I appreciate the discussions we have had on "agape" love from 1 Corinthians 13. Love truly is a choice, not a feeling. The opposite of this love is not hate - it is selfishness. Loving the way God requires is not humanly possible. It is a supernatural love that can only flow out of our hearts after God has put it there.
Everything within us is opposed to this sort of unconditional love. We fear getting hurt again. Yet love is making yourself vulnerable. Love is never losing hope, never giving up...and committing for life. No wonder the "Bachelor" leaves the "love of his life" for another girl - feelings are completely unpredictable and should NOT determine our actions! True love is choice - and feelings will be a benefit of that choice!
Our upcoming discussion will be returning to spiritual gifts, especially tongues.
As you 1 Cor. 13:8-13, think about these questions:
- When will the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge end according to this passage?
- What is the "perfection" in verse 10?
- What does "child" refer to in verse 11?
- What is this paragraph saying about spiritual gifts as it relates to love?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
I don't need you!...1 Cor. 12:20-13:13
I don't need you!
Perhaps you haven't said it out loud...but we have all thought this. So had the believers at Corinth. Paul's writing doesn't challenge that independent thinking - he smashes it with a sledgehammer!
He declares the people in church that seem most insignificant to actually be the most crucial. He uses the analogy of the private parts of our body that we keep covered - these parts are vital for reproduction, pleasure, and nourishment. Without them, there would be no pleasure, no marriage, no kids, etc.
There are people at FCC who's gifts are hidden (private), but without them, our offering would not pay the bills, our church facilities would not be cleaned, our shut-ins would not be visited and cared for, our property would not be kept up, etc. There are many people serving and giving and caring and praying in ways you and I never see. They are faithful, sacrificial servants in our church. They deserve greater honor. They deserve to be treated with love and respect. They deserve to hear that "we really could not do it without you"!
In vs. 29, Paul lists seven public gifts that were functioning in the early church: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation. He asks (to their shame) if everyone needs to have a public gift. He admits they are all desiring what they think to be the "greater gifts" (vs. 31), a.k.a. the public gifts. He replies: "Let me now show you the most excellent way..."
The Bible's most beautiful love chapter has now begun - 1 Corinthians 13. You would be hard pressed to attend a Christian wedding where this passage is not read publicly, in the bulletin, or somewhere listed on the favors! But hold on a second...look at the CONTEXT! This passage on love is not man & woman love - it is all about love in the body of Christ, within the church!!!
As we embark on a beautiful journey through chapter 13, keep the context in mind. This amazing "Agape" love is about the love you and I are supposed to have for each other. Somehow, as the Bride of Christ, God expects us to get along, to serve each other, and to love one another unconditionally.
Action Steps This Week:
1) Think of a few people in church who you dislike - and thank God for them right now. Realizing that we really need each other is a humbling process that takes a long, long time!
2) Define love - and bring this definition to class on Sunday!
Perhaps you haven't said it out loud...but we have all thought this. So had the believers at Corinth. Paul's writing doesn't challenge that independent thinking - he smashes it with a sledgehammer!
He declares the people in church that seem most insignificant to actually be the most crucial. He uses the analogy of the private parts of our body that we keep covered - these parts are vital for reproduction, pleasure, and nourishment. Without them, there would be no pleasure, no marriage, no kids, etc.
There are people at FCC who's gifts are hidden (private), but without them, our offering would not pay the bills, our church facilities would not be cleaned, our shut-ins would not be visited and cared for, our property would not be kept up, etc. There are many people serving and giving and caring and praying in ways you and I never see. They are faithful, sacrificial servants in our church. They deserve greater honor. They deserve to be treated with love and respect. They deserve to hear that "we really could not do it without you"!
In vs. 29, Paul lists seven public gifts that were functioning in the early church: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation. He asks (to their shame) if everyone needs to have a public gift. He admits they are all desiring what they think to be the "greater gifts" (vs. 31), a.k.a. the public gifts. He replies: "Let me now show you the most excellent way..."
The Bible's most beautiful love chapter has now begun - 1 Corinthians 13. You would be hard pressed to attend a Christian wedding where this passage is not read publicly, in the bulletin, or somewhere listed on the favors! But hold on a second...look at the CONTEXT! This passage on love is not man & woman love - it is all about love in the body of Christ, within the church!!!
