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Some of the Corinthians had a slogan: "Everything is permissible." Paul doesn't throw the phrase out — he just puts guardrails around it. Not everything is beneficial. Not everything builds you up. And when it comes to sexual immorality, the body isn't a minor issue — it's going to be raised from the dead, it's a member of Christ's own body, and it's a temple of the Holy Spirit. That changes everything. You are not your own. You were bought at a price. So honor God with your body.

Paul can't believe what he's hearing — believers are hauling each other into secular courts. He asks them a pointed question: if you're going to judge the world and angels one day, can't you figure out how to settle a dispute among yourselves He challenges them to take the humble road, even if it means being wronged. He then names a serious list of behaviors that have no place in the kingdom — and reminds them that some of them used to live that way. But they've been washed, sanctified, and justified. That's who they are now.

Guest speaker Pastor Emmanuel shares how important Eternal life is. He encourages us to guard what has been given and ensure that we continue in the faith.

There's something going on in Corinth that even the pagans would be shocked by. It seems a man is sleeping with his stepmother, and the church is apparently proud of how tolerant they're being about it. Paul is having none of it. He calls them to grieve, to act, and to remove this person from the fellowship. This is not as a punishment but as a last-resort act of love, hoping his spirit might ultimately be saved. He also clears up a misunderstanding: he's not asking them to avoid all sinners in the world. He's asking them to hold each other accountable inside the family.

Paul gets a little sarcastic here — and it's worth feeling the sting of it. The Corinthians are acting like they've already arrived, already reigning, already sitting in comfort. Meanwhile Paul and the other apostles are hungry, homeless, beaten, and treated like the world's garbage. He's not writing this to guilt them — he's writing it as a father who loves his kids and is genuinely worried about them. Timothy is coming, and Paul himself may follow. How he comes depends on them.

Paul wants the Corinthians to see how upside-down their thinking is. They're fighting over human teachers when everything already belongs to them in Christ — Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future. All of it is theirs! He then describes what apostles actually are: not celebrities, but stewards — servants entrusted with the mysteries of God, whose performance review comes from God alone, not from the crowd.

Paul gives the Corinthians a loving but direct diagnosis: their arguing and division is a sign they haven't grown up yet. They're still on a spiritual milk diet when they should be eating solid food. He wants them to see their leaders — Paul, Apollos, whoever — not as rivals but as teammates on the same construction crew. God is the one building something, Christ is the only foundation worth building on, and everyone needs to be careful about the quality of what they're contributing to that building.

Join as guest speaker Pastor Charlie Ferrera of River of Joy Christian Ministry & Family Fellowship in Manila, Philippines shows us evangelism isn't just a suggestion—it's a command from Christ, and following Him means we actually obey it. There's real urgency behind this, because eternity is at stake for every soul we come across, and that's not something we can afford to put off. This assignment has been entrusted to every believer, not just a select few, so winning souls is a responsibility we all share.

This week, Paul continues with speaking on the wisdom of the Gospel and the revelation of what it really is, verses seeing it from an outside perspective. In other words, seeing it from the natural perspective or the spiritual perspective.

Here's the thing about the cross — it makes no sense to the world. A crucified Savior is an embarrassment to the intellectuals and a stumbling block to the religious. But Paul says that's exactly the point. God deliberately bypassed the wise, the powerful, and the impressive to build his kingdom through what the world throws away. So nobody gets to boast — except in the Lord, who has become everything we need: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Today, we will see Paul begin to address the Corinthian church regarding divisions that were creeping up in the church. The New Testament had not been written at this point, so the early believers were very dependent on the teaching and guidance from the apostles and early church fathers and teachers. As a result of this, factions and cliques had begun to form around specific leaders and teachers. So Paul reminds them is not about the leader or teacher, but about the singular message they were all bringing. And unity was paramount.

Pastor Wayne speaks about Paul's letter to the Corinthians. This will be a verse by verse study.

Our salvation is based completely on the merits of Christ alone. We have complete confidence in the finished work of the cross. This foundation allows us to trust confidently in God's faithfulness and unchanging love for us. Because of the New Covenant we have hope for the future as well as help in this life.

Considering who God is and who we are it's comforting to know how much He cares for us. He is the best Father in the universe. How awesome that we are privileged to have a relationship with the Creator and sustainer of everything. As we await the the end of time as we know it, we have an imperishable inheritance awaiting us. In the meantime, we can rely on God to meet all our needs here on earth.

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we understand that we have all have a plan and purpose provided by God. We want to enable and empower people to step out into that purpose.