On Palm Sunday, as Jesus entered Jerusalem to the sounds of praise from the people, they didn't know the full purpose for which Jesus was coming. He was a King coming to serve them through His sacrifice. As we get into the twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians, we see that the church didn't know the full purpose of the spiritual gifts they were given. Join us as we are reminded that our spiritual gifts are meant to be used in service, rather than for our own benefit.
In Chapter 11 of First Corinthians, Paul teaches the Christians in Corinth the importance of the table. He especially addresses the celebration at the table of The Lord's Supper or communion, as we often call it. This teaching is important for us as we celebrate the Lord's Supper and as we use the power of the Table for the health of the Church and the advance of the Gospel.
As we get into the next section of 1 Corinthians, Paul begins to focus on some issues involving the worship gatherings within the church.
Some of their practices were causing confusion, misunderstanding, and division. To combat this, Paul reminds the Corinthians that God is a God of order. And that order involves sacrificial leadership as well as willing submission - two traits we see in Christ himself. Join us as we gather in worship and bring glory to God.
This Sunday we will be taking a break from our journey through 1 Corinthians. Dr. Brad Pribbenow, Dean of Lutheran Brethren Seminary, will be proclaiming God's Word from Psalm 8.
As Paul finishes talking about running our Christian race with discipline and self-control, he then immediately warns the Corinthians about being overconfident in their own strength. To illustrate, he points to Israel's journey through the desert, where they "were baptized" in the Red Sea crossing and "ate spiritual food and drink", but still fell into idolatry. In the same way, the Corinthians (and us) who have been baptized and take part in the Lord's Supper, still have to be on guard, lest we fall into the same trap of idolatry. The good news, however, is that God has provided a "way out" - and that way out is Christ himself.
As we finish chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians, Paul compares the Christian life and our Gospel mission to an athletic event. In order to race well and finish well, we are called to live disciplined lives. We are called to be willing to give up things that we are actually free to do. However, the beauty of this race is that as we sacrifice - and as we point people to the ultimate sacrifice - more and more people win.
As Christians, we have freedom and we have rights. As Americans, we have freedom and we have rights. In our text for this Sunday from 1 Corinthians, Paul is going to be talking about his rights. But as he does, he's going to let us know that sometimes the most important thing we can do is to give up our rights - both for the sake of our neighbor and for the sake of the Gospel.
There are a lot of things we know. Sometimes we encounter people that are not in on what we know. It can be challenging to know how to help these people. In our text for this Sunday from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, there was a lot of knowledge but not a lot of loving. They knew that God created all things and eating food sacrificed to idols is nothing. So they were free to eat without sin. But some didn’t know this, so when they ate, they were caused to sin. So, what is all this knowledge for? Is it for ourselves…or something more? Where does love fit into all this?
As we finish up the 7th chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul continues to give practical and godly advice to the church concerning the Christian life. As we navigate all areas of life here on earth, Paul makes it clear that we need to do so with an eternal, heavenly perspective. As the old song says, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace." Come join us as we continue to turn our eyes upon Jesus!
In the beginning of 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, Paul made it clear that a person can live a God-honoring Christian life through either their singleness or their marriage. As we continue on in chapter 7 this week, Paul makes it clear that the same is true when it comes to our societal and economic status as well. Come and hear the good news that we don't need to change our circumstance in order to be right where God wants us.
