Podcasts about Corinth

Acts 18:1-17Thanks for listening to the Love One Another Podcast. For more series, content, and information, visit www.beachpoint.com

SouthCrest Church Sunday message, 9/14/25. Our journey through the Bible continues in Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians. From the verses of chapter 7, guest speaker Denis Keith teaches on the Biblical nature and purpose of marriage.

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

Series: Church Hurt Title: Does Sin Break our Hearts? Speaker: Teaching Pastor Daron Earlewine Date: September 14, 2025 The truth is, the church in Corinth struggled with the same issues we still face today: division, immorality, selfishness, and pride. In this 4-week series studying 1 Corinthians, we'll discover how the gospel speaks directly into our wounds and calls us to a better way. Paul doesn't give up on a messy church—he points them back to Jesus, the only source of healing and hope. Together, we'll learn how to live out the gospel authentically, so the church becomes a place of unity, integrity, love, and grace instead of hurt. The truth is, the church in Corinth struggled with the same issues we still face today: division, immorality, selfishness, and pride. In this 4-week series studying 1 Corinthians, we'll discover how the gospel speaks directly into our wounds and calls us to a better way. Paul doesn't give up on a messy church—he points them back to Jesus, the only source of healing and hope. Together, we'll learn how to live out the gospel authentically, so the church becomes a place of unity, integrity, love, and grace instead of hurt. STAY CONNECTED Website: https://mrne.info/church Mercy Kids: https://mrne.info/kids Mercy Students: https://mrne.info/students Mercy Road Northeast Facebook: https://mrne.info/facebook Mercy Road Northeast Instagram: https://mrne.info/instagram HELPFUL LINKS Connect Card: https://mrne.info/getconnected Prayer: https://mrne.info/prayer Give Online: https://mrne.info/giving Outposts: https://mrne.info/outpost Subscribe to MERCY ROAD CHURCH - NORTHEAST YouTube channel to watch this message again later this week! https://www.youtube.com/@mercyroadnortheast

There's a freedom that comes from surviving together for a long time - that kind of freedom is what Paul dreams of for the little group of saints in Corinth. He longs for them to grow into the kind of hard won resilience and maturity that come from sustained the practice of living lives rooted in Jesus and guided by an active gospel imagination. You can find out more about us at our website www.vineandbranch.church It is a priority for us at Vine & Branch to make LGBTQIA+, all ethnicities and races, those with disabilities, and other marginalized people groups feel accepted, included, and valuable to the life of our community!

The Church of Jesus Christ has struggled with contention and division for two thousand years. Paul's letters to the church at Corinth show us that contention and division isn't a new issue facing the Church. But, it's important to note that if this problem isn't new that neither is the solution. This is a message about that ancient solution. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/

Paul is under attack by some in the Corinthian church who question his intentions and his ability–he will later identify them as “super” or “false” apostles who are agents of Satan.  These men claim to exercise charismatic gifts but which call attention to themselves in a manner unlike Paul had taught the Corinthians.  They claim that although Paul is tough when he picks up his quill, he is weak in person, and a poor public speaker to boot.  He tells the Corinthians he's going to come to them, but he doesn't.  They say Paul is wishy-washy and unreliable.  Instead of coming himself, he sends his lackeys, Timothy and Titus.  Things in Corinth were so bad that one of Paul's critics caused such great harm to Paul's reputation and challenged his authority to the point the entire congregation was severely impacted.But as we have come to expect of him, Paul takes the high road.  As the founder and spiritual father of this congregation, he will not let the situation get out of hand.  He will defend himself and explain his current circumstance.  He begins by calling God as his witness so that everyone understands that Paul is a truth-teller and not an excuse maker.  As he explains, he did not come to Corinth because he did not want a repeat of his previous “painful visit,” which he feared would only bring additional stress to the congregation and greater distance from himself.  It grieves Paul to have to say as much, but since the matter has caused so much pain, it was best not to come then.  Since the Corinthians have disciplined the offending party, and since he had apparently repented and was restored to fellowship, this opens the door for Paul to make his promised trip to Corinth after visiting Macedonia.  Meanwhile, there have been many tears shed and if the Corinthians have forgiven the offender, Paul has too.Paul explains that his plans for his visit evolved due to the ever-changing circumstances in Asia Minor, including his missed connection with Titus–a matter of great frustration to Paul, who pressed on to Macedonia.  Using the image of the triumphal procession led by ancient rulers–including the Roman Caesars–Paul speaks of himself as a servant in the royal train of Jesus Christ.  As a great leader ensures his presence is manifest in a fragrant scent covering the stench of his defeated foes, who march in chains and filth at the end of the processional, so too Paul speaks of the gospel as the most pleasing aroma, covering the stench of human sin.  Paul flips the royal image so as to remind the Corinthians, that he is captive to the king of kings and Caesar's lord, Jesus Christ, and no amount of flower petals and incense can match the wonderful aroma of the gospel.For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

Acts 18: 1-28: "Ministering at Corinth." This chapter tells the story about Apollo.  Are you familiar with what is special about Apollo?  If not, come and see!  There's something here for everybody in today's Word! If you are blessed by today's Bible study, please support my channel by liking, subscribing, commenting, and sharing with your friends and family!  I am not a Pastor, and agree with God's word that women are not supposed to be Pastors.  However, all people are called to share the gospel. It is perfectly acceptable and Biblical for women to lead Bibles studies outside the church as an ancillary addition to the church, and especially if it is a viable avenue for study of the Word on a daily basis, like I'm doing on this show, and paving the way for all of us to be closer to the Lord and become more knowledgeable of the Bible.  If you care to contribute to my work with the Daily Bible study and sharing the Gospel, as part of your tithes and offerings, you can do so through PayPal by sending it to my PayPal address of: ReneHoladay@gmail.com You are also welcome to email me at the same email address above if you have any thoughts you'd like to share about this episode!    Thank you for watching and God Bless you all! ;() --------------------- The primary study bible that Rene' uses is the 'Spirit-filled Life Bible, by Jack Hayford, and is available in hard cover or faux leather on Amazon at:  https://amzn.to/434fBnQ You can watch this episode on Youtube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9ekffu7ds Please be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and SHARE!

In Acts 18, we see the Apostle Paul arrive in Corinth, partner with Priscilla and Aquila, and boldly proclaim the gospel despite opposition. God speaks to Paul in a vision, reminding him: “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking, for I am with you.”This chapter reminds us that God strengthens His people in times of weakness, raises up faithful partners in ministry, and advances the gospel even in difficult places.Main scripture: Acts 18:1-4, 7-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Psalm 23

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

In our message today, John shares with us how the Christians in Corinth were making a mockery of the Lord's Supper because of their divisive spirit. So, Paul confronts their attitude and actions and reminds them of the purpose behind the memorial and warns them about partaking of it in an unworthy manner.

People boast today of everything they can which they hope will add to their prestige.  Politicians in particular arevery anxious about the image they are creating – what people think of them.  It has to be good or they will not get re-elected. Such is the growing noise from the US elections today.Our chapters in 2nd Corinthians today illustrate that attitudes like this were a problem at Corinth.   It is interesting to note Paul's tactic in writing his second letter; but first, his opening chapters include praise for the improving spirit in the ecclesia so that “in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ we will boast about you”(1 v.14).Paul's success in Corinth was creating envy and jealousy among others.   We note how those who have only a limited grasp of the spiritual way of thinking show how their minds are dominated by fleshly motivations; this is evident in what they talk about, which amounts to boastingPaul says that these, “commend themselves … they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” [10 v. 12]  The real seriousness of this type of mind is that it is developed from the way of thinking that led to sin in the Garden of Eden, note how Paul makes this point. [11 v.3]At Corinth it was causing some to “be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”   Paul says, “if someone comes and proclaims a different Jesus to the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” [v.3,4] This can and does happen today, that is why there are so many different churches.     Our minds must have a constant input from the mind of God and his Son, through reading and meditation on his word or we will descend to human ways of thinking and boasting – because boasting is what it amounts to.  The present generation uses the word “ego.”  It is said that having self-esteem is very important and many evangelical churches delight to push this theme, but it is a theme with no basis in God's word, it undermines the spirit of humility.The atmosphere at Corinth was in danger of becoming parallel to that in Australia today.  We need God's word IN our thoughts every day to help keep out the fleshly attitudes that surround us.  Paul says, don't you realize Christ is IN you? Those who are baptised need to realize this as fully as they can – as must those who are thinking about baptism.7

In this episode, we dive into Romans—Paul's powerful letter to a divided church in Rome. Written from Corinth, it speaks to Jews and Gentiles learning to live as one under Christ. We'll unpack the gospel's themes of grace, faith, and redemption, and how they cut through cultural tensions with unity and hope. Along the way, we'll draw inspiration from St. Lawrence, whose fearless faith reminds us to live unashamed of the gospel. Join us for a bold, practical look at Romans and what it means to stand firm in truth and love today.

