one - and that leads
to a distinctive mode of living.

It’s not just holiness but holiness lived in comm-unity. This calling is for all people, everywhere, who call on the name of Jesus as Lord!

Blessing: “3 ... grace and peace.”

1. God is our source:
Paul was “chosen by the will of God”
Paul was “writing to God’s church”
The Corinthians were “called by God”
He is “God our Father...”

2. Jesus is our Lord:
“Christ Jesus” (x2) “Lord Jesus Christ” (x2)

3. We are called to holiness and unity:
If God is our source and Jesus is our Lord, then that means there are standards and callings that we must submit ourselves to and follow.

“Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all”.
- Hudson Taylor