Go

A New Batch of Dough

A New Batch of Dough

Oct 26, 2025

Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Preacher: Rob Holster

Series: To God's Church

Summary:

If you've looked ahead to 1 Corinthians 5, you'll know that we're headed for a difficult and awkward passage. Paul had to write to this church about some thorny issues they were going through. Already, he's addressed divisions and their pride and the world's influence upon the church. In a way, chapter 5 is a continuation of all of that, as he deals with their sexual immorality. In doing so he cites a specific, egregious sin: the incestuous relationship between a man and his father's wife. This passage deals with sexual immorality, church discipline, and handing someone over to Satan. These are difficult things to talk about––but we will. This is where the text leads us. We don't skip over the hard parts. There is much to learn from this chapter. We can grow individually and grow as a church when we wrestle with the hard things God has said. We need to. And at the end of the day, this passage is really telling us to walk corporately, as a church, in newness of life. Paul is concerned in other passages that we understand––individually––our new identity in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." In our passage this week––1 Cor. 5––Paul is reminding us that the church is also new––made up of these new creations. He calls it "a fresh batch of dough" according to the New Living Translation. That means it's free from leaven, or sin. We have died to that way of life. "For sin will have no dominion over you." (Rom. 6:14) Meaning, we should start living like it, because it's true. It's who we are.

Detail:

Back to Top