2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11

How dependable are you? Are you the type of person that makes plans but does not follow through? Do you find yourself saying, “Yes, yes” and “No, no” in the same breath? Or are you the kind of person who reflects the character of God in being faithful, consistent, and trustworthy?

As God’s children we represent Christ through our words and our actions. Paul understood that the way he lived reflected on the character of God. Similarly, we need to share the message of Christ verbally, but we also need to ensure that our lives are sharing him as well. Paul said his life had been marked by "integrity and godly sincerity." There was no hypocrisy, lies, deception, or pervasive sin which had infiltrated his ministry. This is to be our lifestyle as well. We are to be a people who are examples of Christ everywhere we go. Our world is filled with people who do one thing while saying another, but that must not be who we are. As his children God anointed us, put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, and made us firm in Christ. Thankfully God never lies so we can know our salvation is secure. The faithfulness and trustworthy nature of our Father should be emulated in our lives as well. So, let us show him through our lives and through our words.

Father God, help me to faithfully represent you in words and actions. Help me to allow your life to flow out of me today, and make you known in all I do. Amen. 

Why does hypocrisy so easily find its way into our lives? How can you guard against this?

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

No one likes a ball hog. These people keep the ball to themselves in team sports and fail to share with others. I have watched enough basketball games to know these ball hogs just slow down the game and no one wants to play with them. Sadly, in the same way we can potentially be spiritual ball hogs. We can keep all of God’s gifts to ourselves and inevitably no one will want to be around us. So how can we stay away from this ball hog perspective?

We need to recognize that God showers gifts upon us not so we can enjoy them by ourselves, but so we can pass them on to others. Kirk Franklin, a Gospel musician, wrote a song that says, “Bless me, bless me, God not just for me, but so everyone around me can have everything they need.” This seems to reflect how Paul begins his second letter to the church in Corinth. Paul says the church has been blessed with comfort. God is pouring his comfort into their lives in the midst of difficult circumstances. He is meeting their needs, not by transforming their circumstances, but by changing their hearts. Yet God works in their lives, not just for their own comfort, but so they can comfort others. God never gives to us as an end, but instead to be a channel who passes his grace, compassion, and blessings upon others.

Father God, thank you for the comfort and compassion I continually receive from you. Help me not to keep these gifts to myself, but pass them on to others. Amen. 

Where have you experienced God’s comfort in your life? How can you intentionally comfort others out of this experience?

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

People who have experienced the generosity of God should be generous people. When we recognize all the good gifts which God has bestowed upon us, how can we not extend those gifts to others? Paul ends his letter by pointing the church and us to the reality of generous living.

One aspect of generosity is our finances. Paul had previously called the church in Galatia and now the church of Corinth to regularly set aside money so they can give to those in need. Giving is meant to be planned, consistent, and proportional to what we have. Is this true of your giving? Are you giving regularly, consistently, in a planned way, and based on how much you have?

Another aspect of generosity is our love. We are to be people who like Paul love well. As recipients of the radical love of God we are to be continually pouring out this love on others. We are to see those with needs around us and do everything we can to respond. Sometimes this is financial, but often it is with a listening ear, sacrificing time, or meeting tangible needs. Yet, because we are loved by God, we are to “do everything in love.” So, whether with our love, our time, our possessions, or our money, let us be people who are extravagantly generous with all that God has given to us.

Father God, make me generous. Help me to reflect your generosity with others so that they can see your love and character through me. Amen. 

How can you more intentionally express generosity in a way that points people to God?

1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Does Jesus’ resurrection ever seem like a fantasy? Does it seem too good to be true? Even more so does the idea that you will one day be resurrected and glorified seem too fantastic to embrace? As Paul continues speaking of the resurrection of Jesus, he wants us to understand that it is both true and beautiful. It is the bedrock of our faith, and if it did not happen, then it is meaningless and worthless to be a Christian.

Paul was so certain of Jesus’ resurrection that he was willing to die for his faith. He was willing to surrender his life now because he knew that eternal life awaited him. Since he would be resurrected like Christ, he was motivated to push through suffering, persecution, and hardship to follow Christ. He was willing to “endanger” himself and “die every day” because he knew what was to come. He could endure suffering because paradise was waiting. He could also reject temptation and fleeting pleasures, because he knew that greater things were in store. This forwardlooking perspective comes because Jesus truly had risen and will take those who are his with him. So, as we consider Christ’s resurrection, we see that Christ’s story becomes ours. Where he is, we will be. So, stand firm in God’s ways and persevere in obedience because what Christ offers is greater than anything this world can give.

