PV Bible Alive

In this chapter, Paul addresses a second major problem in the Corinthian church.   The problem is fornication, but as we noted last time, sin does not take place in a vacuum. What one member does in the church has a ripple effect across the congregation. What Paul points out is that their reputation in the community is at stake.  They have someone involved in a sin that even the outside world cons...

Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth addressing several problems in the church.  The first problem was divisions in the church.  The second problem that Paul addresses in the Corinthian church was the problem of fornication.   He stated that it was commonly reported that there was fornication in the church at Corinth.  We can gather from just those few words that that was a bad thi...

Paul continues enumerating the qualities of Christian Leadership.  In addition to being a servant and a steward, the Christian leader is above human criticism and is not arrogant.  

As Paul continues listing the qualities of Christian leadership, he compares the Christian leader to the ultimate model for a Christian leader; a godly father.   All of the qualities of a godly father are the same qualities that a godly Christian leader will have. 

Paul has been addressing the problem of disunity in the Corinthian church.  Now he comes to the last principle that they need to agree on Leadership.  Leadership is different in the church than in the world.   A leader in the church is not the one who pushes and connives their way to the top.  Paul says they are to be servants and stewards.

This passage of Scripture describes the viewpoint that a Christian should have toward the things in this life.  We are to have a Godly viewpoint of ourselves, others, our possessions, and our possessor.

As Easter passes again this year we've celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.   But many in the world we live in continue to reject the resurrection as an actual historic event.  They will often acknowledge that Jesus lived and started the Christian movement.  They will acknowledge the reality of the crucifixion.  But they continue to believe that somehow His disciples stole Je...

Every person faces two realities in this life; death and judgment.  And as certain as everyone is going to die, so certain is it that they will stand in judgment.  Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27   "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment ," All people will be judged for their sins. But Christians have already been judged for their sins; Christ bore their s...

The Bible says that we are all on the same collision course.  First comes life, then death, then comes judgment from God. The Bible says, "For it has been given to men to die once, then comes the judgment." And Jesus said that at the judgment you would give an account of even every idle word that you speak.   Are you ready for judgment?

Have you ever had "one of those days?"  One of those days where you wonder why you got out of bed?   Well, in Genesis 21 Abraham was having "one of those days."  To be more precise, it was probably "one of those years."   No matter how good life seemed to be working out for him, his past indiscretions kept popping up to taunt him.   He is not sooner celebrating at the...

Any organization that is going to be successful has to have one thing; unity.  They have to be united in their purpose, their direction, and the means by which they are going to achieve their common goals.  If they don't have unity, the rest is irrelevant.  The church is no different.  In 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Paul addresses one more area of agreement that the church must come to in order to s...

What is the primary job of the Church in this world?  It is to seek lost sheep.  If you were to look at the activities of the modern American church, you might be confused about that.  Activities in the church range from Entertainment to Charity, from Education to Socials.   In fact, most modern American churches seem to be centered on one primary activity; getting more seats in the seats.  But th...

The Lord described the church as a flock of sheep, and in that analogy, we can find the three purposes of the church; Fix your eyes on the Great Shepherd, Listen to the Word from the Undershepherd, and seek lost sheep.

It's hard to believe that I've pastored in this church for 20 years.  In this message, I take a look back over my history with the church, and ask the question; What will the next 20 years bring?

Jesus' final prayer for His disciples was that they be one, as the Father and Son are One.  And Paul chooses to address the factions in the church at Corinth first, above all of their other problems.   Why is unity in Christ's church given such importance?  Because, regardless of the other problems we have, if we are not united under the leadership and Lordship of Christ, no other proble...

Of all the ways that the church should be united, "United around our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit" has to rank in the top.  So, in this study, we discover how the Holy Spirit works so that we can recognize it.  He proclaims Christ crucified, reveals God's wisdom, and speaks through the Scripture.

Many people look at the Christian Church and disdain it.  And they have many accusations to raise by which they justify their hatred of the Church.  Among the top accusations has to do with all the divisions in the Church.  Not only are there thousands of doctrinal divisions among those who call themselves Christian, there are also local churches that are plagued by infighting and divisions.   But...

Paul chastises the church at Corinth because they were dividing into factions.  As we consider the unity that God desires for the church, they are to be united in their understanding of wisdom, their understanding of the Cross of Christ, and their understanding of greatness. In this message, we consider our unity around the Cross of Christ.

Of all the problems that a church can have, the most important to address is unity.   But it is not the kind of unity that the world calls for; superficial.  The unity of the Church should come from a devotion to The One Truth, an ever-growing understanding of the One Truth, and an application of that One Truth to their lives.   In short, we are to unite around the Word of God and the Cross of Chr...

What is the church's biggest problem today?  We are studying the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthian church, and they had many problems like we have today in the church.  Divisions, sexual immorality, marriage confusion, self-exaltation, and doctrine.  But what was their biggest problem?   It was none of those.  Their biggest problem was that they forgot that Christ was their Master, and the...

A New Year's Resolution for the Tired Everybody begins the new year by talking about New Year's resolutions.  They resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, or get in shape.  It is a time of year when optimism abounds in regard to making big changes in your life. But there are many people who hear all of the commentaries at new year's regarding making resolutions, and they say, "Ba...

We continue with our study of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth.  And it reminds us of what it means to be a Christian.  To be a Christian means that something happened to me in the past, something continues to happen in the present, and I look forward to something happening in the future.  

Regardless of the circumstances of a Christians life, there are three things they can be thankful for; being chosen, being a saint, having the grace and peace of God.

This message is the introduction to the study of Paul's epistle to the Corinthians.  I entitled this series of sermons; Jesus is Lord of your life; now act like it.   I gave it that title because the church at Corinth had a sin problem.  There were divisions in the church, marriage issues, sexual immorality, lawsuits, worship problems, false doctrine, and idolatry.   And this message is quite...

This is the final sermon in the series, "Lord, Send a Revival, and let it begin in me."  The passage of Scripture we are considering today is about a riot that ensues in response to the revival that happened in Ephesus.   There are two points that I want to emphasize.  First, real revival will be opposed by the world.  And second, even the violent opposition to the gospel demonstrates th...