How did Les describe the Corinthians' nature?

The Corinthians were described as a carnal church, not the epitome of strong believers. They were fleshly and had a lot of problems. They were carnal and fleshly, and they had many problems. Yet Paul still wrote to them in I Corinthians chapter 1.

Les teaches that the Corinthians were a carnal church, not the epitome of strong believers. They were fleshly and had a lot of problems. He points out that in spite of all that, Paul writes to them in I Corinthians chapter 1. Les also emphasizes that we must constantly remember the setting of Paul's various letters, and that God's attitude is one of total love, mercy, and grace, not waiting to zap people.

Why does it matter that the Corinthian church was so carnal?

It matters because Corinth’s carnality and many problems gave rise to Paul’s letters and shaped what he addressed in 1 and 2 Corinthians. The congregation had questions and dilemmas it did not know how to handle, so the epistle deals directly with those real issues.