Series: Church Hurt Title: From Hurt to Healing Speaker: Lead Pastor Ken Primeau Date: September 7, 2025 The truth is, the church in Corinth struggled with the same issues we still face today: division, immorality, selfishness, and pride. In this 4-week series studying 1 Corinthians, we'll discover how the gospel speaks directly into our wounds and calls us to a better way. Paul doesn't give up on a messy church—he points them back to Jesus, the only source of healing and hope. Together, we'll learn how to live out the gospel authentically, so the church becomes a place of unity, integrity, love, and grace instead of hurt. The truth is, the church in Corinth struggled with the same issues we still face today: division, immorality, selfishness, and pride. In this 4-week series studying 1 Corinthians, we'll discover how the gospel speaks directly into our wounds and calls us to a better way. Paul doesn't give up on a messy church—he points them back to Jesus, the only source of healing and hope. Together, we'll learn how to live out the gospel authentically, so the church becomes a place of unity, integrity, love, and grace instead of hurt. STAY CONNECTED Website: https://mrne.info/church Mercy Kids: https://mrne.info/kids Mercy Students: https://mrne.info/students Mercy Road Northeast Facebook: https://mrne.info/facebook Mercy Road Northeast Instagram: https://mrne.info/instagram HELPFUL LINKS Connect Card: https://mrne.info/getconnected Prayer: https://mrne.info/prayer Give Online: https://mrne.info/giving Outposts: https://mrne.info/outpost Subscribe to MERCY ROAD CHURCH - NORTHEAST YouTube channel to watch this message again later this week! https://www.youtube.com/@mercyroadnortheast

Sunday Morning Worship ServiceSeptember 07, 2025Guest Speaker: Ptr Roberto Livioco

A Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-9 by William Klock Imagine you're an Israelite at the time of the Exodus.  Moses shows up and announces that the God of your ancestors—a God no one's heard from in four hundred years—is going to deliver you from Pharoah's slavery.  Sounds pretty sketchy.  But then God begins to act.  He sends ten plagues on the Egyptians.  He turns the Nile to blood.  Wow!  But then Pharoah's magicians do the same thing.  Okay…maybe not as impressive as it seemed at first.  But as the plagues go on, they get more and more impressive and Pharaoh's magicians can't keep up.  By the tenth plague you know without a doubt that this God of your fathers is something.  He's even more powerful than Pharoah and his gods.  And then the Red Sea.  Pharaoh chased you down.  Your people are stuck between the sea and Pharaoh's army.  All is lost.  And then the God of your fathers parts the sea itself in an amazing display of power and authority.  Imagine what it was like to walk through the sea on dry ground.  And then to watch as, just as miraculously, the God of your fathers causes the waters to come crashing back into place just at the right time to drown Pharaoh's army.  And you join with your people as, for the first time, you sing praise to this God of your fathers—a God whom you're now starting to think of as your God.  But God isn't finished.  He appears as a magnificent pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night and he leads your people into the wilderness.  When there's nothing to drink, he causes water to pour forth from a rock.  When there's nothing to eat, he miraculously provides an abundance of manna and quail.  At Mount Sinai he meets your people in cloud and lightning on the mountaintop.  He establishes a covenant with you.  He will be your God and you will be his people.  He sends Moses down the mountain with the torah and with instructions for the tabernacle.  And having been in God's presence, Moses' face shines so brightly with God's glory that he has to wear a veil.  And when your people have finished assembling the tabernacle, you see God's glory—like a cloud—descend to fill it.  It's stounding.  It's the sort of thing the Egyptians could only dream about their gods doing and the God of Israel does it for real.  And, eventually, just as he promised, God leads your people into Canaan—the promised land—and he conquers the people for you and gives you their cities.  And you know it's him, not you.  There's no doubting it.  He had you march on Jericho, not with swords, but carrying his ark and blowing trumpets as you marched in circles around the city.  Not to attack it.  Not to put siege to it.  But simply to announce that the Lord, the God of Israel had come.  And when that announcement was clear and when everyone could see that you and your people had done nothing but announce the Lord's presence, he caused the walls to come crashing down.  He defeated the city.  And neither you nor anyone else could possibly think of taking credit for it.  Neither you nor anyone else took the Lord for granted.  Neither you nor anyone else could dream of giving your faith, your loyalty, your allegiance to any other god.  Because you had seen with your own eyes the glory of the Lord. Even as the generations passed, the people remembered the Lord.  They lived in those cities, they drew from those well, they harvested crops from those fields that the Lord had taken from the Canaanites and given to their fathers and grandfathers.  They bore in their flesh the sign of God's covenant—that statement, “I will be your God and you will be my people”—they bore that sign in their circumcision.  And every year they celebrated the Passover and not only recalled the events of the Exodus in which the Lord had saved their fathers; they participated, themselves, in those events—they owned them as if they'd happened to them.  And the covenant was renewed. And if you read the Old Testament no further you might think it would be like that forever.  How could a people who had so experienced the glory of God ever take him for granted, let alone turn their backs on him?  How could a people who had so experienced the glory of God ever look for confidence and hope in anyone or anything else?  But it happened.  They took their status as his people for granted.  They began to take those cities and wells and vineyards and fields he'd given them for granted.  They stopped celebrating the Passover and remembering what he'd done for them.  They started worshiping other gods.  They lost faith in the Lord and started putting their trust in kings and in armies and in politics.  And when the prophets came to rebuke the people and to call them back to faithfulness, they refused to listen and abused those prophets.  Eventually, because they took it all for granted, because they were unfaithful, the Lord took away the land and the cities and fields and vineyards—and finally even his presence—and sent the people into exile in a foreign land.  But not before he promised them renewal.  One day he would restore them and make them new and fill them with his own Spirit, he would turn their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, so that they would be forever faithful. And, in Jesus, the Lord fulfilled that promise to his people.  In Jesus he was born as one of them, but rejected and crucified as a false Messiah.  God raised Jesus from death and overturned the verdict against him, declaring that he really was the Messiah and creation's true Lord.  In rising from the grave Jesus conquered death.  And then, to those who were baptised and received the sign of God's new covenant, he gave God's Spirit.  The old Israel had a temple.  This new Israel is the temple.  And as we read in last week's Epistle, Paul stressed that the risen Jesus appeared to the twelve, and to the other disciples, and even at one point to five hundred, and lastly to him.  And Jesus changed everything for them.  In his death and resurrection he led his people in a new exodus, not this time from physical bondage under Pharaoh, but from bondage to sin and death themselves.  And in baptism, Jesus leads his people like Moses through the waters of redemption to meet the Lord on the far side.  And the Spirit leads us, not as a pillar of cloud or fire, but as God's very presence within us, as we embark on a world- and humanity-saving trek through the wilderness of the old evil age into the age to come, towards the New Jerusalem, to that day when gospel and Spirit have done their work and Jesus does away with sin and death and evil once and for all and forever, and creation is set to rights and we enjoy the presence of our God eternally.  Those first eyewitnesses took this astounding gospel story to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the world and amazing things happened.  It was more than just a story of the glory of God.  The story of the old exodus was that, but this was more.  The story of the Messiah and this new exodus has power unlike any story that has been told before or since.  This is a story backed by the life-giving and life-changing power of Jesus and the Spirit and the people who heard it and believed it and came to trust in the death and, most importantly, the resurrection of Jesus, they were changed.  Forgiven by the redeeming death of Jesus and then given a foretaste of the life of God's new world by the Spirit whom he poured into them.  It was a change that no one could ignore.  Some were captivated by it and came to hear and to believe the gospel story for themselves and they shared in this new life too.  And others got angry as the gospel story and God's new world challenged the gods and the kings and the systems in which they were already invested.  But to those who believed, the gospel, the good news about Jesus was life itself.  And they gathered together as often as they could and when they did, they not only shared the community the gospel had given them, they shared in the meal Jesus had given them.  In the Lord's Supper they ate bread and drank wine—and just as in the Passover—they didn't just remember what Jesus had done to deliver them from sin and death, they appropriated that death and resurrection, they participated in that saving event themselves.  They owned this new exodus just as the Israelites owned the events of the first exodus.  And each time it was as if the Lord was renewing his covenant with them: through Jesus and the Spirit, I will be your God and you will be my people. And you might think that their faithfulness to the Lord would be unending.  You would think that their trust and loyalty—their confidence—would always and only be in Jesus the Messiah.  But it wasn't.  If we're honest about our struggles, we know that it's easy to become distracted by other things.  There's a reason we gather every Sunday to hear the good news again and to come to the Lord's Table to be reminded and to renew the covenant.  There's a reason why wendaily immerse ourselves in the scriptures and in the story there of God and his people.  Because when we don't, even as glorious as that story is, even as it once captivated us so thoroughly, somehow—and to our shame—we forget.  And Jesus is still there, but we start focusing on other things and we start looking for other things and we start putting our confidence and our hope in other things. It even happened in the early church with that first generation of believers.  Paul had arrived in Corinth in about a.d. 50 or 51.  He proclaimed the good news about Jesus and both Jews and gentiles there were captivated by the story.  They believed.  They were baptised.  And Paul stayed with them for about a year and half, helping them to set up a church.  And everyone knew that it wasn't Paul who had done.  He was just an unassuming little man.  Funny looking, maybe with a speech impediment.  (Remember in last week's Epistle he owned that insult about being a monster, prematurely born.)  What happened in Corinth wasn't about Paul.  Brothers and Sisters, it was about the power of the gospel and the Spirit.  And yet just a few years later, it all started to fall apart.  The amazing story about the death and resurrection of Jesus that had once so spoken to them about the glory of God started to fade, and with it their motivation to holiness.  Sin—gross, truly wicked sin—started to creep into the church and they found ways to justify it.  Their worship became chaotic as people began using the gifts the Spirit had given to bring attention to themselves instead of to build up the body.  They abused the Lord's Supper and twisted and undermined its covenant meaning.  And when Paul, their brother, the one who had not only brought the gospel to them, but who could speak with authority about it because he, himself, had met the risen Jesus, when he wrote to them they brushed him off.  They told him they didn't want to hear from him anymore.  He'd been displaced by other preachers who were flashier, who were more handsome, who were better spoken then he was. And so, at the end of 2 Corinthians 2 he appeals to them.  He talks about himself as “we” instead of “I” and I think he does that to emphasise that he stand with the other apostles whose authority came from being eyewitness of the risen Messiah.  The same could not be said of others who have come to them and led them astray.  He writes to them, saying, “We aren't mere peddlers of God's word, as so many preachers are.  We speak with sincerity.  We speak from God.  We speak in God's presence.  We speak in the Messiah.”  The Messiah: that's who this is really about.  Paul has no authority of his own.  He simply speaks what he heard from Jesus himself.  And his point here is that they had once been captivated by that gospel of the Messiah that Paul had proclaimed to them, but now they've been captivated by the words of mere men.  “Do you want a letter of recommendation before you'll listen to me?” Paul asks.  “Do I need to give you a sheaf of reference letters so you'll know I'm legit?” “No,” says Paul, going on in 3:2: “You are our official reference!  It's written on our hearts.  Everyone can know and read it.  It's plain that you are a letter from the Messiah, with us the messengers.  A letter not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.  Not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of fleshly hearts.” In other words, despite all their problems, despite their backsliding into worldly ways, they are not the people they once were.  Paul had proclaimed the good new—the story about Jesus and his death and resurrection and ascension—and through that preaching the Spirit had captivated them and filled their hearts with faith.  They believed.  They gave their trust, their loyalty, their allegiance, their obedience to Jesus and they were transformed.  And Paul could see it even through all their problems.  No, Paul doesn't need to give them references.  “You are my reference,” he says to them.  I know you've kicked me to the curb, but it was the message I received from Jesus that I preached to you that transformed you—not the merely human words of the other preachers who came along.  It was the word of God that did it. And they really, really need to hear this.  Because in the years since Paul left, as they've listened to teachers who led them astray, as the glory of the pure gospel has faded from their vision, they've begun to put their confidence in other things.  They no longer associate Paul with the gospel.  They're thinking of him as that funny-looking little man with the speech impediment.  And following someone like that in Greek culture, well, that wasn't going to get you anywhere.  And so they associated with the handsome preachers with eloquent rhetoric who could impress the Greeks.  They've forgotten that the gifts the Spirit gave them were gifts of grace to build up the body, and now they're abusing them and putting their confidence in them.  They've forgotten that the gospel puts them all on an equal footing before the throne of grace, and they're letting their old class and cultural divisions divide them up.  They were growing their church—as we'd say it today—but they weren't growing it on the gospel. We do the same thing today.  We may do it even more than the Corinthians, because commercialism is the cultural water we swim in and we don't even realise how much it impacts how we think about church and we don't realise how it so easily displaces the gospel and gospel growth and gospel ministry.  We build our churches around personalities.  We build our churches around programmes.  We build our churches around demographics.  We build our churches by advertising that we're better than or that we're not like our neighbouring churches.  We treat the church as if it's a business or a social club instead of a family—the covenant people of God, transformed and shaped by the gospel and the Spirit.  The Spirit has transformed our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh through the power of the gospel, but we forget the centrality of the gospel and allow our hearts to calcify back into stone.  It might not seem like that's what's happening at first.  Our churches may even have the appearance of success, but it's because we're appealing to stony hearts of worldly people with what they value, not with the power of the transforming gospel they need.   It's that simple gospel that needs to be at the centre of everything.  The risen Jesus always before us.  The risen Jesus at the centre of every decision we make.  The risen Jesus at the heart of everything we do.  Just Jesus, crucified and risen.  The simple gospel.  So Paul goes on in verse 4: “That is the kind of confidence we have toward God, through the Messiah.”  Stop putting your confidence in other things.  Just put it in Jesus.  He and only he can bring us before God.  So Paul says, “It isn't as though we are qualified in ourselves to reckon that we have anything to offer on our own account.  Our qualification comes from God: God has qualified us to be stewards of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit.  The letter kills, you see, but the Spirit gives life.”  The gospel was his only qualification and the only one that mattered.  The same goes for us. Now, think again of the glory that God put on display in the Exodus and in the story of Israel that followed.  That's what Paul gets at in verse 7 when he writes: “But just think about it: when death was being ministered, carved in letter of stone,”—he's talking about Mt. Sinai and the giving of the law”—“it was a glorious thing, so glorious in fact that the children of Israel couldn't look at Moses' face because of the glory of his face, a glory that was to be abolished.”  The glory God displayed in those days was astounding.  It moved the people to faith and trust and worship. But now Paul's talking about the new covenant and what God has done in Jesus and the Spirit.  “Will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?” he asks them.  “If ministering condemnation is glorious, you see, how much more glorious is the ministry of vindication—of righteousness, of justice?  In fact, what used to be glorious has come, by comparison, to have no glory at all, because of the new glory which goes so far beyond it! O, Brothers and Sisters, would that we would also be so captivated by the glory of the simple gospel of Jesus the Messiah.  There is no other glory that can compare and if we will keep it always before us—this good new of Jesus, crucified, risen, and Lord—if we would keep our eyes always focused on it, if we let it shape our lives, if we let it shape our decision, if we let it be the basis for everything we do as the church.  If the glory of the gospel were our sole source of confidence and hope, it would transform our churches and make us the people God intends for us to be.  God's promise is that one day the knowledge of his glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, but, Brothers and Sisters, remember that he has made us the stewards of that glory.  He has entrusted his gospel of life to us and he's filled us with his Spirit.  It is our calling to make his glory known by taking the good news of Jesus to Courtenay and Comox, to Vancouver Island, to Canada, and even to the ends of the earth.  You may have placed a veil over God's glory.  This morning let the scriptures lift that veil.  Let the bread and the wine here at his Table lift that veil.  Look on the glory of the Lord revealed in Jesus the Messiah and be refreshed and renewed for the gospel ministry to which you have been called. Let's pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve:  Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

In this week's sermon from the series "To Be Continued," we explore Acts 18, where Paul transitions from Athens to the vibrant city of Corinth. Despite facing opposition and personal struggles, Paul finds strength through faithful partners like Aquila and Priscilla, the assurance of God's presence, and a teachable heart. Discover how these elements helped Paul persevere in his mission and how they can empower us to keep going and growing in our faith journey. Join us as we delve into the importance of community, trust in God, and openness to growth in our walk with Christ. For more information about our church, visit npfcc.org To help support the ongoing work of NPFCC and our mission partners around the globe, you can make a donation at npfcc.org/give

