A Light in the Alley 1 Corinthians Introduction
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Being in the middle of the action can be exciting - it can also be a big responsibility. Like Vintage21 today, the church in Corinth had great potential to be a place of hope and redemption in their city. And also like so many Christians today, the church in Corinth struggled with what it looked like to follow Christ - they frequently blurred the lines between their own desires and honoring God. This fall, Vintage21 will focus on Paul's efforts to transform the Corinthian church into a redemptive light, and ways that Vintage21 can help spread the redeeming love of Jesus in the heart of Raleigh.

Jeremiah 29:7 "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Acts 9:1-2 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:3-4 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

RTP accolades:

  • 1 Area Overall –Tampa Bay Partnership, Sept 2006

  • One of "7 Cool Cities" –Kiplingers, August 2005

  • 5 Star Quality of Life –Expansion Mang. , April 2005

  • 6 Most Fun City –Cranium, January 2004

  • 1 College Town –USA TODAY, August 2003

  • 3 Best Place to Reinvent Life –AARP Magazine, 2003

  • 4 Healthiest Metro Area in the US –Demographics Daily

  • 2 Most Educated City –US Census Bureau-American Community Survey April 2005

  • 7 Business Boomtown –Inc Magazine, May 2007

  • 1 Best City for Jobs –Forbes.com, February 2007

  • 1 Best City for Women Entrepreneuers -Allbusiness.com, November 2006

  • 1 Hottest Job Market –Business 2.0, March 2004

What do you long for most passionately?

What makes you happiest?

How do you explain yourself to others?

What do you complain about most?

Where do you run for comfort –when things are hard?

What causes you to be angry?

What do you brag about?

What do you want to have more than anything else?

What do you sacrifice most for in your life?

Who's approval are you seeking?

What are you trying to master?

What comfort do you treasure the most?

What are you most afraid of?

Reflection Questions:

  1. Jesus deals with you in the way that your personality is most like. This is an amazing picture of Grace as God will do what it takes to "get through." Will you allow God to get through?

  2. We are called to bless and redeem our city--Jeremiah 29:7. How will you do this? How can the church do this?

  3. We have this "hunger in our gut" and we try to fill it with everything under the sun--the Religious try to fill it with morality, the nonreligious try everything else. What are you filling your life with? Is it working? Reread question # 1.

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