When it comes to how to live, love, and operate as a church, the Church in Corinth is not the model.  Not by a long shot. In 1 and 2 Corinthians we learn more from the mistakes of the Church in Corinth than from their positive example.  

There is much to learn from Paul’s instruction to them, because the culture in Corinth was much like ours today.  They were a wealthy and powerful culture, filled with indulgence and serving of self.  The message of the Gospel, a message of humility and weakness, was met with much skepticism.  It is to this skepticism that Paul speaks directly to the church of Corinth in our passage and, therefore, he speaks directly to us.