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 whom He loves.

“Experience the Power”

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Christianity is going through an identity crisis today. Many youth are leaving the church after high school. A majority of millennials do not believe in God or are not seeking a relationship with Christ. Large numbers of adults are abandoning the organized church. Disparate beliefs that indicate radical division deeply divide the church.

One of the more disturbing statistics is how Christians relate their satisfaction in the faith. Satisfaction in the faith is now being evaluated more by the quality of preaching they receive in the church, the friendships they can find at church or in small groups, and the quality of the worship experience. Values such as purposeful evangelism, discipling believers to be fully devoted followers of Christ, and ministering to others out of God’s presence and work in their lives don’t seem to be what many are looking for in a church.

It is tempting to take our eyes off God’s purpose: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9b)

If you seek God’s kingdom first, then the way you live your life will further the kingdom of God. When you get disengaged from the heart of your purpose on earth, the kingdom of God becomes a matter of talk and not power. Once your faith becomes all talk and little power, it is easy to become disconnected from God.

God wants you to break out of self-serving and self-interest, to release His power: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

God’s power in you will never fully be seen or experienced by merely talking about Christianity, but by the actualization of His power in you in reaching the lost, hurting, and those desiring more of God.

Where is God wanting to exercise His power in your life? 1 Corinthians 3:6 demonstrates the importance of stepping out in faith and trusting God to act: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

Determine now to seek God’s kingdom first by planting and watering what God has put in your life to share. Let your faith move beyond talk to experiencing God’s power. All eleven of the apostles deserted Jesus after His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, but the same eleven remained faithful after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Their faith remained solid because their walks with Christ consistently experienced God through His power and not their talk. Exercise your faith and see the power of God at work!

1 Thessalonians 1:5 “Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”

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5 Myths Non-Christians Believe About Christians

Here are five myths that non-Christians may believe about Christians.

We’re Better

Every believer who has realized just how wicked they were before Christ knows they’re no better than anyone else, including non-believers. We don’t think of ourselves as superior, only blessed. Think about this: Christ died for us while we were wicked, ungodly sinners and natural enemies of His Romans 5:6-10). God didn’t look at us and think, “Hey, they’re pretty good people. I think I’ll save them.” All of us fall short of God’s glory, including Christians (Romans 3:23).

We’re Special

We’re not saved because we’re special. We’re special because we’re saved. That’s a huge difference. At one time, we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1-2). Dead men and women can’t do anything to resurrect themselves any more than Lazarus could have resurrected himself. We weren’t good people at all. We were bad, wicked sinners who were saved by a very good God. We should be honest with non-believers and tell them we still struggle with sin and we don’t have it all together, and honestly tell them we’re not better than anyone, including non-believers.

We Don’t Like Non-Believers

I disagree with the idea that Christians don’t like non-believers because we were once as they are now. We are commanded to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and do good to those who do us harm. That’s an attribute of God. A sinless Christ died for a most sinful people, and He did for us what we didn’t deserve and granted to us what we could not earn. We’re actually told to pray for our enemies and love those who hate us.

We Do Good to Get to Heaven

A few times, I’ve heard non-believers tell me (and even a few Christians) they’ve done enough good in their lives to get to heaven, if there is one. I say that none are actually good, and we don’t even seek after God (Romans 3:10-12). We can’t be saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). All our good works are just a bunch of filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). To say we can do good things to get to heaven is to make Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross useless. If we could do good things to get to heaven, then Paul says plainly that Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

We Have It Easier

Some believe that once a person becomes a Christian, life becomes much easier. On the contrary, when I was born again, that’s when it started getting difficult. Jesus said the way to eternal life is hard and the road is narrow, and that only a few will find it. Therefore, “strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able”(Luke 13:4). Dead fish can float upstream, but it takes effort to swim upstream against the culture and our own sinful nature.

Conclusion

Other things I’ve heard from non-believers are that religion is a crutch and that we’ve been brainwashed. Let me say this: If Christ is a crutch, I want it. If I’ve been brainwashed, that’s good because my mind used to be filled with filth. We’re not perfect, only seen as perfect because of Jesus Christ, which is only because “for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

1 Corinthians 4:1-13 = April 3

 1 Corinthians 4:1-13

OPEN:

• What is the most menial job you ever had? What did you like or dislike about it? 
• Who has been a parent figure in your life, besides your parents?

