Greetings in the Lord,
The memory passage for 1 Corinthians 5 is;
1 Corinthians 5:6-7, 11 (ESV)
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
The outline theme is Correct Discipline in the Church.
The specific issue of discipline that Paul deals with at the beginning of chapter 5 is sexual immorality (though he gets to others later). The Cor church was either ignoring or celebrating an act of sexual immorality that was forbidden in OT law and the Roman law of the time. The body of believers should mourn, not celebrate, and Paul passes judgment on the guilty one through this letter. He calls for the congregation to remove the guilty man and turn him 'over to Satan' as discipline for his actions. But while Satan may punish the flesh, the goal of the discipline is to bring the guilty one back to repentance or at least save his soul.
The warning that follows in vv6-7 speaks to the cancerous nature of sin in the body of Christ; just a little leaven (yeast, a metaphor of sinfulness) affects the whole lump (church). Paul calls for them to cleanse (some translate 'purge') the old leaven to continue to live up to their status as 'unleavened' in Christ. This metaphor was very tangible to this audience as they were approaching Passover and the Festival of the Unleavened Bread. This festival is a yearly reminder of the Passoverprecedingg the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, but Paul reminds them that Christ is THE Passover Lamb that was sacrificed once and for all. The 'old leaven' of the flesh includes malice and evil, but the 'unleavened bread' of those in Christ include sincerity and truth.
The first eight verses deal with the means of discipline while the final four verses clarify the scope of who should be disciplined. Clearly there is immorality in the world all around us, but we have no grounds to discipline them. Butsomeonee who 'bears the name of brother' (who is in and has submitted to the church) and yet continues in sin (sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness, or swindling) should be removed from fellowship. They shouldn't even 'eat with such a one'.
As far as those outside the church who live in sin; God will judge them.
How does this affect my worship?
The five words in the middle of v7 challenge me. 'As you really are unleavened'. I stand before God as His adopted child because of the substitutionarysacrificee of Christ. He is my Passover Lamb. His blood was shed so that my soul might be saved. The challenge from Paul is that I walk in a manner that evidences my standing. I truly am forgiven and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb; live like it, walk like it, talk like it, and worship like it.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Jumping back to the first part of v7, we see the idea of 'cleansing out the old leaven'. The most affective way to get into someone's life and help them 'cleanse out the old leaven' is through a discipleship relationship. It is very difficult to sit across a table from someone and hide your heart. You may be able to hide in aworshipp service (although that shouldn't be) or a Sunday School class (which would be a bit harder) or a Small Group (if you really try), but it's hard to hide from the person sitting across that table asking you about more than sports scores and work. Healing and cleansing and growth happen in that context.
May your walk today be unleavened, as you really are,
Ethan
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
1 Corinthians 4
Grace to you, and peace,
Continuing in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthian church, we come to chapter 4. The memory passage for chapter 4 is;
1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 15-17 (ESV) 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
The outline theme is Correct Ministry of Christians.
This chapter begins with a very clear picture of Christ-followers; 'servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God' (4:1). This verse is key to understanding the correct position and role of Christ-followers. Humility is not having a low opinion of yourself, but a correct opinion of your self in relationship to God and others. Paul writes that apostles are 'servants' and 'stewards'. Not masters or owners, but ones who serve the Master and vessels who are used to obey and proclaim the message of the Owner. We apply this to ourselves through Paul's appeal in v16; 'I urge you, then, be imitators of me'. So we are to faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ and carry His message on earth until He returns. Paul does include a qualification for stewards; that they be trustworthy (1:2).
Verses 3-6 touch on the issue of proper judgment of yourselves and others. Paul argues that human judgment of you does not matter; even your own judgment of you. You may be completely innocent in your own eyes but the Lord is the only true Judge. So if we can't even judge ourselves, we should not spend time judging others. The Lord will judge when He comes (1:5) and nothing is hidden from His sight (Heb 4:13). Again in humility, Paul reminds them that this same standard applies to himself and Apollos; the leaders as well as the flock.