As we embark on a beautiful journey through chapter 13, keep the context in mind. This amazing "Agape" love is about the love you and I are supposed to have for each other. Somehow, as the Bride of Christ, God expects us to get along, to serve each other, and to love one another unconditionally.
Action Steps This Week:
1) Think of a few people in church who you dislike - and thank God for them right now. Realizing that we really need each other is a humbling process that takes a long, long time!
2) Define love - and bring this definition to class on Sunday!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Spiritual Gifts Test
There is an abundance of online material about spiritual gifts. I have taken more spiritual gifts inventory than I can remember, but there is one that I really recommend: Elmer Towns Spiritual Gifts Inventory. You can link to it here: http://www.elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test/.
Knowing your spiritual gifts is an important prerequisite to using them! Your church family would benefit from you living out your gifts within your local church. So take the test today, and begin living out your supernatural abilities!!!
Knowing your spiritual gifts is an important prerequisite to using them! Your church family would benefit from you living out your gifts within your local church. So take the test today, and begin living out your supernatural abilities!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
One of many...1 Cor. 12:12-31
Have you ever sat next to someone in church that you disliked? Did you ignore them and head for the door as soon as you heard the final "Amen"? What if God told you that the person sitting next to you was absolutely indispensable to your spiritual well-being? Would this change your attitude towards them? Please read on for some tough-to-swallow words from Scripture:
VERSE:
(remember to substitute "believer" with "part" throughout Paul's metaphor)
12. You are one of many - in the body of Christ, you are an ear, or a hand, or a mouth, or something else. FCC is collectively one body, just as Christ is one body.
13. All of us believers at FCC have been saved by the same Holy Spirit - without regard to our family background or social class. ALL of us have the Holy Spirit!
14. FCC has many "parts"
15-16. No "part" of your body can choose to leave or change its unique function
17. If our body had only one "part" - imagine how scary we would be!
18. God chose our "parts" - it is His decision, and He has no regrets
19. Could you really survive with just one "part"?!!
20. Truth: many parts, one body
21. No one "part" can live independently of another "part"
22. Amazingly, the weakest "parts" of the body are the ones you cannot live without! (imagine losing your small toe, or thumb, or eyes, or liver, etc!)
23. We are very self-conscious and protective of our "private parts"
24. God purposely designed the weaker/hidden "parts" to have greater honor/significance/value
25. This makes each "part" equal in significance
26. Since your parts are connected, pain or excitement felt by one "part" of the body is felt by all. (Have you ever slammed your finger in a door, and breathed a sigh of relief because your toes felt so good?!!!)
27. Truth: FCC is the body of Christ - each of us is a "part"
28. God has appointed "parts" with specific gifts
29-30. Do we all share the same gift/function/part in the body of Christ?(Rhetorical question expecting a NO!)
31. There is a lot of "parts" jealousy swirling through FCC - let me show you a better way! (chapter 13 is that "better way")
Some Questions:
Have you ever been jealous of the abilities of another believer at FCC?
Why do we ignore someone at church who is struggling and focus on the person who is happy?
Why is it so hard for us to accept some people in our church and not others?
Which believers in our church have the “background/private” gifts that we often don’t see? What are these private gifts?
Do you think that FCC is functioning as it should with each believer using his gifts? According to this passage, is it okay if 99% of our members are serving and using their gifts?
VERSE:
(remember to substitute "believer" with "part" throughout Paul's metaphor)
12. You are one of many - in the body of Christ, you are an ear, or a hand, or a mouth, or something else. FCC is collectively one body, just as Christ is one body.
13. All of us believers at FCC have been saved by the same Holy Spirit - without regard to our family background or social class. ALL of us have the Holy Spirit!
14. FCC has many "parts"
15-16. No "part" of your body can choose to leave or change its unique function
17. If our body had only one "part" - imagine how scary we would be!
18. God chose our "parts" - it is His decision, and He has no regrets
19. Could you really survive with just one "part"?!!
20. Truth: many parts, one body
21. No one "part" can live independently of another "part"
22. Amazingly, the weakest "parts" of the body are the ones you cannot live without! (imagine losing your small toe, or thumb, or eyes, or liver, etc!)
23. We are very self-conscious and protective of our "private parts"
24. God purposely designed the weaker/hidden "parts" to have greater honor/significance/value
25. This makes each "part" equal in significance
26. Since your parts are connected, pain or excitement felt by one "part" of the body is felt by all. (Have you ever slammed your finger in a door, and breathed a sigh of relief because your toes felt so good?!!!)
