One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers | May 18 | 1 Corinthians Chapter 5: Purge Out the Old Leaven 

🦌 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, peace be with you in the Lord!

Welcome to today's reading journey! Today, we are exploring 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 together.

In daily life, we pay close attention to cleanliness around us, yet we can easily overlook bad habits or compromises quietly creeping into our inner hearts. A small compromise left unchecked can eventually affect our entire life and community.

Let's pause and take a quiet moment. Bringing a reverent and humble heart, let's look at how Paul calls us to value holiness, purge out the old leaven, and walk in truth and sincerity through Christ.

📖 Context Snapshot 

Where are we today?

1 Corinthians Chapter 5 addresses a critical moral situation within the church in Corinth:

1. Judgment on Sexual Immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1–5): Paul rebukes the church for tolerating a severe case of immorality that even unbelievers condemned. Rather than mourning, they were puffed up. Paul instructs them to deliver such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2. The Metaphor of Leaven (1 Corinthians 5:6–8): Paul reminds them that "a little leaven leaventh the whole lump." Since Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, believers are called to keep the feast not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

3. Principles of Church Discipline (1 Corinthians 5:9–13): Paul clarifies his prior instruction: believers are not to isolate themselves from worldly sinners altogether, but they must not keep company or eat with anyone who calls himself a brother while living in persistent, unrepentant sin. God judges those outside, but the church must maintain purity within.

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - 1 Corinthians 5

5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

🌟Daily Heart-Check:  From "Tolerance of Sin" to "Walk in Purity" 

• Beware of Subtle Compromises: "A little leaven leaventh the whole lump." Small sins and compromises grow quickly if unaddressed. True love does not turn a blind eye to sin, but seeks restoration and holiness.

• Our New Identity in Christ: Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb was slain for us. Because we are cleansed and made new in Him, our lives should reflect this dignity through genuine sincerity and truth.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father,

Thank You for speaking to us today through 1 Corinthians Chapter 5.

Thank You for Christ, our Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make us a new creation. Grant us a heart of holy reverence and discernment to recognize and purge out the "old leaven" from our lives.

Help us to guard our hearts and our community, walking together in love, truth, and purity. Preserve our loved ones and friends in Your grace and peace today.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!