In the following verses, 7-13, Paul deals directly with the misguided priorities and aspirations of the Corinthian church. He reminds them that everything they have has been given to them, even though they might try to take credit for some of it. If God's plan were for them all to become rich and powerful, Paul would love to be rich and powerful with them. But he quickly reminds them of the path of the cross. Not wisdom, strength, and honor in the worlds eyes, but foolishness, weakness and disrepute. Paul says that they are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, homeless; we work hard with our hands and yet are reviled, persecuted, slandered and called scum and garbage. Preaching Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1:23); they do not understand and they do not accept the message or the messengers. THIS is the path of the cross; not glory and honor and riches on this earth.
Even with these harsh words and rebukes, Paul reminds them that his love for them is fatherly. It is for their own good that he admonishes them.
The memory passage gives us an interesting insight into Paul's view of ministry. The focus here is very familial. They have guides in Christ, but not many fathers in Christ. Paul led them to the Lord and taught them as children with spiritual milk (3:2). He is their 'father' in the faith (not confused at all with their Heavenly Father) through the Gospel. So he sent Timothy, another of his children in the Lord, to teach and remind them of Paul's ways in Christ; both his doctrine and behavior. Paul's teaching is not fickle or subjective, but true across the board in every place he lives and preaches. The same expectations apply to all churches and all believers, not just the Corinthians.
If people in the church were misbehaving because they thought Paul would never return, he reminds them that it is his desire to return if the Lord wills. And when he does, he will not rely on the power of his words, but on the power of God working through Him. As their father in Christ, he asks if they desire gentleness or discipline when he returns.
How does this affect my worship?
Worship leaders and worship pastors have a unique role in the 'stewardship of the mysteries of God'. We lead the people of God in praise and worship of God through song and expression. This is a powerful aspect of our being that can be easily manipulated or misdirected. When a worship service is about the music or the 'feeling' or the quality of the band it robs the glory from God and diminishes the mystery. I'm challenged today to make our worship More of Him and less of us. To be a trustworthy steward of God's mystery and a faithful servant of Christ, a worship leader must be subject to the work of Holy Spirit in preparation, rehearsal and every moment of leading the congregation. Never lose the wonder.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I have been graciously privileged to become someone's 'father in Christ' as well as being many peoples' 'guide in Christ' (4:15). Paul says that sometimes you plant and sometimes you water (3:6) but it is always God who gives the growth. As disciplemakers, sometimes you take a newly planted seed and nurture it; sometimes you must start with a field and plant the seeds yourself; and other times you may simply water an established plant for a while until it is prepared to produce on it's own. Depending on the people God places in your life, each aspect of discipleship may come up as you seek to be obedient to God. But always remember that God is the one who gives the growth, in you and the disciple, and to be faithful in whatever role He may have for you. He then, is the one who will reward you for your labor in His kingdom.
God's grace and peace to you today,
Ethan
Continuing in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthian church, we come to chapter 4. The memory passage for chapter 4 is;
1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 15-17 (ESV) 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
The outline theme is Correct Ministry of Christians.
This chapter begins with a very clear picture of Christ-followers; 'servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God' (4:1). This verse is key to understanding the correct position and role of Christ-followers. Humility is not having a low opinion of yourself, but a correct opinion of your self in relationship to God and others. Paul writes that apostles are 'servants' and 'stewards'. Not masters or owners, but ones who serve the Master and vessels who are used to obey and proclaim the message of the Owner. We apply this to ourselves through Paul's appeal in v16; 'I urge you, then, be imitators of me'. So we are to faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ and carry His message on earth until He returns. Paul does include a qualification for stewards; that they be trustworthy (1:2).
Verses 3-6 touch on the issue of proper judgment of yourselves and others. Paul argues that human judgment of you does not matter; even your own judgment of you. You may be completely innocent in your own eyes but the Lord is the only true Judge. So if we can't even judge ourselves, we should not spend time judging others. The Lord will judge when He comes (1:5) and nothing is hidden from His sight (Heb 4:13). Again in humility, Paul reminds them that this same standard applies to himself and Apollos; the leaders as well as the flock.
