Main Idea: Who the church is and what the church does is a matter of temporal and eternal consequence.

• 1, 2a Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth,
  • Acts 18:1, 8-11, 17
  • 1 Corinthians 5:9
  • 1 Corinthians 16:5-11, 17

Who We Recognize as Part of the Church Matters

• 2b–4, 9 to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:2, 5, 13
  • 1 Corinthians 3:5, 6, 11
• 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
• 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
  • 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2

How We Behave and Fulfill Our Mission as a Church Matters

• 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—
  • 1 Corinthians 6:1
  • 1 Corinthians 7:1, 2
  • 1 Corinthians 8:1
  • 1 Corinthians 10:14
  • 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5, 11–13
• 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  • 1 Corinthians 11:2
  • 1 Corinthians 11:33
  • 1 Corinthians 12:1
  • 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40
  • 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2

So What?

• Is our church comprised of Christians who have come to saving faith in Christ alone and who are obedient to His instructions for His church?