1 Corinthians 6:1-11

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

-1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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The Corinthians struggled with many different social issues, and in this case, dealing with conflicts between each other and how to settle them. It appears that they turned to worldly ways of settling conflicts and lawsuits, going to judges and courts that were not necessarily related to God's ways.

Today, we see people constantly turning to secular ways when dealing with conflict. Whether it is taking legal action, going behind people's back, or even physical harm, we humans naturally look for ways to get what we want or to seek what we think to be justice. Furthermore, when in conflict, we often try to find ways to free ourselves from fault or blame, trying to push it onto someone else or to settle the matter by creating a "lawsuit".

Paul sees the Corinthians struggles with this matter, and asks in verse 7 "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" They had resorted to cheating and doing wrong to try to seek their version of justice, even to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! But Paul reminds us of the bigger picture and the dangers of falling into sin, but also reminds us and the Corinthians that this lifestyle should be something of the past as Jesus has already provided justice and freed us from sin.

It's so easy to turn to our own ways to deal with conflicts that it can prevent us from remembering our identity in Christ. The world has many "solutions" to our issues that may seem great, but God reminds us that His ways are always best. We can look to Jesus's characteristics and practice humility and love to settle issues, rather than only doing more harm to others and to ourselves. This will not only help us get through our conflicts, but will also help unbelievers and those around us see Christ alive and working in us through the way we respond.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

-1 Corinthians 2:1-16

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This passage highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in our salvation and our transformation.  The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity.  In Christianity, we believe that God is one god but three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  They are all God but they are three separate persons.  I know, it’s confusing and a wonderful mystery.  We’ll talk about how beautiful the Trinity actually is at a later devotional.

But just know now that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity.  And His job is to change our hearts.  This passage reminds us that our desire to seek God and to accept His salvation requires the help of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us that desire and that yearning for God.  Without the Holy Spirit, we would run away from God.

Knowing this should produce humility, gratitude, and grace within us.  It produces humility because we know that our desire for Jesus didn’t even come from ourselves but from the Holy Spirit.  It produces gratitude because we’re so happy and grateful that the Holy Spirit moved in our hearts so that we can know God.  And lastly, it produces grace because it helps us to show mercy and grace toward those who don’t know God because we know we are no different from them were it not for the help of the Holy Spirit.

Does your faith embodies humility, gratitude, and grace?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[c]

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d]

-1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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Recently, a few of my friends were discussing their interactions with one of their classmates.  This classmate was virulently anti-religious, particularly toward Christianity.  Hypocrisy, the foolishness of faith, etc. were all the reasons brought up in their discussions.

I want to be careful because I don't want to be dismissive of criticisms of Christianity, particularly of us, the followers.  It's true we struggle with hypocrisy—every Christian does, but so does every human being who's a sinner.  And it's true, there are times when we attribute things to "just faith" when God requires us to use our brains.  He did create reason and logic.  They're not antithetical to Christian faith.  In fact, some of the smartest people in the world have used reason and logic to argue for Christianity.

But this passage does tell us that we can only find God in humility.  Only when we admit that our reason and logic can go so far, can we begin to open the doors for the possibility of a relational God.

Likewise, when we share the truth of God, we ought to do so in humility as well.  We didn't come to know God because we are smarter or wiser than others, but simply by God's grace and mercy.  That's it.  There is no boasting in the Christian faith.  Only gratitude.

Are you approaching your friends who are curious about Christianity or even fight against Christianity with humility?

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

- 1Cor1:1-9

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Today we start the book of corinthians. To give a little background as we start to dig into Corinthians, Paul is addressing a group of people in Corinth who have accepted the good news of Christ and are now trying to understand what it means to be Christians. This book provides us a bit more insight on what early Christians were like then and Paul addresses their strengths and weaknesses as we read through his letters to the Corinthians. 