In the following verses, 7-13, Paul deals directly with the misguided priorities and aspirations of the Corinthian church. He reminds them that everything they have has been given to them, even though they might try to take credit for some of it. If God's plan were for them all to become rich and powerful, Paul would love to be rich and powerful with them. But he quickly reminds them of the path of the cross. Not wisdom, strength, and honor in the worlds eyes, but foolishness, weakness and disrepute. Paul says that they are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, homeless; we work hard with our hands and yet are reviled, persecuted, slandered and called scum and garbage. Preaching Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1:23); they do not understand and they do not accept the message or the messengers. THIS is the path of the cross; not glory and honor and riches on this earth.
Even with these harsh words and rebukes, Paul reminds them that his love for them is fatherly. It is for their own good that he admonishes them.
The memory passage gives us an interesting insight into Paul's view of ministry. The focus here is very familial. They have guides in Christ, but not many fathers in Christ. Paul led them to the Lord and taught them as children with spiritual milk (3:2). He is their 'father' in the faith (not confused at all with their Heavenly Father) through the Gospel. So he sent Timothy, another of his children in the Lord, to teach and remind them of Paul's ways in Christ; both his doctrine and behavior. Paul's teaching is not fickle or subjective, but true across the board in every place he lives and preaches. The same expectations apply to all churches and all believers, not just the Corinthians.
If people in the church were misbehaving because they thought Paul would never return, he reminds them that it is his desire to return if the Lord wills. And when he does, he will not rely on the power of his words, but on the power of God working through Him. As their father in Christ, he asks if they desire gentleness or discipline when he returns.
How does this affect my worship?
Worship leaders and worship pastors have a unique role in the 'stewardship of the mysteries of God'. We lead the people of God in praise and worship of God through song and expression. This is a powerful aspect of our being that can be easily manipulated or misdirected. When a worship service is about the music or the 'feeling' or the quality of the band it robs the glory from God and diminishes the mystery. I'm challenged today to make our worship More of Him and less of us. To be a trustworthy steward of God's mystery and a faithful servant of Christ, a worship leader must be subject to the work of Holy Spirit in preparation, rehearsal and every moment of leading the congregation. Never lose the wonder.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I have been graciously privileged to become someone's 'father in Christ' as well as being many peoples' 'guide in Christ' (4:15). Paul says that sometimes you plant and sometimes you water (3:6) but it is always God who gives the growth. As disciplemakers, sometimes you take a newly planted seed and nurture it; sometimes you must start with a field and plant the seeds yourself; and other times you may simply water an established plant for a while until it is prepared to produce on it's own. Depending on the people God places in your life, each aspect of discipleship may come up as you seek to be obedient to God. But always remember that God is the one who gives the growth, in you and the disciple, and to be faithful in whatever role He may have for you. He then, is the one who will reward you for your labor in His kingdom.
God's grace and peace to you today,
Ethan
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
1 Corinthians 3
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hello again, friends. The Chapter Memory Study continues this week in 1 Cor 3. As I have gone through this study I have often felt the need to 'brush up' on chapters that I've already studied. I focus on remembering the memory passages, but sometimes miss or forget the rest of the text. So at night I have started to read through the book that I am studying. But I read one chapter per night in stead of one chapter per week. I haven't done the math, but I should read through the 16 chapters of 1 Cor a few times before my study in 1 Cor is done. I think this might help me keep it all in context better.
The memory passage for 1 Cor 3 is
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ESV)
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The outline theme for this chapter is Correct Ministry in the Church.
Paul addresses the immaturity of the believers in the frist section. He writes that he can't even address them as spiritual people because of their actions. While it appears that they are justified by faith, they seem to still be walking in the flesh. One issue is their high and false opinion of their leaders as we saw also in chapter 1. Some people aligned themselves with Paul and some with Apollos. Paul responds in several ways; we are human, we are servants, we are fellow workers. He gives the rightful place of the one who is served, the one who gives growth, and the one who rewards the workers to God and God only.
