To the churchof God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: – 1 Corinthians 1:2

Greek
ἐκκλησίᾳ/ecclesia: called out ones

Why It Matters
To us in the 21st century, Paul’s greeting is not very surprising. He is writing to believers in Jesus who met together in one city, so naturally that would be considered a church! But our english word church came about much later than the Greek word Paul uses here (ecclesia), so what is he trying to convey by using it? The word literally means “called out ones” and has little or nothing to do with a building or a song service. Corinth was a place of cultural, political, and spiritual pluralism, and its people prided themselves on honor and strength. But Paul says the Corinthians were called out of that culture and sanctified in Christ Jesus. This theme is interwoven through Paul’s letter and comes up over and over again in the text. It’s interesting to note that rather than focusing on the ills of the culture, the book of 1 Corinthians celebrates the grace of God in calling His people out of the culture. It is this calling out that points to the Gospel that defines them! That attitude served to attract a wide range of people from all parts of society to the Gospel message.

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Good News of God’s calling to define my life and what I celebrate.

Application
What do I need to celebrate?

that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge – 1 Corinthians 1:5

Greek
ἐπλουτίσθητε/eploutisthēte: To be abounding in; fully resourced

Why It Matters
There is reason to believe that Paul had unique emotions as he planted the church in Corinth. He mentions in chapter 2 that he was with them in weakness and fear and much trembling. There may have been something about the size or culture of Corinth that Paul was intimidated by. That’s why the word enriched (eploutisthēte) is perfect in this context. He is thankful that Jesus has caused them to to be abounding in all speech and knowledge, two areas that Corinthian culture valued. “Enriched” carries with it the idea of numerically more; having more than you once did. Specifically, it means to be fully resourced with everything you need! There was a wide disparity between rich and poor in Corinth, and many of those who made up the church there had very meager means. But Paul celebrates because Jesus has fully resourced this church with everything they need to engage their culture through their speech and knowledge. How encouraging to know that God has both the resources and the desire to cause us to abound in his riches! Rich or poor, we are fully resourced in Him.

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Good News of God’s calling to define my life and what I celebrate.

Application
What do I need to celebrate?

who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1:8

Greek
ἀνεγκλήτους/anengkletous: not convictable when a person is properly scrutinized (in a court of law)

Why It Matters
Throughout its history, the church has had to address antinomianism – the false teaching that because of grace, Christians can disobey the law all they want without repercussion. Some have thought that the cross means that God doesn’t mind our sin, or is simply ok with however we feel like living. But Paul’s use of the word guiltless (anengkletous) proves otherwise. God cares about sin so much that he was willing for Jesus to endure death on our behalf to exonerate us from the penalty of sin. Anengkletous carries with it the imagery of a court of law, where you’ve been accused of sin and a lawyer is cross-examining you about it. After he has attempted to find you guilty using every method he can, the judge then rules you innocent. Jesus has taken our sin upon Himself, so rather than God not caring that we are guilty, He has made a way for us to be guiltless. Thank God for the unity found in this thought!

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Good News of God’s calling to define my life and what I celebrate.

Application
What do I need to celebrate?

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. – 1 Corinthians 1:8

Greek
σχίσματα/Schismata: Division, tear, split or gap

Why It Matters
We have all heard the phrase “Let’s agree to disagree” at one time or another. Often someone says this when two people have been arguing for their particular point of view and there doesn’t seem to be any change in opinion by either side. Basically the phrase means, “Let’s agree that it’s ok to be divided.” This is the first of two places where Paul addresses division in the church (also in chapter 11) and he certainly takes it seriously. Paul appeals to the Corinthians to both all agree and that there be no divisions (schismata) among them. This word means to tear apart what is designed to be united. Another form of this same word is used by Jesus in Matthew 9:16, where He says an unshrunk patch on a garment would make the tear (schisma) worse. The garment is designed to be unified, but instead there’s a gap. The church is also designed to be united, but what is to unite her? Consider the Source: Christ brings unity by providing access to God’s grace for anyone who believes in Him (John 3:16). If the source of our unity is Jesus, there is no room for schismata. Everything else becomes trivial next to the source of joy and peace we experience through Him.

Declaration of the Week
I will live as though everything that could bring division is worthless next to knowing Christ.

Application
What am I focusing on that is drifting me toward division?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? – 1 Corinthians 1:13

Greek
μεμέρισται/memeristai: to disunite, differ, to give a part of

Why It Matters
Sometimes one English word is used to translate two or more Greek words in the Bible. When this happens, something can easily get lost in translation. The word divided in verse 13 sounds like the word divisions from verse 10, but carries with it a different and complex idea. When Paul asks “Is Christ divided?” he is using the word memeristai, a word that means to break apart into smaller pieces. Think of dessert: a freshly baked pie can be cut up into pieces and divided among friends. You wouldn’t be able to have the whole thing, it would be divided up and you would only get a portion. Paul uses memeristai to illustrate that Christ is not that way. We don’t receive a little of His grace or a portion of His love; He gives us access to the whole thing! We don’t have to worry about living up to a standard that gives us “a bigger piece of the pie.” Jesus’ sacrifice is the full and complete source of every good gift.

Declaration of the Week
I will live as though everything that could bring division is worthless next to knowing Christ.

Application
What am I focusing on that is drifting me toward division?

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. – 1 Corinthians 1:17

Greek
κενωθῇ/kenothei: To neutralize, falsify or void

Why It Matters
During World War II, Americans would get up hours earlier than necessary just to have access to the latest news from the front. Information about battles, strategies and war events would fill pages of daily newspapers, and the public couldn’t get enough of it. It wasn’t the journalists they were excited to read, it was their content. The newspapers and radio services didn’t create the news, they just reported what happened. Paul tells the Corinthians that his Gospel message wasn’t eloquent. If it was, the cross of Christ would be emptied (kenothei) of its power. Paul’s eloquent argument didn’t convince people to follow Jesus, His content did! If people could point to Paul’s strength of persuasion, the cross would be neutralized or void of its power. Thankfully, the Good News is powerful enough to shine through even when we are less than eloquent! Your willingness for God to use what you offer to Him is all He needs to showcase the effectiveness of the Gospel.

Declaration of the Week
I will live as though everything that could bring division is worthless next to knowing Christ.

Application
What am I focusing on that is drifting me toward division?

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:18

Greek
μωρία/mōria: absurdity, foolishness

Why It Matters
The temptation for Paul as a church planter in an urban, progressive, and pluralistic culture was to use the culture’s preferences to engage its people. People from all over the known world frequented there, and the Corinthians created space for and encouraged them to have their voice heard. Wisdom, logic and solid arguments were all highly valued in Corinth. That’s why at first glance it seems counter-intuitive to primarily preach something that the culture would consider mōria, or foolishness. But as Paul does, his hearers are changed by the message of the cross! What sounds like absurdity is revealed to be the power and wisdom of God. This is incredibly wise of God, because if the gospel was just another interesting piece of philosophy or persuasive argument about God, it would likely become “white noise” to the Corinthians as quickly as they received it. Some other orator would come along and eventually the Good News would become old news. However Paul says the word of the cross was absurdity – something that made no rational sense and stood in complete opposition to what the culture valued. If that Gospel message were to change one’s life, a person only had one option in explaining it: consider the source and attribute that change to a God who chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.

Declaration of the Week
I will lean in to the gospel this week and proclaim Its message with my voice and with my actions.

Application
Who needs to hear me champion a new story?

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling blockto Jews and folly to Gentiles, – 1 Corinthians 1:23

Greek
σκάνδαλον/scandalon: lit. a bent sapling trap stick, a thing that offends, a snare.

Why It Matters

First Century Jewish people knew that their Messiah would arrive on the scene one day to free them from bondage and destroy the power of their oppressors. They were looking for signs that would point to God’s power. While they were looking for a sign, Jesus arrives on the scene, born in a manger and dying on a Roman execution device called a cross. Because of this, many Jews saw the crucified Christ as a scandalon– a snare or an offensive trap. This word is where our English word “scandal” comes from, but its Greek origins come from hunting. A scandalonwas a trap that was set by tying a sapling back so that it releases when an animal steps through the rope. Paul tells us that in their search for a powerful sign, the cross served to be a trap. Why? Because its power comes from Christ’s willingness to relinquish His own power and die in our place. It was not the type of power or sign they were looking for in their Messiah. When you expect God to work in one particular way and He chooses to do something different, will it cause you to miss His work altogether? Don’t let His sovereign methods become a scandalon to your faith in His goodness.

Declaration of the Week
I will lean in to the gospel this week and proclaim Its message with my voice and with my actions.

Application
Who needs to hear me champion a new story?

