Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons Trinity Church of Portland

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “The Beauty of Your Calling” is from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 and was preached by Pastor Greg Taylor.
In our text this morning we see Paul's message to the Corinthians is emphasizing that all believers should embrace their current circumstances, seeing it as their divine calling, serving God faithfully in their given roles and situations. God has gifted and blessed each one of us in unique ways and we are to use these gifts and blessings to obediently serve God with a content heart that trusts God.

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “The Beauty of Marriage” is from 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 and was preached by Pastor Greg Taylor.
We moved into chapter seven today and we see the Apostle Paul answering questions he received from the Corinthians in a letter they’d sent him. His answers center mostly around the marital relationship and sex, singleness, and divorce. Paul encourages them to live the life for which God has gifted them and to avoid falling into temptation. This is so applicable to us because we face many of the same issues in our culture which has some resemblance to Corinth. We as Christians must get our ethics about sex, marriage and divorce from Scripture, not from the culture. 

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “The Beauty of the Body” is from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry.
As we finish chapter six, the Apostle Paul moves into pointing out the beauty and sacred nature of the body. The Corinthians were subjected to a Platonic culture that minimized the importance and transcendence of the human body. This led to pagan practices that were sinful, so these new Christians needed to be lovingly corrected in their thinking and lifestyle to align with scripture. We live in a culture where it has become acceptable to live as if our bodies don’t matter. So, as Christian’s we must live in a way that counts our bodies as important, transcendent, and sacred because we have been purchased by God in Christ.

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “Our Future Reign and Past Redemption Changes Our Present Relationships” is from 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 and was preached by a guest preacher, Pastor Alex Duke from Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.
In chapter six, the Apostle Paul moves into pointing out how wrong it is that the Corinthians are taking each other to court because some Christians are cheating other Christians. Paul is saying that rather than suing each other it would be better to be cheated. This is because a church that fails to deal with its internal conflicts loses its ability to stand out and to speak up in a fractured, disunified, and litigious world. Paul points out that because God will use his people to one day help in judging the angels they can now begin deciding trivial matters rather than taking these matters to civil courts. Finally, Paul reminds them that their past redemption is what qualifies them to now decide matters of importance. They have been washed, sanctified, and justified by the Lord Jesus. This is the impetus of how to cut out the root of the petty sin we struggle with. Remember what Jesus has done for you!

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “The Harder Side of Church Discipline” is from from 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and was preached by Pastor Greg Taylor.
The apostle Paul in writing this part of his letter to the Corinthians is seeking to show them the importance of not allowing unrepentant sin to gain a foothold in the church. Because to not deal with unrepentant sin brings harm to Christ’s church, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Church discipline is one of the mechanisms God uses to bring wayward Christians to a place of restoration, and this leads to greater purity in the church, where God is obeyed and Christ is glorified.

This morning we continued in our current series, Christian Living In The Current of Culture, an exposition of 1 Corinthians. This sermon titled “Spiritual Parenthood In Pagan Times” is from from 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 and was preached by Pastor Jan Verbruggen.
In this text the apostle Paul is writing as a spiritual parent and lets the Corinthians know he is willing to correct them, to check them, and to chastise them. Paul commands the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Paul prefers to come to them in a spirit of gentleness because they have responded in repentance and faith, but if not he is willing to come in discipline, as a stern father. The spiritual parent will love enough to correct and to point their spiritual children to Christ and the hope of the gospel. This is what we all need and this must be done in the power of the kingdom of God.