Father God, thanks that you Jesus died and rose from the dead for me. Help me to have eyes to see and a mind to understand what awaits me in eternity and live out of this perspective. Amen. 

How should your future resurrection lead you to obedience and transformed living today?

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Since our mission is to be disciples who make disciples, it is critical that we know how to engage in spiritual conversations. As we move discussions from unimportant things to issues of the heart and then ultimately turn the conversations to things of eternal significance, we need to know what we are trying to tell people. Paul helps us understand in 1 Corinthians 15 what is of “first importance” to talk about.

Paul says that which is of "first importance: [is] that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared..."(I Cor. 15:3-5a). These ideas are not just wishful thinking or myths but based on history and reality. We can know Christ died, because he was buried. We can know Christ was raised, because he appeared to multiple people over a period of forty days. By believing the gospel we are not believing in a fairy tale, but instead we are trusting in that which is verifiable and true. Therefore, let us have confidence in the gospel and confidently share it with others as well.

As we talk to people this week, intentionally consider how you can turn the conversations to spiritual things and then how to turn the conversation to Jesus. We can talk about so many things, but the goal of every conversation should be to connect it with Jesus and what he has done for us.

Father God, thank you for the certainty I have in believing in Jesus' death and resurrection. Amen. 

What keeps you from talking about Jesus more often?

1 Corinthians 14:18-40

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul wants us to think rightly about what is happening when the church meets together for corporate worship. When the church gathers, it is not meant to be a spectator sport, but one where every person is an active participant. When we watch the band play on Sunday mornings, we should not think of it as a concert where we watch them perform some of our favorite hits. Rather we are part of the choir that is actively worshiping God with them. We then should not walk out commenting on how we felt about the worship and whether we liked the songs or not, but celebrating the opportunity to worship God with others.

Paul describes people speaking in tongues and prophesying as a form of encouragement, and though we may not do that, we should be prepared to encourage and engage with those we are sitting beside. We should not walk out complaining that we felt ignored or that no one talked to us, but instead initiate conversations and relationships with others. Again, it is not about you. So, the next time we gather on Sunday, be prepared to worship alongside and encourage those who are part of the body. Since it is not all about you, be excited to bless and serve others.

Father God, help me to worship you with all my life and fulfill the role you have given me in the church and to seek to intentionally encourage the rest of the body. Amen. 

How prepared are you to worship and encourage on Sundays? How could you more effectively prepare yourself?

1 Corinthians 14:1-17

God’s calling on our lives is not only to become more like Christ but to help others mature as well. We are to “excel in gifts that build up the church.” Is this your mentality? Are you seeking to help others grow or largely focused on yourself?

The focus of Paul’s discussion on helping others centers around two gifts which seem impressive, speaking in tongues and prophecy. These two gifts, along with others like teaching and speaking, place people in the spotlight. When the attention is on us, it is easy for pride and selfishness to creep in, and for us to think that life is all about us. So, Paul reminds the church in Corinth that they should “try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”

Our mindset should be to seek to serve in ways that help people mature into greater Christlikeness. Serving is never about us, but always about blessing other people. Being a servant means concerning ourselves with the community more than ourselves. When we feel the temptation to put the spotlight on us, we need to make sure that it is instead placed on Jesus and helping others to grow.

Father God, give me a heart to serve and point people to you. Help me to use the gifts you have given me to bring you glory. Amen. 

Question: Where are you serving in ways that “build up the church”? How can you do this more effectively?

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Gong! Clang! Is that our sound of love? According to I Corinthians 13:1 if we do not love others, we put out an obnoxious sound. Generally, we consider ourselves as loving people. After all, we probably have not heard gongs or clanging cymbals recently. But looking at Paul’s list of what love really is, do we really love?

