Thriving In New Corinth Companion Guide:
Download this companion guide for use Sept 1-Nov 16, 2025. This guide is designed to supplement and deepen our Sunday sermon series entitled Thriving in New Corinth. Each week, you will study one of the big topics found within the book of 1 Corinthians in preparation for the upcoming sermon on that topic.
There's an old preacher's saying that an effective sermon has "three points and a poem." The apostle Paul's closing to his letter to the Corinthians gives us three powerful points—he just doesn't include the poem. But these three points might be even more valuable without it, because they offer a roadmap to the life God has always intended for us and the life we've always wanted deep down.
Throughout this letter, Paul has addressed numerous problems in the Corinthian church: tribalism and division, sexual immorality, lawsuits between believers, improper communion practices, and misuse of spiritual gifts. Chapter after chapter, he's brought correction. But at the very end, he stops correcting and shifts to inspiring. His final message isn't about what they're doing wrong—it's about how they can live fully and freely as followers of Christ.
Before diving in, we need to address something important: sermons on generosity, graciousness, and courage can sometimes be manipulative. A televangelist might preach generosity while secretly wanting a private jet. A struggling church might emphasize giving to cover the electric bill. A pastor might talk about graciousness and honor while really wanting a better parking spot or more vacation time.
But these three principles aren't in Scripture to benefit leaders—they're there to benefit you. When you live generously, graciously, and courageously, you experience the abundant life God designed for you. So let's look at what Paul teaches in this final chapter.
Paul opens the chapter with practical instructions about giving: "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
Some people complain that churches talk about money too much. But consider this: someone calculated that about 15% of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels dealt with money. If a church talked about money 15% of the time—roughly seven to eight times per year—they'd actually be following Jesus' example. If they're mentioning it thirty times a year, you might have a legitimate complaint. But if they address it four or five times in a focused series, that's probably appropriate.
This is actually the only place in 1 Corinthians where Paul discusses financial giving. And notice what he's not doing: he's not asking them to give so he can buy a yacht and sail around the Mediterranean. Every time Paul asks for financial support, it's for someone else. In this case, he's collecting money to send to Jerusalem for a ministry supporting widows and orphans—believers who had no one to provide for them.
Paul also mentions that he gave the same instructions to the churches in Galatia. This wasn't a special ask just for Corinth—generosity is simply what followers of Jesus do.
The Macedonian Example
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, we learn more about this collection. The churches in Macedonia were extremely poor, yet they gave generously. Why? Because God had generously saved them through Christ, and they couldn't help but respond with financial generosity. Interestingly, those poor Macedonian churches funded Paul's church planting work in Corinth—a thriving, wealthy city.
From a worldly perspective, this is backwards. Wealthy Corinth should have been supporting poor Macedonia. But spiritually, the poor Macedonians understood something crucial: God provides. Their poverty didn't stop them from being generous.
This reveals an important truth: sometimes the richer you become, the more money takes hold of your heart. Perhaps that's why the Macedonians could be so generous while the Corinthians needed this reminder.
A Message for Young People
Students—high school and college—you've probably been told you don't have much money. You don't own real estate. You don't have an established career. You're not "rich" or even middle class by worldly standards.
But look closer. You have money for meals out. You can afford five-dollar coffee drinks. You attend concerts and sporting events. You buy new clothes regularly. You actually have more money than you realize.
The danger is believing the lie that you're too poor to give. "Once I get my career established, then I'll start being generous." But here's what happens: when you start earning more, you suddenly have a mortgage or higher rent, insurance payments, and all the expenses that previously fell on your parents. It will be just as difficult to give then as it is now—maybe more so.
If you practice generosity now with what little you have, it becomes a habit that carries forward. God doesn't want you trapped in a worldly wealth prison where money controls you. He wants you living free. Start giving now, even if it's small amounts.
Where to Give
Maybe you're thinking, "Is this just a pitch to get more money for the church?" Not at all. Give wherever God leads you. Support ministries making a kingdom difference. Support missionaries giving their lives to help people in other countries know Jesus. The point isn't where you give—it's that you be generous.
One pastor shared how his 21-year-old daughter, a college junior, had made it a habit of setting aside money following 1 Corinthians 16:2. When her friend needed to raise thousands of dollars for a mission trip, she wrote her a check for multiple thousands of dollars. Her friend was shocked: "You're in college—how can you afford this?" The answer: "I simply do what Scripture teaches. I put money aside so when a need arises and God says that's what He wants me to give to, I'm able to give."
That's biblical generosity in action—from a 21-year-old college student.
Whether you're on a tight fixed income or God has blessed you abundantly, if you want to experience the life God has for you, you need to be generous.
After discussing his travel plans, Paul addresses how the Corinthians should treat his co-workers: "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me." (1 Corinthians 16:10-11)
He returns to this theme in verses 15-18, urging them to give recognition to Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus—faithful servants who refreshed Paul's spirit.
But the language about Timothy is particularly interesting. Paul says to "put him at ease," to "let no one despise him," and to "help him on his way in peace." Why would Timothy need this special consideration?
The Impressive vs. The Unimpressive
Remember the tribalism back in chapter 1? The Corinthians were dividing into factions: "I follow Paul!" "I follow Apollos!" "I follow Peter!" Why were they following these particular men? Because they were impressive.
Apollos was known as a great orator—in ancient Greece, skilled speakers were like famous actors today, attracting crowds and wealth. Paul and Peter were brilliant teachers whom God used to write Scripture. Both performed miracles recorded in the book of Acts. These were impressive men by any standard.
But what about Timothy? We have no record of Timothy delivering amazing sermons. No miracles are attributed to him. He didn't write any books of the Bible on his own (his name appears alongside Paul's on some letters, but that's it). Paul even advised Timothy to drink a little wine with his water because of stomach ailments—suggesting Timothy may have been physically weak.
