1 Corinthians 15:12-34
Other Resources:
Glorifying God and Humbling Ourselves - 1 Corinthians 15
Friday, April 28, 2023
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
1 Corinthians 13 = April 24
1 Corinthians 13
The Way of Love
Other Resources:
Love - we tackle one of the most important topics in the Bible, LOVE! We also discuss how God values love above all else! 1 Corinthians 13
Friday, April 21, 2023
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 = April 21
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Moving To Maturity - Support the Church
Support the Church
Support the Church
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
He is...
- What do we learn about God?
We are ...
- What do we learn about people?
I will...
- What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
- How will you apply it to your life this week?
You can...
- Who do you know who needs to hear this?
Service
- How can we help with a challenge you’re facing?
Other Resources:
Love we tackle one of the most important topics in the Bible, LOVE! We also discuss how God values love above all else! 1 Corinthians 13
Thursday, April 20, 2023
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 = April 20
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Other Resources:
Using Our Spiritual Gifts - we look at how God has blessed us each with spiritual gifts, and we outline 4 steps we can take to put those gifts to work. = 1 Corinthians 12
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 = April 19
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Other Resources:
Using Our Spiritual Gifts we look at how God has blessed us each with spiritual gifts, and we outline 4 steps we can take to put those gifts to work. 1 Corinthians 12
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 = April 18
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Other Resources:
Imitating Jesus - we talk about the perfect example of Jesus and how He is: forgiving, peaceful, a teacher, selfless, and obedient. 1 Corinthians 11
THOUGHTS ON WOMEN WEARING A HEAD COVERING DURING WORSHIP
A BRIEF STUDY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 11:3-16
1 Corinthians 11:3-16 is a very difficult
passage and widely varying views come from very sincere people forming opposing
ideas about it. Because of this passage some have demanded that women wear some
kind of covering in worship services. After careful study of this passage
others feel perfectly free to allow women to worship without a covering. This
study makes an attempt to understand the language of this passage. (Quotations
are from the NKJV.)
3 But I want you to know that the head of every man
is Christy the head of woman is manf and the head
of Christ is God.
of Christ is God.
The basic subject of the passage is
authority: God is the head of Christ; Christ is the head of man; man is the
head of woman.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head
covered, dishonors his head.
Man should not use a covering
when teaching or praying. Removing the covering (hat, cap, etc.) is a sign of
respect in the presence of a superior.
5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her
head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one
and the same as if her head were shaved.
and the same as if her head were shaved.
The problem of the woman's uncovered head
is not disrespect for God but disrespect for man (husband). This is also very
clear in verse 7. That was true in the culture of Corinth in the first century,
but it is not true in 21st century America. THIS FACT IS THE KEY TO PROPERLY
UNDERSTANDING THIS PASSAGE.
6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be
shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or
shaved, let her be covered.
shaved, let her be covered.
In the culture in Corinth a woman praying
or prophesying without a covering was as shameful as a woman with a shaved
head. A shaved head has been a sign of disgrace in most societies.
7 For a man indeed
ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman
is the glory of
man.
8 For man is not from
woman, but woman from man.
9 Nor was man created
for the woman, but woman for the man.
This is a further discussion of man being
the head of the woman, again giving emphasis to the fact that the problem of a
covering is between man and woman, not between woman and God. If, in today's
culture there is no disrespect shown by a woman toward her husband, or other
men, if she does not have a head covering there is no problem in her
worshipping without one.
10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol
of authority on her head, because of the angels.
This is a very difficult verse and has received much and varied commentary. Some have
suggested that angels are somehow offended or tempted by viewing the uncovered heads of
women. Some have suggested that this introduces an additional authority (the first was the
authority of the man) to which women must submit. It is best to connect this verse with the next
two verses, to see the full context. Angels have to be in submission to God, so it is good for
them to observe women being submissive to their husbands.
This is a very difficult verse and has received much and varied commentary. Some have
suggested that angels are somehow offended or tempted by viewing the uncovered heads of
women. Some have suggested that this introduces an additional authority (the first was the
authority of the man) to which women must submit. It is best to connect this verse with the next
two verses, to see the full context. Angels have to be in submission to God, so it is good for
them to observe women being submissive to their husbands.
11,12 Nevertheless, neither is man
independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman
came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from
God. Great care must be exercised when the subject of woman's subjection to
man is discussed. It is very easy for men to become abusive in this area. This is not a question of intellectual, or
even spiritual, superiority. Spiritually,
men and women come to God on equal terms (Gal. 3:26-28; 1 Pet. 3:7 - note the discussion of submission in verses 1-6).