In verse 10 he begins an extended metaphor of a building. The foundation is and must always be Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation (speaking of human ministers) will be be tested by the Lord. While the interpretations of the six building materials in verse12 vary significantly, I take the fairly straight-forward approach. Because Paul mentions 'work' in verses 13, 14, and 15, I interpret the building materials in verse 12 to be the quality of the works that are built by those who are ministers of Christ. If the work survives the fire that will test it on 'the Day', the worker will be rewarded. If the work is burned up, the worker will not be lost to hell, but there will be no eternal reward in heaven.
From the building in 10-15, Paul switches to the 'temple' in vv 16-17. We are God's temple because He dwells in us. Verse 17 is a strong warning against those who seek to destroy the children of God.
Finally in verses 18-22 he addresses the ministers. "Don't rest in your own wisdom or cleverness; the wisdom of this age is foolishness to God. Become a fool for Christ and rest in the wisdom from the Spirit (2:13) and the mind of Christ." (2:16). He ends with a different approach to the quote he gave in 1:31, 'Don't boast in men, because everything is God's'.
How does this affect my worship?
Before the time of Christ on this earth, anyone who wanted to worship God went to the tabernacle or the temple. But as Jesus clearly taught in John 4, we don't have to worship in any particular place anymore because God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The short but profound contents of verse 16 shed a little different light on it; not only is God everywhere, but He is IN us. We are now His temple. This thought should transform my worship. As I seek to be a 'living sacrifice' who is acceptable and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1), I must remember that He dwells in me and is constantly working to make my worship more acceptable and more pleasing. In one sense that is comforting; in another sense it is humbling.
How does this affect my discipleship?
This memory passage speaks directly to anyone seeking to obey the command of God and serve Him on this earth. Your work, including your discipleship, will be tested on 'the Day'. If it is built with quality, precious, costly work it will not only survive but be rewarded. If it is built with empty, cheap, or worldly work it will not survive the test of fire. As I build into someone's life, on the foundation of Christ, I must always remember to keep my focus on the eternal and not the worldly. It's not about me. It's about Him. More of Him, less of me.
May you build on the foundation of Christ as you walk with Him today,
Ethan
Hello again, friends. The Chapter Memory Study continues this week in 1 Cor 3. As I have gone through this study I have often felt the need to 'brush up' on chapters that I've already studied. I focus on remembering the memory passages, but sometimes miss or forget the rest of the text. So at night I have started to read through the book that I am studying. But I read one chapter per night in stead of one chapter per week. I haven't done the math, but I should read through the 16 chapters of 1 Cor a few times before my study in 1 Cor is done. I think this might help me keep it all in context better.
The memory passage for 1 Cor 3 is
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ESV)
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The outline theme for this chapter is Correct Ministry in the Church.
Paul addresses the immaturity of the believers in the frist section. He writes that he can't even address them as spiritual people because of their actions. While it appears that they are justified by faith, they seem to still be walking in the flesh. One issue is their high and false opinion of their leaders as we saw also in chapter 1. Some people aligned themselves with Paul and some with Apollos. Paul responds in several ways; we are human, we are servants, we are fellow workers. He gives the rightful place of the one who is served, the one who gives growth, and the one who rewards the workers to God and God only.
In verse 10 he begins an extended metaphor of a building. The foundation is and must always be Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation (speaking of human ministers) will be be tested by the Lord. While the interpretations of the six building materials in verse12 vary significantly, I take the fairly straight-forward approach. Because Paul mentions 'work' in verses 13, 14, and 15, I interpret the building materials in verse 12 to be the quality of the works that are built by those who are ministers of Christ. If the work survives the fire that will test it on 'the Day', the worker will be rewarded. If the work is burned up, the worker will not be lost to hell, but there will be no eternal reward in heaven.
