I. Introduction (1:1–9)

A. Greetings (1:1–3)

1. Author (1:1)

2. Recipients (1:2)

3. Blessing (1:3)

B. Thanksgiving (1:4–9)

II. Addressing Problems (1:10–15:58)

A. Disunity Over Teachers (1:10–4:21)

1. The Problem: Dividing over teachers’ wisdom (1:10–17)

2. The Gospel: God’s wisdom contradicts worldly wisdom (1:18–2:16)

a. The “folly” of Christ crucified (1:18–25)

b. The “folly” of Corinthian weakness (1:26–31)

c. The “folly” of Paul’s preaching (2:1–5)

d. The wisdom of God revealed by the Holy Spirit (2:6–16)

3. The Application: Do not misjudge God’s servants as teachers (3:1–4:21)

a. Rebuke: immaturity needs milk (3:1–4)

b. Reason: teachers are only farmhands (3:5–9)

c. Warning: teachers are building God’s temple (3:9–20)

d. Exhortation: do not boast in teachers (3:21–23)

e. Rebuke: do not presume to judge teachers (4:1–5)

f. Rebuke: the mark of true teachers is lowliness (4:6–13)

g. Fatherly appeal: prepare yourself for my arrival (4:14–21)

B. Tolerating Incest (5:1–13)

1. The Problem: Arrogantly tolerating incest (5:1–2) (ecclesiology)

2. The Gospel Applied: Clean out the old leaven for Passover (5:3–8)

3. The Application Tempered: Evangelize unbelievers (5:9–13)

C. Civil Lawsuits Among Believers (6:1–11)

1. The Problem: Believers entrusting judgment and justice to unbelievers (6:1) (eschatology)

2. The Gospel Applied: You will judge angels (6:2–3)

3. The Rebuke: You defraud each other and use unjust judges (6:4–8)

4. The Warning: The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom (6:9–10)

5. The Exhortation: Become who God calls you to be (6:11)

D. Excusing Sexual Immorality (6:12–20)

1. Argument 1: Do not become slaves (6:12)

2. Argument 2: Do not unite Christ to prostitutes (6:13–17)

3. Argument 3: Do not sin against your own body (6:18–20)

E. Marriage and Singleness (7:1–40)

1. The Question: Is sex good? (7:1)

2. The Answer for Marriage: Sex is good (7:2–6)

3. The Answer for Singleness: Sex is not good (7:7–9)

4. The Question of Mixed Marriages (7:10)

5. The Answer: Trust God and remain married (7:10–16)

6. The Principle: As God called you, walk (7:17–24)

7. The Principle Applied: If you marry, you have not sinned (7:25–40)

F. Food Sacrificed to Idols (8:1–11:1)

1. The Principle: Love is what builds others (8:1–13)

2. The Way of Love (9:1–3)

3. The Way of Knowledge (8:4–6)

4. The Correct Path: Love your weak brother (8:7–13)

5. The Application: Maturity loves people more than self (9:1–27)

a. The apostolic example (9:1–15)

b. The apostolic motive (9:16–23)

c. There is a prize to win for the self-disciplined (9:24–27)

6. The Warning: Do not be idolaters (10:1–22)

a. The example of Exodus (10:1–6)

b. The danger of craving evil (10:6–13)

c. The command to flee idolatry (10:14–22)

d. The aim is to glorify God (10:23–11:1)

G. Headship and Head Coverings (11:2–16)

1. The Principle: God-ordained headship (11:2–3)

2. The Application: Women should cover (11:4–6)

3. The Application: Men should not cover (11:7–9)

4. Argument 1: Symbols of authority for angels (11:10)

5. Clarification: Women and men are interdependent under God (11:11–12)

6. Argument 2: Nature illustrates headship (11:13–15)

7. Argument 3: Every church has this practice (11:16)

H. The Lord’s Supper (11:17–34)

1. The Problem: Unlovingly creating factions (11:17–22)

2. The Gospel: Follow Jesus’ instruction (11:23–26)

3. The Application: Judge yourselves (11:27–32)

4. The Conclusion: Be patient with each other (11:33–34)

I. Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)

1. The Purpose: Spiritual gifts are for Jesus’ glory (12:1–3)

2. The Effect: Spiritual gifts are for unity (12:4–31)

3. The Need: Love is the way (13:1–13)

a. The emptiness of loveless ministry (13:1–3)

b. The definition of love (13:4–8)

c. The permanence of love alone (13:9–13)

4. The Aim: Spiritual gifts are meant to edify (14:1–25)

a. The gift of prophecy (14:1–5)

b. The gift of tongues (14:6–19)

c. Using these gifts (14:20–25)

5. The Use in Public Worship (14:26–40)

a. Remembering the aim to edify (14:26)

b. How to use the gift of tongues (14:27–28)

c. How to use the gift of prophecy (14:29–33)

d. Who can use these gifts in public worship (14:34–35)

e. Recognize apostolic authority to give orders (14:36–40)

J. The Resurrection of Believers (15:1–58)

1. The Gospel: Bodily resurrection is central (15:1–11)

2. Apologetic 1: If there is no resurrection, all is vain (15:12–17)

3. Apologetic 2: If there is no resurrection, all are doomed (15:18–19)

4. Eschatology 1: Already and not yet (15:20–28)

5. Apologetic 3: If there is no resurrection, what are we doing? (15:29–34)

6. Apologetic 4: Three analogies of resurrection (15:35–44)

a. The analogy of seeds (15:35–38)

b. The analogy of flesh (15:39)

c. The analogy of heavenly bodies (15:40–42)

d. Applying the analogies (15:42–44)

7. Eschatology 2: Death defeated (15:45–58)

III. Conclusion (16:1–24)

A. Instructions for collecting financial gifts (16:1–4)

B. Plans for ministerial visits (16:5–12)

C. Final thoughts (16:13–14)

D. Loving goodbye (16:15–24