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Spencer. I am one of the pastors here. So we, as I said last week, we are taking a break. We just finished up First Samuel and we are not going to jump straight into Second Samuel. We're going to do that in the new year. We're going to do a series called re member series called Remember. We'll do that through the fall and then we'll do give series and we'll come back to Second Samuel. We're excited about this series. This is an opportunity for us to revisit and remember what it means to be a member of this church. See how clever we are with titles, you guys. There you go. One clap. It's an opportunity for us to revisit what it means to be a member of this church. So we're going to over the next few months walk through our membership commitments and revisit the things that bind us together as beliefs and practices. And then if you are a member of this church, we'll have the opportunity this fall to actually recommit to membership. We're excited about that and we're going to have more information about that at our upcoming family meeting. So make sure that you are there if you're a committed member of our church, to be at family meeting. But we're thankful that we get to walk through this over the next couple months. These 14 different membership commitments that we have before we jump into those commitments today, I want to look at the why and the what of membership. We need to look at the why and the what of membership before we jump into what we actually commit to as a church. Because some folks will pose the question, why membership in the first place? Why do you have membership? Why belong to a church? Some people ask, is church membership even biblical? Like, where do you get this idea? So we're going to examine that idea while also being clear about what it means to be a member of this church. Like what is our membership commitment all about? And there's some language that we use that is going to sound very familiar, that if you ask what does it mean to be a member of of Mill City Church of Cayce, There's a phrase that will show up as we walk through this today. I know it's going to blow your mind like you've never heard it before. But we are a gospel centered community on mission. It's the language we use over and over again. I'm pretty sure it's on the wall somewhere in the lobby. But there's a reason we are that and there is a Reason why that really defines who we are as a church. And we're going to see that as we walk through why membership, but also what it means to be a member of this church. So I want to pray for us and then we will walk through this together.Heavenly Father, I pray that you might help us have ears to hear this morning. I pray that you might help us see why it is good to belong, why it is good to commit to following you, to delighting in you, to loving one another, to being obedient, to take the gospel to our city. God, I pray you'd help us be present and we'd be not just hearers of the Word, but we would be doers of the Word. As we trust you, we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.All right, so why do we practice church membership? Someone will ask, where in the Bible do you find the command to be a member of a local church? Now, this may come as a shock to some of you, but you're not going to find any one verse in the Bible that commands for you to be a part of a church through church membership. There's no Third Corinthians that shows up and says, and be a member of a local church and submit to the elders of that local church. There's not any one verse that really makes this crystal clear, which is if there was, it might make the conversation about membership a little bit easier over the years as we've had it. But what you will see is as you look through the Scriptures, you'll see that God is doing something in setting up his church. And that's what I want to do. For the first part in answering why membership? I want to do what's I want to do a biblical theology of church membership, which is going from the Old Testament to the New Testament to see how God is developing this people that is going to belong to him, with him at the center to declare His Excellencies to a lost world. So that's what I want to do, starting off in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis. So God chooses in the Book of Genesis, Abraham that he's going to form a people through. He promises Abraham he's going to have a great nation that's made through him. And in this selection of Abraham, we see that God is going to have a unique, special relationship with him and his people, unlike the rest of humanity. And there's this promise of this great nation, this great people that he's going to bless the nations through. And then when you get to the next Book of The Bible, the second book, the book of Exodus. You see that God takes his descendants, the twelve tribes of Israel who have been slaves in Egypt. He brings them out of Egypt. And when they're wandering in the wilderness in Exodus 19, you see really the formation and the formal covenant relationship that God establishes with his people. And in Exodus 19 he tells his people in verse 5,> Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.These are the words he shall speak to the people of Israel. Then he tells them that you are my treasured possession. And as this is going to play out, he's going to take this people, his treasured possession to the promised land. He's going to set himself up in the center of his people to be a God centered people that are uniquely his, unlike any other aspect of creation, unlike any other people. And that this people is going to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This people was meant to be separate from the nations that look different, that proclaim the excellencies of God as a light to the surrounding nations. And then this is Exodus 19, right before Moses goes up to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. When he gets the Ten Commandments, you see the first four commandments and the Ten Commandments are God centered commandments. This is how to have right relationship with God and worshiping God alone. And then the next six are how to live in good community with one another, how to love one another, how to trust one another, don't lie, don't murder, don't steal. And then the rest of the Old Testament law is really expounding upon those 10 Commandments. It's helping them see in their context, in their time, this is what it means to be a people who has God at the center, who loves one another fiercely in a community that takes care of one another, that looks separate from the nations, that declares how good our God is. And when you read the rest of the Old Testament, you see a people that most of the time falls on their face in trying to live that out, that over and over again. They don't put God at the center, they worship other gods, they don't love each other, they don't serve each other, they take advantage of one another. And instead of looking separate than the nations in order to show how good their God is, they look just like the nations. And that is the reason that they need a Savior and there's this hope from the prophets proclaiming this Savior is going to come. And then Jesus comes.Flip to the New Testament. When Jesus comes, he begins to develop this with new and better language. You see, if you just take the Gospel of Matthew, just start there. When you start reading the Gospel of Matthew, you're going to see what God is doing. In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus begins His ministry by preaching the gospel, proclaiming the gospel of his kingdom that is coming, and declaring the good news. And then he also chooses a people. He chooses the 12 disciples, these disciples whom he's going to build his church through. He begins teaching them. You keep flipping. Go to Matthew chapter five through Matthew chapter seven. You read the Sermon on the Mount. This is a retelling of the law and new and really better language, showing the heart of God all along for his people. What it looks like to put God at the center, what it looks like to take sin seriously, to live in community. We see some of this and more teaching, more of his ministry. When you get to Matthew chapter 11, you see that he commissions out his disciples. He puts them on a mission trip to begin to declare the good news of the Gospel to the people in the surrounding areas. You keep reading the Gospel of Matthew, you see more teaching, you see more of his work and his ministry. And then you get to Matthew chapter 18. And then Jesus begins to use a word to describe what this people is going to be, that he's making this new covenant people, and that is the church. The Greek word for that is ekklesia. It means church or assembly. And it shows up in Matthew 18. And Jesus begins to describe what this church is going to look like. It's going to be a people who take sin seriously, who hold each other accountable, who practice radical forgiveness. That is unlike the rest of the world. Jesus continues to teach. He continues to form his people. He continues to disciple his disciples. And then it is time for him to do the work that no one can do. He does the work of salvation. He takes his perfect record of righteousness with him to the cross. He dies on the cross for our sins because we were unable to to obey the law. He dies on the cross, taking judgment upon himself. He conquers death at the resurrection, removing the power of death over his people. And then he looks at his disciples at the end of Matthew and he tells them,> Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.He tells them, you're going to take everything that you've learned from me over the last three years. This message of the gospel that I came to redeem you and save you. This message of what it looks like to be a people that are committed to having God at the center and loving one another. Well, you're going to take that to the nations where they're going to hear the gospel and believe and you can read Mark and Luke and John and you're going to see this story over and over again. Then you get the book of Acts where Jesus ascends to the right hand of God the Father being king over all creation. And then the Holy Spirit descends upon his people and the church begins in Acts 2. You read that Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit stands up, preaches the first sermon at Pentecost and 3,000 people, people place plus people place their faith in Jesus and are baptized. And then we see some of the very first acts of this church and responding to Christ in faith and baptism. It says in verse 42. We'll have more time to study this exact passage in community group this week. I just want to hit some of the highlights to help us see what God is doing here. In verse 42 he says,> And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.That's the teachings of Christ. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. They were a gospel centered people. And it continues into the fellowship and the breaking of bread and prayers. You go to verse 44.> And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.That they were a people that believed the gospel, devoted themselves to that teaching, but they devoted themselves to one another. They fellowshiped together, they broke bread together, they took care of each other's needs. They saw their brothers and sisters in Christ as more important than money and material things. And they're selling their stuff so that they can take care of one another. And then it goes in verse 47 and finishes.> And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.That this message continues to be introduced to people who hear and believe and are brought into the church to continue to be a gospel centered community on mission to take the gospel to the world that desperately needed it. The church in Jerusalem continues to expand as you follow the story. Keep flipping through Acts. All of a sudden God has a plan to see scatter his people and involves the death of one of his servants, Stephen. He ordains the death of Stephen who's proclaiming the Good news of Jesus Christ and he's murdered for it. And in Acts chapter eight, after he's martyred, it says, and Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And now we see that the plan is spreading, that it's not just a church in Jerusalem now, it's in Judea and it's in Samaria. And the church is going global. One of the ways this has been described is that the church globally is the big sea church in creeds. That's called the Catholic Church. It's not referring to the Catholic denomination, but the Catholic meaning universal. That there's this global, universal church bound together by Christ. But it's not just in Jerusalem, it's in Judea, it's in Samaria. It's scattered in communities across the world in local churches. That's usually called the little C church. But there are little C churches who are forming together with Christ at the center, seeking to be what God has called them. Now the church is spreading past Jerusalem. And then that man who was involved in the killing of Stephen Saul in Acts chapter nine is on his way to persecute more Christians. And then Jesus blinds him, converts him. And then we know him mostly as Paul. And then Paul is set apart to take this even further. And he plants churches all over Asia Minor, all over Europe. And the church begins to spread and expand. As you continue to read the Book of Acts, you see the gospel spreading all over that region. But as these churches are getting established and they're seeking to be a gospel centered people that are taking the gospel to the nations as they're seeking to be this, they start to run into problems. They start to run into different things, different sins, different struggles. There's a bunch of people who the thing that the. The central binding idea that holds them together is Christ. But they're very, very different. Different ethnicities, different cultures, different classes. And as you continue to read the rest of the New Testament, you see that God had a plan for this, that he starts to write letters, inspired scripture through servants like Paul to these churches to help them see what it means to be a gospel centered people. How to fight for what is good, how to repent of sin, how to live in community, how to still have some missional hustle to take the gospel to the nations. But when you read the beginnings of these letters, you see very clearly that these are individual churches. I'll run through a Bunch of them. Really quickly. The letter to the Corinthians, in First Corinthians, Chapter one, it says, to the church of God that is in Corinth, that is that church in that city with their unique issues. This is a letter to that church. Not all the churches, though all the churches, will eventually benefit from this, helping us see now it's not just one global church. There's individual churches where these people belong to one another and have their own leaders and their own issues they're facing. It continues to the churches of Galatia, that's a whole region of different churches that Paul planted in his first missionary journey. To the saints who are in Ephesus, that's the book of Ephesians. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, that's the book of Philippians. To the church of Thessalonians and God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, that's the church in Thessalonica. You start to see that there is one global church made up of individuals, communities of Christians who are seeking to be centered in Christ, loving one another fiercely and taking the Gospel to their friends and their neighbors. And you follow that thread all the way through the letters and you'll get to the end. The Book of Revelation, which we did last year. And as we saw the Book of Revelation, it's not just apocalyptic literature. It's not just proclaiming what's going to happen. It is also a letter written to seven churches. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and as we saw last year, all churches with different problems, with different sins, some needing encouragement, all of them mostly needing a smack across the face from Jesus. But those are all individual churches where those people belong to Christ and. And one another seeking to be obedient in following him and taking the Gospel to those who needed it. So that's Genesis to Revelation. While you're not going to find one specific verse that makes this so clear, what you can see from start to finish is that God had a plan to form a people. And that plan was to be localized in churches where there were people that were so deeply committed to following Christ and having a zeal and a desire to worship and delight in him over all things, to be a people, a community that so deeply loved one another and cared for one another, that looked radically different than the rest of the world. So much so that historians at the time were looking at these Christians and saying there's something different about them. And to be a people who are not so self focused that they were going to use their energy and their effort and their time and their money and their lives lives to proclaim the good news to those who didn't know. That is God's plan for redemption. One global church working through individual local churches all around the world. That is God's plan for the church. So when someone says I don't see membership in the Bible, I just want to say it's, you got to read the whole story. You need to see what God is doing. You need to see God's plan for redemption that is through the local church.I was talking to a pastor a few weeks back and he was telling me a story about a guy who had been coming to their church and he said, did this guy come? And he was kind of coming for weeks and they started to introduce the idea, maybe you should think about committing here. And he said, oh no, I don't believe membership is biblical. He's like, I'm a part of the big C church, we're all a part of the same church, but I'm not going to commit to membership here. And he was kind of taken aback and he engaged with the conversation. He said, okay, take what you're saying, so you're a member of the big sea, the, the big church universal. He said, yeah. He said, okay, well am I like a pastor in this big old church in the world? And he said, yeah. He said okay, so does it make me like your pastor? He said, yeah. He said, alright, let me share with you Hebrews chapter 13. He said,> Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.He said, do you believe that's true? He said, yeah. He said, okay, so if I'm your pastor and you're gonna submit to me, you should go through the membership process at our church. He just laid it out for him and the guy said no and he left and he never came back. And I thought that was quite the clever way to be able to explain and poke holes in the guy's argument. But that passage is incredibly helpful. You read the New Testament letters and you see that God has structured for these local communities that he has pastors, elders that are overseeing the church. So when I look at that passage, obey your leaders and submit to them. It's helpful for me when I'm talking to people about membership. It's like, I belong to this church, I'M one of the pastors of this church. I belong to them, they belong to me. My people aren't down the road. They're the brothers and sisters. They're not across town, they're not across the world. I don't pastor them, I don't oversee their souls. I don't answer for their souls. No, it's this people. And you see that God has a plan and even the oversight of his church. And I think this is important, especially in Southern culture. And here's why. In Southern culture, pretty much still everyone, if you ask them, are you a Christian? They're gonna say, yeah. The overwhelming majority of people in the south are still gonna say, yeah, I'm a Christian. And if you begin to press into that, a lot of times it's, well, I'm Methodist or I'm Presbyterian or Episcopalian, or I'm Baptist or I'm Catholic. And it's like, what does that mean? I was just born Christian, I was born a Methodist. And as you look at the scriptures, you're not born a Christian. And if you continue to press into this, what you also see is there are a lot of people that claim the name of Christ that don't really belong anywhere. They don't commit to any people, don't commit to the Lord locally anywhere. They're just free floating in a way that is so foreign to the scriptures. And then what you'll also see is you'll see people that go, yeah, I mean, I don't really, not really. I don't really, I'm not a member anywhere. I, I like this church for the worship. I like this church for the teaching. I like this church for their Bible studies, like this church for their small groups. I like this church for their outreach. And I kind of just, you know, take everywhere like it's a buffet. And it's like, man, to make the church of Jesus Christ for your own benefit is so foreign to what the scriptures teach about the church that is not the church that Jesus bled and died for. You should be committed to God and his people somewhere. And my hope is that as you look at the grand story, you'll see, yes, you should belong. You should be a member of a church somewhere. Christians are not designed to be outside of the church or just not. And over the next couple months, I hope we continue to see that over and over again as we walk through this.Now that's the why of why we should belong to a church. Now I just want to, as we end look at the what, what does it mean to belong to this church? And it's gonna sound like a broken record, but it's a good one. It's a record we spend every Sunday. It's what Chet Phillips calls the bee's knees of belonging, which I don't know why he calls it that, but it's really important to us. And that is being a gospel centered community on mission. And that's what you're going to see over the next two months. Walking through this, you're going to see 14 different commitments that highlight that. So let's start with that first part. What does it mean to be gospel centered? It means that we are a church that is bound together by. By one shared story. And that story is the message of the gospel. We are bound together by this one shared story in a way that not just defines us at the beginning in belief, but defines us in belief and practice the rest of our lives. If you look at the American story, okay, if you look at the American story at the beginning, you see that it's a group of people that are anti tyranny. Okay? No taxation without representation. No king's going to tell us what to do. You'll see that it's a people that love freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of speech. Don't step on my freedoms. You'll see that it's a people that have some hustle, some dogged determination to exist. That's how America began. But that's also the story that permeates through its people throughout time, that even today, Americans don't like kings. Don't tell me what I can and cannot do. We like freedom and there's still some dogged determination to exist. That's the American spirit and it still flows through its people. And we as Christians have a much better story. We as Christians have a much better story. That's not just our origin story, but it permeates through us in our lives. It is the story of Jesus Christ. It is the story of a God who looked on humanity, that rejected him, that spit upon his goodwill, that decided that they wanted to worship what they wanted to worship and find what they thought fulfilling and rejected him over and over again. And God and His mercy does not give us judgment. He sends His Son that Christ comes and he dies on the cross for sinners. And he conquers death at the resurrection. And he gives us grace that we don't deserve to be in relationship with Him. And he forms us more into his image through his work, through his will and desire and good pleasure and that story continues to work within his people. It is the story that saves us, but it's the story that sustains us. In the same way that as foreigners come to America and they become American citizens and in a lot of ways embody the American spirit in beautiful ways, they start loving freedom. They start. They have this dogged determination within them. We do not belong to this world as Christians. Scriptures say that we have. Our citizenship is in heaven. From we have with a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are part of the world that is to come. And as citizens of that kingdom here on this earth, as sojourners and strangers and foreigners, that we embody what it means to belong to him more than anything else. So what we'll see over the next coming weeks as we walk through these commitments, we'll see what it means to be a gospel centered people bound together by that story. But we will also see what it means to be a community. What it means to be a gospel centered community. One of the metaphors that we see in the New Testament for the church, for the this community is the body. So Romans 12, we'll talk about one body, many members. So one body, different body parts, different members of the body in a way that each person is doing their gift to be able to serve one another well. And man, when you see that actually in practice, when you experience what it means to belong to the church of Jesus Christ and have different members of the body who, who love and serve you, it is a glorious story. I mean, if you ever see someone who loses their job, which is a massive loss, and they're crushed, and then someone in their group finds out, and all of a sudden their whole group is messaging them saying, hey, we love you, like we're praying for you. You need to know that your identity is not in the work that you do. Your identity is in the God who loves you, who sustains you. God's going to provide for you. He's going to take care of you, we're going to take care of you. But you need to remember the gospel. And then all of a sudden, they're behind the scenes organizing things. By the time he gets home, there's already been a meal delivered and there's meals to be delivered the next few days. All of a sudden someone else in the church hears about this and they put $1,000 in an envelope and drop it on the doorstep. And all of a sudden he's being provided for, his family's being loved. And then more people in the church find out all of A sudden they ask, can we be praying about this? That you would find a new job that ends up in our prayer message that goes out to our members. Now the whole church is praying and then someone else in the church hears about that and says, wait a second, I know what he does for a living. I got a friend who's hiring for that position right now. They reach out and say, hey, hey, can you talk to this, Talk to my friend. He's hiring. And then within a week, he's already got a job lined up. When you see the church respond like that over and over and over and over again, it makes me so thankful for the church of Jesus Christ and how his church responds over and over again. We've seen this over and over again in our church and it's wonderful. And I wish in some ways more of those stories were told. I know why we don't. Because we don't let the left hand know what the right is doing. I get that. But the stories that go viral are the church hurt stories. And yes, those stories exist. They're real stories with real pain. I'm not denying the existence of them. But boy, oh boy, the amount of church help stories where people rally around one another, it's like 100 to 1 to 1 compared to that. The church is a wonderful people to belong to, to see them in action over and over and over again because they're centered in Christ in a way that helps us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, see something beyond our own interest. And when you see it in action, it's beautiful. It's a family. And that's the language of the New Testament. Often when it talks about the church and is family. When you start learning New Testament Greek, one of the first, you start with the vocabulary words that are the most, most used in the New Testament. And one of the first words you learn in Greek is adelphoi, it's the word for brothers and sisters. Because it shows up over and over and over again in the scriptures to talk about God's people, that we are a family, that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul, when he's making converts, talks about his converts like spiritual children. That we are a family, that we love one another, that we belong to one another. And when you study the Book of Acts, you see this. The church functions like a family. I was trying to explain this to someone recently. I was trying to explain this concept and I was just saying, listen, I'm close with my earthly family. I'm close with my parents, my brothers, and my sisters, like we are, we're close, but boy, oh boy, there's some eternal depth that I have with brothers and sisters in this church that when crap hits the fan in my life, the first few messages are not to family. And that's not to lower my earthly family. I'm real close with them. It's to elevate what the importance of church family is here. And when it hits the fan, I'm messaging people in this church and I got people in this church who rally around in wonderful ways. To belong to a family that fiercely loves God and one another is beautiful, it's compelling, it's wonderful. It is so good to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. And as you walk through the membership commitment with us over the next couple of months, you're going to see this. You're going to see how we fight for this, how this is so unbelievably important to us. We want to be a gospel centered people. We want to be a community that's like a family, but we also want to take this thing that we hold dear to those who don't believe. We're a gospel centered community on mission. And that's what we're also going to see in our membership commitment. We do not exist to be a holy huddle. We do not exist to be inwardly focused. We exist to take this wonderful news that brought us from death to life, to people, to friends, to neighbors, to co workers so that they might taste and see that the Lord is good and be brought into the family of God. We care deeply about this.Now, one of the downsides to you using the word membership is because sometimes the word membership in our culture has a consumeristic bent. I mean, you could be a member of Costco. It's a pretty low commitment. You pay, what is it, 80 bucks a year? You know, and then you get to go and buy all sorts of bulk goods that certainly will, certainly some of it will spoil in your cabinets because it's just hard to use up all that stuff before it goes bad. Maybe your family's better than ours. We couldn't do it. Or Walmart. Plus, that's not important. There's a consumeristic nature sometimes to the word membership that makes it about self, that makes it about our interest. And I still think the word membership is worth fighting for. I still think it's worth reclaiming from our culture to help us see that it is not about self, that membership is about something bigger than us. It's about a people who leverage their time and their Talents and their energy and their money and their efforts and their lives so that others who do not know Christ, others who are sprinting towards an eternity apart from God under his wrath, who desperately need to know the love of a savior who bled and died for them, that it's worth our energy and our hustle and our grit to take that. To those who don't believe. It's not a country club. It's more like a military outpost. The membership we have here, we don't want to be a country club. Country club is low commitment. You pay your fee, you get to go play golf, get to enjoy the pool, but you don't keep the greens and you don't scrub the pool. We don't want to be that. We want to be more like a military outpost. Our country has military outposts all over the world. And the members of the US Military who are at those outposts, they are there to serve the interest of America. They. They're there to serve the interests of their commander in chief. They are there bound together, laser focused, whether it's promoting the values of America in that area of the world or at times, whether it's fighting a war, but they are laser focused, committed to the mission of America. And we have something so much better than that. We are citizens of a kingdom that is not of this world. And we serve a king who. Who reigns for eternity. And we get to serve him in a land that we do not belong to, that is foreign to us. And we get to serve his interests taking the gospel to people who do not know him, making enemies, friends, making the lost found, making the dead alive in Christ. That's what we want to be. The church is supposed to be. And I'll be honest, we've had folks in the past who came to our church looking for a country club and they just didn't stick. And we're not perfect. We got our flaws. You've been here long enough, you go learn them. But that's not what we want to be. But we've also had folks who've been there and done some of the Southern consumeristic Christianity. And they see the things that we're fighting for and they love it and they jump on and they see I do. I want to be a people that loves one another fiercely, that chases after Jesus together. That is taking the gospel to those who don't believe. I want to be a part of that. And they jump in and we hustle and we fight to be the church of the New Testament and the scriptures that we see that hustled and fought and was missional and had some dog in it. Like we want to be that type of church to missionaries, be everyday missionaries here in this city, in Columbia. So we want to be. And as we walk through the membership commitment over the next few months, this is something that is going to show up. And at times it's hard. I'm not going to lie. At times living out the ideals and the practices and the beliefs of our commitments is difficult. And what's helpful for my soul, maybe it'll be helpful for you, is I like to take the 10,000 year perspective when I think about all this stuff. 10,000 years from now, are you going to regret when you look back at this life not picking up more hobbies, not being the best pickleball player in the world, not using all your money to level up to the next part of society, to the next class, Are you going to regret not fulfilling the American dream and all of its trappings? Or are you going to be so insanely thankful that the work of the Spirit went to work in your heart in a way that helped you leverage your time and your energy and your heart's desire to be a people so deeply centered on the gospel, so deeply, fiercely loving one another and so outwardly focused that you took the gospel to some of your co workers who currently right now are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ because you love them, because you served them, because you stood in the way between them and hell and said Jesus is better than everything else. And they placed their faith in Jesus and they got baptized and they joined a group and they kept fighting to believe all the way to 10,000 years from now. They are standing in the presence of their Savior, worshiping him with you because you gave your life away to something that matters. That is what our commitment is all about. And that's what we're gonna look at the next couple of months. My hope is that for the members of this church, you'd be so deeply excited that you be so thankful for the work of Christ in our lives that we get to do this together. But if you're not new and you're checking us out, I hope you stick around. I hope my yelling didn't run you off. It's just, I'm just excited, you guys.

