Our journey through 1 Corinthians has now come to an end. It has been a pleasant study filled with rich nuggets of truth and harsh convicting realities. I have come to believe that Kirkwood is probably not all that different from Corinth.
Here are the main themes of each chapter:
1. Division vs. unity
2. Mind of Christ
3. Division vs. human loyalty
(This is one of two chiasms in this book. Think of them as sandwiches. The emphasis is on the meat. In this opening sandwich, division is the problem - developing the mind of Christ is the solution!)
4. Shame on you!
5. Immorality
6. Lawsuits
7. Relationship issues
8. Conscience vs. compromise
9. Servant leadership
10. Recounted history - pattern of idolatry & punishment
Here comes another sandwich - this one a double-decker! Notice the emphasis on Love. Worship without each member exercising their spiritual gifts in love is useless!
11. Worship (and Lord's Supper)
12. Spiritual gifts
13. LOVE
14. Spiritual gifts
& worship
15. Afterlife & new bodies
16. Paul's money standards and closing thoughts - living in tension
Theme: To become a Dream Church, you must deal with selfishness and unify around Christ with unconditional love!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Come Quickly Lord!...1 Cor. 16
Paul asked the Corinthian church to show their generosity by taking weekly offerings for the Jerusalem ministry. He encourages them to develop the habit of setting aside a portion of their income weekly. Paul never encourages tithing - instead he writes about first-fruit and freewill giving. NT giving is to be a voluntary habit done with joy, not duty!
It is quite interesting that Paul does not want to see or even touch the money! He says to take the collections before he gets there, and send it to Jerusalem with elected stewards. His ethical standards when it came to finances were far above board. I am reminded of the commitment Billy Graham made about financial integrity - and a scandal has never touched him!
Paul wanted to spend some quality time with the Corinthian church - a brief visit wouldn't suffice, but he knew that God wanted him to stay at Ephesus. He said "a great door for effective work has opened to me." How did he know this with such certainty? Because "there are many who oppose me"!!! Opposition & tension - what an excellent reason to believe that you are being obedient!!!
At the end of this final chapter, Paul takes the quill pen from his scribe, and begins to write sloppily with his own hand: "If anyone does not love the Lord - a curse be on him." Yep, that is Paul all right, no more authorization of authorship needed! May a curse be upon anyone who does not love God, His church, and His people.
Then Paul uses an Aramaic phrase: "Maranatha" meaning "Our Lord, Come!" This is both a cry of hope and a stern warning. Christ is coming - shape up! If you are sitting on the fence, get off. If you are hindering the work of Christ, now is the time to seek God's forgiveness. If you are living in immorality, bitterness, or causing division - repent now before it is too late.
Come quickly dear Lord!
It is quite interesting that Paul does not want to see or even touch the money! He says to take the collections before he gets there, and send it to Jerusalem with elected stewards. His ethical standards when it came to finances were far above board. I am reminded of the commitment Billy Graham made about financial integrity - and a scandal has never touched him!
Paul wanted to spend some quality time with the Corinthian church - a brief visit wouldn't suffice, but he knew that God wanted him to stay at Ephesus. He said "a great door for effective work has opened to me." How did he know this with such certainty? Because "there are many who oppose me"!!! Opposition & tension - what an excellent reason to believe that you are being obedient!!!
At the end of this final chapter, Paul takes the quill pen from his scribe, and begins to write sloppily with his own hand: "If anyone does not love the Lord - a curse be on him." Yep, that is Paul all right, no more authorization of authorship needed! May a curse be upon anyone who does not love God, His church, and His people.
Then Paul uses an Aramaic phrase: "Maranatha" meaning "Our Lord, Come!" This is both a cry of hope and a stern warning. Christ is coming - shape up! If you are sitting on the fence, get off. If you are hindering the work of Christ, now is the time to seek God's forgiveness. If you are living in immorality, bitterness, or causing division - repent now before it is too late.
