1 Corinthians 1:1-21 | Pastor John Miller

The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians presents a portrait of a church "warts and all." In this opening study, Pastor John Miller introduces us to a congregation that was deeply troubled—divided over leadership, defiled by immorality, and disgraced before the world. Yet, Paul begins by reminding these struggling believers of their true identity: they are "sanctified in Christ Jesus" and "called to be saints." Discover how Paul addresses the core problem—not that the church was in Corinth, but that "Corinth was in the church." Learn why the simple, "foolish" message of the Cross remains the only power capable of transforming a decadent culture and a divided people. In this study, you will learn: - The Background of Corinth: Why this strategic Greek city was the "Las Vegas" of the ancient world. - The "Warts and All" Church: A look at a fellowship that was divided, defiled, and disgraced. - Our Positional Sanctification: What it means to be set apart by God despite our imperfections. - The Trap of Personality Cults: Why following men (Paul, Apollos, or Cephas) leads to spiritual division. - The Priority of the Gospel: Why Paul prioritized preaching over baptizing to keep the focus on the power of the Cross. 📺 WATCH THE FULL SERIES: Catch up on the entire verse-by-verse study through 1 Corinthians here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9sIJpVEMLL4MAr7gu8Z1UrWTrRRcU9x 🕒 Video Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: A Portrait of a Church, Warts and All 01:10 – The Geography and Corruption of Ancient Corinth 02:50 – The Background: Acts 18 and the Founding of the Church 04:15 – The Problem: When the World Gets into the Church 06:05 – Paul’s Greeting: Called and Commissioned by God (1:1-3) 09:30 – Defining Sanctification: Set Apart for a Purpose 11:50 – Gratitude for Grace: Enriched in Knowledge and Gifts (1:4-6) 15:40 – Confirmed to the End: Kept by God’s Power (1:7-9) 18:10 – The First Crisis: Dealing with Division (1:10-11) 21:15 – Personality Cults: "I am of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas" (1:12) 24:35 – Is Christ Divided? Returning the Focus to the Cross 26:40 – Paul’s Perspective on Baptism vs. The Gospel (1:13-17) 31:10 – The Preaching of the Cross: Foolishness vs. Power (1:18) 34:05 – God Destroying the Wisdom of the Wise (1:19-21) 37:50 – Conclusion: The Built-in Power of the Gospel ⛪️ Connect with Revival Christian Fellowship We are a church located in Menifee, CA, dedicated to the expository, verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word. Our mission is to see lives transformed by the power of the Gospel and the truth of the Scriptures. Visit our Website: https://www.revival.tv Watch More Sermons: https://www.revival.tv/sermons Request Prayer: https://www.revival.tv/prayerrequest 🤝 Partner With Us If this ministry has been a blessing to your spiritual growth, consider partnering with us to help take the Word of God to the nations. Give Online: https://www.revival.tv/give 📱 Stay Updated Subscribe to stay connected with Pastor John Miller’s latest teachings and church updates. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revivaltv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revival_tv #PastorJohnMiller #RevivalTV #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #MenifeeChurch #ChristianFaith #ExpositoryPreaching