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If someone were to say, “She is pragmatic,” there is probably a good chance that that would be a compliment. After all, the dictionary definition of adjective pragmatic is that it means you deal with something sensibly and realistically, practically rather than theoretically. In philosophy, pragmatism means something altogether different…
"What does God want for you?" could be a whole book unto itself. But today we’re going to examine it in light of our OT and NT segments, because it’s a message of hope — and more. More importantly, it’s a good reminder of truth in a world where almost-truth abounds, and it’s always profitable to focus for a moment on the thing that should make your heart sing.
Yesterday we heard James call out his audience for favoring the nicely-dressed person walking into church over the poorly dressed person, but the broader principle is that favoritism or partiality of any kind is a sin because it fails to honor all people who are God’s image bearers. Favoritism can go any direction.
Today is related…and our focus question is, “What is the consequence of envy?"
At the beginning of today’s passage in James 2, you’re going to hear James address his audience about a particular sin…the sin of partiality. And that’s our focus question today…What is the sin of partiality?
But those who have ears, let them hear. When we think about A) the whole Bible, and B) how this is applied and misapplied today, what is something that is often missed? How does this apply to all people?
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
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.
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.
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?”
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.
