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…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
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,…
Call to Worship September 6 2020
All types of idol use and uses for meat were a prevalent part of the Gentile culture. The list of idols was long in the Greco-Roman culture of Paul’s day, but that is no different from the O.T. idol worshippers that surrounded the Israelites. Meat had always played a role in the sacrificial system of the Gentiles and Jews, but the Jews choice and use of that meat was specifically outlined or restricted by God. Gentiles had no restriction for their idol worship due to the inanimate nature of their idols. Their gods had no eyes, ears, and mouths or,…
Call to Worship August 30 2020
Expository Thought on I Corinthians 7: 24-40 Marriage, between one man and one woman, is the God given usual state of life with certain providential or biblical exceptions. Those who know themselves and are not called to singleness should marry if providence allows. Physical passion between a man and woman is a blessing not a curse. Although the fall of Adam and Eve cursed it, this passion was created by God. He called it good among His creation, yet the sin nature has perverted the blessing. Therefore to fight against the curse, professing believers must marry in the Lord, if…
Call to Worship August 23 2020
Expository Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 7:18-23: When reading these passages often people will first consider the example of one’s station in life from an earthly perspective. While those issues have their place, Paul’s emphasis directs us toward our calling in Christ. See the importance of the Apostle’s teaching and its purpose in practical life. Yet, Paul knows what Solomon tells us to be true. The rich man and poor man, King and peasant, and the wise man and fool are all alike, they live and die. They work and play and have no certainty of what will come after them….
Call to Worship August 16 2020
(1 Corinthians 7:1-9) “The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary: I Corinthians, [Abridged quote]) (1 Corinthians 7:10-16)…
Call To Worship August 9 2020
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Mathew Henry wrote, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit – What an astonishing saying is this! As truly as the living God dwelt in the Mosaic tabernacle, and in the temple of Solomon, so truly does the Holy Spirit dwell in the souls of genuine Christians; and as the temple and all its utensils were holy, separated from all common and profane uses, and dedicated alone to the service of God, so the bodies of genuine Christians are holy, and all their members should be employed in the service of God alone. And you…
Call to Worship August 2 2020
“Baptism sets forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and our participation therein. Its teaching is twofold. First, think of our representative union with Christ, so that when he died and was buried it was on our behalf, and we were thus buried with him. This will give you the teaching of baptism so far as it sets forth a creed. We declare in baptism that we believe in the death of Jesus, and desire to partake in all the merit of it. But there is a second equally important matter, and that is our realized union with Christ…