Paul wants to show us the “most excellent way” to navigate through life (I Cor 12:31). “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (I Cor 13:4-7, NLT). In ancient days bronze was used to make mirrors. Corinth was famous for having the best bronze in the Mediterranean world. However, even the best bronze produced an imperfect reflection. When I look into the mirror at my love for others, the image is distorted. What even concerns me more is “God knows me completely” (v. 12, NLT). He knows how I love. If we loved as described in this passage, what a striking example we would be to others. Love provides unity and will last forever. So, let us remember that we are part of the body of Christ and what the community around me needs is love.

Father, “Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out my hatred and bitterness” (Dietrich Bonhoffer). Amen. 

How can you change your attempts to love so they better reflect the description in 1 Corinthians 13?

1 Corinthians 12:1-26

No one wants to be called ignorant. We all want to be experts, intelligent, and thoughtful people, but are we when it comes to spiritual gifts? Do we know how God has gifted us and how we can use those things to help others mature? That is Paul’s concern in 1 Corinthians 12.

Paul first wants us to understand how God has blessed us. It may be with the gift of faith, wisdom, knowledge, or something not even listed, but he does not want us to be ignorant of our gifts. He wants us to understand that we have been gifted “for the common good.” God does not bless us for our own benefit; rather so that we can be a channel through whom God blesses others. Paul also confronts two lies that we might believe and keep us from using our gifts. The first is feelings of inferiority. We might think that we are not gifted, that we have nothing to offer others, or that we are not good enough to be used by God. These lies keep us from serving. The second lie is that of superiority which can also keep us from serving. Whether it comes in the belief of inferiority or superiority, we need to press through these to God’s truth that the church needs us and we need the church. God has given us gifts that others need, and God has given others gifts we need. Therefore, we need to stay connected to the church so we can all grow together into the mature body Christ seeks to make it.

Father God, thank you for your gifts. Help me to use those gifts to benefit others and not keep them to myself. Amen. 

Where are you ignorant regarding spiritual gifts? Do you struggle more with issues of inferiority or superiority? How can you push through these lies to a life of service?

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Throughout the centuries when churches gathered, they have partaken of the Lord’s Supper. These were meant to be moments to remember what Christ had done, the sacrifice he had made, as well as the foundation for unity it provided to the church.

Yet sadly, a time came in the church of Corinth when the meal became more about them than the Lord. Paul rebuked them for failing to remember Christ during the celebration that was supposed to be all about him. Rather than the Supper uniting the church, it only increased divisions. Paul reminded them, and by extension us, what we should be doing when we take the Lord’s Supper. We are to remember Jesus’ final meal with his disciples and how he made the bread and wine a symbol of his body and blood. What is the power of remembrance? How should remembering Christ transform our lives? The meal is not only meant to be an act of remembrance but a proclamation of Christ’s future return. The reality of Christ’s return and the hope it brings should transform our todays. Communion becomes a victory meal where we remember the victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. The bread and wine place our vision about Jesus and away from us. So, the next time we gather for communion let us come ready to remember and proclaim Christ’s death and his return to others and ourselves.

Father God, thank you for what your Son has done for me. May I also live transformed by the reality that Christ is returning one day. Amen. 

How might you deepen your personal experience of the Lord's Supper to better honor Christ's death and return?

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

When you read this passage how do you initially respond? Do you feel like this is a repressive passage? Do you feel confused? Let us consider how to think through passages like this. Paul pointed out two specific things, one applicable to us today and one that no longer is to ground the way the church was to live. First, he points to the role of men in leading the church and the family. He grounds this in the creation order. This is true for all times and all places. He secondly highlights things which seem to be functioning as cultural symbols (hair length and coverings) of the leadership principle. They were ways to live out God’s lordship in the city of Corinth in the mid-1st century. We will likely not show the transcultural principle of leadership in this way, but it is critical that we think through how to live out God’s teachings in our world, in our day.

Leadership is an opportunity to pursue unity, love, and God’s glory. Men may have specific roles to play as leaders, yet all of us are to lead in a way that reflects God's leadership. All of us are called to lead others to Christ, to lead others in mentoring relationships, and to lead ourselves in making decisions that honor God. Also, all of us are to walk in humility knowing Christ is our ultimate head, leader, and king.

Father God, help me to walk in humility as you lead me and seek to be a servant leader to others. Amen. 

How can we determine which commands in Scripture are applicable to us today and which were only for a specific time period, under a specific covenant, or a specific location?

