That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. —II Corinthians 4:16-18 Eyes that are focused only on our present troubles will lack the vision of eternal destiny. Are you consumed with what…

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. —II Corinthians 3:4-5 Where do you and I put our confidence? What or who do you and I trust in? Do we trust in our abilities? Does our confidence come from being able to do something? Does it come from our education? Does it come from our position at work or in school? Does it come with people patting us on the back? Does it come from our qualifications? The Apostle Paul and his colleagues…

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident…

There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me… Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. —I Corinthians 16:9, 13-14 Have you ever walked through an open door and felt apprehensive, not knowing what or who is on the other side? Maybe it was when you had an important meeting and you were really nervous as you walked through the door to that meeting. Maybe it was the “door” of marriage or parenting that you were walking through. It may have been the door to the doctor’s office to hear about test results or through…

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen…

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. —I Corinthians 14:26 Why am I part of a local church? Just to say I attended on Sunday morning or whenever it meets? So I go and try to get something or feel something, some “felt need” or emotional fulfillment? Do I go to seek favor with God or look good before man? Do I go just to be part of a…

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. —I Corinthians 14:1 Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments. —Matthew 22:37-40 What is your highest goal in life? Is it a good job, a good education, a good family, a big house, a good retirement? How about loving God? Is that your…

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. —I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love: · is patient, but impatience is unloving · is kind, but cruelty is unloving · is not jealous, but is trusting · is not boastful, but is reserved · is not proud, but is humble · is not rude, but is polite · is…

I Corinthians 12 7-A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 11-He alone decides which gift each person should have. 13-But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 20-21- Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 25- all the members care for each other. We had an exciting time together last night at the NH State prison as we spent 2 ½ hours in our small group…

You are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. —I Corinthians 11:26 When you and I take part in the Lord’s Table, Communion, the Lord’s Supper or whatever that time is called at the local church you attend, we are publicly proclaiming Jesus’ death on the cross and that one day He will come back again. This also means we are stating our faith in Jesus having risen from the dead (I Corinthians 15:20) and ascending back to heaven (Acts 1:11). These are foundational truths (I Corinthians 15:1-9). Jesus came to that last Passover knowing what was just ahead for Him. His body would be beaten— given for us—…