Category Archives: church
mission management
1 Corinthians 16. Reading this chapter is like reading the minutes to a business meeting. You get an idea of the things that are high on the agenda for Paul and his missionary team. Benevolence offering for the needy in … Continue reading
word problems
1 Corinthians 14. All of the problems that Paul was dealing with here have to do with speaking in church. He identifies three specific problems:1) too many people were “speaking in tongues” instead of prophesying;2) too many people were speaking … Continue reading
Posted in church, divisions, Holy Spirit, ministry, spiritual gifts, Uncategorized, worship
Tagged 1 Corinthians 14
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loving service
1 Corinthians 13. Paul is still addressing the divisions caused in the Corinthian churches by those who are partial to one or the other minister. They valued those gifted with good communication skills, insight, faith, generosity, sacrificial commitment — and … Continue reading
Posted in church, divisions, love, ministry, spiritual gifts
Tagged 1 Corinthians 13
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not a competition
1 Corinthians 12. The Corinthians used the spiritual gifts manifested among themselves as a measurement of who should be followed and who should be shunned. Ministry became a means of perpetuating division. Some preferred the speaking gifts, others rallied behind … Continue reading
Posted in church, divisions, Holy Spirit, ministry, spiritual gifts
Tagged 1 Corinthians 12
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outside the box
1 Corinthians 9. Paul’s critics in Corinth were convinced that he was a loose cannon. Since he did not do his ministry the way the other apostles did, they were suggesting that his missionary work was illegitimate. Paul’s policy was … Continue reading
Posted in church, friends, gospel, ministry, missions, prayer, witness, works
Tagged 1 Corinthians 9
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incongruous
1 Corinthians 6. Paul addresses two incidents in which people within the church in Corinth are acting in an incongruous manner. Their actions are inconsistent with what Jesus did for them. He justified them by his substitutionary death. He washed … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, faithfulness, holiness, Holy Spirit, hypocrisy, idolatry, integrity, kingdom of God, sanctification, witness
Tagged 1 Corinthians 6
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defiling the Passover
1 Corinthians 5. The Corinthians had been guilty of judging (criticizing) Paul and the others in his band. It was as if they had pointed out a speck in the eyes of the missionaries, but had failed to notice the … Continue reading
Posted in church, courage, discernment, holiness, hypocrisy, witness
Tagged 1 Corinthians 5, Matthew 7
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the scum of the world
1 Corinthians 4. The ESV study Bible, commenting on verse 3, says “Some of the Corinthians, perhaps followers of Apollos or Cephas, probably spoke disparagingly of Paul, especially of his speaking ability (1:17; 2:3–4; 4:18–21; 2 Cor. 10:9), thinking they … Continue reading
Posted in church, divisions, equality, judgment, leadership, ministry
Tagged 1 Corinthians 4
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a wisdom ahead of its time
1 Corinthians 2. When Paul first shared the gospel with the Corinthians, he avoided demonstrating his considerable skill in Greek rhetoric, and he also avoided showing off his profound wisdom. He kept his message simple, and trusting God to make … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, gospel, Holy Spirit, scriptures, wisdom
Tagged 1 Corinthians 2
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evangelical unity
1 Corinthians 1:1-17. The Church at Rome had some divisions (e.g. the weak and the strong) but in Corinth they were mastering the art of division. Paul appealed to the Corinthians that they make efforts to manifest their unity, not … Continue reading
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