HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 9: Gifts of the Spirit” (Chapters 12+14) For further study: Position Paper: “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit” (EMCC - Adopted by the Board of Directors, November 26, 2016) - https://www.emcc.ca/files/emccadmin/Resource%20Documents/PositionPapers/giftsoftheholyspirit.pdf Commentary: “New International Biblical Commentary: 1 Corinthians” (Marion L. Soards, 2004) Videos: “The Holy Spirit” (The Bible Projects) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNNZO9i1Gjc “Water of Life” (The Bible Project) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgmAkM39Zt4 “God” (The Bible Project) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAvYmE2YYIU [It is my belief that some of the terminology used to describe the Holy Spirit as ‘energy’ needs further explanation to assure the ‘personhood’ of the third member of the Trinity; but I believe there is still considerable value in these videos from “The Bible Project.” Remember that in all resources posted, you are encouraged to engage with an open but discerning mind; always ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in all truth whenever you study God’s Word and extra biblical resources.] Today, we have a new topic to consider–the Gifts of the Spirit–but Paul’s continued concern for the unity of the believers remains the central focus. You may remember that during our first week of this series, “Be Different,” I explained that the motivation for Paul’s letter was to answer questions he had received in a letter from the church and out of concern about a report he had received from Chloe’s household; in the very short time he had been in Ephesus, the Corinthian church had become a fractured group, busily debating their status and jostling for position as individuals. They had become obsessed with claiming a superiority over each other based on the teachers they ‘followed,’ and how they exercised their newfound ‘freedoms’...in Christ, of course. Paul’s primary concern is that their attitudes and behaviours should be building up the Church and should promote the well-being of the whole body, not causing divisions. Today’s topic is no different and should be viewed through that lens.
If you were here last week, you will remember that we examined chapter 13, Paul’s instruction that agape love was to serve as the motivation for followers of Christ; “Paul makes it clear that love begins when someone else’s need supersedes one’s own” (Gordon Fee). We can accomplish nothing of importance without first considering how our actions, thoughts and words impact another. Rather than causing divisions, agape was to be the ‘glue’ that held them together. Last week’s chapter, at first glance, appears to work as a stand alone lesson and feels like a bit of an intrusion on Paul’s instruction concerning spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14. Let me assure you...it is not. Paul is attempting to make his point crystal clear. The use of spiritual gifts is for the edification of the whole body, not individuals; they do not denote nor are they given based upon one’s merit. Without agape love guiding their use, the gifts of the Spirit cannot truly serve their intended purpose–the edification and building up of the church. Chapter 12:1-11 - The Spirit Gives Gifts “Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”
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HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesToday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - Let's not forget to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world every day! https://www.tyndale.com/sites/readthearc/true-stories-of-the-persecuted-church-around-the-world/ Teaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 8: Love” (Chapter 13) For further study: Article - “What Does Agape Love Really Mean in the Bible?” https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-does-agape-love-really-mean-in-the-bible.html Book - “New International Biblical Commentary: 1 Corinthians” (Marion L. Soards, 2004) Article - “Bible Odyssey: The Love Passage (1 Cor 13)” by Gordon Fee https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/passages/main-articles/love-passage 1 Corinthians 13 appears to be plunked down in the middle of an unrelated topic that Paul is discussing regarding our interconnectedness as believers and the Gifts of the Spirit. Next week we will examine chapters 12 and 14, but I don’t think it’s an accident at all that chapter 13 comes in the middle of his teaching on gifts and how believers are to relate to one another. He wants to highlight the value of love against all else, which takes up the entire thirteenth chapter. He again feels compelled to address issues that the believers are using to elevate themselves over others–the use of gifts–and to address their times of worship–are they there to worship God or is it all about me, me, me? He makes it very clear that without the motivation of love for God and others, anything they attempt will have no lasting value.
The early translators of the Bible who created the chapter and verse division recognized the interconnectedness of these three chapters. Chapter 12 ends with, “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all,” and Chapter 14 begins with, “Let love be your highest goal!” This demonstrates that while ‘love’ is the theme of chapter 13, it is directly related to the arguments Paul is making in chapter 12 and 14. Chapter 13 “ If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 7: Worthy Worship” (Chapters 11) For further study: Articles: “Who Were the Women With Shaved Heads?” https://blogs.bible.org/who-were-the-women-with-shaved-heads-1-cor-115/ “A Meta-Study of the Debate over the Meaning of “Head” (Kephalē) in Paul’s Writings” https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/priscilla-papers-academic-journal/meta-study-debate-over-meaning-head-kephale “The Lord’s Supper in the Early Church” https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctt1w76wv6.8?seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents Book: “New International Biblical Commentary: 1 Corinthians” (Marion L. Soards, 2004) We have reached the eleventh chapter of 1 Corinthians. Paul’s overarching topic for this chapter is on how to worship God in a way that is worthy of Him. He addresses two particular topics–coverings for women’s heads and the Lord’s supper; he does say that when he arrives he will give further directions concerning their worship times together, but he has chosen these two specific items to discuss presently in his response to them. In the previous section of his letter, he has just finished speaking about how the Corinthians are to exercise their ‘freedom in Christ’–or rather are to refrain from exercising it for the sake of others, so as not to cause anyone to sin. Even though he has now turned his attention from the topic of eating ‘idol meat’ to head coverings for women, the common thread connecting these two is the exercise of our freedom in Christ.
In these next verses, Paul makes the argument that the believers’ ‘freedom’ should take cultural norms into account as he teaches about the need for the Corinthian women to cover their heads when they pray and prophecy. Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that it is important to give due consideration to the messages that their behaviour sends to others during their times of worship. He then addresses the Lord’s supper at which some people are acting selfishly with no regard for others. Again, is their intent to glorify God in their meeting together as it should be or is it just to satisfy themselves and their own desires? And with that, let’s begin... Chapter 11:2-16 “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 6: Idolatry” (Chapters 8 & 10) For further study: “Beware of 4 Modern Day Idols” (FlexTalk - pursuegod.org) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcebaSRqiE “True Freedom Begins with Your Mind” (John Piper - Desiring God) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a786V49ZQWw “Love of the Church” (Frances Chan - Naga Seminarian) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J22GVIj4jj4 Our study of 1 Corinthians has brought us to chapters eight and ten where Paul answers the Corinthian believers’ questions about ‘idol meat,’ what freedom in Christ looks like with regard to its consumption and attempts to persuade them to elevate the need to demonstrate love over knowledge. Chapter nine also addresses the issue of ‘freedom in Christ,’ but as we have already examined it alongside chapter four in Paul’s teaching concerning the rights of a worker and his rights as an Apostle, we will not be doing so again this morning.
Chapter 8:1-13 “Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. 4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But for us, “There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.” 7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.” Paul begins this section by making it clear that ‘knowing’ something without the exercise of love, actually reduces the value of the knowledge that is claimed. Some in the church have rightly understood that the idols of Corinth were nothing more than statues and had begun to freely eat the meat that had been used in the various temples for worship. Others in the church simply couldn’t bring themselves to do it, equating the eating of the sacrificed meat with worship of the idols. HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 7: Parameters for Relationships” (Chapters 7) Last week we examined 1 Corinthians 5+6, where Paul had some harsh words for the Corinthian believers. Some in the church had been bragging about their freedom in Christ, but had twisted its meaning to permit all sorts of behaviour that even non-Christians recognized as immoral. You can hear Paul’s exasperation as he makes several demands: remove the ‘believer’ who is openly living a sexually immoral lifestyle from the congregation; stop airing grievances before non-believing judges; stop twisting Christian freedom into an excuse for all sorts of pursuits after personal pleasure. In short, stop claiming the name of Christ without changing behaviour! A relationship with Jesus changes us; we are to be different, changed from the inside out through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our transformation is the proof of our salvation, commitment and allegiance.
We ended our examination last week at chapter six, where Paul encourages the believers to treat their bodies as the Temple of God. In chapter seven, he delves further into the place of physical intimacy in the life of the believer. Remember, that despite our chapter and verse divisions, this is a letter Paul is writing with one thought flowing into the next. Today’s study is not a new topic, but rather an expansion of what it means to live both an intimate life with Christ and how it should impact our level of intimacy with other human beings. You may recall from last week that I mentioned that this is one of my favourite chapters of the Bible...strange chapter to have as a favourite, right? I believe this chapter gives us a true picture of the equality with which Paul viewed men and women in the faith. Many Christians throughout the centuries have misused Paul’s words to block women from enjoying the full freedom in Christ that is theirs to serve as followers of Jesus; others have judged Paul a misogynist, whose teaching in specific situations reveals his attitudes toward the inferiority of women. Today, I stand up in defense of Paul. You simply cannot hold to these views after a study of 1 Corinthians 7. So, with that thought, let’s begin... Chapter 7:1-6 “Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.” HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 4: When Correction is Needed” (Chapters 5+6) For further study: “Enduring Word” Commentary - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-1/ (retrieved September 9, 2020) Bible Project - 1 Corinthians - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHf8klCCc4 New International Biblical Commentary - 1 Corinthians - Marion L. Soards In the previous chapters we have already examined, Paul has addressed the ridiculous way that the Corinthians had divided themselves into teams around their favourite teachers–“I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos”....etc. He tells them that it is nonsense for them to try to claim spiritual superiority over others based on these alliances, because each of their teachers has simply been a steward, serving the very same Master; the Church is to be rightly understood as God’s property and everyone in it is a worker who He has assigned specific tasks to, without assigning lesser than or greater than rankings. Last week, in chapters four and nine, Paul demonstrated that his task in the life of the Corinthian church was that of their ‘father’ or founder in Christ Jesus. As such they should be imitating his example, just as he imitates Christ. He has tried to persuade them that they have been set apart for God and should no longer resemble the world from which they have been saved.
As he has argued his points he has utilized rhetorical questions, metaphors and sarcasm–at times desiring to shame them into acknowledging how badly they have gotten off track and at other times encouraging and coaxing them as their father in order to persuade them to correct their behaviours. As we proceed onto chapters five and six we will note that this pattern of sarcasm and shaming for the purpose of recognizing their failings continues...almost biting at times, but deliberate and necessary.  HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: “Week 3: Defensible Leadership” (Chapters 4 + 9) Communion and Testimonial Sunday - Mary & Morris McLean For further study: “Enduring Word” Commentary - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-1/ (retrieved September 9, 2020) Bible Project - 1 Corinthians - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHf8klCCc4 New International Biblical Commentary - 1 Corinthians - Marion L. Soards Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians because they were getting off track. They came from and lived in the ‘sin city’ of Corinth. Word had gotten back to Paul concerning the fact that some members of the congregation were sliding back into their old way of doing things. These same individuals had begun to excuse their poor behaviour by dismissing Paul and his teaching. Today, we’re going to look at chapters 4 and 9 where Paul defends his authority and explains his leadership style. He doesn’t mince his words. We will at times hear him move from sarcastic correction to fatherly encouragement as he uses metaphors and rhetoric to solidify his points. His desire is that they follow his example–as a faithful follower of Christ–and to understand his motivations for serving them as he has done.
Chapter 4:1-5 “So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.”  HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service Notes Teaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: Wisdom from the Spirit For further study: “Enduring Word” Commentary - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-1/ (retrieved September 9, 2020) Bible Project - 1 Corinthians - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHf8klCCc4 New International Biblical Commentary - 1 Corinthians - Marion L. Soards We’re going to pick up where we left off in 1 Corinthians, but first a little review:
Last week we concluded our study of 1 Corinthians chapter one; today, we are going to examine chapters two and three, where Paul expands on his ideas about where real wisdom comes from, the foolishness of choosing sides in the Christian community and the need to not simply claim the name of Christ, but to serve Him with serious intent in order to produce quality results. Chapter 2:1-5 “When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service NotesTeaching Series: “Be Different” based on 1 Corinthians Today’s Topic: Living In Sin City For further study: “Enduring Word” Commentary - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-1/ (retrieved September 9, 2020) Bible Project - 1 Corinthians - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHf8klCCc4 Today we begin our study of 1 Corinthians, which I have entitled, “Be Different.” But before we get looking at the actual letter Paul wrote, we need to understand the historical setting of this church as it will provide insights into some of the items that Paul chose to address.
Background to 1 Corinthians City of Corinth - “Sin City’
Paul In Corinth
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthian Church
Biblical Text - Chapter One Greetings (1 Corinthians 1:1-9) Paul begins his letter in the usual way by identifying who the letter is from and who it is for. In addition to himself, Paul sends greetings from Sosthenes. Who is Sosthenes? He was Paul’s scribe and may also have been the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth during the time Paul spent in Corinth. According to Luke’s account in the book of Acts, Sosthenes was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, the Roman governor, when he refused to proceed against Paul at the instigation of the Jews (Acts 18:12-17). When Paul left the city, this same man may have chosen to go along with Paul in his travels and in this instance, serve as his scribe or letter writer. Either that or there are two Sosthenes... Hope Chapel CollingwoodNew teaching series starting Sunday, September 13th 2020 based on Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Week 1: Living in Sin City Email Pastor Jane for the Zoom link or come in-person to Hope Chapel to join in the discussion. Service starts at 10:30am EST.  |
