A Valid Church Checklist (Part 1 of 2)

Introduction to 1 Corinthians

We're starting the book of 1 Corinthians, which contains much that is beneficial to us as a church and youth group. This is a 21st-century message, thoroughly relevant. The content is especially needed in youth groups today.

As we know, the entirety of Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Some doctrines are more important to hear sooner rather than later, and for us as a youth group, 1 Corinthians fits that description.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians can be summarized this way: Grow up spiritually, come together in a unified body, value each other, and live under the authority of the Lord in the gospel. Stop the chaos in your congregation—or in our case, within this youth group.

There were huge issues in the Corinthian church: disorder, lack of submission to the authority of Jesus Christ, and spiritual immaturity. The apostle says, "Get it together with the gospel of Jesus Christ."

He's launching into harsh realities to correct these issues—issues that could arise in any church, including our youth group. No position we reach as Christians exempts us from the problems of the first-century church. We struggle with the same doctrinal and sin issues. These truths are profoundly needed.

Diversity and division are major themes in this epistle, and unity is essential to the gospel. Submission to the gospel's authority is key. Many issues boil down to rebellion against authority. But the gospel gives Christ the right to demand from us because He purchased us, died for us, and forgave our sins. Our response is not obligation but privilege—to serve the One who saved, rescued, and redeemed us.

Throughout 1 Corinthians, we'll see minor issues made major and major issues ignored. We can't focus on the wrong things or avoid uncomfortable big issues like sins and divisions.

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(1 Corinthians 1:1-9)

Paul starts with thanksgiving, confirming the validity of the Corinthian church despite its big problems. You're a valid church—a real gathering of saints, an authentic community—regardless of the sin issues.

In our day, small issues cause people to leave churches or youth groups, questioning their validity. Paul never tells them to abandon ship. Instead: "You're a real church. I'm thankful for the gospel and grace among you, but deal with these big problems using the gospel."

The validity of a church is never confirmed by the absence of sins or problems. It's confirmed by a community's profession of faith, commitment to God's Word, and dealing with issues through the gospel.

Paul gives a testimony about the Corinthian church as a checklist for an authentic church. If we're missing these checkpoints, we must shore them up. Whatever we have, we can strengthen and grow in.

1. Authenticity by Identity

Paul checks authenticity by identity. He identifies himself as called by God's will to be an apostle—not his own will. He was persecuting the church when God knocked him down and saved him. Sosthenes, likely a third-generation Christian, co-authors with him.

"To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those in every place who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

This is an identity shared by saints everywhere who call on the Lord's name. Sainthood isn't super-spiritual perfection or a treasury of merit. It's simple: those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—like Acts 2, where Peter says all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

To call upon the name of the Lord means addressing Christ, requesting His salvific involvement, benefit, and blessing in your life—consistently, in every circumstance. It's not just acknowledging Him as Savior but desiring His ongoing, daily involvement for holiness.

It's calling on Him to save you from sin, conform you to His image, rid you of corruption, and enable you to enjoy God's goodness. Sin is your biggest issue, so you call on the Lord.

It's also a term of endearment—with reverence, affection, attraction, admiration, and exaltation. Jesus means everything to you; He's extraordinary.

Finally, it's recognizing Him as sovereign authority—Lord over your life. He has every right to demand from you. You respect, esteem, value, treasure, cherish, and bow the knee to Him, saying, "Do with me as You will."

This identity of sainthood—calling on the Lord's name—is our first checklist item.

2. Authenticity by God's Involvement

Paul checks authenticity by God's involvement in believers gathered to hear, worship, and glorify Him. His gratitude is for the grace of God in their community—a community that recognizes its need for God's personal involvement.

"God has already been involved in your lives. Grace was given you in Christ Jesus."

Sometimes we get stagnant, stale, or burned out, forgetting God's awesome past works—like salvation in Christ. Old Testament miracles, prophets, Jesus' wonders give way to epistles on elders and love, but the spectacular doesn't die—it changes form.

