Commencing 6th September at our 5PM Services

How the cross shapes the culture of a church – a series in 1 Corinthians 1-7

Corinth was a thriving cosmopolitan city obsessed with celebrity, power, money, and sex. It was also a melting pot of religions and their practices as the nations settled there. As Paul preached the gospel in this city a church was planted (Acts 18). Unsurprisingly these new believers brought to their new faith the culture and practices of the city and it was causing havoc in the church. 1 Corinthians is a letter of tough love. Paul address behaviour reported to him (1:11) and answers issues they had written to him (7:1). Divisions over leaders, incest, court cases, sleeping with prostitutes, food sacrificed to idols, orderly worship, marriage, divorce, the role of men and women in church, and more. As Paul addresses each of these issues he demonstrates how the cross (1:18-2:16) and resurrection (15:1-58) of Christ should shape the life of the church. The cross subverts the world's ways and forms a culture all of its own: A cross-culture.

In many ways London is just like Corinth. Many of the issues are still live in our City and society today. As we study the book of Corinthians we will learn together how the cross should shape our culture as a church and how we engage with the culture of our city.

You can listen to all of the sermons in this series below: