I Corinthians 11, Spiritual Gifts.

 

I Corinthians 11 – Spiritual Gifts

Each one has been given a gift by the Holy Spirit. There are many gifts, but each one comes from the Holy Spirit. All gifts are given to us to manifest the Spirit towards our growth in Christ. In Paul’s day there were many idols that many proclaimed gave them gifts but none of those gifts were of any value since they came from wooden images. Paul was there to distinguish gifts between those of God and those of idols. The gifts that Paul lists that are from the Holy Spirit are given as the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracle workers, prophesying and the ability to discern between spirits. Those who speak in tongues, and those who interpret tongues. Not all of us are given the same gift. Like the body we have many appendages. All with their own function. An eye sees, ears hear, mouth speaks, so on and on. As each appendage is important to the whole body so are our gifts to the body of Christ. At church, we have a minister, Elders, deacons, teachers, cooks, janitors, nursery attendants, and other people with their own special gift. Each gift may not seem as important as to the other but in God’s eyes, our gifts come together as part of one body, equally important as the other. Going without any of these gifts can cause the rest of the body to suffer. A janitor is a necessity to the body if we want to worship in a clean environment and have toilet paper in the bathrooms. A minister is equally important if we want to be led in worship and caring for each other. Not all of us can be ministers, nor can all of us be teachers. Some may not have the gift of prayer or the gift of healing but the gift you do have is from God and very important to His ministry. Find your gift and use it to further the cause of Christ. Use your gift also to build your relationship with Christ.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.

 

I Corinthians 10, Head Coverings

 

I Corinthians10 – Head Coverings

The concern over head coverings for women was likely a cultural need to keep harmony in the church in Corinth. While head coverings may not be required in many cultures today, the principles behind Paul’s word are timeless. Christian women should show respect for Christian men and exhibit reverent behavior in worship. Reverence and respect are always important to maintain the church’s witness to the watching world. In the Jewish religion it was customary to wear veils, so this wasn’t new to them. If she did not wear a veil it would imply that she had disregarded the restrictive demands of marriage.

“If a woman has long hair it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.” It was meant for men to have short hair and women to have long hair. It was not a commandment that women wear veils, but it was suggested to women to have long hair for it was her covering. This was told the Corinthians so that Paul could express to the women that they should be reverent and respectful to the men who were appointed as Christian leaders in their lives.

It is not the cutting of the hair or not cutting of the hair that represents our relationship to Christ. How we wear our hair is totally up to us if we are not using it as a form of disrespect or rebellion toward the heads of our family or to Christ Himself. Our relationship to Christ is not what we do but in what we believe and in our obedience to the Lord.

In Paul’s time, the people had turned the Lord’s supper into a place of wine and dine and not consider the poor or needy. They forgot what the Lord’s supper represented. It was no longer in memory of our Savior who bled and died for us. Paul reminds them that it was on this very night in which He was betrayed, that Jesus, thinking not of self, but of his disciples left this memorial. This memorial has blessed and warmed the hearts of His followers and sweetened Christian fellowship among the ages. It is a means to “show the Lord’s death until He comes.” Paul admonished the Corinthians that if they abused the Lord’s supper, they are not worthy to take it at all. Paul tells us to prove ourselves. If we are doing it as a memorial to Christ and we are thankful to Him for His great sacrifice, then we will be taking of it in a worthy manner.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J, Vernon McGee Through the Bible

I Corinthians 9, Escape from Temptation.

 

I Corinthians 9 – Escape From Temptation

Paul told the Corinthians what happened to the Israelites when they crossed on dry land toward the promised land. He told how they rebelled against God and died in the wilderness. Paul spoke of their idolatry, and many were destroyed because of it These Israelites had come from Egypt where idolatry was commonplace. When they were out in the wilderness they did not put their faith and trust in God, but tried to take care of their problems as they were shown back in Egypt. Moses had taught them that any graven image was idolatry, so they knew it was wrong, yet the temptation was too strong for them when Moses was up on the mountain and no longer among the people.

Believers should never be shocked or discouraged by encountering temptation. Satan fights against believers and will mount an assault at every opportunity. God knows that all human beings are tempted, and that people will be tempted by different things. Being tempted is not a sin, giving in to temptation is. God promises that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. He also provides “the way of escape.” Every time we face temptation, we can know that God will help us through it. We should look for His way of escape and then run for the door!

Christian freedom does not mean that believers can live as they please. Christians have freedom with responsibility to live according to the guidelines found in God’s Word. Some Christians make guidelines for themselves based on their own scruples. These guidelines should not be forced upon others, but believers should respect one another’s guidelines. To force others to live according to our scruples is legalism. To show respect for another’s scruples exhibits Christian love.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.      J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

I Corinthians 8 Serving all Men.

 

I Corinthians 8 – Serving all Men.

 

Paul establishes himself as a qualified apostle by asking a few questions.

He had an up close and personal confrontation with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Christ has commissioned the one-time persecutor as an apostle to the Gentiles. The Corinthians were the proof of Paul’s ministry. He has brought many of them to Christ. He did all this without payment. He and Barnabas worked for their upkeep. They did this by choice to be worthy. He explained that a soldier, a farmer, a shepherd all lives off their work. He proclaimed that the gospel should be spread and those who do so should live off the gospel. This is what the apostles did.