House church vs. Sunday service: Which is right? We dive into biblical arguments & church history to explore the truth about worship and church gatherings!Are Sunday morning worship services a modern invention, or do they have roots in the New Testament? We explore the biblical model of the early church, examining the tension between large church gatherings and house churches. Learn how the Book of Acts and the epistles shed light on the purpose and practice of corporate worship, fellowship, and one-another ministry. Discover a balanced approach to church life that honors both Scripture and church history.0:00 – Introduction: The Question of Sunday Services 3:45 – Biblical Evidence: Large and Small Gatherings in Acts 9:38 – The Importance of Participatory Worship 12:33 – House Churches in Corinth and Rome 16:56 – Church History and a Unified Church 21:23 – Church of House Churches vs Small Groups24:16 – Conclusion Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com.Support the showABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO:

Dr. Alemu Beeftu, Founder and President of Gospel of Glory, has traveled globally for decades, training and equipping Christian leaders to foster sustainable societal changes for the kingdom of God. Dr. Beeftu has a passion for training pastors, business professionals and politicians to develop national leadership infrastructures. He presently concentrates on transformational leaders of various ages, who have the calling, gifting, and character to foster sustainable societal change for the Kingdom of God. Dr Beeftu earned a BA from Biola University and a Masters and Doctoral Degree in Curriculum Design and Community Development from Michigan State University. With more than 40 years of experience in these and related fields, Dr. Beeftu has become an accomplished and sought-after leadership trainer. He has also continued to provide leadership worldwide for the body of Christ for over fifty-five years. He, his wife Genet and their family make their home in Corinth, Texas. To learn more about Dr Beeftu and his ministry, see goglory.org You can find his latest book, "Divine Dialogues," anywhere books are sold. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Q: I am sure you have asked and answered this before and here I am asking again. This may be several questions because I can't parse it to something simple due to its complexity and the rigidness that's felt within the church in regards to this (on either side). Can women be pastors? Can women be given the title of pastor? I did search and the title pastor is defined as a person leading a congregation or church so my thinking is no. However, what if the title is that of pastor of children's ministries etc? However that brought another question to mind - which is why give a woman the title of pastor and not as director? There are two groups of people - some say yes and use scripture and some say no and use Scripture.  Paul in Corinth with Pricilla, Phoebe and a few others are all part of the thinking that women can be in authority and leadership. The argument from the yes side is that scripture is being taken out of context and that 1 Timothy 1 is a prime example of how women can be in authority (there is also question of who actually wrote Timothy 1) Acts 18 is also used as a stance that women can teach/be in authority over men. Maybe part of the issue here is the definitions of what Pricilla was doing in Acts 18 vs what a pastor really does. But Phoebe was considered a deacon so that would assume she had some leadership capabilities.  The flip side to the stance that women can't be is how are we to mother/teach our sons? Are women allowed to be teachers? You can see the slippery slope down I am sure. So, could you please do a deep dive into this? I am struggling as I am running into this more and more within churches. One church we were attending came out and said women could be deacons and then another called a woman a pastor but they also had director roles - which made it more confusing as a person attending an event. Summary In this episode, Dr. E draws from both Old and New Testament passages to help listeners navigate the often-confused conversation about women in ministry by distinguishing between the office of elder and the gift of pastor-teacher. He explains that the New Testament uses terms like presbuteros (elder) and episkopos (overseer) interchangeably to describe a church office reserved for men, while the role of pastor-teacher is given as a spiritual gift, not an office. Women are clearly permitted to pray and prophesy in the church (1 Corinthians 11), yet Paul prohibits them from teaching or exercising authority over men (1 Timothy 2). Dr. E also explores how churches use titles like “director,” “minister,” or “pastor,” and why clarity in terminology is essential. He highlights examples like Phoebe in Romans 16 and Timothy's upbringing under his mother and grandmother to show the important role women play in ministry, even if not as elders. Men and women share equal value before God, yet Scripture outlines distinct roles within the church for the sake of order and faithfulness. Takeaways: Scripture affirms equal value of men and women while assigning distinct church roles. Elders/overseers are reserved for qualified men according to the New Testament. The gift of pastor-teacher is not the same as the office of elder. Women are permitted to pray and prophesy but not to teach with authority over men. Phoebe and other women in Romans 16 show the vital role of female ministry. Clarity in church titles like “pastor” or “director” avoids unnecessary confusion. Links Mentioned Can Women Baptize People in The Church? Can Women Be Deacons? What Does The Bible Say About Women Leading in The Church? Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

