Flexibility and Change
God wants us to be firm in our intentions and purposes, but He is not looking for rigidity. Plans will get changed, but if we have made them in good faith, we can trust Him through the disruption and see His good purposes prevail.
The Cycle of Comfort
God never promised us a trial-free life. But He does promise to be right there with us in our troubles, encouraging us and ultimately delivering us from all our afflictions. He is teaching us to rely on Him and to pray for one another, leading to a great increase in thanksgiving.
Saving the Best Words for Last
A church that is motivated by Christlike love will give generously, stand firm in the faith, and honor and follow godly leaders. Paul concludes his first letter to the church at Corinth by stressing that everything we do should be done in love.
Motivations from the Resurrection
Christ's victory over death will be fully realized when our bodies are raised and changed into the likeness of His resurrection body. This certain hope not only gives us assurance for the future but also motivates us to serve the Lord now.
Everything Depends on the Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact, but it is not simply a historical fact. It is an essential part of the biblical gospel, and it is the assurance of a coming resurrection of all who believe in Christ.
Rules for Speaking in Tongues
When self-promotion and disorder enter a church's worship, the worship is greatly diminished. The Bible allows for great variety in worship, but it also gives important guidelines to ensure that the Lord is truly honored in our worship.
Guiding Principles for the Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
Spiritual gifts can be abused, misused, and misunderstood, even to the point of distracting us from the one who gave them. The apostle Paul gives us an important reminder that God's gifts are not toys for us to use as we desire but tools for us to use for His glory.
The Love Chapter
Many of the problems we face in the church and in our personal lives will be resolved by simply living lives that consistently manifest the love of God. What does that look like? The apostle Paul tells us as he describes the way of love for us in 1 Corinthians 13.
Spiritual Gifts
We have been placed in the church, the body of Christ, so we can exercise the gifts the Spirit has given each of us for the common good of the whole church. We are all important, but we are not all-important in the Lord's plan for His church.
Head Coverings and Communion
To glorify the Lord as we are called to do, our worship must align with biblical truth and principles and come from humble hearts that are right with Him. We must examine our hearts for sin and measure our actions by God's Word.