DIG:

• Paul, when discussing judging himself, claims that even his conscience is unreliable (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). Has your conscience ever differed with God's will for you? What happened?
• How do you feel about the Lord "bringing to light" what is hidden and exposing the motives of our hearts (1 Corinthians 4:5)? How can we live so that what is revealed will be less surprising and embarrassing? 
• Corinthian factions judged one another by the reputation of the leader they followed. What then does Paul mean by the proverb in 1 Corinthians 4:6? How should they apply it? 
• Read 1 Corinthians 4:7. What do you have that you did not receive from God? Of everything God has given you, what do you tend to take credit for yourself? 
• Paul tells the Corinthians to imitate his way of life. How does this square with not following one leader or another?

REFLECT:

• How would Paul respond to the phrase: "God wants you to be happy, healthy, and successful"? 
• In 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Paul rather sarcastically compares his situation with the Corinthians', who have a mistaken idea of wisdom and power. Would you characterize your Christian life as more like the Corinthians' or Paul's? Why? 
• A role model or mentor is someone you want to emulate. Who has fulfilled these roles in your life? In what ways do you still feel the need? 
• Reflecting honestly on 1 Corinthians 4:20, is your Christian life more a matter of talk or of power?

Other Resources:

Persecution - 1 Corinthians 4

CRITICISM IS DANGEROUS

 “It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you.” 1 Corinthians 4:3

Paul writes, “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you… It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:3–4) Can you imagine viewing criticism as a very small thing? Or being liberated from the need to impress people; your self-esteem no longer dependent on someone noticing how successful, smart, or attractive you are?

Think what it would be like to feel genuine love for someone who expresses their disapproval of you. Is such a life even possible? With God’s help, yes! One deacon says: “Years ago I wanted to lead a certain ministry. When I wasn’t chosen, I became angry. Of course, I didn’t show it. That’s not to say I didn’t love God. I just wanted to serve me more than Him! By saying no, God was correcting an attitude that would destroy any real ministry I might have later. When you represent God so visibly, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to detect that you’re a fake…except God.”

Ever hear of approval addiction? Its symptoms include living in fear of what others think of you; being easily hurt by what they say; a nagging sense that you aren’t good enough; and constantly trying to impress important people. And like all addicts, we’ll go to any lengths for a fix.

For many of us, our daily preoccupations suggest we belong more to the world than to God. Even the mildest criticism makes us depressed and apt to react in anger; a little praise can lift our spirits. Like small boats adrift on a huge ocean, we’re completely at the mercy of the waves.

Thought of the Day: Is this an issue you need to pray about today?

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 = March 31

 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

1 CORINTHIANS 3

Paul again reminds the Corinthians not to elevate teachers of the Word of God over the Word itself.

I.   The “Baby” Christians in the Corinthian Church (3:1–10): Paul addresses some squabbling believers in this assembly.

A.  Paul’s criticism (3:1–2)

1.  What he hopes to do (3:1): The apostle wants to give them the solid meat of the Word.

2.  What he has to do (3:2): Because of their carnality and immaturity, he can only feed them milk.

B.  Paul’s correction (3:3–10)

1.  Their sinful view of Christian leaders (3:3–4): They are looking to men (like Paul and Apollos) instead of to Christ.

2.  His scriptural view of Christian leaders (3:5–10)

a.  What the leaders do (3:5a, 6a, 7a, 8–10): They can only sow and water the spiritual seed.

b.  What the Lord does (3:5b, 6b, 7b): God alone can cause the crop to grow.

II.  The Bema Judgment and the Corinthian Church (3:11–23)

A.  The works (3:11–15): Paul says all believers will someday stand before an elevated platform (called a “bema”) to be tested regarding their service for Christ.

1.  The objects in this test (3:11–13): Our works here are classified as gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, and straw.

2.  The outcome of this test (3:14–15)

a.  The owner of the gold, silver, and jeweled works will receive a reward (3:14).

b.  The owner of the wood, hay, and straw works will receive no reward (3:15).

B.  The warning (3:16–23)

1.  Don’t defile your temple (3:16–17): God regards our bodies as temples.

2.  Don’t deceive yourselves (3:18–21): Paul warns not to depend on earthly wisdom or human leaders but on God himself.

3.  You belong to Christ as Christ belongs to God (3:22–23).

 

OPEN:

• When you were a child, what did you make that you were proud of?

DIG:

• What does Paul mean by infants? Milk? Solid food (1 Corinthians 3:2)?
• What were Paul's and Apollos' contributions to the church in Corinth? 
• Who did the planting in your spiritual life? Who did the watering? 
• How do Paul's illustrations help to make his point (1 Corinthians 3:5-15)? 
• What is the wise way to build a foundation for your life? What do the building materials in 1 Corinthians 3:12 refer to? 
• Paul tells the Corinthians as a church, they are "God's temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16). What evidence do you have that your church or your body is a dwelling place for God's Spirit?

