This Sunday we are going to be doing a deep dive into what is arguably the most puzzling sections of Scripture we find in the New Testament. We’ll be reading 1 Cor 11:2-16 in our continuing study of that book.

It’s Paul’s instructions for the Corinthians on how they are practicing their public worship service – but I’m telling you, it sounds really weird to us as 21st Century American Christians. I honestly don’t even know what to write here to lead you through the passage – but please do read it. As you read it, take note of how it makes you feel, if it makes you feel anything but confused.

If you’re interested in digging into the cultural history of the people Paul was writing to, you might consider Googling “Clothing in Ancient Rome” – and pay close attention to what you discover about what “citizens” and upper class people wear – because class distinction was an important part of the Roman societal makeup. Considering what upper class and married women citizens wore – think about what Paul is writing and ponder whether Paul was commanding a certain apparel or giving permission for it. Read it both ways in the text – as a command or as a permission, and consider how each reading affects Paul’s words.

As I said – this is a strange and complex bit of Scripture, and we’ll do our best to piece together history and culture to discover what Paul may have intended to communicate, and how we would apply it in our world today.

Hope you can join us Sunday at 10!+

This Sunday we’ll be finishing up chapter 10 in our study of 1 Corinthians, reading ch 10:23-11:1.

Much of what Paul will be doing in this passage is a recap of what he’s been encouraging since chapter 8. It all centers around our freedom in Christ and how we manage that in the best way possible. Verse 24 provides the overall ethic that creates guardrails for our freedom. How might an intentional interest in serving others provide parameters for our Christian liberty?

Once again, Paul addresses food that might have been used in a pagan ritual, urging us to not ask questions about the origins of the hamburger we’re munching. I find that very freeing, don’t you? I’m someone who thinks that same principle can be applied to a lot of different elements of life – if we receive whatever it is from God (this, obviously, means things that are not in conflict with his character), we can forgo worrying about where it came from. In fact, v 31 sums that all up pretty nicely – do whatever we do for the glory of God. What does it mean to you to do something for the glory of God? Does that mean make it religious, or something else?

Paul also included a qualifier that I’m very stoked he included in v29 and 30. You should read it in the Message version – I love it! It just reminds us that caring for our fellow believer doesn’t mean we have to submit ourselves to every person’s intolerance. How do you understand the difference between being careful for someone’s conscience and resisting legalistic expectations? How can we better walk that balance beam?

I’m really looking forward to digging into this on Sunday – I hope you can join us!

I am equal parts grateful that Hurricane Helene did not damage our area and heartbroken for the people who are now suffering the aftermath of this terrible storm. We certainly want to be praying for those east of us, and keep our eyes, ears, hearts and hands ready to assist as we are able.

This Sunday we’ll be continuing on in our study of 1 Corinthians, reading chapter 9:1-18.

It seems like it’s almost a monthly occurrence, to hear of some celebrated pastor being removed from his position or stepping down due to inappropriate behavior. It could be discouraging. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of the lifestyle many of them live and wonder if maybe that’s part of the problem – living in opulence that silos them from a more common reality. I don’t know. It’s God’s job to figure that out and address it, not mine.

I can’t help but notice the stark difference between what Paul writes in the passage we’ll be reading and how so many famous preachers live. What should we make of that contrast? What was Paul’s motive for preaching and ministering? Maybe that’s a way we can determine the fruit of any given ministry?

The reason Paul brought the subject up flows directly from chapter 8, where Paul encouraged believers to see to it that their Christian liberties and rights were subordinate to their love for their fellow believers. He’s using himself as an example of what it looks like to lay one’s rights aside for the better good of others. If Paul could set aside his right to sustenance, can we surrender our rights for others over lesser things?

This, as this whole book has been, will be a challenging study to dig into. Hope you can join us!

This Sunday we’ll finally be moving past what were arguably the most uncomfortable passages to publicly talk about…so that’s a relief. That being said, the principles that were being set forth in the previous chapters will still be carried over into our text this Sunday.

We’ll be reading 1 Cor 8:1-13 in our study of that book.

Paul shifts the topic to another question the Corinthians had obviously asked him, concerning eating the leftover meats from animals that had been used in pagan sacrifices. Some clearly took issue with that practice while others did not.

Paul sets up a tension between “knowledge” and “loving God”. Why do you suppose he did that? How do you understand the distinction between those two ideas? What is it that actually strengthens the church?

In v 4-8 Paul gives specific scenarios which describe how the principles of grace could be put into action. The issues in the text are not things we would encounter in 21st Century America – but what could be an example of one person’s freedom and another person’s prohibition? How easy or difficult is it for you to lovingly look past someone else’s freedom or prohibitive conviction? What might help us find a higher ground to relate to each other from?