From the building in 10-15, Paul switches to the 'temple' in vv 16-17. We are God's temple because He dwells in us. Verse 17 is a strong warning against those who seek to destroy the children of God.
Finally in verses 18-22 he addresses the ministers. "Don't rest in your own wisdom or cleverness; the wisdom of this age is foolishness to God. Become a fool for Christ and rest in the wisdom from the Spirit (2:13) and the mind of Christ." (2:16). He ends with a different approach to the quote he gave in 1:31, 'Don't boast in men, because everything is God's'.
How does this affect my worship?
Before the time of Christ on this earth, anyone who wanted to worship God went to the tabernacle or the temple. But as Jesus clearly taught in John 4, we don't have to worship in any particular place anymore because God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The short but profound contents of verse 16 shed a little different light on it; not only is God everywhere, but He is IN us. We are now His temple. This thought should transform my worship. As I seek to be a 'living sacrifice' who is acceptable and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1), I must remember that He dwells in me and is constantly working to make my worship more acceptable and more pleasing. In one sense that is comforting; in another sense it is humbling.
How does this affect my discipleship?
This memory passage speaks directly to anyone seeking to obey the command of God and serve Him on this earth. Your work, including your discipleship, will be tested on 'the Day'. If it is built with quality, precious, costly work it will not only survive but be rewarded. If it is built with empty, cheap, or worldly work it will not survive the test of fire. As I build into someone's life, on the foundation of Christ, I must always remember to keep my focus on the eternal and not the worldly. It's not about me. It's about Him. More of Him, less of me.
May you build on the foundation of Christ as you walk with Him today,
Ethan
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
1 Corinthians 2
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
While 1 Corinthians has a much different feel than Romans, I'm still having just as much trouble keeping the memory selections down to manageable numbers. The barometer I have set up for myself is the 'brain fry' factor; as long as they keep sticking in my head and hiding in my heart, I'll keep putting them in. I don't know how many times I've said, 'Ooo, that's a good one, I'll have to memorize that one....but this one's really good, too.' I try not to 'value' certain words of Scripture more than others. In order to fulfill my current goal in this Chapter Memory Study, I do make certain judgments about verses. Feel free to disagree and chose your own. As we study this chapter, we are reminded that Holy Spirit helps us all 'understand the things freely given us by God'(12) and it's not always the same thing at the same time.
That said, the memory section for chapter 2 is
1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 12-13, 16 (ESV)
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The outline theme is Correct Wisdom from the Spirit
While the theme of chapter 1 is Christ as the center, chapter 2 deals with the Spirit as the source. It was easy for the Corinthian church (and us today) to be swayed by the 'lofty speech and wisdom' of certain magnetic personalities. Paul contradicts this attraction by bringing their attention back to THE source of wisdom; Holy Spirit. Verses 1-5 outline the argument; Paul came to them with the single message of Christ crucified. He testified in weakness, fear, and trembling without 'plausible words of wisdom', but filled with the power of Holy Spirit. (v4) Not that Paul's, or our, message was/should be void of reason and clarity, but by focusing on the content and not the delivery their faith would rest on the power of God, not the wisdom of man.
Wisdom is a part of our message, but not the wisdom of this age(v6). The wisdom that comes from the Spirit is secret and hidden from the world and only revealed to us through the work of Holy Spirit. (vv6-11)
As Christ-followers we have received the Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the world. He helps us understand the things from God and impart His wisdom to each other (12-13). This wisdom is lost on the lost, but as fellow members in the body of Christ, we have the mind of Christ (16).
The correct wisdom for the church to seek and impart comes only from the Holy Spirit. Resting on the wisdom of man robs us of sharing in the power of God.
How does this affect my worship?
