The Cross and the Noise

Today we are starting a new series in the book of 1 Corinthians. And we’re going to start with a dialogue question—a focused question that will connect us with each other and with what we are processing today. Dialogue questions can help us get to a shared mindset or starting point, build perspective, and/or provide a chance for actual processing. And this is the secret to our dialogue questions: it is far more important to focus on being interested than on being interesting. So here we go:

How do you usually respond, internally and externally, when someone points out your flaws?

Now, we’re not going to be calling out each other in our flaws! But this is a theme in 1 Corinthians. Paul repeatedly calls out the church in Corinth. These are some of the issues he addresses:

• Trusting human wisdom • Chapters 1–2

• Thinking like the world instead of like Christ • Chapters 1–4

• Dividing into factions • Chapters 1, 3

• Following personalities instead of Christ • Chapters 1, 3, 4

• Quarreling • Chapters 1, 3

• Boasting • Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5

• Jealousy • Chapter 3

• Spiritual immaturity • Chapter 3

• Pride • Chapters 4, 5

• Arrogance • Chapters 4, 5

• Tolerating sexual immorality • Chapter 5

• Refusing to discipline sin • Chapter 5

• Suing fellow believers • Chapter 6

• Sexual sin • Chapter 6

• Living for self instead of God’s glory • Chapters 6–10

• Misusing Christian freedom • Chapters 8, 10

• Causing others to stumble • Chapters 8, 10

• Seeking personal rights over others’ good • Chapters 9, 10

• Participating in idolatry • Chapters 8, 10

• Complaining • Chapter 10

• Testing God • Chapter 10

• Dishonoring others in worship • Chapter 11

• Abusing the Lord’s Supper • Chapter 11

• Seeking attention through spiritual gifts • Chapters 12, 14

• Valuing spectacular gifts over service • Chapters 12–14

• Lacking love • Chapter 13

• Failing to build up the church • Chapters 3, 8, 10, 12, 14

• Creating disorder in worship • Chapter 14

• Doubting the resurrection • Chapter 15

• Neglecting generosity • Chapter 16

Whew! I don’t think Paul won many awards for tact. But also, I do think Paul was one of the best at not letting important things go unsaid.

Okay. Once again, this series is not going to be about calling out our issues. (I’m sure that’s a relief to everyone!) But it is going to be about bringing up this question over and over and over again:

Who is at the center?

Our goal is to keep reflecting and adjusting trajectory, asking if I am self-centered or Christ-centered. And Paul is writing to a “we” culture instead of an “I” culture, so we can also ask, are we self-centered or Christ-centered?

Paul brings up a lot of issues in this text. As you know, many times what seems to be the issue isn’t actually the issue; it’s often just a symptom. This is true of all the things that Paul brings up in this text. They are symptoms, and the underlying issue that Paul is trying to draw attention to is this: Who is at the center?

Let’s start today by introducing Paul.

Paul was born Saul in Tarsus; he was a Roman citizen, Jew, and trained Pharisee. He studied under Gamaliel and became deeply committed to the Jewish law. He persecuted the early church, believing Christians were a threat, and was part of the stoning of Stephen.

Then Paul encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and was transformed (Acts 9). He spent time in Arabia and Damascus before beginning public ministry. He became one of Christianity’s boldest missionaries, preaching that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus.

After Paul completed his first missionary journey, planting churches throughout Cyprus and Galatia, he attended the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), where church leaders affirmed that Gentiles did not need to become Jews to follow Christ.

On his second missionary journey, he traveled through Macedonia and Greece, planting churches. Paul arrived in Corinth in A.D. 50, a wealthy, diverse, and morally broken city, and spent about 18 months there, working as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla and planting the Corinthian church. He built relationships with the believers and taught them how to follow Jesus, and he saw Jews and Gentiles come to faith, including people from many different backgrounds.

After Paul left Corinth, he based his ministry in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. While he was there, he received troubling reports from Chloe’s household that the Corinthian church was experiencing serious problems. Around A.D. 54–55, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. His goal was to call the Corinthians back to a Christ-centered life shaped by the cross, love, holiness, and unity.

Now Paul is credited with writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. But he was just as human as we are. We can see how his humility grew as he aged. Early in his ministry (roughly A.D. 50-55), he defended his apostleship like this:

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12)

In the middle of Paul’s ministry (approximately A.D. 54–55), he saw himself as the least of the apostles:

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)

Later in Paul’s ministry (about A.D. 60–62), he saw himself as the least of all God’s people:

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:7-8)

And in Paul’s final years of ministry (about A.D. 62–64), he saw himself as the greatest sinner:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he was not only humble but also honest and transparent.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:14-15)

Life, holiness, and being Christ-centered—these are not a production but a continual process. Paul puts it so well in Philippians 3:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 4:7-9)

Let me ask you another question now, to process a little about Paul, but also to bring ourselves to his own growth and processing.

What helps a person grow in peace and humility instead of bitterness and pride?

