2Co3

Through Christ we are all being "transformed" into the same image! Literally changing who we are. That is what Christ does.

Recently, my sons were watching a transformer movie.  These movies have been a big hit and have made millions at the box office. I should have taken the opportunity to introduce them to this biblical principal. The word translated "transformed" actually comes from the same greek word that we get our english word "metamorphosis" from. It means to totally change.

God's Spirit does not want us to be a "little" different. He wants total transformation. He want us to be "like" Him. When a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, they are radically different! When a tadpole changes into a frog, they are totally different. God desires radical change in our lives. That change comes through obedience to Christ.

When obedience stops…transformation also stops. What is God seeking to change in me? Will I look to Him and obey?

Life with Christ is to be a lifetime of change.

2Co2

Do you believe Satan is at work in our world today? If so, what is his strategy? What are his schemes? Paul was careful to instruct the church to not give Satan an "advantage". What does that mean?

In this context he was referring to a brother in 1Corinthians who was bragging about sexual sin. As a result of his sin, Paul encouraged the church to have nothing to do with him so he would come to his senses, repent and be restored. That is exactly what happened. The brother repented. Apparently there were still those who were struggling to forgive him and welcome him back. They were hurt by his sin, and struggling to forgive.

Satan has all kinds of strategies but primarily one goal…to destroy God's church. He preys on our struggles with sin, our conflict with people, and our selfish pride. He wants our hurts and fears to instruct our decision making. We wants us to question God and His word. He loves to see brokenness in God's church. We must fight for unity and love. We must fight to not compromise the truth AND to not become bitter when a brother falls into sin.

Walking with Jesus is a life-long battle with Satan. Never forget that.

2Co1

In Jesus all God's promises are "yes"! But examine closely the context of this affirmation. Paul was being afflicted to the point of being concerned for his life. In fact, he "despaired of life".

Once again, Paul's hope in the gospel was not in this life. In fact, the gospel made this life difficult for him. He was completely overwhelmed with affliction as a result of the gospel. So much for the health, wealth and comfort gospel. Paul was not having his "best life now."

What is your story? Are we looking for God to bring us comfort and pleasure in this life or are we looking to live to please God regardless of the personal sacrifice that may be experienced?

1Co16

All of us should be supporting the poor believers around the world. God has entrusted to us more than we need so we can supply their needs in difficult times.

God has given His church everything we need to make a difference in this world. In most places in the world the church is under resourced. I am grateful to be a part of a church that is seeking to make a difference, not only in our part of the world, but also in the most desperate parts of the world where the church is poor.

Our giving matters.

1Co15

Jesus conquered death! This is the essential truth of the gospel that cannot be ignored. We no longer need to fear death. The ultimate enemy has been defeated. We should celebrate Easter every day.

Paul never wanted anyone to forget the fact of the resurrection. It is this undeniable fact that separates Christianity from every other religion of the world. God, who is the author of life, also conquered death in His resurrection. Things we once had to fear, no longer hold anything to be afraid of.

Live life today in the joy of the resurrection. Live knowing we will never die. Live for the life that is real.

1Co14

"Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church." How important is building up the community of faith (the church) to you? Are you seeking to use your spiritual gifts to strengthen your church. If not, you are missing the purpose of spiritual gifts.

Most conversations about spiritual gifts are not oriented around building up others and the local church. Generally conversation about "gifts" are aimed at personal discovery and individual attention. Paul was clear that this kind of attention because of "gifts" was a distraction from the gospel, not an advancement of it.

The most desired gift for the church to have is prophecy. But what is that? From this chapter we can see that it is speaking in an understandable way the word(s) of God in order to edify, encourage and console the church. That is not generally how people speak about that gift. Usually someone who claims the gift of prophecy is generally wanting to speak authoritatively in a manner that is critical or judgmental. Clearly, that is missing the boat.