1 Corinthians 10:14-33

Flee from idolatry. When we read these words in 1 Corinthians 10:14, it may feel like we are reading about a world disconnected from ours. Paul was surrounded by altars devoted to idols while we live in a world without altars and obvious idols. Yet the exhortation to flee idolatry is just as urgent for us as it was for Israel and the early church.

The first two commandments given to Moses stated God was to be the only object of worship. Israel was commanded to not create idols to worship. Then, about 1400 years later, Paul repeats twice in chapter 10 (verses 7 and 14) that the early church was not to live in idolatry. For these two groups, the temptation was to participate in various pagan religious ceremonies where allegiance was given to other gods. For us idolatry manifests itself in the temptation to elevate wealth, pleasure, comfort, or other things to the place where only God should be. Anytime we value something more than God or obey something instead of God, we are worshiping an idol. Therefore, it is critical that we give our allegiance, devotion, and commitment to God alone. He is the sole source of glory for whom we should live, and our only good is found in him. Anything that tempts us to drift from God must be fled, so that God alone can reign over our lives.

Father God, help me to be devoted to you. May you alone be the one I worship, obey, and glorify with my life. Amen. 

What things are you tempted to elevate to the position which only God should have in your life? What will it look like to “flee from idolatry” in these situations?

1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13

Our perceived purpose in life will determine the way we live. So how would you answer the question, what is your life purpose? If you define your purpose related to your job, you will work long hours. If your purpose is related to your family, you will make sure to travel, give gifts, and prioritize family events. If your purpose is related to God, you will find yourself living like Paul. He was willing to do anything to make Christ known.

Paul used the language of slavery to describe his calling. He was willing to surrender his rights (see yesterday’s reading), willing to surrender ease, and willing to give up anything in order to make Christ known. When he hung around religious Jews, he conformed to their lifestyle in order to communicate Christ, and when he was around Gentiles, he lived like them in order to speak about Jesus. He was willing to add or takeaway any non-moral activities if it would allow him to reveal Jesus. Paul’s purpose of evangelism determined the way he lived. He knew that he existed to be a disciple who makes disciples, and he conformed all aspects of his life to this mission and purpose. He compares this to a runner who is striving to win the prize. In the same way, we should conform our lives to our ultimate purpose of running the race of life with a disciple making mentality.

Father God, thank you for the purpose and mission you have given to me. Help me to live in light of who you have made me by living for your glory and making you known. Amen.

How could you more clearly live in light of the ultimate purpose God has given to you?

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9 that he has certain rights as a minister of the gospel of Christ. This chapter may not initially seem like it has a whole lot of application to your life, but it ultimately provides us with a critical application. Paul said that he had a right to make a living off his ministry. He quoted Deuteronomy, he pointed out other apostles, and used other jobs as an illustration to make his point. Yet Paul made the radical claim that though he had the right to essentially get a paycheck from the church, he was not going to claim it. He was willing to give up his right in order to make the gospel known. Paul's highest priority was to communicate Christ, and since he thought the most effective way to do this was to give up his rights and his freedoms, then he was willing to do so. His own comfort was secondary to his calling as a minister of the gospel. He was willing to sacrifice and surrender everything to make Christ known.

The question is, do we have this same mindset? Are we willing to surrender our rights, comfort, and ease in order to reveal Jesus? Paul’s discussion about the pay of an apostle suddenly connects to our lives. We should be willing to give up anything in order to proclaim Jesus. So, let us consider whether we are elevating ourselves or God in the way we live, and let us always put the spotlight on our great and loving God.

Father God, help me to surrender everything to follow you. Help me to put you first in my life. Amen. 

What would it look like for you to sacrifice more to make Christ known to a greater degree?

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

The Bible continually wants us to understand wisdom is more important than IQ, and obedience to God is more important than accomplishments. Paul takes us to the streets of Corinth where idols and altars were everywhere. He points out that these idols are nothing. Yet beyond teaching this truth, Paul shared essential wisdom and practical principles for the church's guidance in life. Paul says when we face situations that demand wisdom, we need to think relationally about our actions. Love should be the overarching principle in our decisions. We are to be motivated by love that causes us to act not in our own best interest, but the good of others. So, I may have to abstain from something that is right for me if it could negatively affect someone else.