Glory Unveiled | Week 1 | Kathy Harrelson--Paul offers grace and peace to the church in Corinth as he longs for them to know and live out the gospel.--Outline

2 Kings 10 tells of the fear from the rulers of Ahab's household of retaliation of Jehu upon the eunuchs who brought up Ahab's sons in Jezreel. Jehu tricks the eunuchs to kill Ahab's 70 sons in order to save their own lives. Jehu now conceives a plan to Jehu follows this by telling Jehonadab of his zeal to fulfill the word of Yahweh. Jehu next slays 42 of Ahaziah's relatives, before carrying out his great ruse to eliminate Baal worship in Israel. All of Baal's worshippers who were beguiled into believing that Jehu intends to become the greatest of Baal's worshippers. These deluded worshippers of Baal come into his house and are slaughtered to the very last person by Jehu's appointed executioners. Jehu was promoted by God and promised to have a dynasty of four generations because of the service done that he did for the Almighty. However, Jehu himself did it not out of zeal for God but for himself. Sadly, Jehu perpetuated the calf worship of Jeroboam 1st of Israel - the man who made Israel to sin. Ezekiel is the priest of Yahweh and is introduced to us in chapter 1. His name means 'El establishes'. He was a prophet among the Babylonian exiles in Chebar who had been taken to Babylon approximately BC 606. The prophecy opens with the wonderful vision of the four living creatures, or cherubim, these creatures are symbols of Yahweh's vehicle for accomplishing His purpose. The presentation put before us in chapter 1 is a mathematical impossibility. But this is not so in the divine scheme of things. The theme of the cherubim permeates Scripture from Genesis 3 to the book of Revelation. The eyes of the four-faced living creatures portray Yahweh's Omniscience - symbolised in the eyes within the wheels. 2nd Corinthians 5 outlines the Almighty's Word, or His campaign for the reconciliation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection are its foundation and form the logical and heart-binding basis for our attachment to the great salvation of God. We become in Christ part of God's new creation. The Apostle Paul urges his readers to take up this ministry of reconciliation as Christ's ambassadors. In chapter 6 the great Apostle outlines his faithful commitment to the task of preaching the saving gospel message. Paul also establishes that this work is a call which embraces each believer in becoming a child of our Sovereign king. On our part we must embrace a complete commitment to holiness as God's beloved children. In the seventh chapter Paul entreats the Corinthians to find a place in their hearts for those whose love for them was unquestionable; and to embrace wholeheartedly the great task of receiving back into fellowship the repentant brother who had been disciplined by the ecclesia in the hope of restoring the erring brother to the company of fellow believers - the saints in our Lord Jesus Christ. Verses 13-16 speak of Paul's joy at receiving the news from Titus that the ecclesia at Corinth had followed the Apostle's advice and through ecclesial discipline achieved the result that Paul had hoped.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

This week we hear in Corinthians how Paul had to tell the people of the new church in Corinth how they needed to let God judge those outside the church but that the church needed to clean house with its believers. To clear out those that would corrupt the church with their sinful lifestyles.Frank Spalding and the preaching team at Lincoln Hills Christian Church welcomes all those seeking to know more about the Real Jesus and how to be an active disciple.

Hi welcome to Christadelphian video.org Thoughts on the Bible Readings September 5th (2 Kings 10; Ezekiel 1; 2 Corinthians 5, 6, 7)2 Kings 10 tells of the fear from the rulers of Ahab's household of retaliation of Jehu upon the eunuchs who brought up Ahab's sons in Jezreel. Jehu tricks the eunuchs to kill Ahab's 70 sons in order to save their own lives. Jehu now conceives a plan to Jehu follows this by telling Jehonadab of his zeal to fulfill the word of Yahweh. Jehu next slays 42 of Ahaziah's relatives, before carrying out his great ruse to eliminate Baal worship in Israel. All of Baal's worshippers who were beguiled into believing that Jehu intends to become the greatest of Baal's worshippers. These deluded worshippers of Baal come into his house and are slaughtered to the very last person by Jehu's appointed executioners. Jehu was promoted by God and promised to have a dynasty of four generations because of the service done that he did for the Almighty. However, Jehu himself did it not out of zeal for God but for himself. Sadly, Jehu perpetuated the calf worship of Jeroboam 1st of Israel - the man who made Israel to sin. Ezekiel is the priest of Yahweh and is introduced to us in chapter 1. His name means 'El establishes'. He was a prophet among the Babylonian exiles in Chebar who had been taken to Babylon approximately BC 606. The prophecy opens with the wonderful vision of the four living creatures, or cherubim, these creatures are symbols of Yahweh's vehicle for accomplishing His purpose. The presentation put before us in chapter 1 is a mathematical impossibility. But this is not so in the divine scheme of things. The theme of the cherubim permeates Scripture from Genesis 3 to the book of Revelation. The eyes of the four-faced living creatures portray Yahweh's Omniscience - symbolised in the eyes within the wheels. 2nd Corinthians 5 outlines the Almighty's Word, or His campaign for the reconciliation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection are its foundation and form the logical and heart-binding basis for our attachment to the great salvation of God. We become in Christ part of God's new creation. The Apostle Paul urges his readers to take up this ministry of reconciliation as Christ's ambassadors. In chapter 6 the great Apostle outlines his faithful commitment to the task of preaching the saving gospel message. Paul also establishes that this work is a call which embraces each believer in becoming a child of our Sovereign king. On our part we must embrace a complete commitment to holiness as God's beloved children. In the seventh chapter Paul entreats the Corinthians to find a place in their hearts for those whose love for them was unquestionable; and to embrace wholeheartedly the great task of receiving back into fellowship the repentant brother who had been disciplined by the ecclesia in the hope of restoring the erring brother to the company of fellow believers - the saints in our Lord Jesus Christ. Verses 13-16 speak of Paul's joy at receiving the news from Titus that the ecclesia at Corinth had followed the Apostle's advice and through ecclesial discipline achieved the result that Paul had hoped.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

The message emphasizes the importance of finding one's identity in Christ rather than in work, achievements, relationships, or societal expectations. ​ Using Paul's letter to the Corinthians as a foundation, it highlights how the church at Corinth lost its way by defining themselves through divisions, quarrels, and worldly measures. ​ Will Dyer reflects on the human tendency to root identity in transient things like careers, appearances, or roles, which can lead to instability and dissatisfaction. ​ Instead, the message calls for embracing the unshakable identity found in being a child of God, redeemed through Christ. ​ Through this lens, believers are reminded that "all things are yours because you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God," encouraging them to live with confidence, purpose, and a deeper connection to God's grace. ​