Paul used his words to build up God's people. We should use our words to do the same. Loving people means speaking in a manner that has God's purposes and other's best interest in mind.

1Co13

Do you want to know what love is and what love is not? Read this chapter!

As I examine my life in light of this chapter, I feel very lacking. Love is to be the defining quality of every believer. Especially those who are seeking to follow hard after Jesus. Love is to be the barometer by which we measure spiritual life.

What do people feel when they get around you? Is is love? I know that too rarely people feel loved when they interact with me. I wonder if I took a pole what people would say? Maybe I will do a little survey. I will ask one question: Describe with one word how you think people feel after spending time with me?

I am a little nervous about the results. If you read this note and you have spent time with me, please send me the word that comes to your mind.

Thanks for your participation in my personal survey.

1Co12

Spiritual giftedness does not equal spiritual maturity. God has gifted every christian from the day they are converted. Spiritual maturity takes time, discipline and more time and discipline.

God has given gifts to foster unity and often we use gifts as the basis for division. God has uniquely designed us to need each other. We are not designed to walk this spiritual journey alone. We need the church. We need to use our gifts to help build up the church. We are members of one another.

Use your gifts to build up others.

1Co11

When our church gatherings focus on ourselves rather than Jesus, they do more harm than good! Even in the first century churches needed to be reminded "why" we gather.

We gather in honor and obedience to Jesus. We are to be worshiping Him. We should be saying, "Was God pleased with my worship today?" NOT, "Did you enjoy the service today?" When we become the object of our gatherings, we become self worshipers!

I have been guilty of attending worship for myself. Have you? I too often make the barometer of personal opinion the measure of "how good" a service is. It seems as though many of the Corinthians were enjoying their gatherings too much. It actually became a party for them which became burden to the apostle Paul. 

I pray we can focus our gatherings on pleasing Jesus. He is the reason we gather.

1Co10

Is God pleased with me? Is God pleased with you? Paul writes that God was "not please" with most of the Jews who called themselves "his people". They were immoral. They lived to please themselves. They tested God. They were ungrateful complainers. Paul sums up their lives as "idolaters". They worshiped themselves rather than truly worshiping God.

These are hard words! Today, we live in a time where most believers have very few thoughts about God! Much less those who consider themselves unbelievers. Most of us continue to live for ourselves even when clearly confronted with God's desires. Take this verse for example: v. 24, "No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person." Who do you know that actually lives like that?!

Yet, we walk around with the general feeling that "God is pleased with me". I am convicted. It's hard to change. Try to live just one day with someone other than yourself as the focus of your activity. It will be a challenge.

Live to please God. Live in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

1Co9

"I do all things for the sake of the gospel." - Paul

If I were honest, what would I have to say that I do "all things" for? The question of motivation is likely one of the most important questions of life. It answers the question, "What am I living for?" or "Who do I want to please?"

For Paul, the gospel was truly his life orientation. He lived his life so others could have eternal life. He never stopped thinking about how to influence the next person for Christ. He set an example for all of us to follow.

How long has it been since someone decided to follow Jesus because of me? What about you?

1Co8

"Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up." Love focuses on others. Pride is only interested in self!

Which is a greater motivation for you? Yourself or others? What are you most likely to do? The things that will benefit others or the things that will benefit you? When put in this perspective, I know I have a huge struggle with pride! Pride in this chapter can be defined as, "doing what I know I can and want without regards for the feelings and concerns of others."

On the other hand, we all know that Paul was a "meat eater!" Sometimes he ate. Sometimes he abstained. Was he being hypocritical? Was he "not sure" as to what he should do? Absolutely not. Paul did whatever would most benefit the gospel and advance Christ's love. At times he ate. At times he abstained. The decision maker for him was not what he wanted. His decision was made based on what would best advance the gospel and demonstrate love to others.

What would change in my life if I truly lived like that? What would change in yours?

