Beginning a series in this remarkable epistle, full of doctrinal, devotional and practical issues. True faults of this church are often exaggerated, distorting the message. Paul's strong commendations show the majority were marvellously converted and walking with the Lord. Here are incomparable Christian blessings.

Corinth was a far better church than many think, but their cultural love of heroes and oratory needed to go (like some of our fads). Paul magnificently elevates the Gospel above all human wisdom. Though foolish to millions, God's call opens minds with converting power.

How God humbles the wise, mighty and noble both now and at the last day through the witness of ordinary believers holding forth the Cross alone. Also, how Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, and how He should be constantly praised by us.

The apostle reproves the Corinthians' taste for over-eloquent preaching decorated in philosophy, showing that Cross-centred persuasions, seemingly inadequate, are the wisdom and the power of God. Would he not condemn today's Christian drama, film, or rock-music centred outreach?

Why human wisdom cannot read God's mind. God must reveal His truth to man. Here is how we may be certain that the Bible, exclusively, is that very revelation. Here also are features of the freeness of salvation, verbal inspiration and the chief rule of interpretation.

Spiritual maturity begins and proceeds with a taste for the 'meat' of the Word, but what is this? It is not sound doctrine alone, for 'carnal Christians' often have this. Here it is defined as passages that specifically promote love for Christ, holiness, obedience and consecration.

Here is Christ as the sole foundation for salvation, life, sanctification and eternity. Here also is the local church as God's dwelling place, and the assurance that all things are ours, and precious, whether our present lives, the world, or death, for we are Christ's

Paul warns against being 'puffed up', vaunting earthly accomplishments or gifts, and being satisfied and overconfident. Consider Gospel workers, says Paul, their humility, selflessness, sacrifice, and acceptance of persecution. Live for spiritual and eternal aims, striving for sanctification and witness - whatever the cost.

This message shows that Paul is to be keenly imitated in doctrine, conduct, and church policy - all three. Here are the proof-passages showing that a precise pattern is given for churches in the New Testament. Also, proof that Christ has already taught all Paul's major doctrines

We look in every passage of the Word for a doctrine, a duty, a reproof, an encouragement, a promise and a view of Christ. All are here, especially how the Lord's loving discipline is exercised, and how His power and blessing rules in a believer's life.

Church discipline is seen to have several aims including the honour of Christ, the purity, witness and protection of the church, and the restoration of the offender. Here, also, is the meaning of Christ our passover, and the beauty of Christian conduct, especially in marriage

Paul shows the shame when believer takes believer before a secular court, contradicting their calling and mutual love. Then he describes sins never to be committed by believers; the threefold basis of true conversion; and the rules of Christian liberty

The Spirit takes possession of the soul purchased of Christ, making it an inner sanctuary. It is the place of communion with God, where assurance and comfort are bestowed, and divine stirrings are felt. How careful we must be to preserve the purity of both body and soul!

A key word has slipped out of some modern translations - the marital debt of benevolence, meaning goodwill and kind benefits. Here are seven debts each has to the other in Christian marriage, a sevenfold bond and blessing to the crowning earthly friendship of life's journey, are we paying what is 'due'?

Our lives are ever running lower on time to love and serve the Lord. We cannot make earthly matters, including our home, our chief priority in favour of the cause of Christ and of souls. Are we living too much for things that are doomed to pass away?

Spiritual knowledge, though vital, is merely ego-inflating if unaccompanied by active love for Christ, for His cause, and for souls, as well as by an active conscience warning of sin, and urging to Christian duties. Here is how love and conscience work to make knowledge effective, and to keep us humble.

Paul earns his own living to avoid hindering the Gospel. However, God commands the normal support of preachers. Here is the obligation of the persuasive offer of the Gospel, and it is consistent with election and regeneration. Also, maintaining fervour for souls, and the woe pronounced against slackness.

To be saved by the Gospel means to live for the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 9 is often used to justify compromise with the world, so called 'front line' living, even patronising pubs and clubs. It actually condemns this, presenting real dedication to the Gospel, gaining much instrumentality.

