In our message, “GOD, THE AUTHOR OF PEACE” (1 Cor. 14:20-40), the Lord concludes His discussion on spiritual gifts and order in church worship services.
Continuing from last week to discuss two spiritual gifts that some in the church in Corinth were misusing and acting in childish ways with (1 Cor. 14:20, 23), God explains “tongues are… a sign… for unbelievers” quoting Isaiah 28:11-12 (1 Cor. 14:21-22).… Continue reading
In our message, REGULATING SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN LOVE (1 Cor. 14:1-19), the Holy Spirit continued to answer the Corinthian question on how to use spiritual gifts in corporate worship. After describing the nature and purpose of these special endowments from God- given to each of His children as He decides (chapter 12), and the superiority of love (i.e. becoming more like Jesus) which is what the gifts are to be used for (chapter 13), the Lord then begins to discuss how some of these specific gifts used by the Corinthian church in that day should be administered in love (chapter 14).… Continue reading
In our message, THE WAY (1 Cor. 13:1-13), we looked at the desire of every human heart. All people regardless their belief system or ethnic background are made in the image of God and can only be filled and made whole by Him- their Creator. “God is love,” and only He can bring healing to the broken human heart as well as this world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:16, etc.).… Continue reading
In our message, DESIRING GOD (1 Cor. 12:12-31), we continued to look at a question about the use of spiritual gifts in corporate worship. At the end of this chapter some will argue we are to desire the spiritual gifts we deem are the “best,” but that is NOT what the Bible is saying! (1 Cor. 12:31). We are to desire God (Matt. 6:33; James 1:17, etc.). The whole focus of the discussion on spiritual gifts from chapters 12 through 14 is to use them to build one another up in love (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, GIFTS AS HE WILLS…, the statement, “Now concerning” in verse 1 shows us Paul is answering another question to him from the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 12:1-11). This question also dealt with corporate worship in the local assembly there, but unlike the last two (head coverings and the Lord’s Supper in chapter 11), the Holy Spirit here devotes three chapters to this problem explaining the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts (chapter 12), the superiority of God’s love (chapter 13), and how these gifts from the Lord should be exercised in that love (chapter 14).… Continue reading
In our message, ORDER AT THE LORD’S SUPPER (1 Cor. 11:17-34), Paul addressed a second question on corporate worship dealing with Communion itself. Just as the Lord spoke order into the chaos when He created all things (Gen. 1:1-3; John 1:1-5, etc.), He continues to speak His Word (i.e. the Bible) into the church today to bring order (1 Cor. 14:33, etc.).
While Paul was pleased earlier with the fact that the Corinthian assembly sought to keep some helpful traditions (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, ROLES OF GOD (1 Cor. 10:27-11:16), Paul finished addressing the Corinthians’ questions on meats offered to idols, a discussion that was begun in chapter 8, before turning toward issues related to corporate worship in the local church there.
After addressing the specific issue of meats in pagan temples (1 Cor. 10:14-22) and looking again at meats in the marketplace (1 Cor. 10:25-26), Paul now turns to a third specific scenario in Corinth- what to do if you are invited to an unbeliever’s home and he offers you meats that may have been offered to an idol there (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, WAY MAKER (1 Cor. 10:12-26), we looked at how God is the one who makes a way when there seems to be no hope. The greatest of all examples is with death itself (Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:26, etc.). Jesus is “the WAY, the truth and the life” who alone made THE WAY of escape from hell and damnation (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts. 4:12, etc.). He did this by becoming one of us as the God-Man paying the price no other could by shedding His blood for us at Calvary (John 1:29, etc.).… Continue reading
In our message, RUNNING TO WIN (1 Cor. 9:20-10:11), Paul continued responding to the Corinthian church’s question on Christian freedom with respect to foods in the marketplace of their day (1 Cor. 8:1, 4). Paul held himself up as an example of a person who possessed certain freedoms but willingly set some of them aside in Corinth to have a more effective gospel witness (1 Cor. 9:1-2; Rom. 1:16, etc.).… Continue reading
In our message, BALANCED FREEDOM MOTIVATED BY LOVE (1 Cor. 9:1-19), Paul continued responding to the Corinthian church’s question on Christian freedom with respect to foods in the marketplace of their day (1 Cor. 8:1, 4). Paul now holds himself up as an example of a person who possesses certain rights but willingly set some of them aside in Corinth to have a more effective gospel witness (1 Cor.… Continue reading
