1 CORINTHIANS (Letter 46, Larry Crabb’s 66 Love Letters)

I Never Give Up On My People: My Plan Will Succeed

We can believe that the end of the story God is telling is good, but it may be a stretch to believe that how He is getting us there is good.

C.S. Lewis worte ehtn his wife died: “I don’t think I’m in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not So ther’s no God after all, but So this is what God’ really like.”

By this point of reading the Bible we should be convinced that God has not promised to protect us in this life from things that scare the daylights out of us or to provide us with what we think we need to trust God. But what He has promised is to change us, to make us enought like His Son that we’ll be able to love Him and love otheres no matter what goes on in us or in our life, no matter what we struggle with or how many bad things happen to us.

If Paul couldn’t get through to the Corinthians, who’s going to get through to us?

Corinth was a pagan culture so the Corinthians who became Christians came into the church with a lot of baggage but we’ve got baggage too.

Paul continued to tell God’s story of love to quarrelsome, arrogant, and selfish people. Paul knew they were still living according to the saying that Corinthians loved to repeat: “All things are lawful for me”. But neither Paul nor God gave up on them.

Summary of what Paul was saying:

–Turn away from haughtiness, the wisdom of this world, and a spirit of entitlement.

–Deal decisively with blatant sin; resolve differences within the church community, not through the legal system; deny yourself the pleasures of sex outside marriage; let love for God drive your decision to marry or to remain single, and if you marry, let love for God and for your spouse control your sexual activity; and exercise your freedom, not go get your own way but for the common good.

–Spiritual leadership is an opportunity to serve, not to gain recognition. Joy depends on giving, not getting.

–Steer clear of every form of idolatry, blatant or suble.

–God longs to enjoy His people’s worship, to delight in their unselfish exercise of the gifts His Spirit has given them; to take pleasure in seeing His community, His way of relating, mirrored in their relationships; and to be honored in their genuine commitment to encourage each other without displaying themselves.

The climax of this letter is resurrection! Without resurrection, belief that a good story is unfolding now is impossible.

The change God brings about comes slowly. Only in dark nights will hope burn bright enough to sustain our faith and release His love.

1 CORINTHIANS:  From Ray Stedman

Click here for entire Bible Summary from Ray Stedman

to be completed

1 CORINTHIANS – David Jeremiah (Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible)

Key thought: Christians are to live more like citizens of heaven than citizens of earth, which requires uo to exhibit healthy hearts and united churches.

Key Verse: My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Key Action: Ask the Lord of the Church to restore the selfless love that only He can give and grow.