Sermon – How to go to Church: Men and Women (1 Cor 11:2-16)

This post, we offer two different (yet complementary) sermons on the same passage – 1 Corinthians 11:2-16…

Preacher: Ken D Noakes

Talk Outline: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (Ken D Noakes)Download

Preacher: Nick Lindeback

Talk Outline: 1 Cor 11:2-16 (Nick Lindeback)Download

In the letter of 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul has been addressing numerous matters to help the Christians in Corinth consider how they live for Christ – both before the world, and within the church family.

Previously in this series we have considered what Paul has said about Christian freedoms as taught in chapters 8-10. In this talk we turn our attention to how Christians should live together as a church family – and there are several matters which will be addressed from Chapters 11 through to 14 which all relate to what happening in a specific church gathering. We start with the first half of chapter 11 which speaks in particular to those who are married within a church family.

Sermon – How to go to Church: FOMO – Fear of Missing Out! (1 Cor 8:1-13 & 10:23-11:1)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 & 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

As a society we have never had more freedom, yet we often use that freedom to serve ourselves. The Corinthian Church know they are free in Christ, but they use this freedom to love themselves and not others. How will we, who are free in Christ, use our freedom? Will we follow our society and the Corinthian Church by loving ourselves? Or will we use our freedom to build up the church in love?

In this Bible Talk, Nick Lindeback looks at the how some actions are permissible for the Christian person and not not inherently sinful, but in exercising that action may cause others to stumble (thus sin) in their faith. The point: consider whether your actions are loving to other fellow Christians before doing them.

Sermon – Apostles’ Creed: Risen Hope

Read the texts – Daniel 12:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

We continue in our Apostles’ Creed Bible Talk series and in this talk consider the line which says ‘On the third Day, he rose from the dead’. This gives us opportunity to spend some time looking at the importance of the resurrection of Jesus for us.

In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at some of the evidence for the resurrection, then at what might be lost if the resurrection didn’t happen, before considering why the resurrection is so significant for the believer.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Christian Family Matters: Concerning Singleness (1 Cor 7:17-40)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us in 2022.

In this talk, Dave Swan looks at how being in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex should not come before being in a relationship with the Lord – put the horse before the cart when thinking about singleness and relationships. This talk upholds singleness. There is great value for us all (single or married) to recognise the value of singleness and to be given reasons to see that our status before the Lord is first about our relationship with him than it is about our relationship with another. Yet, we also acknowledge the burden/longing that those who are single may feel.

Sermon – Concerning Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-24)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes carefully looks at what 1 Corinthians says about the place of sex in marriage and how it might help us to recognise the gospel importance of the marriage covenant. There are specific matters addressed here and there are specific relationships in view (i.e. – those married, those unmarried and widowed, to Christian married couples, and Christians married to unbelievers). The gospel speaks to each circumstance.

Sermon – Sexual Immorality (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) [15+ Mature Audiences Warning]

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

In this Bible Talk, Dave Swan speaks about the touchy subject of sexual purity and the important place it holds in the Christian family. Since “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (1 Cor 6:19) – how should the Christian person handle their sex drive in a highly sexualised world and yet still honour God?

Sermon – Litigation in the Family (1 Cor 6:1-11)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

What happens when Christians disagree? The church of Corinth was using the legal system, not to seek justice, but to deal with church family disagreements that should never involve secular authorities.

Ken Noakes helps us to see a biblical model for disagreement. The aim is to restore and uphold each other in faith and in the Christian family. Grace and unity are far more important that some of the ideals that a secular court of law will achieve. Interestingly, Ken shows how this passage addresses the way that we can unhelpfully use social media.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Sexual Immorality in the Family (1 Cor 4:14-5:13)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 4:14-5:13

The church in Corinth, like any church, is a gathering of sinners. Yet they are a church who sit under the power of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul writes to help the Corinthian church family consider how to deal with sin which is celebrated within the church family. His directive? Don’t celebrate sin.

Ken Noakes show the principle at play in this passage shows how it is applied to a particular issue with the church family involving sexual immorality. Left unchecked, this sin is unhelpful for those involved and dangerous for the church family at large. How should the church exercise loving discipline – to care for those involved and to help one another be accountable under Christ.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Wisdom in Leadership (1 Cor 3:18-4:13)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:13

What does a faithful leader under Christ look like: a steward and servant. In fact, a fool, and one whom you should imitate in Christ. In this Bible talk, Gary Haddon helps us to think through who a disciple follows and why – for it should be Christ whom we follow, as demonstrated by a leader who shows themselves to be faithful. They must strive to imitate Christ, being willing to become the scum of the earth in the process!

Sermon – Theological Foundations (1 Cor 3:1-17)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 3:1-17

Growing up in faith means being built up upon the only true foundation Jesus Christ and grown by God. Take care, anyone who builds upon that foundation, for your work will be tested.

In this talk, Ken Noakes helps us to understand that growing in faith is grounded in what God has done through Jesus, yet demonstrated in the various ways that we each serve to build up his church. And we are warned that the good we do (under God) will last while the bad will be destroyed.