Risen: Background to 1 Corinthians 15

Risen: Background to 1 Corinthians 15

March 14, 2021

Rob Gallagher

Lombard Bible Church

YOUR OWN SERMON NOTES

Background to the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians

Questions for Life Groups

1. Who wrote the letter? See 1:1.
2. Who is the audience? See 1:2.
3. Where is Corinth located? See Bible maps.
4. How would you depict the first-century city of Corinth? See sermon.
5. From where is Paul writing? See 16:8. 
6. Where is Ephesus located? See Bible maps.
7. What is the approximate date of the letter? See sermon.
8. How would you describe the people in the church at Corinth? See 8:7; 12:2.
9. How did Paul know about the behavioral problems that needed correcting in the church? See 1:11; 5:1; 16:17.
10. Who were the church leaders at Corinth? See 16:17.
11. Who were the church leaders at Ephesus? See 16:16-18.
12. How did Paul start the church at Corinth? See Acts 18:1-18; 20:2-3.
13. What did the Corinthian Christians think of Paul? See 4:1-21.
14. What is Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9?
15. What are the behavioural issues needing correction in 1 Corinthians 1-4 from Chloe’s report?
    1. • Divi (1:10-4:21).
       • Ince (5:1-13).
       • Litig (6:1-11).
       • Prost (6:12-20).
16. What are the behavioural issues needing correction in 1 Corinthians 7-16 from Stephanas’ letter?
    1. • Sex & Mar(7:1-24).
       • Unm (7:25-40).
       • Food to i (8:1-10:33).
       • Spir (12:1-14:40).
       • Resu (15:1-58).
       • Colle & Con (16:1-24).
17. Read 3:16; 5:6; 6:2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19; 9:13, 24. What does this pattern tell us about what Paul is saying to the first audience?
18. Read 7:1, 25; 8:1; 12:1; 15:1; 16:1, 12. What does this repeated pattern tell us?
19. What are the two issues that Paul corrects in chapter 11:1-34? Why does he place them here in the structure of the letter?
20. Why does Paul talk about the issues of chapter 15 towards the end of his letter?
21. What is the main subject of chapter 1 and chapter 15? What does this say about Paul’s theological emphasis to the church?
22. What does the letter tell us about God, Paul, and/or the Corinthian church?
23. What is God saying to you from 1 Corinthians?