Two year Bible reading program.

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:21 Understanding to grow in Pouring ourselves out for Christ is worth it. That's the point of this section on the resurrection (15v30-32, 58). It seems some were doubting Christ was truly raised. Paul is adamant that he was as he was seen by numerous witnesses. He is also clear that believing this is essential to saving faith. It is to believe that Jesus is now reigning on high, and will one day destroy death. Although, like seeds, our bodies will be buried in the ground, they will therefore be raised to immortality. The illustration of the seed stresses who we are then will still be us, but far far more glorious. No matter what happens as we serve Christ, then, this future is certain. And so ...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:20 Understanding to grow in The gifts of prophecy and tongues are the focus here. Christians differ in what they understand them to be. Is prophecy insightful preaching, a clear message from God by vision, or just the communication of something he brings to mind? Is tongues a miraculous ability to speak in a heavenly language or a foreign language? Whatever one's conclusions, two principles should govern their use like all else. The first is love. It is this that causes the Christian to stand out, not the exciting nature of their gift. It is seen in a Christlike bearing with others and acting for their good not one's own. In a church where particularly gifted people might look down on othe...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:19 Understanding to grow in Local churches are subsets of the worldwide family of God. And reflecting family life there will always be a degree of informailty to them. But in being "of God" there is also to be order and reverence. That is Paul's concern here. Scholars say that it is extremely hard to properly grasp and apply what is being said in 11v1-16. The point is probably that men and women should signal their gender by following whatever cultural norms of dress go with it. This is to uphold the order of creation. In our day when gender is being so confused we can see its wisdom. What follows is an affirmation of receiving the Lord's Supper with a reverent acknowledgment of ...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:18 Understanding to grow in Some were opposing the apostle Paul. So he affirms the establishing of the Corinthian church as the proof of his apostleship, and defends his ministry by pointing out that, although it is right for preachers to be paid, he has preached for free so that nothing would hinder the gospel. Indeed, Paul is prepared to let go of his preferences and take on the cultural trappings of those he is trying to reach if it will bring more to faith. The lesson is to be ready to do anything we can to maximise the spread of the gospel. But there is one qualifier: Paul would not sin. He was still under "the law of Christ." This probably refers to the principles of Old Testament ...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:17 Understanding to grow in The future return of Christ impacts everything. Paul continues to let it govern our perspective. It means that those God gifts with the ability to control their sexual passions do well not to marry so they can be undivided in their devotion to Christ. Yet Paul repeatedly stresses that it is nevertheless right and good for people to marry, and that Christians should choose a spouse who is "in the Lord" (7v39). Those who do marry should then honour God in their marriage. They should give themselves sexually to one-another as an expression of their belonging to one-another and to guard against temptation. They should not divorce, and if they do seperate, remain u...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:16 Understanding to grow in Every church has issues that need addressing. There were many in Corinth, and Paul addresses each with the eternal perspective. First, some are putting down Paul's ministry. In response, he affirms that his concience is clear in the light of the final judgment, urging his hearers to imitate his example of suffering for Christ. Second, the church is tolerating sexual immorality by a member. Paul speaks of Christ being specially present when the church gathers, and commands that at that time they are to put the man out of the fellowship in order to keep the church from being corrupted by him and bring him to repentance so that he is saved at Christ's return. Third...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 17:15 Understanding to grow in What sort of church leaders should we seek out? What sort of preaching? The apostle Paul writes this letter around 55AD to a church planted in Corinth around three years earlier. It seems factions were quarreling within the church as to who they followed as the greater minister - Paul, Apollos, Peter or even Christ. Paul's point is that a leader's clever wisdom, ability to perform miracles, or skilful preaching means very little. These are the things the world esteems. But what really matters is whether leaders speak about "Christ and him crucified," relying on the power of the Spirit to bring that message home. This is the gospel. It is despised by th...