Truth is not the only thing in play. Paul wanted the church to think and act theologically. Paul stressed the futility of idols. They are not gods, they are not alive, there is nothing there. The church in Corinth did not need to be afraid or confused but stand on the truth. So, when we face a situation that demands wisdom, we need to allow relationships and theology, along with the guidance of the Spirit, to determine what we do.

Father God, give me wisdom. Every day I face situations where I do not know what to do. I ask you give me understanding from your Spirit to walk in love and in truth. Amen. 

What would it look for you to grow in relational and theological wisdom?

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

What tasks are on your agenda for today? If you could only get one thing done, what would it be? What is your singular focus for today, and what is it for your life? In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul is encouraging us to reflect on our life’s purpose and our aspirations. If our purpose is related to our family, he encourages us to consider something far more important. For many, the natural progression of life is to grow up and get married. This has been the typical narrative in nearly every culture across time, but Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7 that this does not have to be the Christian’s story or pursuit. In fact, he says singleness can lead to a more single-minded devotion to God than those who are married. So, if you find yourself single, embrace the opportunity that God has given to you. You may not want to be in this situation, but God has you there for a reason. Choose your present life situation to devote yourself to him. God has a more important calling and focus for you today, which is him, not finding a spouse.

As the church, we are the bride of Christ. This identity means our most critical relationship is with Christ and not our earthly marriages. In fact, marriage on earth is only a shadow and a picture of our eternal relationship with Christ. So let us all, whether married or single, live with devotion and commitment to God above everything else.

Father God, help me to live committed and devoted to you. Help me to make you my ultimate love and the one I live to please. Amen. 

What things in your life have overshadowed your devotion and commitment to God?

1 Corinthians 7:1-24

God speaks to every area of our lives. There are no nooks and crannies we can wall off from him. In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul shows specifically how God speaks to sex and marriage. The most intimate of relationships are to be completely directed by God and lived for his glory. For those who are married, we are commanded to give of ourselves physically to our spouse and to do so regularly. Sex is to be governed by self-control and this is true both for those in and outside of marriage. Those who are married are to reserve sex for their spouse and those who are unmarried are to abstain until marriage. We must discipline ourselves in the area of sexuality, especially in our sex crazed world. God has designed sex as a gift from him to be opened only within the context of a one man-one woman marriage. Yet in our fallen world, all of us must continually exert self-control to keep our thoughts and actions aligned to God's design.

Marriage is a gift and singleness is a gift. Sex is a gift and celibacy is a gift. So, wherever you currently are in life, recognize it as a gift from God and choose to obey him right where you are. We may long to be in a different situation, but God has placed us where we are to bring him glory. Contentment should be embraced with the understanding God has placed us where we are to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Father God, help me to glorify you where you have put me. Amen. 

Do you find your mind wishing your circumstances in life were different? How can you commit to being thankful and content where God has you?

1 Corinthians 6:1-20

How easy it is to live for the moment. We so often find ourselves consumed by the pursuit of wealth and material possessions, failing to recognize that there is far more to life. If we live this way, behaving like our eighty or so years on earth is all we have, then we are living for far too little. Instead, God calls us to live for eternity. 1 Corinthians 6 gives us a glimpse of what living for the wisdom of eternity looks like.

To live with an eternal perspective, we must believe death is not the end. We need to embrace verse 14 which reads, "By his power God raised the Lord from the dead and he will raise us also.” Not only can we be sure that one day we will be raised to eternal life but, through Jesus, we can have confidence we will stand before the Judge of all the earth sanctified and justified. This does not mean we live however we want, rather the opposite. Our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit and we were bought at a price. So, with the presence and power of the Spirit, we can begin to live in a way that reflects our ultimate identity (sanctified and justified) and our ultimate destination (the kingdom of God). We can live for something far bigger than ourselves, far bigger than our lifetime, and far bigger than earthly possessions.

Father God, thank you that through the blood of Jesus I am washed and clean. Thank you that I have already been acquitted. Help me to live for you and in light of the gift of eternal life. Amen. 

How can you better embrace an eternal perspective today?