It is a question of leadership. Men and women depend on each other: God created
woman from man's rib, but men are born of women. Both men and women must
ultimately respect each other, and both must respect God.
13
Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head
uncovered? Worshippers
must give consideration to this matter. It was obvious in the Corinthian
setting that it was improper for a woman to worship without a covering on her
head. In modern assemblies it is
certainly possible for this to be permissible because there is no such current
custom, thus, no problem is involved.
14
Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair,
it is a dishonor to him?
It is natural for man to have shorter hair than women. The
distinction is in the comparative lengths of the hair. The question involved in
verses 14 and 15 is not "how long is long," which can vary from
culture to culture, but "Is there a distinctive difference between the
lengths of men's and women's hair?
15 But
if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her
for a covering.
Some have believed this verse
says that the whole matter of a woman's covering in worship is satisfied by the
fact that she has long hair. Most understand that there are two coverings in
this passage, one natural and the other external and additional.
16 But
if anyone seems to
be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
This is very important. This
subject should not be allowed to create contention in churches. If a woman
lives in a culture that demands a covering she should accept it and not cause
contention. If she lives in a culture that does not demand it, but still wants
to wear a covering, she, and others, should not cause contention. If it is a
culture that shows respect in other ways no one should be contentious in
demanding a covering. The word "custom" in verse 16 is difficult
because it is not specifically defined. Many have said that it refers to not
wearing a covering. However, this makes the language awkward because the focus
of the passage has been on wearing a covering. If "custom" refers to
wearing a covering this verse appears to make the whole discussion useless.
Paul may have discussed the whole matter to encourage a practice in Corinth
without binding a law on all churches in all cultures. From chapter 5 to the
end of the letter there is an awareness of the impact of one Christian's
actions on another. This section fits well in that pattern. A practice may be
acceptable in some situations without being binding in every situation.
Three final notes:
1. Some
have concluded that a woman should not cut her hair. Nothing in this passage
suggests that. Verses 5 and 6 say "shaving" the head is a sign of
"shame," but say nothing about cutting or trimming the hair. The
issue is "long" hair for women and "short" hair for man, a
contrast between the sexes.
2. A
question comes to SEARCH because people observe the "short hair" of
the women in the singing audience. It may be shorter than it could be or than
it may have been at other times or in other cultures, however, there is no
difficulty in distinguishing the women from the men in this audience.
3. I
have done some very quick research on verse 16. The translations have a serious
variation only in one place. The KJV, NKJV, ASV and others say "we have no
such custom" while the RSV, NFV, NASV say "we have no other
practice" (the NASV has a footnote saying "such" is the literal
translation). There is not enough difference between "custom" and
"practice" for any serious discussion. However, there is a real
difference between "no such" and "no other" - the first
refers to what has been discussed and the second could focus on external
practices. The first would suggest that Paul discussed the matter of women
wearing a covering in worship and concludes that this is not a custom or
practice in churches. The second might see Paul as setting up a custom
or practice and allowing no discussion of another or different practice or
custom. I am not a Greek scholar (I have a minor in Greek), but my quick
research has reinforced my conviction that "no such" is the right
translation; that is the literal translation of the words. The other rendering
seems to me to be more commentary than literal translation.
Jerry Campbell
Monday, April 17, 2023
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 = April 17
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
Other Resources:
Imitating Jesus we talk about the perfect example of Jesus and how He is: forgiving, peaceful, a teacher, selfless, and obedient. 1 Corinthians 11
Friday, April 14, 2023
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Monday, April 10, 2023
1 Corinthians 7:25-40 = April 10
The Unmarried and the Widowed
Other Resources:
Keeping God's Commandments - 1 Corinthians 7
Series: God-Honoring Relationships: Encouragement from 1 Corinthians
Title: Not Your Own – Focused
Singleness
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts:
v Rarely have sermons on “being
single”
o Not second-class citizens.
Text: 1
Corinthians 7:8, 25-38
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to
stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But
if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to
marry than to burn with passion.
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the
Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is
trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is
good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you
pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a
commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you
do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not
sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to
spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is
that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if
they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not;
those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it
were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of
the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is
passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from
concern. An unmarried man
is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is
concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An
unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to
be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is
concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not
to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in
undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might
not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions
are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants.
He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled
the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his
own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also
does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the
virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
Summarize the main theme/story: Describe the events of the story
in your own words.
·
Review and retell
the story.
Reflections for applications:
v 1 Corinthians 7:8, 25-31
o Your calling is not to find
your soul mate and settle down; it is to find God and pursue Him.
v 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
o You can honor God in marriage, but
you don’t need to be married to honor God.
v 1 Corinthians 7:36-38
o Myth #1 – “I need marriage to be
complete”
o Myth #2 – “My current relational situation
is my status.”
o Be faithful to God wherever you
are.
