2 Corinthians 5:11-21 It is an impressive honor to be chosen as an ambassador to another country. The truth in 2 Corinthians 5 is that all Christians are ambassadors. We all represent one kingdom in the territory of another. We are to represent God as citizens of his kingdom but do it in the kingdom of this world. There may be times where this creates a tension in our lives, but our ultimate ident...

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 Where is your home? If you were asked this question, you might give your address, the city, the state or potentially just the country you live in, depending upon who is asking. Paul wants to give us the ultimate answer to this question in our reading today. He wants us to see that our final, eternal residence is to live with Christ in glorified bodies. We will live on Earth...

2 Corinthians 4:1-12 Commercials try to show off the best of a product. They don’t describe how it will soon be obsolete, how it will break after a few uses, or how it is simply a mediocre product. They try to hide reality to sell a product. Paul wants us to make sure that we do not present Jesus like these lying commercials.This passage calls us to present Jesus accurately and completely and not ...

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Throughout history God has revealed himself in clearer ways over time. This concept is called progressive revelation. God never contradicts what came before, but especially through Jesus, God revealed himself in a fuller, more complete way than he had previously done. This means if we have Jesus there is nothing else we need to look for or pursue. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul contr...

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 Are you smelly? No, I am not talking about needing to take a shower, but rather our need to smell like Jesus. When people get a whiff of us are they repulsed, or do they smell the fragrance of Christ. Paul stated that during his travels, he was used by God to "spread the aroma of the knowledge of him (Jesus) everywhere" (2 Cor. 2:14). Wherever Paul went, people could smell Je...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 i...

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...

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 fa...

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. Th...

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 n...

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, kno...

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 ...

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 ...

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 g...

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 l...

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 jo...

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 ...