Devotionary

Warning! The following content is potentially controversial and most certainly, difficult to understand. But hopefully, with a little thought and an eye to the context surrounding the passage and the historical setting in which the Corinthian church existed, we can gain some insight into what Paul was dealing with and how it applies to us today. This episode deals with 1 Corinthians 11, verses 2-16; a much-debated passage that has left more than one theologian stumped and a lot of believers confused. But at the end of the day, I think Paul is addressing the problem of order in the church. That is a constant issue within the body of Christ, and has been for centuries. The cultural contexts change, but the need for order and decorum never do. In the attempt to be relevant, churches are always running the risk of making compromises and concessions that can end up weakening the gospel message. In an effort to take advantage of their newfound freedoms in Christ, many believers end up losing sight of the more criti

I hate to tell you this, but it isn’t all about you. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to the apostle Paul. In today’s episode, based on 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 14, through chapter 11, verse 1, we are going to hear what Paul has to say about the matter. And he will not mince words or pull any punches. He’s going to let the believers in Corinth have it with both barrels, admonishing them for their selfishness and self-centeredness. As members of the body of Christ, they had a responsibility to put the needs of others ahead of their own rights. Doing what is best for others takes precedence over what I may or may not think is best for me. And the model Paul provides is himself. He could boldly, but not braggingly, claim that he had been selfless in his service to the people in Corinth. He refused to accept any kind of financial help for the work he had done there, even though he had every right to it. He had ministered to them on his own dime, never asking for them to donate a single cent to his we

In today’s episode, we will be looking at the first 13 verses of 1 Corinthians 10. I’ve titled it “No Place for Cockiness” because Paul is going to take head-on the problem of the Corinthians demanding their rights and the resulting evidence of pride in their lives. There were those in the church in Corinth who were demanding that they had certain rights and they were unwilling to give them up even though those rights were doing some serious spiritual damage to the less mature believers in the church. This unnecessary and ungodly division was not something Paul was willing to overlook. He was concerned that this cockiness on the part of the more mature believers in the church was actually a dangerous thing. They were becoming a bit too self-righteous and he knew that their over-confidence could easily lead to failure. Pride always goes before the fall. Which is why Paul warned them to be careful not to fall. Just when these people thought they were standing on firm ground, they would discover that their confi

The Law of Christ. It almost sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn’t it? And yet, as we unpack 1 Corinthians chapter nine, we’re going to find that the law of Christ is exactly what Paul presents as the solution to a problem facing the believers in Corinth. They were obsessed with their rights and privileges as followers of Christ. They were demanding their own ways and defending their rights to do as they pleased. But in doing so, they were abusing one another and failing to exhibit the kind of love that Jesus modeled and that the gospel demands. Rather than loving one another, they were defending their rights. And Paul would use himself as an example of one who had determined to give up his rights for the sake of the gospel. He wasn’t going to let his freedoms in Christ shackle another believer with unnecessary guilt and shame. He wasn’t going to demand his own way and run the risk of tempting a brother or sister in Christ to wander from the way of Christ. The law of Christ is that of love. It is obed

Loving to know versus knowing to love. That’s the title for today’s episode on 1 Corinthians, chapter 8. In this chapter, Paul continues to answer some of the questions that had been sent to him by the Corinthians in a letter. In this case, he addresses the topic of knowledge. Not academic or head-knowledge, but an awareness of right and wrong that allows a believer to do certain things that others might think are prohibited. Part of what Paul is having to deal with is an abuse on the part of some within the church in Corinth who were overstating their newfound freedom in Christ. They were demanding their rights to eat certain foods and to engage in particular practices that others felt were off limits. These more mature believers felt like they were having their rights stifled by those who were less spiritual. These baby Christians, who had come out of pagan backgrounds, were struggling with issues like eating meat that had been sacrificed to false gods. They saw the more mature Christians doing so and felt

