Posted on Apr 9, 2018 in 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Walk of Immaturity Into Maturity |
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Paul’s confidence was not in his keen intellect or speaking ability but in his knowledge that the Holy Spirit was helping and guiding him. Paul is not denying the importance of study and preparation for preaching; he had a thorough education in the Scriptures. Effective preaching results from studious preparation and reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t use Paul’s statement as an excuse for not studying or preparing.
Posted on Apr 8, 2018 in 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Walk of Immaturity Into Maturity |
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Paul summarizes Isaiah 29:14 to emphasize a point Jesus often made: God’s way of thinking is not like the world’s way. And God offers eternal life, which the world can never give. We can spend a lifetime accumulating wisdom and yet never learn how to have a personal relationship with God. We must come to the crucified and risen Christ to receive eternal life and the joy of a personal relationship with our Savior.
Posted on Apr 7, 2018 in 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Walk of Immaturity Into Maturity |
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Paul founded the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey. Eighteen months after he left, arguments and divisions arose, and some church members slipped back into an immoral life-style. Paul wrote this letter to address the problems and to clear up confusion about right and wrong so that they would remove the immorality from among them. The Corinthian people had a reputation for jumping from fad to fad; Paul wanted to keep Christianity from degenerating into just another fad.
Posted on Apr 6, 2018 in 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Walk of Immaturity Into Maturity |
Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
In this letter, Paul wrote some strong words to the Corinthians, but he began on a positive note of thanksgiving. He affirmed their privilege of belonging to the Lord and receiving His generous gifts: the power to speak out for Him and understand His truth. When we must correct others, it helps to begin by affirming what God has already accomplished in them.
Posted on Apr 5, 2018 in 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Walk of Immaturity Into Maturity |
Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth while he was visiting Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19-20). Corinth and Ephesus faced each other across the Aegean Sea. Paul knew the Corinthian church well because he had spent 18 months in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18). While in Ephesus, he had heard about problems in Corinth. About the same time, a delegation from the Corinthian church had visited Paul to ask his advice about their conflicts. Paul’s purpose for writing was to correct those problems and to answer questions church members had asked in a previous letter.
