SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Our gatherings as Jesus-followers ought to be edifying, inclusive and orderly. When the Corinthians met together, their focus was on having powerful, charismatic gatherings. Paul urges them to focus rather on having loving, edifying gatherings. Its great if you have a powerful personal encounter with God, but that is something you can…
Author: Norm
all you need is love
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always…
a motley crew
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. [1 Corinthians 12:11] Unknown to us, invisible to our eyes, the Spirit works in the church and the world, spreading out God’s gifts, working out God’s purposes, custom designing God’s church. Nothing…
update from Tim
Our son Tim is working with Life Challenge in Juarez, Mexico Hola, just a quick update on how things are going down here in Juarez, Mexico. These past 2 weeks have been interesting in dealing with a specific situation. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a married couple who are 18 and 19 years old, the…
God desires unity
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. [1 Corinthians 11:11] In this world, there are pressures that divide what God intended to be united. In this chapter Paul addresses the relationship between men and women, as well as between believers (as expressed in the church…
head-coverings for women?
Reading the opening words of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 can cause confusion or concern. Once again I have found The Message to be a helpful reading on a difficult passage, showing how Paul is speaking about cultural symbols in his time, and the meaning behind them: 1-2It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by…
todo poderoso
Its amazing how a song that I learned while in Mexico can still touch me deeply as I hear it. I do remember what some of the lines mean – its a great song! But the impact comes more from the memories associated with it, as we spent a week in Juarez, Mexico, and saw…
standing firm?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. [1 Corinthians 10:13] In this passage, I…
in order to reach…
For some reason, when I prepared this reading schedule, I assigned 1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Corinthians 9 to today (July 30). I have prepared two separate reflections for each chapter. Don’t forget to read the reflection on chapter 8 below. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily…
will others stumble?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these “weak ones.” [1 Corinthians 8:12, The Message] In this discussion about whether it is OK to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols (would it be OK to…