In the wilderness, the Israelites were punished not only for idolatry and fornication, but also of wanting the foods of Egypt, being dissatisfied with spiritual provisions, and for 'worldly' worship. Astonishingly, the latter offences are widely approved in churches today. Here is the counsel of the Apostle Paul.

Here are eight kinds of trial and seven kinds of temptations possibly arising from them, with God's assurances of how He overrules to fix the limits of these, and helps His people overcome and bear them. Here are the 'ways of escape' enabling us to overcome them all.

'The communion of the blood of Christ' is a remarkable term speaking of partnership or sharing with a divine person. Yet Christ is not known by touch, voice or bodily sensation, but by faith. Here is the way in which we know strong personal spiritual familiarity with Christ.

Seeking the wellbeing of others above our own is a key objective for Christ's people. How we speak of others as well as to them, and how we help them in deed must be Christ like if we hope to be used by Him, and have spiritual fulfilment.

What Christ left to Paul to reveal. True Christians are to be imitators of the apostles' ordinances - here meaning traditions, i.e. the doctrines and practices they taught, including behaviour, aims, attitude, love, reverence, separation from the world, working for Christ, and living with an eye to eternity.

Paul tells women to wear the veil of their society, which symbolised subjection. Our society has not had this dress code for decades. Hats no longer signify subjection. Is Paul's requirement to be literally obeyed today, or may the principle be observed in a different way?

At Corinth the Lord's Supper was ruined and invalidated by being confused with a 'love feast'. Paul shows how we should approach the ordinance and what we should derive from it. It is a deeply moving 'proclamation' of Calvary, and either insincerity or absence leads to chastisement from the Lord.

The purpose of spiritual gifts - revealing the New Testament (and authenticating the spokesmen). Paul lists them, with ongoing spiritual gifts and their features. Never for personal indulgence, they bring God's Word to all. Here also is why the church is gloriously called the body of Christ.

The Apostle speaks of an individual congregation as a 'body', showing the divine design and the wide differences in the contribution of members. If a church is a preacher only, it is ultimately doomed; that is if there are not roles for all, and no mutual care and dependence.

Only the Christ of Calvary could have composed and inspired this glorious chapter (penned by Paul) about Christian love, its qualities, its strength, and its eternal crowning. Here are our aims in the experience of love, and why it is so much greater than faith and hope.

Amidst clear teaching on the limited purpose of the temporary gift of tongues-speaking, and the paramount place of understanding in worship, Paul reveals the four 'departments' or objectives of all teaching and ministry, and the nature of evangelism. Here also prophecy is defined.

When Paul says everyone had a psalm, doctrine, tongue, etc, for worship, he obviously refers to the recognised leaders of the church, as we prove here. These are his inspired directions for orderly worship that includes the full biblical 'agenda', and glorifies Christ.

The Cross would have disappeared from history as a terminal failure, had not the Resurrection shown its significance and accomplishments. Christ must save soul and body for God's original plan to be brought to pass - a godly host living bodily on a glorified earth.

Christ's resurrection guarantees the day when He shall return and His people shall receive their resurrection bodies. Here is the manner of it, and the accompanying acts of Christ that end the tyranny of death and all opposition, ushering in unbreakable glory and bliss

At Corinth even good believers lacked backbone to defend the priceless truth of resurrection against a minority of cynics. Here is Paul's call to wake up, his warning of the power of error, and his revelation on the necessity and nature of glorious resurrection bodies.

Our resurrection bodies will be the image of Christ's, constituted for eternal glory: physical, tangible, yet spiritual, powerful and perfect. Death - the great devourer - will be itself swallowed up by the final victory of Christ. Here is how we should be affected and inspired even now.

Having shown that there is much opposition to Gospel work, Paul gives five famous directions for resisting and overcoming this, here explained. On these directions, with God's help, the very survival let alone the spiritual advance of a congregation depends. Here also are the apostle's closing encouragements.