Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 13 July 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 1

Subject: “Called to be an apostle” 1 Corinthians 1:1

Lesson #2

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

1. Paul

a) The writer identified himself

b) He defended his position as “an apostle of Jesus Christ”

i) He did not appoint himself

ii) He received his appointment through the will of God (Cf Galatians1)

2. Sosthenes

a) He was beaten for his faith in the Lord Jesus (Acts 18:17)

b) Crispus was named a ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8)

c) Sosthenes was the next ruler of the synagogue who believed

d) He is most likely the amanuensis of the Apostle Paul

3. The Church described

a) The Church of God

i) The church is of God

ii) The Lord Jesus declared that He would build the Church

b) All true believers are sanctified in the Lord Jesus

c) Thus, they are called “saints”

i) Sanctified ones

ii) Holy ones

d) All believers call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

i) Called “Christians”

ii) Identified with the Lord Jesus

iii) Followers of the Lord Jesus

NORMAL GREETINGS

1. Grace

a) A major theological word of Paul

b) Salvation is possible through the grace of God

2. Peace

a) It is the usual Jewish greeting

b) Paul’s Jewish roots are deep

3. From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Source

b) Joint source