This episode is based on the second half of 1 Corinthians, chapter seven, and covers verses 25-40. I’ve entitled it, “A Matter of Priorities” because Paul is going to challenge the Corinthian believers that their focus on the things of this world was out of whack. They were so earthly minded that they were finding it difficult to be of much good to the kingdom and its cause. Keep in mind that they had written Paul a letter to which he was responding. And their letter was filled with questions regarding whether to get married or to say single. If married, should a couple give up their sexual relationship so they could concentrate of spiritual growth? Should single people stay single or pursue a marriage partner. For Paul, the issue was one of priorities. He wanted them to keep their focus on Christ and their energies dedicated to accomplishing God’s kingdom purposes. The world in which they lived was temporary in nature. Those questions about marriage with which they were so consumed were off point. Jesus even

In this episode, we’ll be in 1 Corinthians, chapter seven, verses 1-24. It’s entitled, “Right Where God Wants You” and has to do with a believer accepting the circumstances of his life even as he embraces his new-found relationship with Jesus. Salvation is intended to change our hearts, not necessarily our circumstances or surroundings. Of course, if we are living an immoral lifestyle prior to coming to Christ, God would want us to not only repent of it but walk away from it. But Paul’s emphasis in these verses has much more to do with the grey areas of life that accompany our salvation. If we’re married when we come to faith, we should stay married, even if our spouse is still an unbeliever. If we were single when married, there is no reason we cannot stay single. If we were pursuing a certain career path when we came to know Christ, we should keep on keeping on. Salvation is intended to change our lives from the inside out. But we can sometimes lose focus and start worrying about making external changes. It

In today’s episode, we’re going to be digging into the second half of 1 Corinthians, chapter six, covering verses 12-20. I’ve entitled it, “A Change in Ownership” and it’s going to deal with our freedom in Christ. One of the things Paul found himself dealing with was the Corinthians’ tendency to abuse their newfound freedom in Christ. Sexual promiscuity was a huge problem in Corinth. Decadence and gluttony were also big problems. In fact, just about every one of the seven deadly sins was on the menu in Corinth, including pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth. And Paul was faced with the unenviable task of having to call the Corinthians to task on virtually every one of them. At the heart of each of these sins is the love of self. And the love of self was the antithesis of the love of Christ that all believers are to exhibit. Christ-like love is selfless and sacrificial. It is other-focused and self-denying. In fact, Jesus told His disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn

In this episode, we’ll be looking at the first eleven verses 1 Corinthians, chapter six. I’ve entitled it, “Where’s the Proof?” and in it, we’ll take a look at Paul’s words concerning the life change that should have accompanied the salvation experience of the Corinthians. Rather than exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, they were living like the rest of the world, having disputes and taking one another to court over them. There was no unity. There was no bond of love. And their actions gave evidence of worldliness rather than righteousness. Paul, as a minister of the gospel and a shepherd of the flock of God, was not willing to sit back and let the Corinthians destroy the reputation of Jesus Christ through their behavior. He was going to call them to accountability and remind them of their status as children of God. Because of their faith in Jesus Christ, their lives had been changed. They had been cleansed. They had been declared holy by God. They had been restored to a right relationship with God. So, why w

In chapter five of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses an interesting topic: Excessive tolerance. It seems that there was a man in the church there who was guilty of having an affair. Not only that, it was with his stepmother. But Paul’s real issue is not with the man or his adulterous affair, but with the over-accepting nature of the church’s reaction to it all. Rather than be appalled at the man’s sinful behavior, they were actually bragging about it. Instead of embarrassment, they were exhibiting a sense of approval. If you recall, in our very first episode, we talked about Paul’s use of the plural pronoun “you.” This letter was written to the body of Christ, not a single individual. And Paul addresses then corporate nature of this man’s sin. Sure, it was he who had committed adultery. And it was his own stepmother who participated in this unacceptable behavior. But the church was also corporately culpable, because they had done nothing about it. In essence, their failure to speak up was as good as an endorsemen