Digging Questions:
·
How
are your relationships?
·
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is God calling us to do?
Take Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will
you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Singles #Unmarried #Widows
Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/oOQzj4Lpgq0
Comments about some details:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7%3A8%2C+25-38&version=NIV
Friday, April 7, 2023
1 Corinthians 7:1-24 = April 7
1 Corinthians 7:1-24
https://youtu.be/iN7KpE1Va-I
Other Resources:
https://youtu.be/iN7KpE1Va-I
Other Resources:
Keeping God's Commandments 1 Corinthians 7
Series: God-Honoring Relationships: Encouragement from 1 Corinthians
Title: Not Your Own – Faithful Marriage
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts:
- All about discipleship
- Ways of doing “Unity” Candles, butterflies, sand (in an hourglass)
- “As long as our love will last”
- Superficial ways to invigorate our marriage.
- Usually, everything we do to revitalize our marriage is based on making ME happy.
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
- Review and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
- 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (Submission)
- o They evidently thought that abstaining from sex – even in marriage– showed new depths of personal holiness.
- o Wives, you don’t have authority over your body.
- o Husbands, you don’t have authority over your body.
- o Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- o Mutual submission is foundational to a faithful marriage.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-16
- o Marriage is a life-long commitment.
- o Matthew 19:4-6 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
- o Every husband and wife should relentlessly pursue oneness and permanence in marriage.
- o Everything Paul says about marriage is about giving, not receiving.
- Application points:
- o Happiness is the foundational part of marriage.
- Pour into your marriage.
- o What are you contributing to your marriage right now?
Digging Questions:
How are your relationships?
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
What is God calling us to do?
Take Away Challenges
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #marriage
Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/iN7KpE1Va-I
Comments about some details:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7%3A1-24&version=NIV
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Joshua 18-21
Outline
Ch. 18 Allotment of the Remaining Land
- The Inheritance for Benjamin
- The Inheritance for Zebulun
- The Inheritance for Issachar
- The Inheritance for Asher
- The Inheritance for Naphtali
- The Inheritance for Dan
- The Inheritance for Joshua
Ch. 21 Cities and Pasturelands Allotted to Levi
Thesis: The comprehensive provision of cities for the Levites, as seen in Joshua 21, illustrates the abundance of God's forgiveness, which not only absolves us but also fully equips us for a life of service in his name.
Introduction: God's forgiveness transcends mere absolution; it equips us for a life dedicated to his service.
1. The designation of cities of refuge as mentioned in Joshua 20 symbolizes God's provision for forgiveness and protection against the consequences of unintended sins.
A. As the cities offered safety for those who committed manslaughter without intent, God's forgiveness envelops us, rescuing us from the eternal consequences of sin (Joshua 20:2-3).
B. Just as these cities were accessible to all Israelites, God’s forgiveness is available to everyone who seeks him (Joshua 20:9).
2. The allotment of cities to the Levites in Joshua 21 demonstrates God's intention for us to live in communities that nurture our spiritual growth and service.
A. The specific cities given to the Levites were not just residences; they were centers for worship and spiritual instruction, illustrating how God equips his people for service (Joshua 21:2-3).
B. Like the Levites, who were distributed throughout Israel to minister, we're called to serve and share God's forgiveness in every sphere of our lives (Joshua 21:41).
3. The completion of God’s promises in providing these cities signifies his faithfulness in fully equipping us for a life of service through his forgiveness.
A. The fulfillment of this divine provision underscored God's reliability and the comprehensive nature of his forgiveness, which is both a pardon and an empowerment for service (Joshua 21:43-45).
B. As the Levites were integral to the spiritual life of Israel, so are we, forgiven and empowered, crucial to spreading God's message of redemption and forgiveness in the world today.
Conclusion: In the same way that the cities of refuge and the Levitical cities provided safety, community, and a place of service, God's forgiveness offers us a sanctuary from sin, a spiritual family, and a purposeful mission. Let us embrace this comprehensive forgiveness, allowing it not only to absolve us but to also equip us for impactful service in God’s kingdom. As we move forward, may we live in the abundance of God’s forgiveness, demonstrating it in our lives and sharing it with others. How will you let God’s forgiveness transform you into an instrument of his grace and truth in the world?
1 Corinthians 4:14-5:13 = April 4
1 Corinthians 4:14-5:13
Other Resources:
Discipline - 1 Corinthians 5
In our study of 1 Corinthians 5, we discuss how God allows bad things to happen to good people and how He disciplines those that He loves.
Monday, April 3, 2023
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