In a culture obsessed with impressive athletes, brilliant philosophers, and charismatic leaders, Timothy may not have seemed like much. When this unimpressive, possibly frail Timothy arrived in Corinth carrying Paul's letter, the Corinthians might have looked down on him. "Who's this guy? He's not a wow."
Paul's message: Be gracious. Be kind. Don't just do what the other Greeks do. Accept this man.
Living in New Corinth
Modern America mirrors ancient Corinth in many ways, including who we're impressed by. Think about how much money and attention goes to impressive athletes. Consider how we're drawn to great artists in music, acting, and writing. We're captivated by physical appearance, intelligence, popular podcasts, and impressive books.
This worldly focus on impressiveness has filtered into the church. Sometimes churches explode with growth not because people are wowed by Jesus and what He did through the cross and empty tomb, but because they're wowed by the preaching, the talented musicians, the state-of-the-art facility—earthly things.
This doesn't mean churches shouldn't have good preaching or let talented musicians use their gifts for God's glory. But too often we're wowed by the earthly rather than the divine.
Christ-Like Graciousness
If you want to see true graciousness, look for churches that also welcome the poor, the outcasts, those on the fringes, the socially awkward. That's Christ-like love.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus gave time to:
That's Christ-like love. To live the life God's calling you to means you can't just hang out with the cool. You also need to spend time with the "uncool"—because sometimes the uncool are the absolute coolest in the kingdom of God.
God calls us to be generous and to be gracious.
Paul's final command comes in verses 13-14: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."
These two verses form what's called a chiasm—a poetic device where the first and last lines correspond, the second and second-to-last lines correspond, and they all point to a central message. (A modern example: John F. Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.")
Here's the chiasm:
Let's work from the outside in:
Be Watchful = Love
How do these connect? Try this experiment: Get quiet for a moment and simply pay attention to everything around you. Notice the sounds. Notice the people. Notice your surroundings.
When you become watchful—truly attentive—you notice everything happening around you. And this is exactly what love requires.
To truly love your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, your classmates, your siblings, you must focus on what's going on around them and with them. If you only live inside yourself—focused on your schedule, your day, your plans—you won't be able to love them. The only way to love others is to put your attention on them and notice how they're doing.
If you want to love, you must be watchful.
Stand Firm = Be Strong
Paul's urging believers not to let the winds of culture knock them off course. Stand firm in the gospel. Don't give in to every temptation or follow every cultural trend. Be strong in your faith.
The Center: Act Like Men / Be Courageous
That three-word phrase "act like men" is actually one word in Greek. It can be faithfully translated "act like men" because Paul's audience was primarily male—men were the majority of readers and church leaders at that time.
But it can also be faithfully translated "be courageous," "show courage," or "be brave."
There's a historical link between manhood and bravery. For a boy to become a man in ancient cultures, he had to learn bravery: courage in war to protect his country, courage in hunting to provide for his family, courage to approach a father and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. That transition required bravery.
But bravery isn't exclusively male. The bravest person ever to walk this earth was Jesus, who with full knowledge of what would happen, went to the cross. And living like Jesus lived isn't just a man thing—it's a human thing.
Ladies, this is for you too. It takes courage to ask someone how they're really doing. It takes courage to pray aloud with someone. It takes courage to fight for your children and protect them. All of us need to be brave and show courage.
Courage in Action
What does courage look like practically? Look at the chiasm:
When you are generous, gracious, and courageous, you'll find the life God always intended for you—the kind of life that deep down you've always wanted to live.
These three qualities—generosity, graciousness, and courage—are perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Was Generous
The communion elements show us Christ's generosity. Jesus gave His life for us. Scripture teaches that the penalty of sin is death, and every person is born a sinner. Each of us should be paying for our own sin—we should be dying. Yet Jesus went to the cross to pay that penalty for us. He was generous beyond measure.
Jesus Was Gracious
Romans 5 teaches that while we were weak, while we were sinners, while we were even enemies of God, Christ died for us. He put our needs before His own. He extended grace to the undeserving. He was gracious.
Jesus Was Courageous
Jesus walked intentionally into Jerusalem knowing exactly what would happen. He knew He would face a false trial and wrongful conviction. His robe would be ripped off. His back would be shredded by whips. A crown of thorns would be jammed onto His head. He would be mocked and ridiculed. He would die a gruesome, cruel death.
Yet He courageously went—for you.
Because Jesus was generous, gracious, and courageous for you, you can now ask Him to help you do the same for others.
This is why we remember His sacrifice regularly. Even when life isn't perfect, even when things don't go our way, we can still come before Jesus and say: "Thank you for being generous, gracious, and courageous."
And because Jesus has done that for us, we can pray: "Use me and help me to go and do the same."
If you haven't yet placed your faith in Christ, consider this: Is it true? Did Jesus really come down from heaven, live a sinless life, and die in the sinner's place? If it's true, then confessing your sin and giving your life to Him becomes the most logical response imaginable. That decision transforms everything—including your capacity to live generously, graciously, and courageously.
But if you're already a follower of Jesus, here's your invitation: Thank Him for who He is and what He did. He is worthy of everything you could give Him, including your life.
Live generously. Not hoarding your resources but using them for God's glory and others' good.
Live graciously. Not just seeking to be liked, but giving your time, energy, words, and encouragement to those around you—especially those the world overlooks.
Live courageously. Being the kind of person who runs into the battle for others' sake, trusting God to meet your needs as you meet the needs of those around you.
This is where you'll find great joy as God is glorified. This is the life God has always had for you. This is the life you've always wanted.
