2Co3

If the people you influence could be transformed into a letter of reference, what would that letter say about you?  Would it commend or condemn your character?

I think there is no better context for this than parenting.  Paul considered the Corinthians "his children" and knew that he had lived a life pleasing to God in their presence.  His work in them was not being represented well at the time, yet he still appealed to his life as the example for them to follow.

As parents, our children won't always make good choices.  Yet as parents, we should continually be setting the pace and example for them to follow.  My prayer is that I never give my children an excuse to not pursue Christ.  The battle is tough enough without me adding to the struggle.

Be an example to follow parent.

Read it here.

2Co2

Have you ever thought about being the "fragrance of Christ?"  To some it is the smell of life, to others, the smell of death!

Have you every heard the phrase, "family smell"?  You know, it is that smell that one associates with a particular home or family.  Everyone has a smell, but generally you can't smell your own.  Have you ever wondered if "your family smell" is one that people enjoy?  I have.

Paul clearly says that our lives as believers are to be "smelly".  We are to be the smell of life to some and the smell of death to others.  Both attractive and offensive.  The same smell that draws some and repulses others.  What is that smell...the life of Christ.

What do you smell like?

Read it here.

2Co1

Every one of God's promises are "yes" in Christ!  No matter what happens today, remember that eternity will be determined by what we did for Jesus.

Since Jesus is our life, we should think about Him all the time.  We will see Him in time, but until then we should live with anticipation.  Paul definitely had this practice down.  He longed to see Jesus, but He lived for others to see Him also.

Think about someone you know who needs to be introduced to Jesus through you.

Read it here.

1Co15

The gospel that saves it not simply something we give verbal assent to. The gospel must be received, stood on and clung to.  It is your life!

Paul wanted the Corinthians to be clear on this essential matter...What is the gospel?  He laid down the basic tenants and challenged them to examine their own hearts.

He said to embrace the gospel with your mind, but not with your life is to not embrace the gospel.  He said that to live for the gospel for this life only would be a joke.  He said that gospel living expects us to "stop sinning" so others can clearly see and also believe.

What a challenge.

Read it here.

1Co14

Pursue love, not gifts!  This could summarize the entire book or 1Corinthians.  Often when gifts become the focus, love is thrown out.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to "Love God" and the second is to "Love People".  If nothing else was said, I would have plenty of reason to turn to Jesus for help.

Have you noticed that the only person you naturally love is yourself?  Focus on others today.  Love.

Read it here.

1Co13

Do you "really love" anyone?  When you compare what we say to what the bible teaches, you find something quite different! Test yourself.

One suggestion that was given to me was to replace the word "love" with your name and see how it sounds to you.

For example:  Troy is patient, Troy is kind, Troy does not envy, etc.  It is really convicting.  This is a great challenge for all of us today.

Read it here.

1Co12

There is a lot of confusion about spiritual gifts but there should be no confusion about the reason for spiritual gifts: to build up the body of Christ.

My experience has been that generally people want to talk about "their gift" mostly because they want to somehow be personally edified.  That totally misses the point!  The gifts are not given for us personally, they are given for all of us corporately.  The reason they are given is not for our own building up, but so that we can build up the whole church.

Everyone has a critical part or role to play.  God has masterfully put us together and His desire is that we give ourselves fully to building up His church.

Serve each other today.

Read it here.

1Co11

It is tragic when a church gathering actually hurts one's ability to connect to Jesus!  Is the problem the gathering or the individuals who gather?  Hmmm...

Paul said that this church's gathering actually did more harm that good.  They were choosing to have division and even getting drunk at communion!!!!!  Who does that?  

Read it here.

1Co10

Paul's advice:  ^"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  If you were to live by that advice today, what would you do different?

The Word of God gives us clear examples of what "to do" and what "not to do".  When we fail to follow its clear instruction, we will suffer the consequences.  When we choose to follow, we will receive its blessing.

Be the persons who is eager to learn and obey God's word today.

Read it here.

1Co9

Paul did everything for the sake of the gospel.  What is your motivation today?

Read it here.

1Co8

Just because you have the freedom to do something doesn't mean you should do it!  Think about how your actions affect others.

Paul was living in the midst of a very broken culture.  He was surrounded by idolatry and all kinds of pagan activity.  When he embraced the gospel, he realized that the idol worship had zero meaning because idols are not actually gods.  Therefore, the meat used in sacrifice to the idol was "cheap steak" and he was free to eat it.