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

How serious do you take sin? The extreme example of 1 Corinthians 5 shows us the seriousness nature of sin, all sin. The church in Corinth had grown so accustomed to sexual immorality in the church that it even began to celebrate it. Paul rebuked them and told them sin should never be encouraged; instead, sin should be called out for what it is. Sin, every type of sin, is opposition to God and a poison that works its way through a whole community. Paul compared it to yeast that works its way through a whole batch of dough. This analogy helps us to understand there is truly no such thing as private sin, since all sin affects others.

We need to take sin seriously in our own lives and in others. As verse 12 tells us, we are to “judge those inside” the church. It is the responsibility of friends, connection group leaders, and elders to come alongside people and lovingly call them back to Christ when they have gone astray. Sadly, these conversations often end with the person running from God and the church, but sometimes their eyes are opened, they repent, and the beautiful act of restoration occurs. Marriages are healed, broken lives are repaired, and Christ is glorified. So let us be a church that does the hard work of calling out sin and the harder work of pursuing Christ.

Father God, open my eyes to the sin in my life so I can confess and repent of it. Use me to help others to follow you as well. Amen. 

What keeps you from speaking hard truth into people’s lives? Is there anyone you feel like God is leading you to lovingly, humbly confront over their sin?

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

What propels you forward in your faithfulness to Christ? What motivates you to obey God and stay focused on him? Generally, we are either going to be motivated by a desire to please God or to please people. We will either want to live as a response to God’s grace or because we want to impress people.

Paul was a model of living before an audience and judge of one, and someone who did what the Father said. How closely does this align with your life? Paul was not only an example, but called the church to follow in his footsteps. He knew everyone would stand before Christ one day, so he wanted to finish well. Shockingly, being a servant of Jesus filled his life with short-term difficulty. He became a spectacle in the eyes of the world: dishonored, starved, mistreated, homeless, cursed, slandered, and persecuted. Not exactly the outcome we want, but long-term what awaits is glory and to hear well done, good and faithful servant. So often, the Gospel is sold as “come to Jesus and all your problems will go away.” That is not quite how it works. Paul came to Jesus and his problems intensified, yet he never turned back. The momentary troubles are nothing compared to the eternal glory that awaits. So even when it is hard to follow Jesus (and when is it not?), we need to push forward and imitate Paul, who is imitating Jesus. Then we will experience the abundant, though often difficult, life of Christ.

Father God, help me to follow you no matter where it leads. Help me to be a faithful servant who makes you known to the world. Amen. 

Where do you see the pursuit of comfort and ease keeping you from being a faithful, obedient servant of Jesus?

1 Corinthians 3:5-23

We live in a celebrity obsessed culture. People who are simply famous for being famous capture millions of views and have influence without expertise. 1 Corinthians 3 shows us this is not a new phenomenon. In the early church people were focused on people like Paul, Apollos, and Cephas and bragged about their connection to them. Instead, attention, affection, and loyalty are to be on Jesus alone. If you think you are immune to this, do you ever find your faith affected by the falls or scandals of Christian leaders? Do you find yourself drawn to celebrity preachers more than flesh and blood people right in front of you?

Sadly, many people have tied their faith to earthly leaders who, when caught in a scandal, cause them to throw away their faith. They believe hypocrisy invalidates the gospel. We should celebrate faithful life-long examples of following Jesus but we need to ensure that our commitment is to the only faithful, perfect, and righteous one. Jesus is the one who died on the cross for our sins; no one else. Jesus is the one who sent the Holy Spirit; no one else. Jesus is the one who rose from the dead; no one else. Therefore, we need to make sure that our attention is on him. We can learn from sermons, we can be mentored by leaders, but all those things should ultimately point us to Christ. Everyone is imperfect except Christ, so our eyes, faith, and lives need to be centered around him and him alone.

Father God, help my ultimate loyalty be to you alone. Help our church to find unity in your Son and keep you at the core of everything. Amen.

How can you ensure Christ remains the foundation of everything in your life?

1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

Paul continues to dive deep into the concept of wisdom. How would you define wisdom? How would you get it? Paul wants us to understand that true wisdom cannot be found through our own efforts but can only be revealed by God. Paul speaks of “God’s secret wisdom” in 2:7. This revealing what was formerly hidden is an apocalypse. We often use this word to speak of end times events, but the root meaning of apocalypse is simply something previously hidden that has now been revealed. In Christ we have the full revelation of wisdom and we have access to this same wisdom through the Spirit. To understand the things of God, we do not need greater intelligence, but the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who is able to help us understand Scripture and apply it to our lives by giving us "the mind of Christ."

