I. Rejoice in suffering, for God is your comfort. (v. 3)
II. Comfort those who suffer, as God has comforted. (v. 4–7)
III. Rejoice in suffering, for God is your comfort. (v. 8–11)
How does this change the way I see difficulties in my life?
How does this change the way I view difficulties in the lives of others?
How does this change the way I sing?
“A More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Bible Study 04/22/18
This morning we will turn our attention to one of the most popular and well-known texts in Scripture, the “love” chapter. While the concept of love is foundational for theology, identity and experience, we must not divorce this great chapter from its contextual setting. It is “sandwiched” between two chapters (1 Cor. 12 and 1 Cor. 14) which address spiritual gifts and their employment. Seeking to curb the Corinthian tendencies toward self-centeredness and divisiveness, Paul digresses from his discussion of spiritual gifts in order to show his readers, then and now, a more excellent way.
I. Gain a perspective on the futility of loveless activity (1-3)
• motive and action/noun and verb
• structure: 2 affirmations, 8 negations, 4 affirmations
III. Grasp the permanence of love (8-13)
• connect verse 8 with verse 13
• assertion: Love never fails.
• the transient: prophecies, tongues, knowledge
• the perfect and the partial
• two illustrations: child/adult, mirror/face-to-face
• the permanent: faith, hope, love
• the foundational fact of love
IV. So What?
• As a beneficiary of biblical love, you should prize, promote and practice it.
• “Love is the overflow of joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others.” (Piper)
• The gifts result in edification and glorification only when they flow from love’s motivation.
• A love not shaped by the contours of the cross is a cruel concept.
• “Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we find our place, till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.” (C. Wesley)
• “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” (Watts)
“Fencing the Table” 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Bible Study 04/08/18
This morning we will focus on Paul’s instructions to the church at Corinth regarding the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Sadly, some of the Corinthians, by their attitudes and actions, were guilty of treating the “Lord’s Table” with a careless contempt. Paul’s corrective and prescriptive response to such contempt reminds us that the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift given to the church. Because its proper observance matters to Him, our engaged participation in it is particularly serious. Of our text this morning, Spurgeon wrote: “As paradise of old was guarded by cherubim with a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life, so stands this simple supper of the Lord-guarded with a flaming sword of which this text is a portion.” Since the Lord’s Supper is a visible testimony of the Lord’s gracious provision for the deliverance of sinners, the Lord protects its observance by prescribing our worthy approach to it.
I. Background/Context
-dramatization of the gospel
-instituted by Jesus
-indictment of our tendency to forget
-intensely corporate expression
III. The Lord prohibits an unworthy observance
-not to see if we are good enough
-setting up court in our own hearts
-the experience of partnership in the benefits
V. The Lord pronounces a sobering warning
-Because the Lord’s Table testifies of His gracious provision for your rescue, receive its nourishment with a melted heart and an attitude of awe.
-“A heart of stone that has never been melted-shall it come to remember His precious flesh that was melted in the agonies of Calvary?” (Spurgeon)
-a message from Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9)
-“How sweet and awesome is the place, with Christ within the doors, while everlasting love displays the choicest of her stores. While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast, each of us cry with thankful tongues, ‘Lord, why was I a guest?’” (Watts)
“He Must Reign” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 Bible Study 04/01/18
1 Corinthians 15 contains what many have termed the “exposition” of the empty tomb. While 15:12-19 addresses the importance of the resurrection with reference to personal salvation and 15:29-34 offers insight regarding the resurrection and the present status of believers, 15:20-28 highlights the central role of the resurrection in connection to the program or reign of God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the closed tomb throws open the door of hope for all who will trust Him. Its eternal impact is incomparable. The risen Jesus must reign so that God may be all in all.
I. Pinpoint the public inauguration of His reign
-beginning with His resurrection (John 20:19)
-in another sense always (John 1:1-2, Heb. 1:1-3)
–three new things about His reign
*Son of God and Son of Man
*openly declared to be Messiah (Acts 2:32-36)
*foundation of finished work (John 19:30)
II. Acknowledge the present existence of His reign
-the importance of “until” in verse 25
-reigning now and reigning to win (Matt. 28:18)
-not passive but proactive
III. Affirm the inclusive extent of His reign
-the design: >total (Psa. 110:1, Psa. 8:6)
-the dimensions: all
-the evident exception (John 10:30)
-the abolishment of death
– “The resurrection is not an isolated event with limited repercussions. It is rather an integrating and culminating event in God’s sovereign rule over history.” (Sproul)
-Claim the truth of 1 Corinthians 15:55-58.
-“Crown him the Lord of heaven, Enthroned in worlds above; Crown him the king, to whom is given the wondrous name of Love, Crown him with many crowns, as thrones before him fall. Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.” (Bridges/Thring)
“The Great Exchange” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Bible Study 03/25/18
This morning, as we reflect on the cross of Jesus and look forward to His resurrection celebration on Easter, we will turn our attention to a key NT text regarding the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death. Set in the context of his apostolic defense and articulation of ministry, Paul emphasizes both the compelling love of Christ and the reconciling initiative of God the Father behind it. At the heart of our experience of Christ’s love and reconciliation with God is the “great exchange” vividly described in 5:21.In the reconciling plan of God, Jesus took our place so that we might have His peace.
I. Recognize the source of reconciliation (18-19)
• “All this” in 5:18 points back to 5:14-17
• compelling love and new creation
• the agent of reconciliation: through Christ
• having reconciled…having given…
• expansion: not counting trespasses and depositing the word
II. Respond to the summons for reconciliation (20)
• ambassadors through whom appeal is made
• imploring believers to be reconciled
• reminder: God reconciles. Man is reconciled.