Paul has every right to accept support from the church and could have done so but he chose to pay his own way. He did not want anyone to say that he was in it for the money. He was encouraging the Corinthians to spread the gospel in the same manner. Not for money but for the Love of God. Paul pointed out that he was free, not only a free Roman citizen but a free member of the kingdom of Christ. Although he was free he had in a sense made himself a slave to all that he might win them to Christ. He became a Jew to win the Jews. Keeping his Christian convictions intact he became all things to all people to win more to Christ. Paul said he ran the race of life with a definite goal in mind. He knew where he was headed, “toward the mark for the prize of the High calling of God in Jesus Christ.” His mission was what Christ called him to do. When Paul stated that he became the weak, he meant that he became as they were to strengthen them. For example, some believers may not feel comfortable with a certain activity because of past associations. Paul says that when we are with such people, we don’t try to convince them to change, nor do we flaunt our freedom. Instead, we avoid that activity and enjoy time with them in other ways. In this we show the Love of Christ.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

 

I Corinthians 7, Christian Liberty

 

I Corinthians 7 – Christian Liberty

Paul is discussing with the Corinthians whether they should eat meat that was sacrificed to idols. Animal sacrifice was a big part of their culture in those days. Only part of the meat was used for the sacrifice, the remainder of the meat was used in different ways. Some were used in feasts at the temple and served to the public. Some were sold at the butcher shop in the marketplace. Some was served in homes in honor of their pagan gods. Paul did not answer their questions by laying down rules. Instead, he laid down principles that would take them closer to eternity. These Corinthians thought they were full of knowledge, yet Paul made it clear that the most knowledgeable were not aware of what was needed. Paul spoke of love not being puffed up. That the Love of God was first and foremost. He spoke of the idols being nothing but what man makes them out to be. He clarified that there is only one true God who is our Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. To some of the Corinthians, eating meat sacrificed to idols didn’t mean anything to them since the idol itself was meaningless. To others, it bothered their conscience when they ate it, so they felt it was not right to eat it. Paul explained to them that eating the meat did not affect their relationship with God, but on the same token they should consider their brother and not cause another to stumble. If one brother convinced another to eat the meat, even when his conscience said no, and he ate, then the brother caused the other to stumble. When we sin against our brother, we also sin against Christ. Paul himself, having persecuted Christians knew the full meaning of this. This can be applied to our life through alcohol. Some Christians may think it alright to socially drink and convince another to do so also, even though he does not agree. His influence can be damaging to the one who is talked into doing what his conscience tells him not to do. The principle of Christian love is the only solution to this and many other problems. There are problems much more serious than eating meat sacrificed to idols. As Christians we must strive to love and not encourage others to do something that might bother their conscience.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

 

Corinthians 6, Glorify God in Body and Spirit.

 

I Corinthians 6 – Glorify God in Body and Spirit

 

God gave people “richly all things to enjoy”. But satan works tirelessly to take God’s blessing and turn them into evil. The beauty of sex in marriage is corrupted by the sin of sex in other relationships. Good foods are corrupted by gluttony, the addiction of eating too much and other eating disorders. Material blessings are corrupted by greed and the love of wealth. Paul explained that all things are lawful, meaning that believers are allowed to enjoy many things if they are not forbidden by scripture. But they must never allow the good things to be controlled or for us to be brought under power by any of it. An addiction is powerful, and the Holy Spirit will convict us of that addiction. We must seek God’s guidance in maintaining a balance in all things. Any kind of addiction takes the focus off God and puts in on the things we crave the most, whether it be food, sex, money, etc. Today sex outside of marriage is not viewed as evil as it once had been. In Corinth, illicit sex became a part of their worship, as Aphrodite, their goddess employed thousands of prostitutes in the temple. Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that once they accept Christ, they needed to separate themselves from sexual immorality. God created sex as a holy union that binds two people together to fulfill each other’s needs. To experience outside of marriage cheapens what God intended it to be. When we look at these indiscretions we must realize that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us. God wishes to fulfill each of our needs. To become a glutton or a greedy person for money and wealth then we are taking away the blessing of God providing for us. We belong to God, and we must seek His guidance in all forms of goodness so that we don’t abuse the sanctity of the food we eat, the money He has provided and the union in marriage.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

I Corinthians 5 - Immorality Defiles the Church

 

I Corinthians 5 – Immorality Defiles the Church

 

When Paul urged the Corinthian believers “not to keep company with sexually immoral people,” he was referring to sinning fellow believers. Believers should avoid immoral people who continue in their sin and yet claim to be Christians. Some believers attempt to rationalize sinful behavior, but when they do so they dishonor Christ who died for their sins. Sexual sin in the church must never be rationalized. Condoning such behavior harms the church’s reputation and damages its witness.

Paul told the Corinthians that they should mourn and grieve over the wretched person who parades as a Christian and corrupts the church and damages the cause of Christ. Paul said that person should be removed from their presence. Paul was very angry about this and about the complacency of the church who did not take this matter seriously. Even though Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter, he spoke as sternly to them as if he were in their presence. It is important to know that this disciplinary measure of being excluded from the church, has a basic and ultimate goal, the salvation or preservation of the individual. When the person is excluded he takes the memory of Christ with him, of the gospel and of the church. Hopefully, his memory will help him succeed in repenting and coming back to Christ. To be excluded should not be used as a punishment but for the everlasting welfare of the individual and the protection of the church. The Corinthians misunderstood what Paul was telling them and said that they would have to leave this world if they were to stay away from immoral people. That is a fact since there is more immorality in this world than there is morality, but Paul clarified himself by saying this applies only to our brethren who profess to be Christians but live in an immoral lifestyle. We of the church, should be in tune with the times but in touch with eternity and with a Holy God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.