United:
a study of 1 corinthians

June 11 - September 3, 2023 

1 Corinthians, Paul’s letter to a church in Corinth, was written to a church that was fighting and arguing about many topics, and so Paul called them to consider what it means to be United in Christ.

Resurrection

We are called to be United as the family of Christ.  This is the central theme of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians - and this is particularly evident in chapter 15 as he concludes with a conversation about resurrection.  Nothing is more foundational to our unity than our shared faith in Christ’s resurrection and our shared hope of our own.

Jim Gates United: Resurrection, September 3, 2023

HOLY SPIRIT & UNITY

The church often throws around the terms “spiritual gifts” without a great deal of reflection on what that means.  For some denominations, visible spiritual gifts are at the heart of their theology; for other denominations, those charismatic gifts are “weird” or even “over.” This is a topic crying out for clarity - and our church today strongly reflects the church in Corinth in Paul’s time.

Jim Gates Holy Spirit & Unity: Charismatic Spiritual Gifts, August 27, 2023
Jay St. Clair Holy Spirit & Unity: Greater Spiritual Gifts, August 20, 2023
Jim Gates Holy Spirit & Unity: Various Spiritual Gifts, August 13, 2023

freedom & UNITY

Freedom is an integral part of our Christian life; Paul writes, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Our freedom in Christ can be a source of unity, but it can also be a cause for division. Within the Christian life we are given some options about how we choose to follow Jesus.

Jim Gates Freedom & Unity: Freedom of Interpretation
Jim Gates All In: The Winning Hand, July 30, 2023
Jim Gates Freedom & Unity: Freedom of Conscience, July 23, 2023

SEXUAL UNITY

Electricity is an amazing, powerful, life-giving tool for our daily lives; but because it is powerful, it is also dangerous when used incorrectly.  This is true about so many things in our lives - cars, money, freedom, etc. Sexual and romantic unity have enormous power for good - and so, naturally, they also can be used destructively.

Jim Gates Sexual Unity: Sexual Morality, July 16, 2023
Jim Gates Sexual Unity: Sexual Union, July 9, 2023
Jim Gates Sexual Unity: Sexual Immorality, July 2, 2023

VISIBLE UNITY

In a world of over 35,000 Christian denominations, what does it mean when Paul says, “Be In Agreement”? How are we working for this kind of visible unity in the church today?

Jim Gates Visible Unity: Be More than Merely Human, June 25, 2023
Jim Gates Visible Unity: Be In the Spirit, June 18, 2023
Jim Gates Visible Unity: Be In Agreement, June 11, 2023

joy, not apathy

June 4, 2023 

CCPC welcomes Dennis and Wendy Mannering to our pulpit! Dennis teaches from Psalm 118 and 1 Thessalonians 5 on the topic of "Joy, Not Apathy." 

Dennis Mannering Joy, Not Apathy, June 4, 2023