Tag: 1 Corinthians

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Different, but the Same (1 Corinthians 11:2–16)

georgepwood

My wife is an excellent sermon critic. She cuts through rhetorical folderol, long-winded illustrations, and abstract theologizing like a hot knife through butter. And she does it with a simple question: What do you want me to do? I think of her question when I read 1 Corinthians 11:2–16. Commentators disagree on the details of this passage[i]. For example: Paul uses the word head—Greek, kephale—metaphorically in verse 3, where he writes: “the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Does kephale denote “authority over” or “source … Continue reading Different, but the Same (1 Corinthians 11:2–16)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Is Organized Religion Worth the Effort?

georgepwood

Is organized religion worth the effort? For me, this question arises at this point in our study of 1 Corinthians because we are about to examine three topics that, for different reasons, may turn off modern readers. The first topic concerns the physical appearance of Christian men and women as they pray and prophesy during the church service (11:2-16). The second concerns how the Corinthians abused the Lord’s Supper by failing to provide for the physical needs of their poorest members (11:16-33). And the third topic concerns how love requires that people exercise their spiritual gifts in a way that … Continue reading Is Organized Religion Worth the Effort?

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Permissible, But Not Beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1)

georgepwood

The Daily Word will begin after the following book review blurb… __________ Alister McGrath, The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010). $22.00, 210 pages. Recently, so-called “new atheists” have been making loud noises about how stupid and wicked religion is. Richard Dawkins thinks belief in God is a “delusion” to be replaced by scientific thinking. Daniel Dennett views religion as a “spell” that needs to be broken. Sam Harris longs for “the end of faith,” whose absolutism he thinks leads only to violence. And Christopher Hitchens argues that “religion poisons … Continue reading Permissible, But Not Beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word1 Comment

What Does Communion Look Like to You? (1 Corinthians 10:14-17)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 10:14–22, Paul argues that Christians cannot participate in the Lord’s Supper and eat idol-food at religious feasts in pagan temples. Why? Because the former is “a participation in the blood [and body] of Christ,” while the latter makes the eaters “participants with demons.” This devotional will focus on the former. The next devotional will focus on the latter. Regarding the Lord’s Supper, Paul writes: Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the … Continue reading What Does Communion Look Like to You? (1 Corinthians 10:14-17)

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Participation in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:14–16)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 10:14–22, Paul writes: Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that a sacrifice … Continue reading Participation in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:14–16)

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A Way Out (1 Corinthians 10:11–13)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 10:11–13, Paul writes: These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. M. Scott Peck begins The Road Less Traveled with … Continue reading A Way Out (1 Corinthians 10:11–13)

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Four Sinful Behaviors (1 Corinthians 9:6–10)

georgepwood

The Daily Word for 1 Corinthians 9:6-10 will begin after the following book review blurb. ______________________________ Gabe Lyons, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (New York: Doubleday, 2010). $19.99, 240 pages. American Christians live in a transitional age. Christian America is dead. American society is increasingly pluralistic, postmodern, and post-Christian. How should American Christians respond to this new cultural reality? To read my complete review of The Next Christians, go here. If you’d like to subscribe to receive my book reviews via email, go here. The subscription will go live when you respond to … Continue reading Four Sinful Behaviors (1 Corinthians 9:6–10)

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Eight Terrifying Words (1 Corinthians 10:1–5)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 10:1–5, Paul writes: For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. I grew up in a Christian home. I … Continue reading Eight Terrifying Words (1 Corinthians 10:1–5)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Rights or Responsibilities? (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 8:1–10:11, Paul examines the practice of Christians eating food sacrificed to idols. In the ancient world, people sacrificed animals to the gods. They gave some of the meat to the priests, and they consumed some of the meat in a religious feast at the temple. The priests sold leftover meat in the public market, which was then consumed in private homes. Chapter 8 lays the theological and ethical foundation for Paul’s argument, while chapter 10 builds a house of practical application. At first, chapter 9 appears to be a digression from the main argument, but it is … Continue reading Rights or Responsibilities? (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

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Means and Ends (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)

georgepwood

What would you change about yourself in order to share the gospel with other people? Paul answers that question for himself in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the … Continue reading Means and Ends (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)