Scripture

I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worship idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

Observation

Paul had previously warned the Corinthians not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. He clarifies now that this was not about avoiding unbelievers who sin, but about those who claim to be believers but who continue to sin sexually, or are greedy, worship idols, are abusive, drink too much or cheat people.

It isn’t our responsibility to judge outsiders. God will do that. However, it is our responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. We must remove them from fellowship.

Application

We expect sinners to sin. It is the nature of sinners that they will sin. We would have to leave the world altogether to remain separate from such people. But, on the contrary, we should go out of our way to befriend people in order to lead them to Christ.

However, there is a special hardness of heart required to claim to be a follower of Christ, but still live in the old fleshly lifestyle of self- centred sin.

If a person is sinning regularly and consistently, then they are not following the way of Jesus and should not be a part of the fellowship.

There needs to be a process of discipline in the church whereby those who are living in a way that dishonours Christ are firstly shown the right way to live, but if this fails, they are excluded from the church.

This is hard, and needs to be done gently and with sensitivity. The aim must always be to restore to faith a person who has fallen.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that your love never fails. Even when we sin, you still love us. Please help me to live a life of holy dedication to you. Amen.

Scripture

Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.

Observation

Paul is shocked by the reports of sexual immorality that the church in Corinth is tolerating in their midst. In particular, there is a man in a sexual relationship with his own stepmother. Such behaviour is unheard of even among pagans.

The church should remove this man from the fellowship. They must call a meeting of the church and throw him out, handing him over to satan.

This sin is like a little yeast that spreads throughout the whole lump of dough. We are to be like the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Application

Paul was shocked that the Corinthian church boasted about their open-mindedness in tolerating a man sleeping with his stepmother. How much more would he be enraged by churches celebrating homosexual and transgender pastors and bishops?

The church in the West has really lost its way in terms of expecting certain lifestyle choices of its followers. We cannot expect the world to adopt our standards of morality, but we can certainly expect people who claim to be disciples of Jesus to conform to a level of holiness.

Paul says that people who engage in this kind of wilful sin and scandalous conduct should be thrown out of the church and handed over to satan. This is not a harsh judgement. The hope is that he will repent and escape the judgement that will certainly come on the day of the Lord.

Churches need to have methods of discipline which encourage people to walk in the ways of the Lord, but which avoid legalism.

Prayer

Lord, we fear being accused of unfairly judging people whose behaviour shows they are far from you. Help us, your followers, always walk in integrity and grace. Amen

Scripture

For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father.

Observation

Paul says his dedication to Christ makes him look like a fool. He works hard to support himself, he is patient, and he gently appeals to people, but he is treated like garbage.

He is not writing this to shame the Corinthian christians. Rather, he is warning them as his beloved children. They might have ten thousand teachers, but he is their only spiritual father.

Paul will come back to Corinth. Then he will find out whether their arrogant people have the genuine power from God or whether they just give pretentious speeches.

Application

We have many, many christian teachers- pastors, self-appointed teachers, internet and television experts. Teachers are great at imparting the knowledge of the Bible. Some of them are even right.

But we all need a spiritual father, someone who loves us, cares about us, and speaks truth to us.

A father, natural or spiritual, is important in helping a person to mature, and to keep us going through dark times as well as the good times. A father shows us how to walk with God and minister in the Holy Spirit.

In our individualistic culture, many christians are effectively spiritual orphans. They refuse correction and mentoring. They keep more mature people at a distance, refusing to let them get emotionally or relationally close.

Everyone needs a spiritual dad.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for my spiritual father. Please help me to father those you have entrusted to my care. Amen.

Scripture

My conscience is clear, bu that doesn’t prove I am right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

Observation

Apollos and Paul are just servants of Christ. Paul does not worry about how he might be evaluated by any human authority. It is the Lord who will judge Paul.

We must not make judgements about anyone before the Lord returns. Then the Lord will judge everyone, giving whatever praise is due.

