QT 4/8/2025 1 Cor 12:16-21, Believing that God's plan is better

1 Corinthians 12:16–21 (ESV) —

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

 

NOTE: This passage continues the theme of "belonging." If you are a child of Christ, you belong to the body, and specifically to a local body. You cannot say that you do not need to be part of a body. You do not have that right. As a believer, you belong to the body, no ifs, ands, or buts. And not only do you belong to the local church, God has arranged the local body (its members) just as he chose. Therefore, since God "chose," you also belong to him and you have a specific function to perform in the local body. If you do not perform that function, you are fighting against God and the Holy Spirit who chose your role. Fighting against God is no way to live life. Jacob fought against God for 20, actually 40 years. It culminated in an all-night physical fight. Jacob left that fight with a limp for the rest of his life, reminding him of his long struggle with God's hold of him. The worst part for Jacob (now called Israel) is that he would struggle again with God going into an almost 20 year funk when he lost Joseph. His spirit only revived when he learned that Joseph was alive. Who wants to spend half of their life fighting God's will for your life?

 

PONDER:

1. Am I fighting God's will in my life?
2. Or am I willing to trust God with my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, at times I do feel I am fighting with you. I had certain ideas of how I would minister when I retired, and you had a different plan. I do believe that your plan is better -- well, I can say that verbally. But my emotions have not caught up with my words -- this new ministry is hard, and not as "enjoyable" as I would have planned. In a few years, I know I will feel quite differently, but for now it is my struggle. Give me grace to accept your will and your plan. Help me to focus on the positive aspects.

 

QT 4/7/2025 1 Cor 12:12-15, We belong to a body

1 Corinthians 12:12–15 (ESV) —

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

 

NOTE: An interesting thought is almost an afterthought in the passage; Paul writes that if the foot should say that it does not belong to the body that does make it any less a part of the body. So, putting this in spiritual terms that are clearly intended in verse 12, we belong to the church, some local church, and saying we don't belong does not make us any less a part of a church. We don't get to decide whether to be involved or not in the body -- we do belong to the body. Now, the question arises, what body, that is, what local church? Clearly, we belong to the universal church of Christ, but the bible is clear that we are also part of a local church. If we are not attending any local church, we have put ourselves at odds with God. We are part of the body and we need to belong to a local church. I know it is very hard to find churches, and no church will ever be perfect, because as soon as we join it, it will have our faults too. But we do need to make an effort to join a church. Video sermons do not work because church is not just what we get out of it, but church is also where we are supposed to be exercising our gifts. Don't believe the lie of Satan who will try to convince you that you do not need to be in a church. You are part of the body, you can't get out of that responsibility by saying you don't belong.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I involved in a local church?
2. Am I committed to my local church body or some dead weight that only hangs around?

 

PRAYER: Father, my church is not perfect. I am saddened at times by the worldly discussions and lack of unity. People live like the world does. But there is a core who do love you and serve you. They are not interested in being seen or puffed up in their role. They just love you. I know there are no perfect churches. I am thankful for my church that there are many who deeply desire to know you and walk with you. They love your word and they are doing the work you desire. They encourage me and excite me in my own walk. Thank you. Open the eyes of other attenders to know the reality of a relationship with you and to move away from religion.

QT 4/4/2025 1 Cor 12:1-11, A special gift given to each

1 Corinthians 12:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

 

NOTE: Paul's states his purpose very clearly, he does not want the church to be misinformed about spiritual gifts -- the implication being that they were misinformed. There are a number of key principles.

 

• A person under the power of the Holy Spirit cannot teach against scripture or commit blasphemy in the use of his gift; vs 3.
• Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit (everyone has at least one spiritual gift); vs 7.
• A spiritual gift is for the common good; the purpose of the spiritual gifts are to build up the church; vs 7.
• There are many gifts as there are many types of service and as there are many types of expressions of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Lord; vs 4.
• The Holy Spirit decides and apportions spiritual gifts; vs 11.

 

There is more that could be written, but that is a nice summary of the first two paragraphs. Paul is going to spend three chapters (12-14) on this topic. Apparently there were both misinformed and abusing the doctrine of spiritual gifts. And these warnings are not just for "charismatic" churches, since all true church bodies have spiritual gifts, the non-charismatic churches do many of the same things wrong, just more subtly.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that God has given me a gift to be used to build up the local church?
2. Am I using that gift correctly?