Come quickly dear Lord!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Over my dead body!!! 1 Cor. 15:35-59
The Apostle Paul answers our two BIG questions about our new heavenly bodies: “How?” and “What?” (vs. 35)
The “How?” is easily answered – new life is produced by death. Consider seeds – until they fall from their life source and go into the ground, they are living. Not until they go into the ground and die do they produce new life. (36) When my earthly body dies, God gives me a new and improved home for my soul.
The “What?” is still a mystery. Our physical bodies are just the seeds (37)…God chooses what the new plant will be like! (38)
Even physical bodies have a great amount of variety – just consider the difference between people, animals, birds, and fish!!! (39) Heavenly bodies have just as much variety but are more splendid than anything physical. (40) Consider the mind-popping variety and splendor of the sun, moon, and stars! (41)
Our present bodies are thankfully temporary…our new bodies will be eternal! (42) My sin-wracked body has an end, but my glorified body has none. Pain, disease, and death will not be part of the afterlife. My present body is dying, human, weak, and natural. My future body will be eternal, perfected, new, and spiritual. (43) That’s good news for everyone growing “old”!!!
All humans are natural descendants of Adam. All believers are spiritual descendants of Christ. (45) Humanity is lost and perishable - believers become found and eternal! (46) Adam came from dust, Jesus came from heaven. (47) We can be like either - which would you rather be like??!!! (48-49)
In our humanity, we cannot experience the amazing heaven God has prepared – where He will live with His followers forever. (50) Here is a cool secret – not all believers will experience death. Some of us will experience the Rapture – but all believers will experience a new reality with a brand-new body! (51) Our metamorphosis will be instantaneous! (52) In Christ, we can experience a new reality!
To get around in the afterlife, you need a new body! (53) This new body allows us victory over death. (54) Death cannot snatch our recreated glorified bodies! (55) We will have complete victory over the grave! The law causes sin which causes death. (56) Victory over all this is found in Jesus Christ! (57)
Stand firm! (58) Give yourself completely to God’s work – because your body is only temporary but your soul is permanent! (59)
The “How?” is easily answered – new life is produced by death. Consider seeds – until they fall from their life source and go into the ground, they are living. Not until they go into the ground and die do they produce new life. (36) When my earthly body dies, God gives me a new and improved home for my soul.
The “What?” is still a mystery. Our physical bodies are just the seeds (37)…God chooses what the new plant will be like! (38)
Even physical bodies have a great amount of variety – just consider the difference between people, animals, birds, and fish!!! (39) Heavenly bodies have just as much variety but are more splendid than anything physical. (40) Consider the mind-popping variety and splendor of the sun, moon, and stars! (41)
Our present bodies are thankfully temporary…our new bodies will be eternal! (42) My sin-wracked body has an end, but my glorified body has none. Pain, disease, and death will not be part of the afterlife. My present body is dying, human, weak, and natural. My future body will be eternal, perfected, new, and spiritual. (43) That’s good news for everyone growing “old”!!!
All humans are natural descendants of Adam. All believers are spiritual descendants of Christ. (45) Humanity is lost and perishable - believers become found and eternal! (46) Adam came from dust, Jesus came from heaven. (47) We can be like either - which would you rather be like??!!! (48-49)
In our humanity, we cannot experience the amazing heaven God has prepared – where He will live with His followers forever. (50) Here is a cool secret – not all believers will experience death. Some of us will experience the Rapture – but all believers will experience a new reality with a brand-new body! (51) Our metamorphosis will be instantaneous! (52) In Christ, we can experience a new reality!
To get around in the afterlife, you need a new body! (53) This new body allows us victory over death. (54) Death cannot snatch our recreated glorified bodies! (55) We will have complete victory over the grave! The law causes sin which causes death. (56) Victory over all this is found in Jesus Christ! (57)
Stand firm! (58) Give yourself completely to God’s work – because your body is only temporary but your soul is permanent! (59)
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