We should not boast about one leader at the expense of others because we do not have the right to make these judgements.

Application

The heart is deceitful above all things. We are told to follow our heart, but this is a disastrous idea.

Even an apostle like Paul was nervous about trusting his own conscience. He says his conscience was clear, but in the end it is God who makes the judgement.

In all things, we should seek to be faithful to the Lord. I keep my eyes on my patch, doing the task that Christ has called me to. He will judge my faithfulness.

There is then no room for me to judge other people. I don’t see their motives or the reasons why they do things. Therefore I cannot judge them.

If a clear conscience proves nothing in me, how can I presume to judge others?

Prayer

Lord, please convert my conscience and all my thoughts to your purposes. Help me not to judge other leaders, but instead stay focused on the mission you have assigned to me. Amen.

Scripture

In the judgement day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

Observation

Christ is the foundation that we receive, and we are meant to build on that foundation. We can use whatever materials we want to build with, but it will be tested with fire on judgement day. If the work survives, we will receive a reward. If it is burned up, we will be saved, but like someone barely surviving.

All of us together are the temple of God. The Spirit of God dwells in us. If anyone attacks this temple, God will destroy them.

We must not boast about following a particular leader. Everything belongs to us; we belong to Christ; Christ belongs to God.

Application

The Bible is very clear that we are saved by grace not by works. God is not impressed by any good works that we can perform in order to cancel out our sins.

The Bible is also very clear that once we are saved, we are meant to serve the Lord in whatever way He directs us.

Paul uses the analogy of a building. Christ is the foundation, and we are called to construct something on that foundation. We can use whatever materials we like, but it will be tested by fire. Some will be rewarded, while others barely get into heaven by the skin of their teeth with nothing of eternal value.

What is the difference between the two types of people? It is simply obedience to the Lord.

If God is calling you to give everything away to be a missionary or a pastor or an evangelist, and you do it, that is building with silver and gold. But if God calls you to establish some business that yields great resources for the Kingdom, and you do it, that is also building with silver and gold. If you pour your life into raising your children and loving your neighbours, that is also building with silver and gold.

It is obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit that determines our reward in heaven.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to be faithful to you in everything, so that my efforts last into eternity. Amen.

Scripture

We understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Observation

Paul is not using words that come from human wisdom. He uses words that come from the Holy Spirit, spiritual language to express spiritual truths.

People who don’t know Jesus do not have the Holy Spirit, and so they cannot receive these spiritual truths. It all sounds like nonsense to them.

Those who have the Spirit of God can evaluate all things, but cannot themselves be evaluated. Nobody can know the thoughts of the Lord, but we have the mind of Christ,

Application

There are so many things that seem obvious to christian thinkers that seem like nonsense to unbelievers because their minds have been darkened by the devil.

One such thing is how can the universe exist without a creator? Non-christians assume it all just happened by itself. Everything came from nothing without a pre-existing creator. It seems silly to those who have faith, but it is the only true explanation possible for the unbeliever.

Similarly, nobody can understand the truth about sin, salvation, grace, the cross, the resurrection of all believers, and so on, unless God gives the understanding.

The Holy Spirit gives grace to understand the spiritual truths. He gives us words and ideas to express facts that cannot be understood with the natural, sinful mind.

There is an element of faith in this. Faith is the work we do in understanding the truth of the gospel, but it Is the Holy Spirit who make sit possible for us to understand,

Prayer

How awesome it is that we have the mind of Christ! Thank you Lord for sharing your thinking with me. Help me to have all of my actions informed by you. Amen.

Scripture

We have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given.

Observation

Paul speaks words of the wisdom of God. This wisdom is the mystery of God. The rulers of this world do not understand this, or they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

The Spirit of God searches all things and reveals God’s secrets to us. We have received God’s Spirit, and He can reveal to us the wonderful secrets of grace.

Application

The Holy Spirit is the least understood of God’s gifts. The Spirit is God Himself alive and active in our hearts.

When you committed your life to Jesus, you received the Holy Spirit.