Paul finishes the section with a reminder that exercising our liberties isn’t our highest goal. Something else overrides our liberty…what is it? How difficult or easy is it for you to not do something you feel the freedom to do, in order to preserve your fellow believer?

This is going to hit home and may hit hard for many of us – but the end result is the best kind of community the earth has ever known. I hope you can join us for this study this Sunday!

This Sunday we’ll be continuing our study in 1 Corinthians, wrapping up our examination of chapter 7. We’ll be reading 1 Cor 7:25-40.

As we’ve stated multiple times, we have to always take care in reading an ancient text like this – ancient Corinth was very different, civilly as well as culturally, from our modern American experience. We’ll do our best to unpack what Paul writes and see how the principles Paul provided can direct us in our modern world.

His primary audience is single people. Paul clearly is stoked on the single life. How does that compare to the way the church has presented family values over the last 100 years? Does Paul sound the least bit disparaging of single people?

We don’t know what “crisis” Paul was referring to, but it is likely the growing hostility and outright persecution of Christians throughout the Roman empire. He wrote this about 10 years before Nero burned Rome and blamed Christians for it. That prejudice would already have been at work before Nero capitalized on it. How is being single an advantage in that sort of scenario?

The overall principle that Paul seems to lay out is that “serving the Lord” is our highest priority, and no matter our relational status, we want to pursue an undistracted service to God’s purposes. How might we do that both as married and as single people?

I think this will be an interesting study to ponder – hope you can join us!

We live in a society that has schooled us from birth to be discontent. That’s what makes a consumerist culture go ’round. You can’t be satisfied with your life if you don’t have the latest phone, and you certainly can’t be complete if you use the wrong air freshener. We are coaxed day and night to want more and not be satisfied. The Bible, however, invites us to follow a different direction.

This Sunday we’ll be reading 1 Cor 7:17-24 in our study of Paul’s letter. Paul never uses the word directly, but this section has everything to do with contentment in our relationship with Christ.

V17 provides the header – what reason does Paul give for finding contentment in our circumstances?

Paul talks about circumcision, but his use of that word is actually shorthand for being Jewish. Why might there be a temptation to pretend to be, or hide the reality of being Jewish? What does Paul indicate is more important than religious affiliation?

We’re going to spend some time examining and seeking to better understand v 20-22, which is a troubling bit of Scripture to be sure. How might knowing we have been purchased by Christ’s sacrifice for us lead us toward contentment?

I hope you can join us this Sunday as we dive in to this intriguing passage of Scripture!

I heard at least one person had to have the “talk” with their child after last Sunday’s message…so, fair warning: if you’re not prepared to do the same, exercise discretion when it comes to younger children being in the service during the teaching this Sunday (and don’t blame me, it’s Paul who won’t change the subject!).

We’ll be reading 1 Cor 7:1-16 in our study of that book this Sunday. The whole section feels odd to us because it’s written to people in an entirely different culture, time and I would say, eschatological expectations. The Romans understood and approached marriage (as well as divorce) very differently than we do in our present culture – the trick is to discern God’s wisdom in this so that we are better prepared for the choices we have to make in our own lives.

How does it appear that Paul views being married in this text? How does he view singleness? How does it square with our current day views and emphasis’, in and out of the church?

There will be some sensitive issues that Paul covers in this section that we’ll need to examine carefully and definitely through the lens of God’s overarching grace. We’ll do our best to navigate it so that we’re challenged by God without being condemned…because this is, after all, a less than ideal world.

I hope you can join us as we dig into the text this Sunday!

This Sunday we’ll be continuing our study in 1 Corinthians, and once again, (actually, this warning will hold true until we get to chapter 8), we will be considering topics that are for mature ears – so plan accordingly with your kids. We’ll be reading 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

Paul continues his corrections of the way the Corinthian Christians are carrying on, and in the section we’ll be reading, he talks about the importance of our physical bodies. He starts out by qualifying (what obviously is) their statement of freedom in Christ. If you were to put this in your own words, how would you say it? What is the main emphasis when it comes to the freedoms we enjoy as Christians? If our spiritual journey isn’t about keeping rules, what could govern our choices?

Paul frames the last part of his argument using temple language and reminds us of our role as the temple of God on earth. What did the temple in Jerusalem represent? How can that be represented in how we live out our flesh and blood lives?

It’s a delicate topic, though one that is very relevant to our present day, and one that deserves our attention and adherence. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we examine this passage together!