Highlight:

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) ¹²Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 

Explain: Paul is addressing the childish comparison the Corinthians made with the gifts of the Spirit. In 1 Cor 13 he tells them that no matter what they might think, the greatest blessing they can receive and the greatest blessing they can give is to love. All the other gifts will fade away when the Lord comes because they will no longer be needed. Love, however, will never fade away. In v12 he talks about the knowledge that will be ours in eternity: Knowing and fully being known by God. In the meantime, everything I think I know is only an incomplete picture which can only be known partially.

Apply:Since my knowledge now is only partial, I must be very careful about how I judge and compare others

Respond: On this trip, I will seek to look beyond the surface and avoid making snap judgments. I will rely on the Lord to lead me in this.

Highlight:

1 Corinthians 12:1–3 (NLT) ¹Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. ²You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. ³So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 

Explain: These verses are a little hard to understand in context and many explanations have been given. I think that Paul here mentions three groups: Pagans, Jews, and Christians. In mentioning these, he is referencing the three backgrounds from which those in the Corinthians had come. The Pagans were led astray to dumb idols and the Jews cursed Jesus in their synagogues (literally! They cursed Jesus). Now saved, the Corinthians were able to proclaim Jesus as Lord. The point of this introduction is for Paul to show that the greatest manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not in the charismatic gifts (as the Corinthians thought) but in that simple confession: Jesus is Lord!

Apply:It is the simple heart-felt confession of the Lordship of Christ that reveals, most evidently, the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Respond I will seek to help someone confess this again as soon as possible.

Highlight: 

¹⁴ But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. ¹⁵ Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

Explain: 

Paul was explaining what he had been through, and the fact that some people that he encountered accepted the message he was sharing, and some did not.  

Apply: 

In our world today, there will be people that want to hear the Good News, and there will be people that won’t accept it. As a believer and as a disciple of Jesus, it is my job to spread the love of Jesus.  It isn’t up to me whether someone accepts God’s love or not.  My job is to share it.

Respond:

Lord help me to spread your love to everyone that I come in contact with.  I understand that there may be people that don’t want to hear, but Lord please allow me to have courage and strength to do what You have called me to do.

Highlight: 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”

Explain: 

Paul says that God is the God of all comfort and that He comforts us in our affliction.  Paul explains that our comfort is not only for us.  We are to comfort others who are in affliction as we were comforted in our affliction.  If we share in Christ’s sufferings, we will also share in Christ’s comfort too. 

Apply: 

The fact that God is the God of all comfort means there will be times that I need to be comforted.  It is both encouraging and painful to read this truth.  It is encouraging to know that God will be with me during my sufferings, but also painful to know that suffering is normal in the Christian life.  As God comforts me through suffering, I must reach out and comfort others who go through various sufferings as well.  This is why it is so important to be in discipleship relationships with people, because otherwise we will never know about each other’s sufferings.

Respond:

Lord, help me to be aware of people around me that need to be comforted.  As You have comforted me through suffering, help me to comfort them too.

Brad Perry

Scripture:

Highlight:1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NKJV) 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

Explain:  Paul writes responses to questions that the Corinthians had asked him beginning in 1 Corinthians 7. The first question seems to be whether Christians were free to be married since marriage seemed to be a distraction from a complete focus on Christ. Paul admits that this is true, yet our bodies are so wired for sex and procreation that we should be married to avoid sexual temptation. Celibacy is a gift that many do not have and, if they do not have it, they will not be able to be abstinent. They should marry rather than sin sexually. In vv 29-31, Paul tells them that their overall focus on the Kingdom of God and its coming should outweigh every other occupation. Even if we are married, marriage should not be our major concern—it should be to serve God. This also applies to every other occupation in life (vv30-31)

Apply:These vv have great application to the church today. We are absorbed by so many things, most of them not nearly as legitimate as marriage. Paul is setting the priority here. We should have a sense of urgency that genuinely goes beyond family, media, food, and even other human relationships.

Respond I will ask God to lay upon my heart today how this Scripture should apply to my heart.

1 Corinthians 8

Highlight: 1 Co 8:1–3.Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

Explain:  Paul has been asked whether Christians are ok to eat meat sacrificed to idols. In his reply he acknowledges that, if a person fully understands the situation, there is nothing wrong with the meat that has been so offered. Yet, if all a person does is spout what they know in order to justify flaunting their “freedom” in the face of others, that person doesn’t know very much. The NLT puts it so well in 1 Cor 8:1b: But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.

Apply: Love is the answer to building momentum in the church. I am not talking about plastic, painted-on-smile kind of love, but genuine concern that goes all the way to the heart.

Respond

Highlight: All of Chapter 9

Explain: Paul writes to explain to the Corinthians why he is so passionate about them and their ultimate maturity in Christ and also why they should recognize him as their leader. In chapter 9 he describes why he has such an intense attitude about the gospel. Here’s how it breaks down: When I have an intense attitude I will: RELEASE MY RIGHTS – 9:1-15: I will not demand that I have things a certain way if making that demand will in any way hinder the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:1–15 (NLT) 1Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. 11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. 13Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.RECOGNIZE MY CALLING: 9:16-18 – Paul tells them that his obligation is not to the Corinthians but to God Who called him. This makes him very intense about fulfilling that calling – 1 Corinthians 9:16–18 (NLT) 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.REALIZE MY PRIORITY – I am willing to identify with the people I minister to and love them because emy priority is to spread the gospel and share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (NLT)19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.ANTICIPATE MY REWARD – I am willing to go through any trial and be very disciplined and focused because I really believe that God will reward me one day. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NLT) 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Apply: I have to realize that there is a necessary intensity to my efforts if I am going to successfully reach people. I can’t “check the box.” So if I am to be effective in ministry, these four attitudes are necessary: I must: Release my rights: I must give up every “entitlement” I think should belong to me.Recognize my calling: If I do not have the strong sense that God has called me, I will not be able to weather the difficulty. I cannot serve man, I must serve God.Realize my priority: All my selection of method, materials, schedule, everything must be submitted to this one priority: Doing the things that genuinely reach other peopleAnticipate my reward: I keep my eyes on the prize.