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, – 1 Corinthians 1:30

Greek
ἁγιασμὸς/hagiasmos: a purifier, holiness, sanctification

Why It Matters

Have you ever stared at the last donut knowing you should avoid it, but gave in and ate it anyway? Or maybe you’ve been offended by someone and you know you shouldn’t verbally retaliate, but you gave in and spewed out some pretty hurtful speech toward them. Whether the example is humorous or heartfelt, we all have stories of a time where we haven’t made the most logical choice. Sin is rarely a matter of knowing right from wrong; so often it’s a matter of following our heart above all else! The Bible tells us our hearts are deceptive and can’t be trusted (see Jeremiah 17:9) and left to itself our heart will always lead away from holiness. That’s why Paul is so encouraging in his use of hagiasmos in 1 Corinthians 1:30. He says that it’s not our efforts that make us holy, it’s Jesus! Hagiasmos here is a nominative noun, which means Jesus is the One who does the purifying for us. His work on our behalf means we are being made pure regardless of our illogical and poor choices. Thank God that we can consider the source and rely on a Purifier who is greater than our hearts!

Declaration of the Week
I will lean in to the gospel this week and proclaim Its message with my voice and with my actions.

Application
Who needs to hear me champion a new story?

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. – 1 Corinthians 2:2

Greek
ἔκρινά/ekrina: decree, judge, sentence to

Why It Matters
Corinth in the first century had something for everyone. Rest for the weary world traveler, excitement for the young military member, financial opportunity for the ambitious, and so much more could be found there. Planting a church in that context could make it difficult to focus on what matters most. Yet Paul not only finds a focus but he declares that focus emphatically. The word ekrina(decided) has its roots in the legal system, where a judge would render a guilty decision and sentence someone to a punishment. Paul uses it to declare that despite the unceasing number of cultural options, he wanted to know or focus on one thing: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Just like the judge’s verdict would be final, Paul determined that nothing would sway him from his decision to focus on Christ. That non-negotiable decision helped define his life, his ministry, and his theology. What has become your life’s defining focus?

Declaration of the Week
When I experience disappointment this week, I will remind myself to trust the God who has a different perspective than my own.

Application
Where do I need the gospel to bring about a perspective change in my life?

and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, – 1 Corinthians 2:4

Greek
ἀπόδειξις/apodeixis: to prove, demonstrate, manifestation

Why It Matters
For many math students, the phrase “show your work” is received with anxiety or frustration. It’s not good enough to have the correct answer, you must prove the reason for arriving at that answer. Without proof of how you arrived at your answer, it could be seen as a guess. That is exactly what Paul is doing when he says “my speech and my message were… in demonstration (apodeixis) of the Spirit and of power.” The use of this word is like saying he could show his work after preaching Christ by pointing to the work of the Spirit. If there were any detractors to Paul’s Gospel message, he need only point to the miracles, life change, and power that the Holy Spirit affected among the Corinthians. In the Gospel, Christians have the correct answer to a wide range of society’s questions. However, rather than have people just trust that our answer is right, we can “show our work” by pointing to the stories of miracles, life change, and power that only God can take credit for. We aren’t simply guessing that the Gospel is true, our lives should be the proof-sheet for our message.

Declaration of the Week
When I experience disappointment this week, I will remind myself to trust the God who has a different perspective than my own.

Application
Where do I need the gospel to bring about a perspective change in my life?

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Greek
ἡτοίμασεν/hetoimasen: to prepare or provide

Why It Matters
Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was the architect of the financial systems and policies of the newly formed United States, but he grew up in abject poverty and squalor in the Caribbean. Michael Jordan is on the short list of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he was cut from his high school team. Our disappointments can either define us, or provide perspective that shapes what defines us. Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah when he states that our hearts can’t imagine what God has hetoimasen (prepared) for those who love Him. We currently do not have the perspective that God does, because our understanding is limited. But as we trust that God is good to those who love Him, we can submit to His plan with joy. Hetoimasen carries with it the idea of provision. God isn’t just making something out of what we offer to Him; He has provided the means for everything He is preparing! This allows us to rest in the truth that any situation we face doesn’t have to define our life. Rather, it is merely the backdrop for the work of God that will define our life.

Declaration of the Week
When I experience disappointment this week, I will remind myself to trust the God who has a different perspective than my own.

