1 Corinthians
Corinth was the administrative capital of the Roman province of Achaea. Today it’s in the south of Greece. It was an important seaport and a rich trading centre. People from all over the world lived in Corinth. So there were lots of different religions there. Many Corinthians lived very sinful lives.
1:18
Jesus died on the cross so that people can become God’s children.
But for many people, this is a foolish message.
Those who believe the message know that it’s the best news ever. They know that it’s God’s special plan to save people. It’s his way of showing us that he loves us. It also shows us that he has all the power.
2:2
Talky discovered this. People all over the world think of Jesus and Christians when they see the cross. That is because Jesus died on a cross. The cross reminds Christians of Jesus’ love for them. And that is what Paul always talked about. Do you like talking about the cross and Jesus’ love for us?
Emperor Constantine stopped all crucifixions 300 years after Jesus died on the cross. Later, after Constantine’s death, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
4:5
Inny likes to hear people saying, Well done! to him. When Jesus comes back, he will look at everything we did for him. Paul says that we should live in a way that pleases God. Then he will say, Well done! when he looks at the way we have lived.
What can you do today that is pleasing to God? Write down some of the things that you can do. Tonight, you can check whether you remembered to do these things!
5:6–8
Talky learned that when you bake bread, you put a little yeast into the flour. The yeast mixes with the flour and makes the dough rise.
Paul says that our sins are like yeast. Why does he say this?
What should we do with the yeast or the sin in our lives? The problem is that we can’t take yeast out of dough once it’s mixed in. And we can’t get rid of our sins by ourselves. Who can help us do it?
6:19–20
Thinky asked herself these questions.
Who lives in you?
To whom do you belong?
Paul says that we should use our bodies in a way that honors God.
How can you do that? Think of the ways in which God has asked you to live. Then write them down.
Pray, asking the Lord to help you to honor him every day by the way you live.
9:24–27
The first Olympic Games were held 776 years before Jesus was born.
The Isthmian Games were just as famous as the Olympic Games. They were held in Corinth in the year before and in the year after the Olympic Games.
The Corinthians used to watch the athletes training for the games. They knew that the athletes trained hard. So they understood what Paul was talking about.
They knew they had to train hard to live the Christian life.
10:12, 31–33
Like Inny, do you sometimes think you should do or get whatever you want? You think you are number one. You think you will never sin. Paul says that is exactly when you easily do something that is wrong and get into trouble.
What can you do to prevent this from happening? Paul gives you good advice in verses 31–33. Write down the advice he gives in verse 33. Then write down ways in which you can follow his advice.
10:23–33
Some of the Corinthian Christians thought that they shouldn’t eat meat sacrificed to idols. Others didn’t see a problem with it.
Paul says the only thing that matters is looking out for the interests of others.
It means you have to be loving and kind. Other people’s feelings are more important than your own. You aren’t supposed to do something if it makes other people unhappy or causes them to sin.
11:17–26
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember that Jesus died for us. The bread that we eat reminds us of his body that was broken for us. And the wine we drink reminds us of his blood. We also remember that Jesus rose from the dead.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember that we are all part of God’s family. And that Jesus is the head of the family.
12:4–11
Hearty knows that God gives all his children special gifts. And each one’s gift is different. Read about the gifts that Paul mentions.
Do you know what your gifts are?
What are you very good at?
Are you happy with the gifts God has given you?
God gave us these gifts so that we can use them to help one another.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:26. Think about this. See if you can find a way to help someone by using your gifts.
12:7–11
God gives gifts to all his children. But these gifts aren’t all the same.
In these verses, Paul mentions three types of gifts.
- Gifts of the mind: These gifts include a message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, and the ability to prophesy.
- Supernatural gifts: These gifts include faith, healing, and the power to do miracles. Also included is the ability to tell the spirits apart.
- Gifts of talking and listening: These gifts include the ability to speak different languages. And they include the ability to explain what is said in these languages.
The gifts we receive from God may not be exactly like these gifts. But we all receive gifts and abilities from God.
13:4–8
Joinme knows that the most important thing Christians can do is to love one another. The theologian Karl Barth said you can do this. You can replace the word love with Jesus when you read chapter 13. That is because Jesus teaches us how to love.
With a friend, read the chapter aloud. Then read it out loud again. Each time you read it, say Jesus instead of the word love.
Talk with each other about how you should live as Jesus did. Use these verses to guide you.
13 – 14
Paul tells us that the most important gift is loving others. If you don’t love others, all the gifts in the world are worthless.
Chapter 13 can be divided into three parts.
- If you don’t have love, you have nothing. Read verses 1–3.
- Love puts others first. Read verses 4–7.
- Love never fails. Read verses 8–13.
Paul tells us how to show love in 1 Corinthians 14.
15:1–8
In verses 3 and 4, Paul gives us a brief account of the good news about Jesus.
Thinky found three things that happened to Jesus. See if you can find them.
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to many people. Count the people that Paul names. Did you know that there were so many people who had seen Jesus?
Do you think so many people would all tell lies about something like this?
One of the names Paul gives us is James. This James was the brother of Jesus.
15
Some people can’t believe that Jesus really rose from the dead.
The Christians in Corinth also wondered how it could be possible.
So Paul tells them what happened after Jesus was buried and rose again.
He tells them that hundreds of people saw Jesus after he rose from the dead.
And he says that one day all believers will rise from the dead. They will go to heaven, just as Jesus did.