The coming of Timothy with the news he carried about the response of the believers at Corinth was a tonic that revived his spirit. Chapter 2 provided further advice for what to do next if the wrongdoer was to be fully recovered. The chapter tells us that in Troas he pondered his blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ. His imagery is drawn from the practices which accompanied the Roman Triumphal procession. The language that he uses to his fellow believers is ironic since their lifestyle spoke of living gloriously whereas the Apostles were treated as though they had been the conquered army many of whom were to be offered to the gods of the victors. Nonetheless in verses Paul says that God has strengthened him that the fragrant message of the gospel might replace the pungent odour of death that would otherwise fill the nostrils of the perishing.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

Send us a textWelcome back, friends. Today, we're wrapping up our series on 1 Corinthians with what I'm calling “A Book Review.” If there's any church in the New Testament that feels like it could be dropped right into the modern world, it's the church at Corinth. Because of the issues they were facing then? They're the very same issues the church faces today. The Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Collision Course   Acts 19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples  2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John's baptism,” they replied.   Religion Confronted   4 Paul said, “John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”  5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.   Religion Confronted - The Spirit Fills     8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.   Religion Confronted - The Spirit Fills - Open your Heart    11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.   Evil Confronted    13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”  14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”  16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.    Evil Confronted - Idols Fall   18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.  19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.  20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.   Evil Confronted - Idols Fall - Burn the Scrolls.     Resistance Confronted  Acts 20:17-24 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.  19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.  20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.  21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace. Resistance Confronted - Servants Finish  Resistance Confronted - Servants Finish - Serve the Lord

In this sermon Pastor Tommy preaches on 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. The post Letter to the Church: Corinth | Chapter 7 pt 2 appeared first on Atlanta Dream Center Church.

In this sermon Pastor Tommy dives into 1 Corinthians chapters and 6 and 7. The post Letter to the Church: Corinth | Chapter 6 & 7 appeared first on Atlanta Dream Center Church.

In this sermon Pastor Tommy dives into 1 Corinthians chapter 6. The post Letter to the Church: Corinth | Chapter 6 appeared first on Atlanta Dream Center Church.

In this sermon Pastor Tommy dives into 1 Corinthians Chapters 3 and 4. The post Letter to the Church: Corinth | Chapters 3-4 appeared first on Atlanta Dream Center Church.

The goal of Christianity is Christlikeness. Spiritual growth is the fruit of our faith; evidence that we are connected to the vine. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany unpack what spiritual growth really is, why it matters, and how believers partner with the Holy Spirit to become more like Christ.They explain the nature of growth, the role of discipline and refinement, and the daily practices that help Christians mature in their faith.What We Discussed01:17 – Growth and Maturity in ScripturePractical Theology connects doctrine to daily life. Examples from Corinth and Hebrews show how believers can remain spiritually immature. The Christian life involves either progressing or regressing—there is no standing still.03:42 – Defining Spiritual GrowthSpiritual growth is a progressive development in key areas of life: spiritual character, knowledge of God, faith, and an appreciation of Christ's work.05:00 – The Nature of Spiritual GrowthGrowth is a partnership between the Holy Spirit and believers. The Spirit empowers us to live out God's truth, producing behavioral growth expressed in love, patience, and obedience.07:05 – Lifelong Learning and RefinementSpiritual growth is not linear. God refines believers through discipline and correction. 09:40 – The Goal of GrowthThe ultimate outcome is to become more like Christ. The fruits of the Spirit shape believers into His likeness.12:00 – Practicing Spiritual Growth DailySpiritual disciplines mirror physical habits. Believers need daily nourishment from God's Word, obedience to His commands, and rest in His promises. 14:33 – A Call to Ongoing GrowthSpiritual growth has infinite capacity. Christians should never be satisfied with their current condition but continually press forward in maturity.Key Quote“Although we'll never attain absolute spiritual maturity in this world, we can be relatively mature for our spiritual age as we give ourselves daily to the means God uses to grow us.” – Pastor Jeff CranstonWe love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today's episode, email me at pastorjeff@lowcountrycc.orgVisit my website https://www.jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranstonRemember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul calls the church to finally forsake all idols before the Lord. While in that day in Corinth it may have been easier to notice what the idols were, our present day can be sneakier. Let us respond to the Lord's call to hold the Lord's table in high regard, and run to it.

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

The early church is often painted as an ideal of perfect community. The reality, however, was far from picturesque. The church in Corinth was, to put it lightly, a mess. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul tried to paint a clear picture for the people and untangle the many theological and moral knots the church had created for itself. His letter to them still rings true to the church today. How can we be unified in a world of chaos? How can we be wise in a world of foolishness?

Today we read 1 Corinthians ch 14 which completes the Apostle's message about Spirit Gifts.  Paul is earnestly exhorting them to properly use the spirit gifts they were privileged to possess. The first verse stresses, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”   Prophecy does not mean to predict the future but to speak to and on behalf of God; to be God's representative among men, which may, on occasion include warnings and predictions about the future, it certainly did with Jeremiah.     Today we read Jeremiah's Lamentations: they were written after the terrible fall and destruction of Jerusalem. He laments in his first chapter,, “how she (Jerusalem) took no thought of her future, therefore her fall is terrible … O LORD, behold my affliction …”[v.9]  His intimate relationship with God is an example for us.  As with Jeremiah, it will sustain us if we are alive when the “fall” of our world takes place, for it is going to be “terrible.”   It will be essential to have a true relationship with God and his Son for they will deliver all who possess this – as we will read tomorrow in the final 9 verses of ch. 15 in 1 Corinthians.     Paul challenges the believers in Corinth, “do not be children in your thinking.  Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” [14 v.20] . They are keen to use the “gifts” God's Spirit created in them, so he tells them, “since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” [v.12] and, as we saw yesterday, they should “earnestly desire the higher gifts.” [12 v.31]     In today's chapter Paul makes it plain that the least of the gifts, “tongues” which are mentioned last, should not be used.  It is unwise to use them in church, “they are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers” [v.22] as on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2 v.5-11).  Paul says, “If therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say you are out of your minds?”[v.23]  But those who prophesy, that is, preach God's word, as Jeremiah did to those in Jerusalem, and an “outsider enters, he is convicted” (in his thinking) and “the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” [v.24,25]     Do we have “secrets” in our hearts we wrestle with?   May all our “thinking be(come) mature” so that we fully realize that God and the Saviour are really among us, if we invite them!   Look at 2nd Corinthians, on Wednesday we will read, “God who said, ‘let light shine out of darkness.' Has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [4 v,6]   May we more fully “let light shine .. in our hearts.””

John brings us another message in our study through 1 Corinthians. In chapter 11, Paul addresses a difficult subject that was complicating things in the church of Corinth. He speaks to the issue of how men and women are to worship God in proper decorum and godly order. It's not really about head coverings, rather it's about our identity in Christ and following God's design for life.

When should we be confident? That's what we're studying today as we look at Paul's teachings to the church of Corinth. The world often lives by self-confidence. Do we have it all together? Are we successful? Are we winning? But Paul was confident in a different way. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

Pastor Micah Stephens delivers a convicting message from 1 Corinthians 10, urging believers to navigate Christian liberty with discernment in a pagan culture akin to modern California. Drawing from the church's anchored reading program, he contrasts Rome's theological legalism with Corinth's moral struggles, using the example of eating meat offered to idols to illustrate the tension between what's permissible and what's edifying. Stephens shares a personal anecdote about his six young children testing boundaries, likening it to Christians flirting with sin's edge, and challenges the congregation to prioritize glorifying God and building others up over selfish desires. His closing prayer seeks conviction and humility, aligning with Godspeak's mission to apply biblical truth amidst cultural challenges like AB 495, which he references as a threat to parental rights.Reference VersesRomans 15 verse 1, Romans 16 verses 17–18, 1 Corinthians 10 verses 20–21, 1 Corinthians 10 verses 23–33, 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1, Romans 8 verse 1, James 2 verses 14–26, Romans 5 verse 20, Romans 6 verse 1, Hebrews 10 verse 25, Galatians 5 verse 13, 1 Corinthians 8 verse 7, Deuteronomy 14 verse 26, Psalm 127 verses 3–5Make sure you subscribe to this channel and follow us on all our platforms to always stay up to date with our latest content!And you can always head over to our website for any general information! https://godspeak.comPrayer/NeedsIf you have any needs, or have a willingness to be used to meet various need in the body, please email info@godspeak.com. Also, let us know if you need prayer for anything.Giving is part of our worship time, and in this season, the easiest way to do that is online. If you go to our website, godspeak.com, you will see the "Give" tab in the top right corner. Or you can simply click this link https://pushpay.com/g/godspeakAny questions?Please feel free to email us, comment here, or DM us on Instagram any questions that you may have.Please Subscribe to this channel and turn on your notifications to be notified when our Livestreams start so you don't miss out! We hope you are blessed by the service!-The Godspeak Team