The attitude of this chapter challenges my approach to worship. When selecting, or writing, worship songs for worship services, our natural tendency is to go with the latest sound or fad. Sometimes it seems that we make things much more complicated than they need to be. In order to have spirit-and-truth worship, the music needs to resonate with the 'heart song' of the worshiper. This may be a song with 3 chords and a simple melody. The vehicle of the music is important, but not as important as the message. If we focus our worship on the single goal of glorifying God through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, what comes out should be our heart song. I believe it's ok to do difficult and challenging music, but not at the expense of true worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Verse 13 hits me right between my discipleship eyes; "and we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual". If we let our flesh take over, discipleship can easily turn into a 'here's how much I know and I'll prove it to you' session. The respect and admiration oozing from a hungry disciple is not meant to be kept to the disciple-maker. All you have to remember is that if the Spirit didn't reveal it to me, I couldn't impart it to you. And however difficult it is for me to grasp, as believers we have the mind of Christ. Without 'the same mind' (1:10), unity is impossible.
May you trust in, walk in, and dwell in the mind of Christ,
Ethan
While 1 Corinthians has a much different feel than Romans, I'm still having just as much trouble keeping the memory selections down to manageable numbers. The barometer I have set up for myself is the 'brain fry' factor; as long as they keep sticking in my head and hiding in my heart, I'll keep putting them in. I don't know how many times I've said, 'Ooo, that's a good one, I'll have to memorize that one....but this one's really good, too.' I try not to 'value' certain words of Scripture more than others. In order to fulfill my current goal in this Chapter Memory Study, I do make certain judgments about verses. Feel free to disagree and chose your own. As we study this chapter, we are reminded that Holy Spirit helps us all 'understand the things freely given us by God'(12) and it's not always the same thing at the same time.
That said, the memory section for chapter 2 is
1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 12-13, 16 (ESV)
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The outline theme is Correct Wisdom from the Spirit
While the theme of chapter 1 is Christ as the center, chapter 2 deals with the Spirit as the source. It was easy for the Corinthian church (and us today) to be swayed by the 'lofty speech and wisdom' of certain magnetic personalities. Paul contradicts this attraction by bringing their attention back to THE source of wisdom; Holy Spirit. Verses 1-5 outline the argument; Paul came to them with the single message of Christ crucified. He testified in weakness, fear, and trembling without 'plausible words of wisdom', but filled with the power of Holy Spirit. (v4) Not that Paul's, or our, message was/should be void of reason and clarity, but by focusing on the content and not the delivery their faith would rest on the power of God, not the wisdom of man.
Wisdom is a part of our message, but not the wisdom of this age(v6). The wisdom that comes from the Spirit is secret and hidden from the world and only revealed to us through the work of Holy Spirit. (vv6-11)
As Christ-followers we have received the Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the world. He helps us understand the things from God and impart His wisdom to each other (12-13). This wisdom is lost on the lost, but as fellow members in the body of Christ, we have the mind of Christ (16).
The correct wisdom for the church to seek and impart comes only from the Holy Spirit. Resting on the wisdom of man robs us of sharing in the power of God.
How does this affect my worship?
The attitude of this chapter challenges my approach to worship. When selecting, or writing, worship songs for worship services, our natural tendency is to go with the latest sound or fad. Sometimes it seems that we make things much more complicated than they need to be. In order to have spirit-and-truth worship, the music needs to resonate with the 'heart song' of the worshiper. This may be a song with 3 chords and a simple melody. The vehicle of the music is important, but not as important as the message. If we focus our worship on the single goal of glorifying God through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, what comes out should be our heart song. I believe it's ok to do difficult and challenging music, but not at the expense of true worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Verse 13 hits me right between my discipleship eyes; "and we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual". If we let our flesh take over, discipleship can easily turn into a 'here's how much I know and I'll prove it to you' session. The respect and admiration oozing from a hungry disciple is not meant to be kept to the disciple-maker. All you have to remember is that if the Spirit didn't reveal it to me, I couldn't impart it to you. And however difficult it is for me to grasp, as believers we have the mind of Christ. Without 'the same mind' (1:10), unity is impossible.
May you trust in, walk in, and dwell in the mind of Christ,
Ethan
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