27. Truth: FCC is the body of Christ - each of us is a "part"
28. God has appointed "parts" with specific gifts
29-30. Do we all share the same gift/function/part in the body of Christ?(Rhetorical question expecting a NO!)
31. There is a lot of "parts" jealousy swirling through FCC - let me show you a better way! (chapter 13 is that "better way")
Some Questions:
Have you ever been jealous of the abilities of another believer at FCC?
Why do we ignore someone at church who is struggling and focus on the person who is happy?
Why is it so hard for us to accept some people in our church and not others?
Which believers in our church have the “background/private” gifts that we often don’t see? What are these private gifts?
Do you think that FCC is functioning as it should with each believer using his gifts? According to this passage, is it okay if 99% of our members are serving and using their gifts?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
GIFTS! 1 Cor. 12-14
At Christmas, our minds are slightly preoccupied with gifts. Guys, we need to find that perfect gift for our wife that she will actually use. Women, you need to find that ideal gift for your husband that won't end up in the back of his closet. Parents, you need to find just the right toy for your kid - not too expensive, yet one that he can show off to his friends. It is a yearly challenge for all of us!
In the spirit of Christmas, 1 Corinthians 12 begins what hopefully will be a life-changing discussion on "gifts" of a different sort. It just so happens that God saw fit to give you some amazingly unique gifts tailor-suited for both you and First Christian Church. These gifts were hand-chosen by God to benefit all of us.
Have you unpacked your gifts yet? If not, I hope that by the end of this series of lessons you will. When you and I use our gifts, I guarantee your “blessing” circuit will blow a fuse. There is nothing like being on the receiving end of someone else’s supernatural gifts!!!
Here are the following “gifts myths” that I believe the Apostle Paul was trying to bust:
1) I don’t need to know my gift to exercise it
2) I am born with my gifts – they are my natural abilities that God uses
3) I have one spiritual gift
4) I don’t have gift “X”, so I can’t serve in ministry “Y”
5) I can choose which gift I have by praying and working real hard to get it
Somewhere underneath all this confusion lies untapped energy. There is no governmental agency that can regulate its use. So open your Bibles with me, and let’s begin digging!
In the spirit of Christmas, 1 Corinthians 12 begins what hopefully will be a life-changing discussion on "gifts" of a different sort. It just so happens that God saw fit to give you some amazingly unique gifts tailor-suited for both you and First Christian Church. These gifts were hand-chosen by God to benefit all of us.
Have you unpacked your gifts yet? If not, I hope that by the end of this series of lessons you will. When you and I use our gifts, I guarantee your “blessing” circuit will blow a fuse. There is nothing like being on the receiving end of someone else’s supernatural gifts!!!
Here are the following “gifts myths” that I believe the Apostle Paul was trying to bust:
1) I don’t need to know my gift to exercise it
2) I am born with my gifts – they are my natural abilities that God uses
3) I have one spiritual gift
4) I don’t have gift “X”, so I can’t serve in ministry “Y”
5) I can choose which gift I have by praying and working real hard to get it
Somewhere underneath all this confusion lies untapped energy. There is no governmental agency that can regulate its use. So open your Bibles with me, and let’s begin digging!
Monday, December 1, 2008
no praise from paul...1 Cor. 11:17-34
What would it be like to get a hand-written letter from the Apostle Paul to FCC? With great anticipation, we read through the fairly long letter on a Sunday morning during our service. Suddenly, we reach chapter 11, verse 17: "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good."
There is a collective gasp as puzzled faces become looks of astonishment and bewilderment. Did you really mean that Paul? Do you really think that our services are a waste of time? Or worse than a waste, they are damaging?
We try to mentally brace ourselves for a lashing as Paul continues (17-22):
1) You are missing a spirit of unity
2) You serve communion but are not actually practicing it
3) You humiliate your brothers and sisters in Christ
We listen with a wounded heart as Paul shares some truth (23-26):
1) On the night of his betrayal Jesus instituted communion
2) The bread and cup represent His body and blood given for us
3) Each time you practice communion you proclaim the act of redemption and anticipate His glorious return
We take notes as Paul explains why our church is not growing (27-32):
1) Practicing communion unworthily is a grave sin...examination before communion is a must
2) Partaking of communion wrong is like partaking of judgment...it's suicide!