We don’t have to figure things out on our own. The Holy Spirit teaches us.

We don’t have to struggle to understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit interprets it for us.

We don’t have to worry about the threats of tomorrow. The Holy Spirit has that covered.

We don’t have to know how to pray in every situation. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

I don’t have to worry about how to relate to my heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit is my counsellor and advocate.

The christian life can only be lived in the daily guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Yet many try to do it all themselves.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and fill me. Teach me about the wonderful things the Father has given. Be my guide and counsellor. Amen.

Scripture

My message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observation

When Paul came to the Corinthians, he did not convince them with clever speeches. He had resolved to speak only of Christ and the cross.

Paul came in weakness an trembling. He relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit, so that they would also trust in the power of God.

Application

It is so easy to put our reliance on human wisdom, human technology, and so on. As followers of Jesus, we should only put our trust in God.

I have no objection to using technology. It is easier to have my voice amplified than to project it across the room. Likewise, I make use of graphics, videos and presentations to help people focus on my message.

I don’t pin my ministry to multi-sensory productions because that puts the focus on the production not on Jesus.

For me, it’s all about Jesus. This is what Paul is saying also. Sure, we can use rhetorical methods and marketing techniques, but in the end it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people about sin and brings them to salvation.

Whatever part of life we are thinking about, our trust and our attention must be on Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, may I never get caught up in my own cleverness and abilities when I seek to serve you. Please help me to put you front and centre in all I do. Amen.

Scripture

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Observation

If God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent (v.19), where does this leave the so-called wise people? God saw to it that the world cannot know Him through human wisdom. The cross, then, is foolish to the Greek and offensive to the Jews. It does not make sense through human reasoning.

To those of us who are being saved, Christ is God’s wisdom and God’s power. God does things the world considers powerless, and uses them to bring glory to his name, and to destroy all the pretentious arguments of the world.

Application

Ever since I was a new baby in Christ, a teenager in a Youth Group, people have thought, “How wonderful it would be if this pop star/ movie icon/ celebrity became a christian! They would have such an influence.” People have been thinking this way for centuries, but it turns out to be wrong.

It is not the conversion of famous people that impresses the world. God’s secret weapon for His Kingdom is the ordinary people, those who are despised by the elites and influencers.

Revivals, awakenings, and other moves of the Holy Spirit are not led by celebrities and the cool crowd. Very few people would seriously check out the gospel just because some mega-star claims to be a christian.

You and I are God’s ambassadors. It is up to us to celebrate God’s gift of salvation and share it with our family and friends. As we do that, God will “bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for saving me through Christ’s death on the cross. This seems to be nonsense to the wise of the world, but it is your power and your wisdom. Amen

Scripture

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction, but we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Observation

Paul appeals for the Corinthians (and us) to live in harmony. There should be no quarrels amongst christians, and no faction revolving around celebrity pastors.

Christ has not been divided into factions. Nobody has been baptised into the name of Paul or Apollos.

Paul was not commissioned to baptise but to preach the Good News. This he does without clever words, but just with the centrality of the cross. The cross is foolish to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are being saved.

Application

It bemuses me the way that so-called “progressives” condemn christians for every form of prejudice and bigotry that can be imagined, but think Muslims are just wonderful and need to have their rights protected, even enhanced.

We hear a lot about Islamophobia, defined as an irrational fear or hatred of Muslims. Christophobia, which is far more prevalent, is never discussed.

Those who claim to hate religion generally hate christianity in particular, while tolerating other religions.

Only one religion in all the world has a cross at the centre, and a crucified saviour at its heart. It is the cross that is offensive above all else.

People like to think that they are OK, and not as bad as some paedophile or mass murderer. They don’t want to know that they are a sinner and need salvation.

The Good News is that Christ has paid the price for son once and for all. We don’t have to make sacrifices or do good deeds to prove to God that we are good enough. In Christ it is all done.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the cross. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for my sin. Amen.