We can think God's thoughts when the Spirit makes them clear to us. The ultimate hindrance to wisdom is sin. When we are walking in sin, we cannot walk with God. Therefore, if we want to think like Christ, then we need to live like Christ. The closer we walk with God and his Spirit, the more we will know the thoughts, will, and mind of Christ. So, if you want to have an apocalypse draw near to God and live transformed. Call out for God's Spirit to lead your thoughts and steps and he will direct you.

Father God, teach me your ways. Help me to seek your Spirit so he might lead me in paths of wisdom. Amen. 

How can you improve your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Is your life marked by wisdom? How do you even determine this? As we read through the letter of 1 Corinthians, we will discover what true wisdom looks like and realize it is very different than what we encounter in the world.

Paul uses the words wisdom and foolishness multiple times in 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5. Paul speaks of the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. The wisdom of the world is marked by power, success, IQs, degrees, and wealth. Paul could not be clearer that this is not true wisdom in verse 25 when he says, “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.” True wisdom is sourced in God and modeled perfectly in the life of Jesus. This wisdom is marked by humility, service, obedience, and Spirit empowerment, with the ultimate display of wisdom coming through the death and sacrifice of Jesus. To the world Christ’s death was a shame and utter foolishness, but to us it is our source of life, joy, and hope. We need eyes to see the wisdom of God and not allow it to be overshadowed by the wisdom of the world. Choose to think like Jesus, not like the CEOs, politicians, and professors of our day. Choose to live in God’s wisdom even when that pits us against the common sense of our culture.

Father God, help me to walk in your wisdom. Open my eyes to the foolishness of the world and give me a heart to walk in your ways. Amen. 

Where do you see the wisdom of the world clashing with God’s wisdom? How can you ensure that you walk in God’s ways rather than our culture?

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

What is core to your identity? You might begin an introduction with your name, job, number of kids, place where you grew up, etc., but Paul tells us some of the most important aspects of our identity in verse 2. In this verse he identifies the church as those who are sanctified and called to holiness, and those who call on the name of the Lord. When is the last time you introduced yourself as sanctified? Probably never, and let us be honest, it would be rather weird, but as we think about ourselves, this is who we are. We have been set apart by God as his child, as his loved one, and as someone declared righteous. We have been made holy and only secondly are called to pursue holiness. Our identity as someone who has been sanctified should be reflected in practical ways in our lives. We do not try to earn the moniker of holy, but instead, seek to live up to who we are.

The language of “those…who call on the name of our Lord” speaks to the fact that we are in a relationship with Jesus. As in all our relationships, communication with God should be evident and prevalent. We should be calling out to him in every circumstance of life. We should live according to who we are. Our identity is not ultimately in any of the transitory things of earth but is based on our eternal relationship with Christ. He is the one we need to look to and in whom we need to remain rooted.

Father God, thank you that you have made me holy and through the work of Christ I can always draw near to you. Amen. 

How can you more deeply root your identity in Christ than the things of this world?

Romans 16:10-27

When we enter a relationship with Jesus, we also have a relationship with the church. The moment we are born again, we are born into a new family. Throughout Romans we have seen the importance and value of relationships, and Paul ends his letter by highlighting this same truth. Are you living out of this reality, that relationships with people are an essential part of the Christian life?

Notice the number of greetings in Romans 16. They are to greet men, women, Gentiles, Jews, young people and older ones, socially elite, and poor. As the church we are siblings with people who are very different from us. This diversity is a beautiful part of God’s family and should be evident in the way we love all people. Fighting against us is Satan who is always working to bring division. God calls us to unity and love, while Satan is seeking to destroy everything that is good and beautiful. Therefore, we must constantly guard against anything that destroys relationships. We need to fight against gossip, hatred, dissension, lying; instead pursue truth, love, and unity. These are the values of our family, so we should make sure they are evident in our lives and in our relationships.

Father God, help our church to experience the unity Christ died to bring. Help us to love and serve each other well. Help us be a beacon of love and acceptance of all people in a world of hatred and lies. Amen. 

What practical steps can we take to ensure our greetings make everyone feel wanted in God's family?