Now, let’s introduce Corinth.

The city of Corinth was located on a narrow isthmus connecting northern and southern Greece, making it one of the most important trade and commercial centers in the Roman Empire. It was home to two busy ports, a crossroads for merchants, travelers, and ideas.

Corinth was wealthy, prosperous, and economically influential. It included a highly diverse population of Romans, Greeks, Jews, freed slaves, merchants, sailors, and immigrants. The city was known for social climbing, status, wealth, and public recognition. It was deeply influenced by Greek philosophy and rhetoric; skilled speakers were highly admired. It was also filled with pagan temples and idol worship. The city was dominated by the temple of Aphrodite overlooking the city on the Acrocorinth. Religious pluralism was the norm—people worshiped many different gods. Temple sacrifices and idol feasts were woven into everyday social and business life.

Culturally, Corinth was known throughout the Roman world for sexual immorality and moral permissiveness. Entertainment included athletic competitions, theaters, festivals, and lavish banquets. The city hosted the Isthmian Games, second only to the Olympic Games in prestige. Patronage shaped society—powerful people gained influence by giving gifts and expecting loyalty in return. Sharp divisions existed between the wealthy elite and the poor. Public honor and shame were powerful cultural values. Success, influence, wisdom, and personal freedom were celebrated above humility and service. The city reflected the best and worst of Roman culture: wealth, opportunity, ambition, diversity, idolatry, and immorality.

This is the city Paul came to in around A.D. 50. Paul was compelled to go to difficult places like Corinth to tell non-Jews about Jesus. It was an incredibly difficult calling.

So on Paul’s second missionary journey he arrived in Corinth from Athens after a difficult and discouraging season of ministry. He met Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish believers who had recently been expelled from Rome, and he lived with them, working as a tentmaker to support himself. Paul preached every Sabbath in the synagogue, reasoning with both Jews and Greeks, and later he was joined by Silas and Timothy, allowing him to devote more time to preaching. But Paul faced opposition and rejection from many in the synagogue, so he symbolically shook out his clothes and turned his focus to the Gentiles and began meeting next door in the home of Titius Justus.

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:5-8)

Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months, teaching God’s Word and establishing the church. Then he was brought to court for telling people about Jesus.

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” (Acts 18:12-13)

Gallio dismissed the charges, giving Christianity an important measure of legal protection. Paul left Corinth with a growing but young church made up of Jews and Gentiles from many different backgrounds. And now we come to Paul’s letter, 1 Corinthians, written about 3-4 years after he left. This letter is written from Ephesus, where Paul was living during his third missionary journey. He received disturbing reports from Chloe’s household that the church was divided and struggling .

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household, have informed me that there are quarrels among you. (1 Corinthians 1:11)

And so Paul wrote to them, out of relationship, with love and compassion and credibility, out of a desire to help. Let’s talk about this for a moment.

What are some of the challenges of helping someone you’re close to or even related to?

Paul started his letter with some greetings, but then got right to the point:

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)

You are fighting, creating divisions, because some of you claim to be followers of Paul. Nice, that’s kind of you to say, but you’re missing the point!

Some say you’re following Apollos. Who’s Apollos? He was introduced in Acts:

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25)

Saying you’re following Apollos—or Cephas (the apostle Peter)---is missing the point. And some say they only follow Christ. This sounds great, but you’re using this as an excuse to not listen to others, to leaders, to the community. You are also missing the point!

So here’s what was happening. There were followers of Christ in Corinth, but they were divided—by who they would or wouldn’t listen to, or by the reality that they wouldn’t listen to anyone. Then Paul asked them a question:

Is Christ divided? (1 Corinthians 1:13a)

No, of course not. But if Christ is not divided, then why is His church?

Let’s talk about this.

If Christ is not divided, then why is His church?

I want us to turn for a moment to Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians:

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:5-7)

The message is Jesus, not us. God is the one who brings light. The treasure is in us, it is not us.

So as I said at the top, the question that we will keep circling around as we process 1 Corinthians is this: Who is at the center?

In this letter, Paul immediately says, What’s going on? What is this division? What is this happening? Who is at the center?

We are important—but we are the clay jar. The treasure is within.

Let’s end with this final processing moment:

Take it Deeper

• Read Philippians 2:5-11.

• What are some things people commonly build their identity around today?

• What helps create genuine unity among people who have different personalities, backgrounds, and opinions?

• Why do you think it is so easy for people to compare themselves to others or divide into “groups” even within the church?

• How does focusing on Jesus’ humility and sacrifice reshape the way we view ourselves and others?

• How are you challenged, focused, encouraged, and/or confused by this text?

Bible Reading Plan

• 1 Corinthians • Christ is the center

• Philippians 2 • Christ’s Humility

• Galatians 3 • Identity

• John 17 • Unity

• Ephesians 4 • One Body

• Romans 12 • Humility

• Colossians 3 • Christlike Character