01 The Greeting That Warns a Church in Trouble (1 Corinthians 1:1-9 )

Paul opens 1 Corinthians not with scolding but with a greeting that quietly raises life-and-death questions. In this first episode on 1 Corinthians 1:1–9, Krisan explores how Paul’s introduction challenges easy assumptions about salvation, church life, and spiritual maturity—inviting us to see faith not as a finished transaction but as a lifelong response to the call of Christ. In this week’s episode, we explore:Two very different ways to read 1 Corinthians: as a book of practical tips for “already-settled” Christians, or as a searching test of whether we are truly living out the gospelWhy Paul insists on his authority as an apostle “by the will of God” and why that claim matters for how we treat his words todayWhat the word “church” meant in the first century—and how the mixed, often volatile congregation in Corinth mirrors the complexity of churches nowWhat it means to be “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and called “saints,” even while ongoing sin and confusion remain very realHow Paul can thank God for the Corinthians’ gifts in speech, knowledge, and spiritual abilities, even as those very gifts are being misusedThe tension between real warning and real assurance: God’s faithfulness to confirm believers to the end, and Paul’s concern that some in Corinth may be fooling themselvesThe centrality of Christ in these opening verses and why you cannot embrace Jesus while setting Paul aside—or embrace Paul while ignoring JesusAfter listening, you’ll see Paul’s greeting as much more than polite letter-writing. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of what it means to belong to God’s people, to take Paul’s apostleship seriously, and to measure your own life by the implications of the gospel—not just once at conversion, but in the ongoing choices, loyalties, and hopes that shape every day.Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the ChurchMost people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life.Sign up for Bible Study Boot Camp