REFLECT:

• What is the difference between respecting a Christian leader and the problem Paul deals with here? 
• What does it mean to be a "fool" for Christ? What would it mean to be a fool for Christ in your life? 
• If you could describe your spiritual condition as a building, what kind of building would it be? A cathedral? A health club? A junk-yard? A library? A skyscraper? 
• Name one thing you can do this week to build the foundation of your life with "gold, silver, and costly stones.”

Other Resources:

It Takes a Village - 1 Corinthians 3

"Where Are You"

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

 Close your eyes for a minute and visualize the Lord Jesus Christ saying to you, “Brother, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly.” I feel a deep sense of sadness that Christ can find in me plenty of material to warrant such a statement.

One of Scripture’s best examples of disappointment is Peter. Scriptures show how spiritual Peter could be and then show how attached to the world he could be.

Matthew 16:18-19, and 23 provides a great illustration of this: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . . ²³ Get behind me, satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul explains the two stages of a Christian: (1) worldly, an infant requiring milk; and (2) mature, consuming solid food. Maturity is where God wants you to be, but the world often hinders your progress towards maturity. You remain an infant in Christ when you continue in worldly ways and never progress to Godly ways (solid food).

Remaining an infant in Christ occurs primarily from a failure to grow in increasing intimacy with Jesus. You generally lack intimacy with Christ because of a deficiency in your intake of God’s Word and shallowness by not allowing the Holy Spirit to apply His Word in your life. Remaining an infant makes you vulnerable not only to the world, but also to satan and your flesh. It is solid food that lifts you to new levels of spiritual awareness.

God uses solid food to help you grow in your maturity which makes you more usable and fruitful for God. Maturity is where God wants you to be. Seek God daily in Word and prayer, but most importantly allow God’s Word to penetrate your life so that you grasp it and apply it wherever God is leading you.

Ephesians 4:13-16 -- “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the Head, even Christ,”

Consider:

• At what times or in what aspects of your life might Jesus address you as “worldly” rather than “spiritual”?
• How can you commit to maturing in your faith?

LIVING SHORT TERM

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

Have you ever heard an official of a government urge Americans to smoke and drink more? It has now happened. The finance minister of a foreign government is urging their citizens to smoke and drink more to raise more tax money for their social services. The Finance Minister says, "If you smoke a pack of cigarettes, that means you are giving more to help solve social problems such as boosting demographics, developing other social services and upholding birth rates. People should understand: Those who drink, those who smoke are doing more to help the state." To generate more income for the state, taxes on cigarettes will increase by more than 100% in the next three years.

 

Sixty-five percent of men in this country smoke and based on current consumption the average man drinks 19 quarts (18 liters) of alcohol every year. Thousands die every year from alcohol related causes and the government has recently implemented laws designed to help with the problem.

 

In the short term the country is likely to be proven right that if people smoke and drink more tax revenues will increase. In the long-term net revenues will decrease. Why? Because there will be an increased strain on their social services. Increased smoking and drinking will cause health related diseases to increase causing a greater burden on the social services system.

 

We see the same kind of thinking in our own lives all the time. In the short-term buying a new car or a new house with a huge payment will make us feel better. However, in the long term when we start making those huge payments, we will begin to feel trapped and burdened by our purchase.

 

We can go out and party getting high on alcohol and drugs and in the very short term we may feel very good about it. However, the next day, if not sooner we experience the consequences of a hangover, the need for another fix, or even worse wake up in jail because of what we have done while we were high.

 

We can have a brief relationship with another person that is not our wife or husband and in the short term we may feel very good about it. However, in the long term it will complicate our lives, and it could leave us with a STD, or send us spiraling out of control in the wrong direction.

 

Thought of the Day: Not only can short term thinking damage your body, and your relationships, but it will prevent the implementation of God's will, His plan in your life. God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Please do not let short term thinking rob you of "peace" and of a "future and a hope."

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 = March 30

 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

OPEN:

• How well did you keep secrets when you were a child? How about since then?
• What person in your circle of family and friends has the most wisdom?

DIG:

• From the references to "wisdom" in this passage, what differences do you see between human wisdom and God's?
• What is the secret about God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9)?
• How do you feel about verse 9? How is your outlook on life affected by the promises in this verse?
• Philosophers were respected as people who could search out deep truths; in contrast, how does Paul say the truth of the Gospel is discovered (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)? Why is that significant for the Corinthians' unity?

