Wrestling With a Living Church: Lessons from 1 Corinthians
When we open the book of 1 Corinthians, we aren’t reading a tidy, polished story. We’re stepping into the messy, real-life problems of a church community just five years after its creation. Far from being lifeless, the church in Corinth was alive—and that life came with issues.
Paul writes to confront and shepherd them through five major challenges:
Divisions in the church (chapters 1–4)
Sexual immorality (chapters 5–7)
Cultural concerns around food and idols (chapters 8–10)
Distractions in weekly worship (chapters 11–14)
Confusion about resurrection and future hope (chapter 15)
The Corinthians remind us that problems don’t mean death for a church—they mean it’s still alive, still in the process of being shaped by God’s Spirit. The question is, do we face these problems head-on, or pretend they don’t exist?
A Divided People
Paul begins by addressing the first and most pressing issue: division. Different teachers had come into the community after Paul’s departure, and people began to identify themselves by their favorite leader. It turned into a spiritual popularity contest.
Paul’s response cuts through the noise:
“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”
—1 Corinthians 1:13
The church, Paul reminds us, is not built around personalities but around Jesus Christ alone. Our community isn’t meant to be a competition—it’s meant to be a family centered on the cross.
In Christ Alone
Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” throughout his letters as the defining mark of a Christian. To be “in Christ” means you’ve said yes to Jesus, turned from sin, and received His righteousness.
Both secular and religious people recognize sin in different ways—secular culture may simply say “I’m sorry”, while religion may say “I’ll try harder”. But the gospel calls us beyond both. It reminds us that our righteousness doesn’t come from being “good enough.”
And maybe that’s why so many avoid Jesus: the lie that if I just live good enough, I won’t need Him.
But Paul insists—God loves you simply because He loves you. Not because of your performance, your record, or your reputation. His love pursues, transforms, and sets you free.
For Us Today
The church of Corinth mirrors so much of our own lives and communities. We wrestle with divisions, distractions, and the pull of culture. Yet the same truth stands:
Christ is the center, not us.
His love is the anchor, not our performance.
His cross is the reason we’re free, not our striving.
The good news is this: God’s love doesn’t just reach us, it reshapes us. And just like Corinth, even our messy problems can be places where God’s glory shows up.
✨ Reflection Question: Where have you been tempted to define yourself by people, performance, or reputation rather than being in Christ?
🙏 Prayer: Lord, remind me that my worth is not in my effort or in others’ approval, but in You alone. Help me to live free, rooted in Your love. Amen.