1Co7

A healthy happy fulfilling sexual relationship in marriage is key to living purely in any culture. Paul encouraged every believing couple to rightly think about meeting each others sexual needs in this God-given context. Too often christian couples do poorly when it comes to a sexual relationship. This should not be true. Christian couples should be having the most fulfilling sex lives!

On the other hand, the key to living purely if you are unmarried is a vital and meaningful relationship with Jesus. Paul actually said single is a "better" way to live. He said this, not to devalue marriage, but rather to encourage singles to pursue Jesus without distraction. A married person has to be concerned with their spouse. If they have kids, they must also be concerned about them. Those who are single can be focused on serving the Lord with their whole lives!

Are you married? How is your sex life? Are you single? Are you using your life to fulfill God's purposes OR are you focused on getting married? This chapter has much to say about these things.

1Co6

The gospel changes everything! What we were, we no longer have to be. God's grace has been poured out in our lives and we no longer are to be characterized by former sins.

Paul writes, "such WERE some of you, this is what you USED TO BE LIKE". We are no longer slaves of former sins. We are set free from those things that used to control our lives. Did you catch the list? Have you identified your former way of living? Often we point to those sins that don't characterize any phase of our lives and feel good about NOT being that! Clearly this is not Paul's desire. He wants us to recognize the change that Christ has brought in us.

I doubt that anyone struggles with everything on the list: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, drunkenness, verbal abuse, or swindling. I would also say that all of us struggle with some of this list. The question is: Which things did you formerly struggle with that are now in your past because of Christ?

Jesus does not give us permission to sin, but rather, the power to overcome sin and put it in our past! We are to become the new person that Jesus desires us to be.

1Co5

Brothers,

Don't miss today's chapter! It is a slap you in the mouth kind of chapter!

"Do not associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler." - Paul

Paul was serious about removing any person from the community of faith who was not serious about dealing with sin! In this case, a man was in an immoral relationship with his step mother (and proud of it). Paul knew that to continue to allow acceptance of such behavior among believers would destroy the beauty of true christian community! This chapter is not unclear!

Now for the rubber and the road. Notice the second thing on the list…greedy. Being a pastor, I am aware that most christians choose to give significantly less than 10% of their income to ministry. Many give nothing! And we are possibly the richest christian culture of all time. We choose to spend everything we have on ourselves AND, generally are proud of it.

If we were to take this chapter literally (and I believe we should), how would we apply this to christians who don't give generously to ministry? Would this be a damning or purifying effort in the American church? What do you think? Would you be one who would have to be removed?

Something to think about.

troy

__________________________________________

Troy Nesbitt, Lead Pastor

515.232.5488 | troynesbitt@gmail.com

Cornerstone Church of Ames | www.cornerstonelife.com

helping people know and obey Jesus

56829 U.S. Highway 30 | Ames, IA 50010

ICo5

"Do not associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler." - Paul

Paul was serious about removing any person from the community of faith who was not serious about dealing with sin! In this case, a man was in an immoral relationship with his step mother (and proud of it). Paul knew that to continue to allow acceptance of such behavior among believers would destroy the beauty of true christian community! This chapter is not unclear!

Now for the rubber and the road. Notice the second thing on the list…greedy. Being a pastor, I am aware that most christians choose to give significantly less than 10% of their income to ministry. Many give nothing! And we are possibly the richest christian culture of all time. We choose to spend everything we have on ourselves AND, generally are proud of it.

If we were to take this chapter literally (and I believe we should), how would we apply this to christians who don't give generously to ministry? Would this be a damning or purifying effort in the American church? What do you think? Would you be one who would have to be removed?

Something to think about.

1Co4

"Like the world's garbage & dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals." These were the terms Paul used to describe the apostles! He wasn't using cleaver terms to entice people to follow Jesus! In fact, he was literally doing the opposite.