REFLECT:

• The Corinthians were measuring "truth and success" by how powerful, influential and articulate someone was. How is that idea communicated today? How does it square with the Gospel?
• What can you do to exercise "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) more fully in your life?

Other Resources:
Living In The Spirit 1 Corinthians 2

Becoming Interesting 

 

            When actor Sean Connery died, tributes came in from all over. The original “James Bond” actor defined the role so much that the author of the Bond book series, Ian Fleming, later wrote in a Scottish ancestry to account for Connery’s portrayal! Connery starred in many other movies and showed a wonderful talent and discipline in his acting. He was an athlete and, early in the Bond franchise, performed many of his own stunts. He grew to dislike the Bond character, though, partly because people seemed to think that he actually was a suave but deadly secret agent.  

            In truth, of course, Connery knew he was a pretty ordinary man. He grew up in lean circumstances and had many jobs and a stint in the Royal Navy. He was terrified of spiders, and a scene in “Dr. No” called for a tarantula to crawl up his arm. It took a glass sheet, a stunt look-alike, and several attempts to film the half-minute scene. Connery was also afraid of sharks and had a Plexiglas® cage to protect him in a scene in “Thunderball.” When one eager young shark managed to find his way into the cage, Connery found his way out—quickly! Others saw him as a glamorous hero; he saw himself more realistically. He liked acting, he once said, because “It allows me to be someone interesting.” Often, a public image varies from the real person. 

            “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:1-3 NIV). 

            As we read the career of Paul in his missionary journeys, we imagine a fearless preacher, confidently striding across the Near East while delivering the gospel to thrilled audiences. In reality, a closer reading shows us many of the anxieties, frustrations, fears and humiliations Paul suffered in proclaiming the good news of Jesus to a mostly disinterested world. When he arrived in Corinth about AD 50, he had been beaten and jailed in Philippi, driven out of Thessalonica and then Berea, and disdained in Athens. Corinth had a terrible reputation, and he must have imagined he was one step from Sodom and Gomorrah as he walked all alone into that teeming city. 

            Yet God was with him every step of the way. That’s how Paul was able to preach the gospel there and even plant a church of obedient Christians. First, in fellowship with Priscilla and Aquila there, and then joined by Silas and Timothy, Paul was able to work in that city for a year and a half as the church grew and strengthened. Paul knew he was no hero—he was an ordinary man who put himself fully into the service of Jesus Christ. Jesus, then, did powerful things through the labors of Paul. If we could visit with Paul, he likely would say that his life in Christ not only saved his own soul, it allowed him to become somebody interesting. That same Jesus performs that same work in everyone who will put himself fully into the Lord’s service. In Christ, we can become somebody interesting—and maybe even influential in a world starving for good news.

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https://www.verseoftheday.com/en/02021998/

 

THE CLIFF HANGER

 

A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down, he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and, to his horror, saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.

 

So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? "HELP!" He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice.

 

"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"

 

"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"

 

"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"

 

"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?

 

"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."

 

"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"

 

"That's Me."

 

"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning.  I'll be a really good person.  I'll serve You for the rest of my life."

 

Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you out from there; then we can talk." "Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."

 

"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."

 

"Okay. Let go of the branch."

 

"What?"

 

"I said, let go of the branch." Just trust Me.  Let go."

 

There was a long silence.  Finally, Jack yelled, "HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"

 

Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it.  Sounds too scary--too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your life," it sounds pretty scary.  But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands."

 

Thank you.  Have a Blessed Day . . . and remember that Jesus Loves You and so do I--and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, except to pass it on . . .  and GOD BLESS YOU!

 

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

 

-- Author Unknown

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Act differently, Think differently

on April 30, 2019 by Paul Adams

 

When we begin to know Jesus better our lives can begin to be transformed more and more into His likeness. Our very being will be changed – we will act differently and treat people differently – we will think differently.

 

Paul ends the 2nd chapter of 1st Corinthians with these words…. But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16 CSB)

 

That means you have a self-emptying mind - in other words you put others before self, like Jesus did.

Remember, some of the best prayers are simple prayers – maybe just one or two sentences... that can be a good place to start.

 

Too many times we pray just when we want something or we’re scared about something… but we need to remember to always give thanks and pray for others. We need to give thanks to God on a daily basis… Think about it for a minute – maybe the greatest gift we have as followers of Jesus is the peaceful presence of God – we need be thankful for that on a daily basis.

 

Here's a simple, but caring prayer to help you get started (insert the name of whoever is on your mind):

 

Dear Father, thank you for loving us and for always being there for us. Please be with _______________ today because I know they are struggling.

 

In Jesus' name, amen.

 

17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 CSB)

 

The journey continues.