Respond I will see how this should apply to my ministry.

Highlight: 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Explain: 

Paul is warning the Corinthian church against falling into sin.  He tells anyone who thinks he stands strong to take heed or else they will fall.  The first step in resisting temptation is staying on guard, knowing that you are always susceptible to sin.  He also gives us all some hope and tells us that the temptations we face are common to man, and that God will provide a way out for us.  Paul says that no temptation which comes at us leaves us hopeless, because God will provide a way out.

Apply: 

I must always be on guard and know where I am vulnerable to sin.  I know some of the ways Satan will attack me, so I must be prepared.  I must have a plan for certain situations so that temptation will not overtake me and cause me to fall into sin.  When temptation does come, I must recognize the way out that God is providing, and take it.

Respond:

Lord, help me to faithfully fight temptation and follow Your way out when temptation comes.  I know Satan wants to destroy me, so help me resist him.

Brad Perry

Scripture:  I Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Highlight:  Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefor honor God with your bodies. 

 Explain:  In Corinth, there was a temple there of the love goddess Aphrodite.  The temple there in Corinth employed many prostitutes.  In this temple, sex was a routine part of the people’s worship ritual. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth to tell them because of the Holy Spirit, they shouldn’t partake in this even though it was popular in the culture that they lived in.  

Apply:  God has given married couples the gift of sex.  He allows this to happen only in the marriage covenant.  We as Christians should protect and honor what God has given us in this.  We should protect our minds and and our bodies from the sexual desires of the flesh even when people around us or the culture that we live in may not honor what God has given to be sacred.  

Respond:  Dear Lord, please help me to keep my mind and my body for what you have chosen for me.  I pray that I will honor You and my wife with my body and my thoughts.  Please keep temptation away from me in this area, and if I do get tempted, please allow me to remember what you have given me to fight temptation.  Please bring me back to these verses and allow them to stay planted on/in my heart. 

Carl Bradshaw

1 Corinthians 5

H:        v. 6b …” Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”

E:         The Corinthian church was in quite a mess due to the fact that the culture around them had infiltrated inside. Corinth was a sexually wicked place. Anything you could imagine that goes on today, in America and around the world, was happening in Corinth. The problem was that the church did not take a stand against it but rather welcomed it in among their ranks. Paul was writing to the church that they were to purge this sinfulness from among them. By allowing such immoral things within the church it was affecting all they did.

A:        Our culture is screaming at the church to conform to it, and if it doesn’t, it is made fun of or ridiculed by the loudest voices in our society. Many churches have fallen prey to such ridicule and stood their ground, but some have accepted what the culture is doing. The Bible is no longer the standard by which these churches hold to but rather how accepting they appear to the outside world. The church is to be welcoming to those who are in need of a Savior! We are to love everyone! But the Word of God doesn’t change according to what is the latest fad or who has the best argument, it remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

R:        Lord, help me be compassionate to those who are in desperate need of You. Help me to listen with an open heart to their need and love them like You love them. Help me not to compromise on what the Bible teaches, but rather, “speak the truth in love” to them! ~ Amen

Bryan Hughes

H

1 Cor. 3:17 – “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy Him, for God’s temple is hoy, and that is what you are.”  

E 

Paul has been discussing the importance of not thinking too much of church leaders.  Instead, he wants his readers to learn to focus on their own works and growth.  He then tells them that they are God’s temple and warns them that to do anything to destroy that temple, would lead to their own destruction.  This temple of course was the collective group of Spirit-filled believers in the local church.  This emphasizes the fact that the collective body of people is what makes the church, not a building or physical temple like in the Old Testament.  

A

We as individual members of the corporate body of Christ are considered God’s temple.  This means we must take very seriously how we live together as believers in our church.  Especially for me as a church leader, I must be very careful not to let anything I do become a stumbling block or point of struggle for someone else in the church so as not to destroy God’s temple.  

R

Prayer: “God, help me to be a good, faithful, prayerful, wise leader to Your people.  Give me a heart of compassion and desire to spiritually care for those in our church, even those who may not like me or oppose what You’ve called us to do. Help me not to do things that may destroy Your temple, but instead, help build up the church so that it grows more mature in You.”

Aaron Pierce

Highlight: 

1 Corinthians 4:14-17 – “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.”

Explain: 

Paul is giving instruction and guidance to the Corinth church about judgment and how Christ is the one who judges.  Paul says that his purpose in writing this is to admonish them, because they have many guides in Christ, but not many fathers.  Paul is fathering them in Christ as he did with Timothy.  Paul tells them to follow his example. 

Apply: 

We see in this passage how the discipleship process looks when it is lived out.  Paul fathered (discipled) Timothy, and Timothy was sent to the Corinthian church to lead and disciple them.  These are the types of relationships that I must be a part of.  I must disciple someone and then train them up to be able to disciple others. Discipleship takes a lot of time and work, so I must always make discipleship relationships a high priority.

Respond:

Lord, help me to be faithful to make disciples.  Specifically, work out the new discipleship relationship that I initiated.

Brad Perry