CS Lewis once quipped, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen ... not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else." And in an Advent twist, this enables a perspective about Christmas that should bring a smile to your face.
Shalom is a gift - a reflection on Advent, week 2 (Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27)
Hope is an orientation - a reflection on Advent, week 1 (Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14,16)
#1233: Who's the King of Tyre? | Revelation 8-9 | Ezekiel 28 | Psalm 94 | Isaiah 14:12-17
Sunday reflection: Mistaken identity (1 John 1:5-6 et al)
#1175: How does God use your afflictions? | 2 Corinthians 1-2:4 | Isaiah 65-66 | Proverbs 15:1-4
#1174: What did Isaiah model in prayer? | 1 Corinthians 16 | Isaiah 63-64 | Psalm 70
#1173: Will our spiritual bodies be non-material? | 1 Corinthians 15 | Isaiah 61-62 | Psalm 128
#1172: What does it mean for me to prophesy? | 1 Corinthians 14 | Isaiah 58-60 | Birthday song
#1171: Why keep no record of wrongs? | 1 Corinthians 13 | Isaiah 56-57 | Psalm 69
#1170: How do spiritual gifts reflect the Trinity? | 1 Corinthians 12 | Isaiah 54-55 | Proverbs 14:27-35
1 Corinthians 12 is one of the more popular chapters in the Bible precisely because it addresses spiritual gifts. And while that’s not wrong, it’s useful to see it in the greater context of what Paul’s been talking about. One part of that, then, you might guess given our focus question today is, “How do spiritual gifts reflect the Trinity
#1169: What OT passage is quoted most? | Isaiah 50:4-53:12
#1168: In what did Paul ground his argument? | 1 Corinthians 11 | Isaiah 48-50:3 | Proverbs 14:23-26
In what does Paul ground his argument? Right up front you’re going to hear him argue “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ (1 Co 11:3–4, CSB),” but he’s not arguing for an order of authority, he’s assuming it as he applies to to a couple problematic particularities in Corinthian worship services.
#1166: Why celibacy and singleness? | 1 Corinthians 7 | Isaiah 45:14-47:15 | Proverbs 14:22
If you think about it, whatever the length of your life here, an eternity in heaven is going to utterly dwarf your 60 or 80 or 100 years here. When you look at it this way, it kinda puts it all in perspective, especially when you think about how much time we spend pursuing earthly things like our sexual desires. Why celibacy and singleness? Today on #forthehope.
#1165: What is an "a priori" objection? | 1 Corinthians 6 | Isaiah 43:14-45:13 | Proverbs 14:13-15
#1164: When should you judge someone? | 1 Corinthians 5 | Isaiah 41:21-43:13 | Proverbs 14:7-12
Today and tomorrow you’re going to hear Paul talking about specific sins. And at the end of today you’ll hear Paul talk about judging people. What?!? Didn’t Jesus say we’re not supposed to judge people? Well, we will get to that after we read when we get to answering today’s focus question: “When should you judge someone?”
#1163: When is “beyond what is written” okay? | 1 Corinthians 4 | Isaiah 40-41:20 | Psalm 65
#1162: Are there heavenly rewards for earthly work? | 1 Corinthians 3 | Isaiah 38-39 | Psalm 62
#1161: What is Biblical wisdom? | 1 Corinthians 2 | Isaiah 36-37 | Psalm 118 |
We often think of wisdom in kinda abstract terms, but it’s ultimately practical…wisdom is skill for living. Now lest you think — and rightfully so — that that could be how you might think about it in a secular sense, that’s exactly why we have focus questions here. So today as we knock down a short 1 Co 2, keep an ear out — and we’ll wrap up the day by highlighting a key distinction that’s worth remembering.