Recognize God's prior involvement as proof of His continued work. Christ died for you and rules over you.

This counters charismatic emphases. Maturity means incorporating love, value, and unity—valuing others in the youth group more than spectacles. The mark of a mature youth group is genuine love and care. Recognize God's saving involvement already at work.

3. Authenticity by Installation in Christ

We check authenticity by where we've been installed—enriched in Christ.

"I give thanks... because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge."

Enriched means made rich, wealthy, valuable—not materially, but with fellowship with God, the most joyful life.

Don't let people doubt you're a Christian by what you say or know. Speech and knowledge demonstrate genuine relationship with Christ.

In our youth group, people should say, "At least they know Jesus—their speech confirms it."

What we consistently talk about reveals our knowledge and interests—even behind closed doors or on social media. We complain about cups but not the Trinity, justification, Christ's dual nature, sanctification, regeneration, or the gospel.

We don't need to be scholars, but we should know and speak of Jesus in ways that glorify Him—like the simple gospel in chapter 15: Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose on the third day. That's big news—not in newspapers daily.

Confirming the Testimony of Christ

The Apostle Paul gives a check mark on the authenticity of the congregation by the influence that Christ has within it. Paul is thankful that the testimony of Christ is confirmed in the midst of the Corinthians. This is significant because if we are ignorant about Jesus Christ, there probably is not enough influence that He has on a gathering of believers. What kind of influence does someone have in lives when those individuals don't specifically know enough about them?

There are plenty of churches around town that have no clue who I am or who you are. Not much influence there when people don't know who you are, what you do, or are intimately connected with you. Yet Paul says of the Corinthians—a church with sexual immorality not even found among unbelievers—that the testimony of Jesus Christ, the things He stood for, and His mission to bring glory and honor to God through salvation, is proven in their midst.

How often does it happen? How consistent is it? We are not just a building or a basement where we fellowship; each of us as members of the body of Christ individually contributes to proving the testimony of Christ. Does my lifestyle demonstrate the existence of the Son of God? Would even an atheist question if God is real because of how radically I live compared to the norm?

If Christ established the highest morality ever on earth, does this congregation prove the reality of His morality? Are we doing things that prove the existence of the gospel and Christ's mission to seek and save the lost, creating a people devoted to Him with a newness of life? Or do we disprove it by how we live, act, and treat each other?

Even in a church like Corinth with significant problems and sins, Paul could be thankful because the testimony of Christ was confirmed in their midst. It can be confirmed in ours too.

God's Faithfulness in Fellowship

As Paul continues his introduction, he comments on a key theme in 1 Corinthians:

He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

— 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

Before addressing the huge issues in Corinth—ripping into their problems harshly, as he later reflects in 2 Corinthians—Paul emphasizes their validity and God's faithfulness. God has saved you; Jesus sustains you and will carry your salvation to completion.

Before pointing out sins, Paul says: God is faithful. He will help you and not let you down. Though rebuked and disciplined, understand that God will correct these problems. Receive encouragement knowing He is faithful.

Closing Considerations for a Valid Church

Valid churches aren't measured by a lack of problems. If a church presents itself as problem-free or better than others, you're probably in the wrong place—it just means their problems are less known. Every church has issues, but we are still a valid fellowship.

Nothing makes our church or youth group technically better than another; the unifying principle is the unchanging presentation of the gospel. The moment leadership preaches something contrary, bail and warn others—that's when a church is no longer valid.

While Paul is about to be harsh with Corinth, he is thankful for the grace of God in them. No matter the problems, the glorious gospel keeps our focus on the main thing and God's grace in each other's lives. Like watching a sibling disciplined, the gospel unites us in its beauty.

There's always a time to emphasize God's sovereignty in salvation: Jesus will sustain you. We must repent, pursue righteousness, and be diligent, but God ultimately works in our lives, sustains us, and presents us guiltless into eternity.