Today’s episode deals with chapter four of 1 Corinthians, where Paul makes a seemingly boastful claim that the Corinthians should imitate his behavior. That’s why I’ve entitled this episode, “Do As I Say and Do.” Paul isn’t an arrogant ego-maniac with an inflated sense of self-worth. He is a follower of Christ who is honestly attempting to live his life in keeping with the precepts taught by Jesus Himself. He is a Christ-follower, so, he has no problem telling the Corinthians to get in line behind him. As long as he is walking after Christ, they can’t go wrong by following in his footsteps. And shouldn’t that be true of each and every one of us? But the problem is that we too easily find ourselves wandering off into the weeds of life and blazing our own trail, leaving the way of Jesus somewhere in our rearview mirror. Paul wasn’t claiming to BE Christ. He wasn’t inferring that his life was on the same par as that of Christ. But he had no qualms inviting other believers to not only do as he said, but do as he

Today, we move into chapter three of 1 Corinthians. This episode is entitled “Worldly Wise” and deals with a problem facing the Corinthians that is common to all of us as believers. It has to do with the constant temptation to live as citizens of this world rather than as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Paul accused the Corinthians of living as if they belonged to the world. Their lifestyle and behavior was not in keeping with the ways outlined by Paul and modeled by Jesus Christ Himself. Worldliness rather than godliness. It’s a constant reality for the Christian. Why? Because we live in the world and are constantly pressured to fit in rather than stand out. We have been called to live lives that are set apart to God. But when we do, it makes the world uncomfortable. Our godliness makes those around us feel guilty about the way they live their lives. So, they attempt to get us to abandon God’s ways for the world’s ways. They pressure us to take a different path, the one Jesus said leads to destruction. “For

In today’s episode, we’ll be taking a look at 1 Corinthians chapter 2. It’s entitled “The Mind of Christ” and will deal with the believer’s ability to comprehend the ways of God, including the offer of salvation made available through His Son and the wisdom of His Word made understandable by His Spirit. The entire life of the believer, from salvation to sanctification, is the work of God. Even our ultimate glorification, when we will be finally and completely transformed into the likeness of Christ is His doing. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the three persons of the Trinity, each play a part in the life-transforming reality of the gospel. And Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that this divine re-creation, has nothing to do with the efforts or insights of men. While Paul, Apollos and Peter were used by God to spread the message of His grace and goodness expressed through the gift of His Son, their words did not save anyone. Their powers of persuasion convinced no one to believe. It was the Spirit

Today’s episode is based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and is entitled “The Work of God.” In it, we’ll see Paul dealing with the division that arisen in the local church in Corinth. It seems that the people within the congregation were giving unnecessary and undeserved credit to Paul, Apollos and Peter for the roles they had played in their conversions. They were taking sides and arguing over which of these men were the most significant in terms of leadership. But Paul wasn’t going to put up with it. As far as he was concerned, the only one worthy of any credit for the salvation of the believers in Corinth was God Himself. It had all been His idea and totally the work of His power. Paul, Peter and Apollos didn’t save anybody. They had simply pointed people to the source of salvation: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the God-appointed, grace-provided Savior. As soon as the people started arguing about men, they were getting their eyes off of Christ, “the founder and perfecter of our faith” as the author of Hebrews

In today’s episode based on 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, we’ll be looking at a problem Paul was forced to deal with in the church at Corinth. It’s a common issue that every church body has had to wrestle with. The danger of division. Paul had gotten wind of an internal debate going on within the church that revolved around leadership. Some within the church were claiming Paul as their leader, while others were siding with Apollos. Still others took the side of Peter. And the result was infighting and a spirit of unrighteousness. For Paul, this was unacceptable and he dealt with it immediately in his letter. He wasn’t going to allow the Corinthians to destroy their unity over personal preferences and leadership styles. Disunity is deadly. Division is dangerous. Jesus said so Himself. One day, when he was accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus provided a response that revealed the absurdity of their accusation. “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. An

