1 Corinthians 11-14

11/20/2015

Today we read 1 Corinthians 11-14. This section of Scripture is one of the hardest parts of the Bible to understand. This section is also one of the most hotly contested parts of the Bible between scholars. If reading through it today you only pick up 2 things, God will be blessed. In this section of the letter, Paul is laying out for the Corinthians how they should function as a body and specifically how they should function as a body when they are together in fellowship and worship services. That is why love is such a focus of Paul in this section and I pray the love Paul describes is something you picked up from the reading today. The other key thing I pray you picked up is focused around 14:40. God is a God of order, not chaos. God created everything with fine detail and beauty. God is not random or arbitrary. So Paul is telling the church, they must also be a church of order, detail, beauty, and not a church of chaotic random uncontrolled actions. God wants us, the church, to do everything with excellence, to the best of our ability, with great detail. And God wants the church to do it that way, because they are image bearers of Him, and He is that way. I hope and pray you also caught this in the reading today. Let the smarter people figure out the hard stuff in this passage and stick with growing in love and doing everything with excellence and order.

10 Comments

Tammy

11/20/2015 07:27:23 pm

great point how Paul tells us that without love all we do is worth nothing. Especially things we do for others. People need to know they are loved and cared for by each other. God loves us with his perfect agape love and we can do the same with the Spirit in Us.
Also a great point I heard recently....based on chapter 13...if someone says they love you yet their actions don't match up to what verses 4-8 say....maybe we should reevaluate what that person tells us. Only through God can we love people the way these verses tell us. Our God expects us to show love to all, at the grocery store, the mall, the restaurant, the church....always. This is not easy but we have to ask for the Holy Spirit to guide and open our hearts to others. Really learning a lot through these chapters. I have a lot to work on.

Bruce

11/21/2015 03:17:15 am

Had a conversation tonight with a co-worker on this subject. He also is working on this in his life, as am I. If it's is any help; remember what you told me a few months ago, about how far you have come from years ago. Although we all have a long way to and will never be where we would like to be. We are growing and getting better and are further along than we were. Even if we fail at times. As my friend told me " keep reading the word, talking the word, praising the word, and trying to live the word". Again as he said "all we can do is try and pray that we can do it".

Tammy

11/21/2015 04:14:35 am

your friend seems very encouraging to your walk. That is awesome. I have a few that remind me as well....have a good friend that reminded me that what other people around you go through may not even be for them, but for you.God uses anything and everyone to work out in us what we need to change and be foe His glory.
I'm so glad your friend is there to help you. And yes I am glad I'm not where I was years ago....but keep pressing forward and when we fail...get up and start again.
Some people at my work are in nursing school and frustrated at how long it is taking to get through. They can only go part time or maybe a year longer than others because of family responsibilities. I remind them that they are closer to the goal than they were a year ago....and when they finish how Proud they will be when they hold that RN cert in their hand....all things take time....Gods time.
We are the same...we aren't the same as we were even a year ago....but not where we want to be either. But one day my goal is for Jesus to say to me "well done good and faithful servant"....it will be all worth it. :)

Tammy

11/21/2015 04:22:04 am

question for Pastor Jeff...
God is a God of order...I get that and is true. Now...does this mean that the worship service should be totally structured? That there is no room for anything out of the structure? Such as if someone wanted to tell their testimony or a poem or song that seemed relevant to the message?
And I feel the verses are talking about personal worship as well. We can't worship God one minute and get drunk the next....same kind of order?

Pastor Jeff

11/23/2015 03:09:52 pm

The answer to this question would be to much to blog on here about...it would take a few pages to fully answer and show from Scripture. I could email the answer to you when I get time and copy Bruce if he is interested in the answer.

First, these verse have no personal worship aspects (there are other verses throughout Scripture that are for personal worship)...Paul is writing to the whole church about when they are together worshiping God in services and fellowship...

Second, yes, God wants an orderly worship service structured in such a way for His glory led by Godly leaders who have prayed, planned, and designed the gathering to worship Him, This does not mean there cannot be a planned time for testimonies or sharing...but again that is the simple answer but would need a full explanation from the whole Bible to show.

Bruce

11/23/2015 12:50:16 am

I am glad you have people that are helping you as well. As my friend said, there are not many people that talk about the word of God. I wish there were more people that we all could talk too. I like using the blog as well to communicate with you and wish others would join the conversations, as I believe that we could all help each other grow closer to God, wish is his what he wants as well. Thank you for your help as I walk closer to him.

Tammy

11/23/2015 04:43:47 am

I understand what you mean about others joining. I am a women's blog that has tons of women commenting about the study that was donE that day. It's very encouraging as well. I guess this blog will go away after the Bible readings are done for this year? I could be wrong. I haven't heard about it continuing after the year is up. Maybe Pastor can let us know. of course nothing is better than real life conversation....but this is a good substitute. :)

Pastor jeff

11/23/2015 03:11:27 pm

Yes, this particular blog will end at the end of the year. I will continue to video blog on my facebook page and will switch back to my personal blog @ thequietconfident.com

Tammy

11/23/2015 06:47:51 pm

Yes you can email the explanation if you get time. Thanks very much.

Bruce

11/24/2015 09:42:10 am

I will like to have it as well. Please

1 Corinthians 11-14

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