Dear Corinth 2.0
- Cornerstone Church
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Paul began a church in the city of Corinth, and that is recorded in Acts 18. He wrote a lot of letters to a lot of churches, however two addressed to Corinth made it into the Biblical canon. The first letter dealt with different areas Paul heard were not going well, and wrote it so that the church would live in accordance with Jesus’ life and teaching. However, some in the church rejected this first letter, and then Paul visited to set things right. Paul wrote another letter after the visit to follow up, which is now lost. The letter known as 2 Corinthians was then written to those in the church who listened to Paul and challenged those who had remained rebellious. In this week’s readings, Paul argues that the Corinthians' values are upside down, using worldly success as the marker for legitimacy in the church. Or said another way, Paul’s sufferings did not invalidate his ministry or prove that he was not a true disciple. In fact, to the world and false teachers, the cross seems like utter failure, however it is the power of God for the salvation of sinners. This paradoxical victory, with a crucified and risen Lord, is the hope and foundation of our faith. That is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 38
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of 1 & 2 Corinthians, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
R.E.A.D. - Repeated words. Examine & mark. Ask what I learn about God? Do.
STUDY IT.
Read 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 & 7:6-9. What happened that shapes the context of this letter? Read 2 Corinthians 1:23-24 & 2:4. What characterizes Paul’s decisions and attitude toward the Corinthians after some difficult conversations?
Read 2 Corinthians 1:23-24 & 2:4. What characterizes Paul’s decisions and attitude toward the Corinthians after some difficult conversations?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-6. What is the proof Paul has of God using Paul?
Read 2 Corinthians 2:11, 3:14-16, & 4:3-6. What do you learn about Jesus and the adversary against Christ or ‘the god of this age’?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:11–21. List all the reasons Paul gives for sharing with others the gospel of reconciliation with God.
SHARE IT.
Read 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, 21-24. R.E.A.D. In Paul’s final exhortation in 1 Corinthians, what is the “Do” that you see, and how does it apply specifically to your life this week?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:12. How does what you hope determine your boldness? How does your lack of boldness prove what you are putting your hope in?
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 and James 1:2-4. What do you learn about God, community, and comfort during affliction? What does affliction ultimately point us to according to 2 Corinthians 1:9?
Read 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 & 5:1-5. What is the significance of the Spirit being your down payment? How might this apply to your hope this week?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:14-18. What are the promises in this passage that you can lean on today for hope?
FINAL THOUGHT
Paul says that what he delivered to the believers at Corinth was of “first importance.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) Namely, that Christ died for sins, rose from the grave, and appeared proving all that Jesus said was true. Paul goes on in chapter 5 of 2nd Corinthians to talk about being resurrected with the Lord, which sets the context for 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. It states, “Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Putting those two statements together, it is a reasonable question to ask yourself, ‘have I kept first things first today in whatever God has called me to if I had to stand before the Lord tonight’? Have I been more passionate today, more zealous today, for first things first, Christ’s Kingdom, as I go about my day? This is not a call to try harder, but a response to the love that we have been shown.
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