 

PRAYER: Father, over the years I have heard many people say that they are not sure what their gift is, but I think the problem is that they have not involved themselves in the local body enough to see what gift they have. Help us to get involved and see where you bless us and use us.

QT 4/3/2025 1 Cor 11:27-34, Holy not common

1 Corinthians 11:27–34 (ESV) —

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

 

NOTE: Paul's comments here highlight the seriousness of the communion sacrament. It is not just a meal, and when it is treated as such, it brings judgment upon our bodies. It is a time to reflect and judge ourselves. It is a time of cleansing and renewal. And it is a time of remembering what Jesus did for us because of our sin. It is something very special. Paul goes further by saying, if you are hungry, eat at home prior to communion. In that sense, I think the church does it better today than yesterday (referring to the first century). The little wafer and grape juice will never satisfy hunger, but they are enough to emphasize the event and give us pause for introspection. There are times where a pot luck, followed or interspersed with communion, can be a very spiritual moment. But when things become routine, they lose their specialness. And when that happens, the awe and wonder disappears too. It is good to separate "holy" times from "common" times, although all things we do are holy to God, that is nothing is common. But I still argue it is good to separate the holy from the common.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I still see communion and baptism as holy times, or have they become routine?
2. During communion, do I remember that it is a time of examination in order to avoid discipline and grow in Christlikeness?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the sacraments. In the OT times, they had the feasts, holy days and weeks, to focus on you. In the NT, we still have holy days (holidays) but we have covered them over with new meanings. And we still have the sacraments (communion and baptism). Give me a renewed sense of holiness for these days.

QT 4/2/2025 1 Cor 11:17-24, Feeding others not self

1 Corinthians 11:17–26 (ESV) —

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 

NOTE: I had not noticed that Paul had been commending them for anything except in the introductory prayer. It seems like he has only been rebuking. So, this issue must be very severe.

 

1. There are factions and divisions when they meet.
2. They do not share the Lord's supper together.
3. Some get drunk at the Lord's supper.
4. Some go hungry.

 

This sounds a little more like a pot luck and it probably was something similar that also included communion. The instruction on communion was given to Paul personally by Jesus, probably during his 13 years in the desert. They really are basic principles of life, do not drink to excess, do not eat to excess, and share with others. As for the Lord's supper, I am glad it is not a meal today, it allows me more time to focus on where I have failed the Lord, and to make sure the slate is clear. Communion cleanses me, although that is not the purpose. It reminds me of all that Jesus did on the cross for my salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I act at meal times?
2. How do I act in regards to drink and food, excess or control?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray to be sensitive to others and not focused on feeding my flesh. Help me to see people that you place around me to serve and help.

QT 4/1/2025 1 Cor 11:8-16, God's commands can be difficult, but still true

1 Corinthians 11:8–16 (ESV) —

8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

 

NOTE: This is another passage that many want to ascribe to different cultural norms, but I don't think that is possible. For one, verse 16 makes it sound as if it was taught all across the Roman empire to all the churches (with no exceptions). The principle again, is the headship or authority of the man in marriage, and in the church (the reference of wife and also prayer place our context). In this case, the long hair is also in reference to angels which would seem to place it outside of just a cultural norm. I do think that for a woman, her hair is very important, it is her glory. And unless she has a medical condition, hair is preferred to bald. For a man, it is hard to say -- I think short hair is better than long hair, that is to distinguish himself from a woman, but I am loathe to argue the point. Again, verse 16 seems to be a warning -- "If anyone is inclined to be contentions, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God."

 

How do we respond when the word of God teaches something that we do not want to believe? I think we have only one true choice. If God says something and I say something, who is right? God is always right and I need to change my view. But what if the writers got it wrong? I think God is powerful enough to protect his word. A good study of the historicity of the bible will show that to be true.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I respond to God's word when the passage is difficult or conflicts with the culture, such as homosexuality?
2. Who is always right in a disagreement, God or myself?

 

PRAYER: Father, I believe your word holds the truth for a purposeful and abundant (not meaning materially rich) life. Help me to let go of my pride and rebellion, and do as you command.