In our message, BEING STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE… (1 Cor. 16:1-12), we looked at additional questions the church had for Paul (1 Cor. 16:1, 12). The first one deals with stewardship. In view of our certain future of being glorified and reigning with the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 58), we are called to also excel in the grace of giving (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8, etc.).
While this question from Corinth to Paul (i.e.… Continue reading
In our message, THE FINAL VICTORY (1 Cor. 15:42-58), we continued our series in the book of First Corinthians looking at the Gospel and specifically the time when Jesus will return for the church and Christians will be glorified in Him (Rom. 8:30, 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.).
Paul continued to explain what would happen to a Christian who had died before Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:42-49) and then transitioned to what would happen bodily to those of us who are alive when Jesus returns for the church (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, THE GLORIFIED BODY (1 Cor. 15:29-41), we looked at two additional arguments for the glorification of the body of Christians followed by some discussion on what that body would look like…
There is a conversation we are not privy to between the apostle Paul and the church in Corinth, and we see this here as Paul brings forward an argument based upon a practice that had crept into the church in Corinth at that time (i.e.… Continue reading
In our sermon, THE DEATH OF DEATH (1 Cor. 15:12-28), Paul continued his discussion on the Gospel and specifically the resurrection.
He first used the hypothetical of what it would mean if Christ had not risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Paul explains that if the resurrection of the body is impossible, then the resurrection of Christ is also fiction because Jesus rose bodily (i.e. was resurrected) from the dead (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our sermon, THE BEST NEWS EVER (1 Cor. 15:1-11), Paul defines the Gospel which is the most important message in all of the Bible. “Gospel” means good news and truly it is THE BEST NEWS EVER! (1 Cor. 15:1, 3-4, etc.). Jesus is the hero (the Messiah) of the story as He rescues humanity from a plight we could not deliver ourselves from (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23; 5:8; 2 Cor.… Continue reading
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, 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
