The Big Picture: God’s Viewpoint

The Big Picture: God’s Viewpoint. (Ps 115:2 & 3) Frances Schaeffer stated:  “the basic problem of Christians in this country in the last 80 years or so, in regard to society and in regard to government, is that they have seen things in bits and pieces instead of in totals. They have gradually become disturbed … Read more

1 Corinthians 13: The Greatest Gift – Love

I Corinthians 13:  The Greatest Gift- Love Although this is a wonderful chapter about love, we must not disconnect it from its context. Paul is still dealing with the problems in the church at Corinth. Specifically, Paul is addressing the abuse of the gift of tongues, (eloquent speaking), divisions, envy of other’s gifts, selfishness which … Read more

1 Corinthians 12: Part 2 – Opening The Gifts

I Cor.12: Part 2- Opening the Gifts At Christmas time, we always put all the gifts out under the tree and then hand them out to everyone. Not everyone gets the same gifts, for each gift was selected especially for that person. Our gifts are for our family.  As our family has grown, the gifts … Read more

1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts

I Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts Now before we begin our study of spiritual gifts, let us look at the right approach and the right attitude regarding the Lords’ Supper, as Paul instructed in the last part of I Cor. 11.   For just as they had abuses of this tradition in Paul’s day in Corinth, we … Read more

1 Corinthians 11: Focus on the Family

I Corinthians 11: Focus on the Family Paul commends the church in Corinth for remembering him and holding to his teachings, thereby keeping the traditions, just as he passed on to them.  In this section of his letter, Paul addresses two traditions in worship- one was about headship – the principle for governing the people … Read more

1 Corinthians 10: Part 2; The Apprenticeship

I Corinthians 10: Part 2: The Apprenticeship All of a sudden I begin to realize what Paul is getting at with his examples of Israel and their sins in the desert following their miraculous delivery out of Egypt- the underlying, dominant theme is the danger of idolatry.  In verse 7, Paul warns us to not … Read more

1 Corinthians 10: A History Lesson

I Corinthians 10: A History Lesson Paul was a student of the Old Testament and Jewish history, as this was all he had for the New Testament was being written by Paul and the others under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us regarding the Gospel, it was not given to him by … Read more

1 Corinthians 9: Finding Buried Treasure

I Corinthians 9:  Finding Buried Treasure Paul has given the church at Corinth and all of us principles for making wise decisions. The Word of God is our source of wisdom and we are exhorted to ‘search for her (wisdom) like hidden treasure.  Treasure being the key word in today’s lesson. I love the story … Read more

1 Corinthians 8 – Making Wise Decisions

I Corinthians 8- Making Wise Decisions One of the areas of concern and controversy was the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. Although this specific issue is not a concern of Christians today, the underlying question pertains to Christian liberty, especially in questionable areas.    Paul will in this next section of his letter give us … Read more

1 Corinthians 7: The Greater Things

I Corinthians 7: The Greater Things Paul had received a letter, a written report from the household of Chloe, requesting counsel from Paul regarding several troubling subjects and problems. The church was experiencing: quarrels and divisions which were splitting the church; sexual immorality, including a very public act of sexual immorality of a believer living … Read more

1 Corinthians 6: Looking for Loopholes

I Corinthians 6:  Looking for Loopholes The story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah revealed how devastating the loss of testimony of a carnal believer can impact not only the church but the community in which they live.  The church of Corinth was losing its testimony, its witness to a sexually immoral society.  When you … Read more

1 Corinthians 5: Church Discipline’s Purpose

I Corinthians 5: Church Discipline’s Purpose The letter to the church in Corinth is a perfect letter for the church today in the 21st century, especially in America.  We live in a sex-saturated society which loves wisdom as did the church in Corinth in Paul’s day.   In the 21st century those who think they are … Read more

1 Corinthians 4: Christian Ministry

I Corinthians 4: Christian Ministry In last week’s lesson in I Cor. 3, Paul presented three pictures of the church:  the family of God; the field of God, in which we are co-laborers; and the building of God, of which we are building upon the foundation which Jesus Christ has laid with materials which will … Read more

1 Corinthians 3: Making America Great Again!

I Corinthians 3: Making America Great Again! Paul uses three illustrations in this portion of his letter to the church as he compares the church to: A family, where the goal is for children to grow up, maturity. A field, where the goal is quantity, a fruitful harvest. A building, where the goal is to … Read more

1 Corinthians 2:

I Corinthians 2: In last week’s lesson , Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth and to us, stated this important truth:  “ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (NIV) … Read more

1 Corinthians 1: It’s Still the Cross

  I Corinthians I: It’s Still the Cross. The city of Corinth was one of the chief cities of Greece. Its population including slaves was estimated to be approximately 650,000.  It was a very affluent city and culture. Corinth was located between two harbors and was a crossroads of travelers and traders. It also was … Read more

Job 38 – 42: The Beginning of Knowledge

Job 38-42: The Beginning of Knowledge

Is your God a “Big God” or a “Little God”? Now Paul tells us in Romans 11: 33: “Oh, the depth of riches of both the wisdom and judgment of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.”

Categories Job

Job 29 – 37: Learning to Think The Right Way About God

Job 29 – 37: Learning to Think The Right Way About God Job 29:  YESTERDAY- ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY. “ How I long for the months gone by when God watched over me; when His lamp shone upon my head and by His light I walked through darkness. “ It is natural … Read more

Categories Job

Job 24 – 28: Why, God?

Job  24-28:  Why, God? Do you notice how many questions Job has?  And his questions are directed to God.  Why God? “Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know Him look in vain for such days? “Job 24: 1, 2 We want answers to life’s questions, especially when life … Read more

Categories Job

Job 20 – 23: Get A Grip!

Job 20-23: Get A Grip! ZOPHAR Job cannot change these men’s minds and they will not change the subject. So we continue with more of the same. Zophar is telling Job the following: Wicked do not live long. Pleasures of the wicked are temporal. God’s judgment falls hard on the wicked. This is the whole … Read more

Categories Job

Job 18 & 19: Words

Job 18 & 19:  Words The discussions continue, and the accusations continue in the same vein.  Both Bildad and Job state: ‘how long will you continue with these words…’  Round two is simply more of round one with the heat of the insults and anger and frustration increasing.   They need a “time-out” and I believe … Read more

Categories Job

Job 15 & 16: The Wager

Job 15 & 16:  The Wager Wager is a more formal word for a bet; to gamble, to lay odds on. It is an agreement between two parties in which each party tries to guess what will happen in a certain situation. The person who guesses right wins something; the person who guesses wrong loses … Read more

Job 13 & 14: HOPE FLOATS

Job 13 & 14:  HOPE FLOATS Job continues his reply to his three accusers. Job says: “My eyes haves seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.”   Job says I have understanding of God and I do not need to be … Read more

Categories Job

Job 11: A Rocky Balboa Moment

Job 11:  A Rocky Balboa Moment We all loved the movie: “Rocky” with its inspirational theme, underdog against champion, a modern day, David vs. Goliath story.  We love those stories and are inspired by them. And life comes at us pretty hard sometimes, like Apollo came at Rocky.  But Rocky was determined to get up … Read more

Categories Job