Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 14In succinct, but measured, previous comments the “gift of tongues” as noted in I Corinthians 14 has been biblically defined. The scripture revealed that this was a gift in which known intelligible foreign languages were used in specific situations for the revelation of the New Covenant to be brought forth to its intended hearers. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the gift was becoming less useful and necessary as the word was going out to different regions around the Mediterranean Sea. If speaking in known foreign languages was better than the use of the “gift…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
Call to Worship November 29 2020
Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 14 Paul exhorted the church in Corinth to further consider how tongues were unprofitable apart from interpretation. First, he continued to establish the context of tongues as known languages in verses 10 and 11. “10 There are,” He stated, “perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me” (1 Cor. 14:10-11 NAU). Paul drew attention to the fact that there…
Call to Worship November 22 2020
Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 14 The Corinthian church had many growing pains and the exercise of spiritual gifts contributed to their many difficulties. Paul previously focused on the foundation of the church and the gifts that were in Christ by the one Holy Spirit. He cautioned them not to be so individually minded and to remember they were a part of a local body of Christ. Every person was a necessary part of the body (Ch. 12). So they needed to focus on the greater gifts of faith, hope, and love, of which the greatest is love (Ch. 13)….
Cll to Worship November 15 2020
Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13 Previously, Paul named and listed particular gifts in Chapter 12. He also taught that every believer in the church was not gifted in exactly the same way and that we all needed one another. He called us to honor and respect one another even though our gifts may not be equal or the same. In Chapter 13 Paul continued to consider the issue of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian Church. He directed them to consider even greater gifts than tongues, prophecy, faith, and even giving to the poor. He portrayed the negative side of…
Call to Worship November 8 2020
Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 12:13-31 After Paul set the foundation and primary purpose of spiritual gifts, by the Triune God, he set the context of the gifts in the body of Christ. Paul developed this context by way of an illustration of the physical body. Our physical bodies are one body with many members of that body. We have hands, eyes, ears, and noses. Those parts of our bodies are individually recognizable, but not individually functional apart from the whole system of the body. To simply have a hand with no arm, shoulder, torso and so forth is of…
Call to Worship November 1 2020
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 As previously noted there was contention regarding authority issues and with the Lord’s Supper at the church in Corinth. Then Paul turned his focus in the letter to another pressing matter, which concerned spiritual gifts. Paul laid a foundation for thinking through the subject of spiritual gifts before he gave any explanation of the gifts. His thought regarded their foundation in the Triune God. He reminded Corinthian believers of their past in worshipping idols with mouths that could not speak. Yet by the power of the Holy Spirit all believers were enabled to proclaim Jesus…
Call to Worship October 25 2020
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 11:17-33 Paul, earlier in verse 2 of this chapter, encouraged the believers in the church at Corinth. “Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.” (1 Cor. 11:2 NAU) Then in verses 3-33 he proceeded to establish some points of concern, accountability and further teaching. Along with the previously mentioned issue and contentiousness of submission and authority (vs. 16), Paul continued to confront divisions inside the church (vs. 17-18). Primarily, Paul desired to hold them accountable according to the Lord’s Supper…
Call To Worship October 18 2020
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 In the short space given here it is not possible to fully comment, exposit, or exegete this section of scripture. Although these passages are somewhat difficult, the overall meaning of this section is fairly plain. The verses concern an overarching issue of authority, order, distinctive genders and roles in God’s plan. “But I want you to understand,” Paul wrote, “that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:3 NAU). Some of the women in the church had…
Call to Worship October 11 2020
Thoughts on Corinthians 10:14-33 These verses are somewhat difficult to understand in detached form, but are part of an ongoing argument against idolatry. Paul has warned of the great condemnation of idolatry. He carefully parsed the importance between liberties regarding those secondary elements used in idol worship – like meat – with actual worship of false gods. He presented God’s grace in striving against sin, particularly idolatry, and that God always presents a way of escape. These are the concluding verses of caution and command against idol worship which began earlier in Chapter 8. Paul used an illustration to help…
Call to Worship October 4 2020
Thoughts on 2 Corinthians 10:12-14 Paul continued to weave together the importance of Christian Liberty and Perseverance of the Saints. While he continued this thought he provided an important context to perseverance and striving against sin in verse 13. Paul assured believers that temptation is real and it will frequently occur. As he stated, it is “common to man.” Yet he immediately reminded the readers of the faithfulness of God. In this verse he focused on a particular context of God’s faithfulness. God will never allow a temptation that is too great for a believer to persevere through it. Ultimately,…