Connecting with God Personally, God's People, and God's Purposes.

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In preparation for further appeals, Paul starts with the understanding that we are the spiritual descendants of Israel. Just like Israel, we have the presence of the Spirit, baptism into God's family, and spiritual food and drink. And just like for Israel -- it isn't enough. God offers us everything we need but we still need to respond faithfully to God's invitation.

Israel, Our Ancestors (1 Corinthians 10:1-5)

At various times, some Christians have forbidden alcohol, gambling, dancing, smoking, and numerous other behaviors -- often because of the harms that are sometimes seen. Once again, how do we lean into sacrificial love rather than hiding behind indiscriminate liberty or inflexible legalism?

Liberty, Legalism, and Love - Part 2 (1 Corinthians 8:9-13)

Is it ok to eat meat sacrificed to idols? This question might initially seem irrelevant to our context but is it? In today's world, don't we regularly argue about behaviors that seem perfectly ok to some people but clearly offensive or sinful to others? How do we navigate a path of love rather than steering toward indiscriminate liberty or legalism?

Liberty, Legalism, and Love (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

Paul is very concerned to teach people how to address challenges and answer questions with a Jesus-centered mindset. In the end, the question of marriage vs. singleness is not one of personal happiness but the opportunity to serve God and one another. 
 
If you're curious about the archer's paradox: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7zewtuUM_0 
(skip to 57 seconds if you want to jump to the explanation)

Paul is very concerned to teach people how to address challenges and answer questions with a Jesus-centered mindset. In the end, the question of marriage vs. singleness is not one of personal happiness but the opportunity to serve God and one another.

If you're curious about the archer's paradox:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7zewtuUM_0
(skip to 57 seconds if you want to jump to the explanation)

First Things First (1 Corinthians 7:32-40)

Paul tells us that we are building the temple, the very house of God. This house is not made with physical bricks. Rather, it is made up of us -- the Church, the people of God. Flawed but deeply loved by God, the Church's flaws need to be identified, but always with the intent to build it up, not to tear it down.

Built to Last (1 Corinthians 3:12-17)

What if our goal and mission is something outside of our power to accomplish? Like a gardener, we can create good conditions for growth but we cannot make anything actually grow -- only God can do that. As a builder, we can build only on the foundation of Jesus. Even Apollos and Paul were not essential, only Christ. God  invites us to play a limited but important role.

Do Your Job! But What's My Job? (1 Corinthians 3:5-11)

Babies are so cute, but not when they're actually fully-grown adults! The Corinthians were divided because they each thought themselves so wise but Paul makes clear that their selfish divisions prove that they are more like helpless little children. As Paul will famously say later (1 Cor 13:11), it is time grow up and put away childish things. 
 
Note: An unedited video was uploaded earlier by mistake. This is the corrected upload.

Babies are so cute, but not when they're actually fully-grown adults! The Corinthians were divided because they each thought themselves so wise but Paul makes clear that their selfish divisions prove that they are more like helpless little children. As Paul will famously say later (1 Cor 13:11), it is time grow up and put away childish things.

Note: An unedited video was uploaded earlier by mistake. This is the corrected upload.

Quit Being Such a Baby! (1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4)

Many people, then and now, claim to know some secret principle or truth that makes sense of the world. Some groups actually guard these supposed secrets carefully in order to maintain control of their followers. The God of the Bible is different, freely disclosing this "secret" wisdom to all who desire it. The secret is not new information -- it's the ability to see the same information in a new light, a light that comes from God's self-revelation through the Spirit.

The Secret (1 Corinthians 2:6-13)

The people who met Jesus were avidly looking for the Messiah yet failed to recognize him. Why? Today's passage contains a clue. They had put their hopes in a conquering king rather than the spiritual liberator that God knew they needed.

Are we in danger of missing Jesus? (Advent 10 - Zechariah 6:12-13)

God promises to be with us, even granting the sign of a child who would be named Immanuel, "God is with us." This promised sign was given during the time of the King Ahaz but pointed forward to an ultimate fulfillment in Jesus (Matthew 1:23). God promises to be with us but are we available to be with God? What does it look like for you to accept the invitation to be with God?

Saying "yes" to God's invitation (Advent 5 - Isaiah 7:10-14)

People often long for the presence of God, but what if the presence of God were too much to handle? Moses promised that God would send a prophet to serve as a mediator. What no one expected was a prophet who would speak for God because he actually was God in the flesh (Acts 3:22).

A prophet like Moses (Advent 3 - Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

When we hear the word "peace" in a spiritual context, we often think of an inner state of imperturbable serenity. Who wouldn't want that? But Paul is asking for so much more when he wishes his readers peace, and his prayerful longing contains a call to action for us.

Peace be  with you? What's that? (Ephesians 6:21-24)

Paul here urges us to resist the lies that mislead so many. Sadly, many have reason to see those in the Church as more gullible rather than less. We are encouraged to speak truth. It is tempting to either speak at people or not at all. Instead, we are encouraged to speak the truth, but always in love.

Knowing and speaking the truth... in love (Ephesians 4:14-15)

The image of ascending and descending reminds us of when Moses ascended the mountain in order to bring us the Law. Similarly, Jesus ascends to heaven to bring us the Spirit. This new exodus from sin, death, and division can feel like a sacrifice, but it is an exodus that leads us to freedom and life in Christ.

A new exodus (Ephesians 4:7-10)

Paul reminds us here of the continuing theme of this letter and our mission for which he is in prison -- that we are called to oneness in Christ, and each of us is given a gift and a vital part to play.

A unity that celebrates diversity (Ephesians 4:4-7)

Paul spells out, once again, the Gospel mission given to us. It is a mission that is so often forgotten or misunderstood that repetition is wholly justified. Paul, the unlikely carrier of this message, invites us to join together in boundary-breaking unity in order to display the richly varied, multicolored (v10) wisdom of God.

The multicolored wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:1-11)

When Paul speaks of the Satan, is he invoking a myth, a metaphor, or is he speaking of a fallen angel? The Bible and Jesus himself treat Satan as a real enemy, but one whose attacks God will ultimately turn for our good.

Speak of the Devil.... (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Paul concludes his prayer and thanksgiving by drawing our attention to the power in Christ, a name that is above every other name (v21). The Ephesians had already experienced the power of Jesus' name, a power that not only cast out evil spirits (Acts 19:13) but brought divided people together (Acts 19:17). The name of Jesus still has that same power, to liberate us from darkness and draw all people together.

The power of the name (Ephesians 1:21-23)

The book of Acts ends with Paul in prison, continuing to reach out to his Jewish brothers and sisters and anyone else who would listen to him. But why does Acts end there? Why not continue on to Paul's trial and eventual execution? The answer to that question has implications that might shape our lives even today.

Paul in prison, setting people free (Acts 28:23-31)

Finally arriving at Rome, Paul faces both good news and bad news. The bad news is that Paul was chained to a guard. The good news is that the guards were chained to Paul -- a captive audience! Paul has constantly encouraged the followers of Jesus to make the most of every opportunity and that is exactly what Paul does. What the world regards as bad news can become good news when Jesus is with us.

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