FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-15 FOUNDATIONS
This is one of the great foundations of faith: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as … Read more
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-11 ALIGNMENT
This is part of Paul’s response to the factions that have sprung up like weeds in the church. The Corinthian Christians are aligning themselves with various leaders such as Paul and Apollos, claiming that their “team” is better than the others. Paul’s response is to remind the Corinthians that all human leaders are merely servants … Read more
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9 DYSFUNCTION
The church in Corinth is a “wonderful” example of ancient dysfunction that can make our congregations seem downright tame and sane. In Paul’s day, the city of Corinth is one of the major cities of the Roman Empire. Its prominence and wealth are derived from a thriving business climate fueled through its harbors. Corinth is … Read more
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:26 PAIN
The third lens is pain. We all experience pain in some way and there are others all around us who are experiencing the same kind of pain. Alcoholics Anonymous is a shining example of how shared pain can heal and redeem. Think of a painful experience in your life. Have you ever considered how God … Read more
Sunday, November 13, 2011: 1 Corinthians 15:12-22
Corinth was a thriving center of industry that valued philosophers and honored the gods. After starting a church in Corinth, Paul leaves to start other churches. The Corinthians write to him, asking many questions. One question focused on resurrection. In chapter 15, Paul reminds them, and us, that the resurrection is important and that he’s … Read more
Monday, November 7, 2011: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 B.C. on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and ancient Greek. Because it presents essentially the same text in all three scripts, it provides the key to modern … Read more
Sunday, November 6, 2011: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
Now that we know more about the context, does this passage have new meaning? Chances are Paul hears that the Corinthian people are behaving in childish ways, becoming jealous, arrogant or rude, and he writes this letter. When we apply biblical criticism to a text, it’s called “exegesis.” This means to “lead out” the meaning. … Read more