3) Self-judgment prevents divine-judgment
4) Divine-discipline prevents eternal-judgment
We prepare to change as Paul offers practical solutions (33-34):
1) Be considerate of others
2) Take care of your needs at home
As we listen to this thrashing from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church, I cannot help but wonder if I should feel convicted. Do I practice communion unworthily? Do I contribute to disunity at FCC? Do I show a lack of consideration towards others? Do I practice self-judgment and welcome divine-discipline? What about you?
There is a collective gasp as puzzled faces become looks of astonishment and bewilderment. Did you really mean that Paul? Do you really think that our services are a waste of time? Or worse than a waste, they are damaging?
We try to mentally brace ourselves for a lashing as Paul continues (17-22):
1) You are missing a spirit of unity
2) You serve communion but are not actually practicing it
3) You humiliate your brothers and sisters in Christ
We listen with a wounded heart as Paul shares some truth (23-26):
1) On the night of his betrayal Jesus instituted communion
2) The bread and cup represent His body and blood given for us
3) Each time you practice communion you proclaim the act of redemption and anticipate His glorious return
We take notes as Paul explains why our church is not growing (27-32):
1) Practicing communion unworthily is a grave sin...examination before communion is a must
2) Partaking of communion wrong is like partaking of judgment...it's suicide!
3) Self-judgment prevents divine-judgment
4) Divine-discipline prevents eternal-judgment
We prepare to change as Paul offers practical solutions (33-34):
1) Be considerate of others
2) Take care of your needs at home
As we listen to this thrashing from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church, I cannot help but wonder if I should feel convicted. Do I practice communion unworthily? Do I contribute to disunity at FCC? Do I show a lack of consideration towards others? Do I practice self-judgment and welcome divine-discipline? What about you?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Cultural Symbol or Sacred Command?...1 Cor. 11:2-16
Paul never minds stoking the fire. He realizes that FCC (First Church of Corinth) is messed up when it comes to worshiping as a community! So he writes this passage to put women...and men....in line.
Verse by verse:
2 - Obey God's words, all of them. You can't pick and choose what to obey!
3 - God-Christ-Man-Woman...in that order....obviously not significance, but role!
4 - Male head covering while prayer/prophesying = BAD
5 - Female without head covering while praying/prophesying = BAD
6 - Female head covering while praying/prophesying = GOOD
7 - Man is image/glory of God....Woman is image/glory of man
8 - Woman (Eve) came from Man (Adam), not vice-versa
9 - Woman created for Man, not vice-versa
10 - Female head covering a must, says Gabriel and pals
11 - Men and women need each other
12 - Neither can exist without other
13 - Isn't this teaching obvious?
14 - Don't you look twice at a long-haired man?
15 - Don't you look twice at a bald woman?
16 - This principle is consistent for all churches everywhere!
Alright, so that was a quick breakdown of those 15 verses in my own words. However, I haven't answered these questions:
1) What does this mean?
2) Is the Bible sexist? Are men "over" women?
3) Must women wear head coverings in the church today?
4) Are there any current symbols of male/female roles in our culture?
Looking forward to hearing your answers (or angry questions) on Sunday! :)
Verse by verse:
2 - Obey God's words, all of them. You can't pick and choose what to obey!
3 - God-Christ-Man-Woman...in that order....obviously not significance, but role!
4 - Male head covering while prayer/prophesying = BAD
5 - Female without head covering while praying/prophesying = BAD
6 - Female head covering while praying/prophesying = GOOD
7 - Man is image/glory of God....Woman is image/glory of man
8 - Woman (Eve) came from Man (Adam), not vice-versa
9 - Woman created for Man, not vice-versa
10 - Female head covering a must, says Gabriel and pals
11 - Men and women need each other
12 - Neither can exist without other
13 - Isn't this teaching obvious?
14 - Don't you look twice at a long-haired man?
15 - Don't you look twice at a bald woman?
16 - This principle is consistent for all churches everywhere!
Alright, so that was a quick breakdown of those 15 verses in my own words. However, I haven't answered these questions:
1) What does this mean?
2) Is the Bible sexist? Are men "over" women?
3) Must women wear head coverings in the church today?
4) Are there any current symbols of male/female roles in our culture?
Looking forward to hearing your answers (or angry questions) on Sunday! :)
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