 

He starts his letter with thanksgiving to our God for the faithful people in Corinth. It is clear in Paul’s greeting that the people he’s addressing have already accepted Christ and he is thanking God for the grace he has given them through Christ. In this opening statement, we can already see many fundamental truths about being a follower of Christ. Paul mentions that their faithfulness has shown that Christ is among them. He also tells us that God gives us strength in our faith and that He is faithful and calls us to be in fellowship with his son Jesus Christ. 

 

I think even from the very beginning of Paul’s letter he’s already giving us the basics of what it means to be a Christian. He makes it clear that God has already provided us everything that we need and that we don’t need to earn his love and grace because he has already freely given it to us. We just have to fully surrender ourselves to Jesus and be in fellowship with him. 

Romans 15:22-33

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

-Romans 15:22-33

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Do you have any friends or family who live far away? Maybe relatives who live overseas, friends you met at summer camp, or people you know that have moved away. If you are close to those people, I'm sure you've felt a longing to see them again, hoping to once again experience those relationships or community you had with those people.

We read in this passage that Paul had been longing to see his friends in Rome, and he is now planning to visit them. However, it appears that although he would be able to visit, his final destination is still elsewhere, in this case in Spain. Furthermore, Paul also has a task to do in Jerusalem which he would need to address first before venturing to Rome and Spain.

Having our own agendas and desires to go places or see people are great and help us plan our futures. We as human being will always have longings to see friends and family, especially if they are far away and we haven't seen them in a while. However, we learn from Paul that although he yearns to see his fellow Romans, he still understands his priority and calling to do what God has called him to do, which would be to address the matters in Jerusalem and continue his ministry into Spain. 

This didn't mean Paul would be unable to connect with his friends though. Not only was he going to find time to still visit, but we see that Paul urges them to connect with him by praying for him, praying for his journey before reconnecting in person. Paul reminds us of the importance of being spiritually connected with our friends and family, especially when we are unable to be physically connected. Often times you may see or hear missionaries or church groups asking for prayers when they set off on a trip. This may be the most important thing christians can ask for when we become distant with others. However far we may venture, we can still always be joined together through our prayers and fellowship with God.

Romans 15:14-21

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,
    and those who have never heard will understand.”

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Paul has stated again and again that he is a minister to the Gentiles and not just to the Jews. In this passage he spends more time describing in detail on the how. Today we're going to break things down verse by verse because the way that Paul describes his ministry to Gentiles is something we can model in our ministry anywhere. 

In verses 15-16 Paul talks about how his goal is to minister to the Gentiles so that they themselves may present worthy sacrifices. In Young Life we try to accomplish the same to the ones we minister to. We want to equip them to so they themselves have a relationship with God. 

Verse 17 Paul vocalizes the proper pride that all ministers of the faith should have. In ministry one can often be in a position of authority and it is an easy temptation to let the power you have lead to pride. Although pride in this regard is wrong and damaging, it doesn't mean we shouldn't have pride at all, it just needs to be put in the right place. Christ Jesus, Paul states, is our reason to be proud. As ministers, there are times where it can be tiring, but lift your head up! Be proud of the God we serve and on whose behalf we present this Gospel. Yes it can be tiring work but it is work that we should be proud of because it is work done for God. 

In ministry there's also the temptation to mix in our own or outside thoughts into the Gospel when we present it to others. Although contextualizing and presenting the Gospel in our voice in a way others can understand is important, we have to be cautious because of the danger of diluting or even corrupting the Gospel presentation. Paul in verse 18-19 says simply that he presents nothing more than what Christ has presented to him. 

Finally in ministry you unfortunately too often see churches or fellowships stepping on each others toes, fighting for the same group of people or stealing members from others. Paul says in the last 2 verses and even quotes scripture that we actively tries to preach where others haven't so avoid this conflict. 

In these few verses, Paul just states some seemingly simple steps he takes in his ministry. Unfortunately as simple as it all seems, these truths are some of the most commonly forgotten and lead to some of the most common pitfalls in ministry. While these are not explicit warnings, we need to pray that we can emulate Paul's ministry to the Gentiles as we minister to whomever God has called us to minister to and never forget these truths.