This episode is called “The Beauty of the Body of Christ” and covers the first 9 verses of chapter one of 1st Corinthians. One of the first things Paul is going to tackle is an issue regarding spiritual gifts in the church located in Corinth. After a brief introduction and a few words of thanksgiving to God for the congregation there, Paul gets straight to his first point: The spiritual gifts found in the church and their proper use of them. There were already divisions popping up within the congregation and some them were directly tied to a misunderstanding about and misuse of spiritual gifts. What God had intended for the corporate good of the body of Christ had been used for selfish and self-centered means. And this was not going to cut it with the apostle. One of his key themes in virtually every one of his letters was the need for unity among the people of God. There was no room for a me-centered attitude or a pride-filled approach to life within the body. Humility was key. Love was essential. And ungodl

This episode begins a new series on the book of 1 Corinthians. Written by the apostle Paul to the believers in the city of Corinth, this letter is one of the pastoral epistles, penned by Paul to an early first-century church whose congregation was struggling with a variety of issues. While a Greek city, Corinth was heavily influenced by the culture of its Roman overlords. It was a city of extremes, with people from all walks of life, nationalities, and every imaginable economic strata. Predominantly pagan, it had a strong Jewish contingent and, the relatively new sect known as The Way was beginning to grow in size and popularity among the city’s populace. Corinth was a bustling commercial crossroads, that had benefited greatly from trade between east and west. It was also a manufacturing hub, producing everything from pottery and lamps to roof tiles and sculptures. Idolatry was a major component of the religious life of Corinth. You could find shrines and temples dedicated to a plethora of gods, including Aph

This is it. The final episode in our study in the book of Judges. We’ll wrap up this series with a look at chapters 20-21 in a lesson I’ve entitled, “Doing What Is Right In Our Own Eyes”. As we will see, the book of Judges doesn’t end particularly well. In fact, it doesn’t end well at all. The cycle of sin that permeates the book ends in a spiral of moral decay and a deadly civil war. The people of God end up killing one another. There is no king. There is no moral standard. There is no sense of right or wrong. Right has become whatever anyone deems it to be ­– for themselves. Moral relativism rules the day. And the people of God have refused to allow God to rule their lives. They are self-obsessed. And in the long run, they are self-destructive. There are so many lessons we can learn from the book of Judges. It is anything but ancient history, because what we see the people of Israel doing, as described on its pages, we see the church doing today. We run the same risk of doing what is right in our own eyes.

This is episode thirteen on the book of Judges and covers chapters 19. It’s entitled, “Without God as King, Sin Reigns”. Amazingly, things in Israel during the period of the judges, go from bad to worse. Their repeated deliverance by God from their well-deserved punishment never seems to get their attention. They sin. God sends a pagan nation to mete out His judgment. They call out to God. He sends a deliverer and rescues them. And the cycle repeats itself. Ad nauseam. And in chapter 19, we see yet another example of just how bad things had gotten in the land of Israel. And this particular story is graphic in nature and sickening in its portrayal of just how decadent and immoral the nation had become. It was a moral free-for-all. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Self-gratification was the code of the day. If it felt good, they did it. If it seemed like something they wanted to do, they pursued it. With no regard to God. With no remorse or sense of shame. There was no king in Israel. And that inclu

This is our twelfth episode on the book of Judges and covers chapters 17-18. It’s entitled, “A Spiritual free-for-all” and deals with yet another less-than-stellar story involving the people of Israel and their almost inconceivable propensity to sin against God. In chapter 17, we read these extremely insightful and disturbing words: “In those days there was no king in Israel. And everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 ESV). This was the period of the judges. The people had rejected God as their king and had yet to reach the point where they would demand a human king. The various tribes had spread throughout the land of Canaan, settling in their respective territories and trying to make the most of their situation. But everybody was doing their own thing, not God’s. Rather than seek the will of God, they were giving in to their own self-centered desires, seeking false gods and making forbidden alliances with the nations that occupied the land. And in the middle of all this we are introduced