Thank you all, who participated this week, reading a chapter of 1 Corinthians a day, and picking out a key verse to share with everyone. Reading the verses and discussing chapters 1 - 3 was such a joy! Chapter 1 dealt with the trouble of schizms / contention in the church. We are commanded to speak the same thing / be of the same mind, and have no divisions among us in v.10. He reminds us all to "Keep the main thing the main thing!" in v.17-18: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Chapter 2 tackles the issue of allowing worldly wisdom into the church. There is no time in history that has been more influenced by worldly wisdom than this Laodicean age (Revelation 3:14-22) in which we live. We are encouraged that God has much prepared for us who love him, that cannot be seen nor heard, nor imagined in the hearts of man! V.9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. It is critical to keep the old Adamic nature mortified if we are going to grow in Christ! V.14-16: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Chapter 3 reminds us that carnality is a common struggle in any church! The Corinthians were spiritual babies, filled with fleshly attitudes that kept them from focusing on eternal matters (Colossians 3:1-4). They were so busy elevating physical leadership that they forgot that they were going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of the stewardship of their lives. The foundation of who they is Christ, no one else, and nothing else! V.10-11: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to read chapters 4 - 9 this week, hi-lighting the key verse in each chapter, in preparation for next Sunday. We will get through as many chapters as possible, and pick up the next week, until we finish 1 Corinthians. We will use this format of overviewing Paul's epistles, with a study chart of each book until we finish Philemon. Read, hi-light, and be ready to share your favorite verse from the chapters we discuss next Sunday!