III. Savor the substance of reconciliation (21)
• the One not having known sin
• for us/for our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin
• that we might become the righteousness of God in Him
• Isa. 53:10, Rom. 5:6-11, Gal. 3:13
IV. So What?
• “If our Lord’s bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.” (Spurgeon)
• “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (P. Bliss)
• In Psalm 103, David’s enumeration of the Lord’s benefits begins with forgiveness of sins. He understood what is of greatest importance. If we have everything but God’s forgiveness, we have nothing of worth. (Carson)
• Keep on preaching the gospel to yourself.
The book of Ephesians can be divided into two parts.
Part I: Chapters 1-3 – Deals with the mystery of the gospel.
Part II: Chapters 4-6 – Practical instruction on Christian living.
The prayer found in 3:14-21 could be called The Endgame for the Christian Life.
The Greek word, hina, occurring in the text three times, introduces three parts to Paul’s prayer.
The heart is the starting place for all actions, both good and bad. The word in Greek, translated dwell, carries the sense of making oneself completely at home.
Dr. McCarty experienced an example of the love of Christ when he visited a region of India to organize a translation of the Bible into the Bundeli language and give support for Christians experiencing persecution on a tragic scale. Those men, though, under a crushing burden of persecution, put Dr. McCarty’s needs first, providing his meal first, before they ate, and seeing that he could get to bed earlier than they.
The Alpe d’Huez is a French ski resort used by the Tour de France bicycle race. This leg of the race is 8.5 miles in length but climbs 6000 feet, a big challenge for the average person. One needs to be vested with all the strength and skill of a champion bike racer to participate. We are also challenged in living for Christ; but if we are filled up with all the fullness of God, we are doing things in God’s strength and not our own.
“Come Back to the Cross” 1 Corinthians 1:10-25 Bible Study 03/04/18
This morning we are beginning the study of 1 Corinthians. It is a letter directed to a gifted yet problem-riddled church. Almost immediately, Paul addresses the issue of divisiveness in the church. After identifying and assessing the problem, he proceeds to expound on its solution. His readers need to “come back” to the cross. Because the word of the cross demonstrates the complete supremacy of God’s wisdom and power to a dying world, depend on it and declare it confidently.
I. Context/Background
-pastoral letter addressed to a “troubled and triumphant church”
-Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth previously.
-objective: unity rooted in the cross
-confirmation of calling (1:1-9)
-contention in the church (1:10-17)
II. The Cross Exposes the Futility of Human Wisdom (1:18-21)
-synonym for the gospel
-its disregard results in distraction and division
-failure to address ultimate issues
-contrast: perishing/folly and being saved/power
-supporting OT reference: Isa. 29:13-14
-exposure of foolishness (Isa. 35:18)
-God’s pleasure in what appears “foolish”
III. The Cross Exceeds the Power of Human Effort (1:22-25)
-demand for signs: the spectacular
-demand for wisdom: the intellectual
-a rescue rooted in divine determination
-stumbling block and folly (Deut. 21:22-23)
-foolish wisdom and weak strength
-pulverizes pride (1:31 and Jer. 9:23-24)
IV. So What?
-Because the word of the cross demonstrates the complete supremacy of God’s wisdom and power to a dying world, depend on it and declare it confidently.
-“How soon faith would freeze without a cross.” (S. Ford)
-“…If we blunt the sharp edges of the cross, we dull the glittering diamond of God’s love.” (Jeffery, Ovey and Sach in Pierced for Our Transgressions)
-Dynamic power calls for delighted dependence.
-“Forbid it, Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.” (Watts)
-“Alas! And did my Savior bleed and did my Sov’reign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?” (Watts)
-“Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calv’ry”s mountain. (Crosby)
“To Be Continued…” Acts 28:17-28 Bible Study 02/25/18
For the last three months, we have been following Paul’s ministry as recorded in the book of Acts. We have traced the trajectory of his three missionary journeys, including their mountain-top highs and valley-like lows. This morning, as we conclude our study in Acts, we find Paul on his way to Rome. With unflinching consistency, he saw every circumstance as an opportunity to showcase the gospel of Jesus Christ. Fittingly, Luke closes the book of Acts with Paul, yet again, sharing the unhindered word of God.
I. Background
-on an Alexandrian ship headed for Italy and Paul’s unheeded warning (27:1-12)
-a great storm and Paul’s assuring words (27:13-44)
-three months on the island of Malta, a criminal or a god (28:1-10)
-on the way to Rome: after arrest, imprisonment and shipwreck (28:11-16)
II. Paul Explains the Circumstances of His Arrival (17-20)
-chained prisoner
-first consultation with Jews in Rome
-appeal to brothers and declaration of innocence
-notable absence of condemnation
-objection of Jews
-appeal to Caesar
-hope of Israel
-response and request to hear about “this sect”
III. Paul Expounds the Truth of the Gospel (21-28)
-second consultation with Jews in Rome
-in greater numbers
-expound, testify, persuade
-mixed response
-implementation of Isa. 6:9-10
-listening Gentiles
IV. Paul Employs His Imprisonment as a Gospel Opportunity (30-31)
-proclaiming and teaching
-with all boldness and without hindrance
V. So What?
-Because the word is unhindered and we are its messengers, continue to share the gospel in every circumstance.
-“Let us have confidence in the greatness of the word, though the world may be deaf to its music and blind to its power.” (Maclaren)
-Dare to “mobilize” your “limitation” and send it into battle.
-“Am I a soldier of the cross, a follow’r of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His name? Must I be carried to the skies on flow’ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas? Thy saints in all this glorious war shall conquer, though they die; They see the triumph from afar, by faith’s discerning eye.” (Watts)