Unfortunately this "meat eating" caused others to sin and to struggle with their own choices.  Paul concluded that his brother was of greater value than "cheap steak" so, he stopped eating the meat.  (At least when the "weaker" brother was around.)

There are a lot of applications to this today.  Showing deference to others is a quality we should all strive to have.  We should never use our freedom in a way that leads others to sin.

Read in here.

1Co7

Did you know that when a married couple is not regularly having sex, they are violating a commandment?  The one exception would be if they have chosen to take a break from sex for the purpose of focused, intentional prayer.  And then only for a short time.

It continues to break my heart how broken our culture is when it comes to sex.  It seems as though we have to spend great amounts of time with our children and singles to keep them from prematurely engaging in sex.  And then, once they marry, we spend much time helping them to have a healthy sexual relationship!  Our culture is broken.

God was right....Again!!!!  The road to a healthy sex life is a pure single life.  Saving sex for marriage actually can be the thing that strengthens a marriage for a lifetime. God plans things for our good if we would only trust and obey Him.

Read it here.

1Co6

God changes lives!  If someone claims to know Him, there should be evident change in their life.  A good question to ask is, "How has Jesus changed you?"  If the answer is, "not much", one would need to reexamine if they actually know Christ.

Who will inherit the kingdom of God?  Formerly immoral, idolaters, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, abusive, swindling people who have been changed by Him.  The key phrase..."such were" some of you.

Be changed by Jesus.

Read it here.

1Co5

It is one thing to commit sin.  It is a completely different thing to be proud of the sin you commit!

The bible is really clear when it comes to sin.  Everyone sins and everyone will continue to sin at some level.  It is also clear that those who are not dealing with their sin, have no knowledge of true salvation.

It is a good question to ask yourself, "How do I feel about the sins I commit?"  If you are okay with them, or worse yet, actually proud of them, I would reexamine your faith.

read it here.

1Co4

Do you have a reputation of being a "servant of Christ" and a manager of "God's mysteries"?  This is how Paul wanted to be identified.  He also compared himself, and the other apostles, as "the worlds garbage or dirt someone scrapes off their sandals".

If I were to ask people to give some descriptive term that pegged me, I would doubt that either of the first two terms would come to mind.  Yet, both of these terms should describe all of us who claim to follow Christ.  We really are to be serving Him and being good stewards of all that He has entrusted to us.

I find myself selfishly pursuing Jesus.  I follow Him in hopes of gaining my "best life now" and looking for even greater blessings.  It is so hard for me to just obey and follow.

How about you guys?

Read it here.

1Cor3

Good works won't earn your way into heaven, but they will determine the degree of your reward if you get there!  It is worth it to follow hard after Jesus.

Only God can save someone and only He can cause growth in their lives.  Men are simply vessels that God uses to help us to know God.  When the leaders in our lives become a substitute for the voice of God Himself, we are on dangerous ground.

I am guilty of too quickly associating something a particular teacher said with God without actually checking it with scripture.  We should be students of the bible first and good learners from others second.  Listening and following even the best men can lead into a trap.

Read it here.

1Co2

Even Paul, possibly the world's best evangelist was fearful when in came to sharing Christ...yet he did NOT let fear stop him.  In fact, he was driven by love which compelled him beyond his fear.

The Corinthians were not an easy group to share with.  Nor were they an easy church to lead.  We can learn much from Paul's leadership in this book.  

The first lesson: Never let fear or insecurity keep you from sharing Christ.

Read it here.

1Co1

The message of the cross is foolishness to some, but I have staked my life on it.  God's ways are not my ways!

Ro16

Who can you give happiness today by just sending them a note and saying, "Hey".  It doesn't take much, but it can really make a difference.

Imagine hearing a letter read from the apostle Paul. Now imagine hearing your name being read!  I would be so excited to know that Paul actually remembered and greeted me.

Read it here.

Ro 15

What is overflowing from you? Hope? Paul says that hope should be overflowing from our lives because our God is the "God of all hope".

I am often discouraged by people who are so negative.  It seems as though if something can be seen in a bad way, that is the way they see it!  Why not see things through the eyes of hope?  Live strong not hopeless.  Happiness not negativity.

Read it here.