Paul wanted to be known as a "servant" of Christ and a "manager" of God's mysteries. He realized that following Jesus would never win him a popularity contest, nor give him an easy life. In fact, he chose to live a life of sacrifice! He chose to live a life of faith. He was not living for his "best life now", but rather for the life that is to come.

This was the example that Paul set. This was the life that he called others to follow. Rarely do we hear this gospel being shared today! Mostly we tell others, "if you follow Jesus, your life will be awesome and blessed." That is NOT the gospel. That is not what the apostles believed or shared or modeled for others.

How do we think about our faith? Maybe we need to take a closer look.

1Cor3

Our work matters to God and will be rewarded! Good works will never save, but every good work will have an eternal reward.

It is worth it to live our lives for eternal things. Most of our moments are consumed with things that really don't matter. Solomon learned that most of life can be meaningless and empty. Through Christ we have hope. Through Christ we have significance. Living for Him is truly what matters.

God is doing a work in our lifetime. His desire is for us to be His co-laborers in kingdom building. Work today in a way that will be rewarded forever. It matters.

1Co2

What powerful evidence of God's Spirit is evident in our lives? Paul didn't want his ministry to be based on mere words, but rather God's power through his life. If that were true of us, what evidence would we be pointing to?

Spiritual life is attractive. When we truly are seeking God's best for ourselves and others, people will take note of the extreme difference. Anyone who is living for God and seeking to love people the way He does stands out in any and every group! You can tell they are truly rare among people. 

Unfortunately, most of the time most of us live for ourselves! Our actions are often in conflict with our words. This chapter is convicting. Living for Christ and others never gets easy. It is always the right choice.

1Co1

What is foolishness to many is salvation to those who believe! Being a "fool" in the world's eyes has always been the way to salvation. It has never been popular to place faith in Jesus, yet He alone has the power to save us from sin and death.

Paul begins this letter urging unity among believers. It echoes back to Jesus' prayer in John 17 for unity. Satan's strategy has always been to divide and conquer! Don't let pettiness destroy the unity of God's people. Choose to forgive and move forward rather than to make your preferences the condition of relationship.

Most of the time christians are divided over petty things. Rarely is there a solid reason to not be unified. Certainly sin destroys relationships and divides us, but we should never choose to be broken over inconsequential things. Pursue unity and peace today.

Rm15

The only man who could have rightly lived living for Himself, chose to live for others! How much more should we, who mostly just have selfish thoughts, choose to live for Him.

Only Jesus was able to put aside His fleshly desires and truly live for the good of others. As a man, He was "tempted in every way" but never gave into sin. Sin ceases opportunity through our fleshly (sinful) desires, and robs us of the joys that God has planned. We all have been robbed. We all have failed! Only Jesus got it right.

Living to please God, means living to please others. Living to please God doesn't mean becoming a "people pleaser", but rather, a person who lives for the best interest of others.  Living to please God means being someone who lives their life without primarily seeking to get what they want. It is a life worth living. It is a life that mostly means dying to self.

Live right today. Even one day is tough.

Rm14

Pursue what promotes peace and builds up one another. Don't live to please yourself, but rather to please God.

Challenging words from the apostle Paul. Learning to focus on others is not natural to me. I always know what I want. I always know what I want others to do for me. I wake up every morning selfish!

Living for Christ means dying to self and living for the glory of God and the best interest of others. Everyday we need to lean into Christ for His love to shine through us. Everyday we need to dip into God's grace and seek to pour it out on others. Everyday we need others to do the same for us.

Be a peacemaker today.

Rm13

"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires" v.14

Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love is the expression of following Jesus. Paul speaks of love as a "debt" that we OWE everyone! Do you feel like we "owe" love to everyone? I rarely think about this idea. In fact, I tend to be picky with "who" I love. Are you like me?

Once we understand the gospel and have learned to apply it to our lives, then we begin to understand God's desire to actually express His love to others through us. We know that God loves everyone! We might not connect the dots that this means we are to express that love to everyone. It is Christ in us.

Love today.