Application
Where do I need the gospel to bring about a perspective change in my life?

for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? – 1 Corinthians 3:3

Greek
ζῆλος/zealos: jealousy, ardor; lit. heat

Why It Matters
“And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” The line from this famous hymn was written nearly one hundred years ago in reference to what happens when Jesus is our focus. Paul has this concept in mind when he writes about immaturity in 1 Corinthians 3. He accuses the Corinthians of jealousy (zealos) which he uses to define what it means to be “of the flesh.” You may notice that this Greek word is where our english word zeal comes from. Another translation of zealos is heat, or fire. Taken altogether, Paul is warning of so passionately desiring something you do not have that it burns you up inside. In other words, the things of earth become your heated focus, and over time they inevitably become what you build your life on. The problem, however, is that once you begin to build, nothing is sturdy enough to bear the weight of this world. Everything we hope will satisfy becomes crushed under heaps of disappointment and burden. Thank God that He gave us Jesus to be a solid foundation in the place of the things we think we want! He alone can stand up to the crushing weight of jealousy.

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Gospel to change what it is that my heart pursues.

Application
When and how will I re-prioritize my life?

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. – 1 Corinthians 3:17

Greek
φθείρει/phtheirei: To shrivel, waste, spoil or corrupt

Why It Matters
In the previous verse, Paul tells his readers that we are God’s temple. Now here in 3:17 he says that if anyone destroys (phtheirei) God’s temple, God will destroy (phtheirei) him. At first blush the english rendering of this word might have the reader cowering in fear of God, as though God is out to get us if we make bad decisions with our body. However the heart behind Paul’s message is for us to see the impact that the pursuit of lesser things can have. Phtheirei is a verb that indicates the spoiling of something that holds much potential. So when we pursue something that destroys our body, we are limiting the potential we have to both house and carry the presence of God. This reminds us that we were not created for lesser things but for God’s glory and presence. Pursuing anything less has the ability to destroy us.

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Gospel to change what it is that my heart pursues.

Application
When and how will I re-prioritize my life?

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, – 1 Corinthians 3:17

Greek
καυχάσθω/kauxastho: To boast, take pride in; to lift up your neck

Why It Matters
The things we boast about tend to be the things we focus on. The things we focus on tend to become our identity. Nowhere is this more evident in our culture today than in the sports team we root for. We boast in our team to the point that we refer to them in the first person plural form. So “we” played a great soccer match, and no one can stop “us” when the offense is scoring so prolifically. Paul challenges this mindset in 1 Corinthians 3:17 when he tells us not to boast (kauxastho) in men. Corinthian believers were taking pride in their favorite church leader, boasting about that person’s ability and exploits. It was as if they were rooting for their favorite, and hoping they would live up to their bragging. Paul’s use of the verb kauxastho implies that our identity cannot be found in the person – or team – we identify with. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating a victory, but if it “lifts up your neck” to the point that your identity rises and falls on some lesser thing, it’s an indicator that you are pursuing the wrong thing. That’s why Paul uses the same verb two chapters earlier to declare that he who boasts should kauxastho in the Lord (1:31). The Lord is worth deriving your identity from, and is capable of living up to your boasting!

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the Gospel to change what it is that my heart pursues.

Application
When and how will I re-prioritize my life?

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. – 1 Corinthians 4:1

Greek
ὑπηρέτας/huperetas: servant, an under rower

Why It Matters
Have you given much thought lately to why you make the decisions you do? For too many of us, those decisions are often driven by selfish motives. As tensions mounted over which man was most worthy of following, Paul submits that he and his fellow workers should be regarded not as superstars, but servants (huperetas) of Christ. This is a pretty unusual word, and it literally means to be an under rower. An under rower would have no right to dictate where he or she was going, but would simply be responding to a higher authority. If their master said to row faster, slow up or keep the same pace, an under rower was obliged to execute the command. Paul makes it clear that he is a servant of Christ – it is the commands of Jesus that Paul is executing! As a result, he is motivated not by his own impulses, but by the words of Christ. If I am a huperetas of my own comfort, desires or preferences, I will row in whatever direction my heart tells me to go. Thank God that because Jesus was motivated to show His love for me on a cross, I can trust the voice of my loving Savior and row wherever He commands!

Declaration of the Week
I will silence the voices that compete with Christ’s and commit to following Him alone.

Application
What “hidden things” need to be brought to light in your life?

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. – 1 Corinthians 4:9

Greek
θέατρον/theatron: an event designed for public show

Why It Matters
The amphitheater in Corinth was enormous for its time. Capable of seating 18,000 spectators, people would travel from all over the Roman world to see performances, gladiator events, and criminal executions. It is in this environment that he and his fellow workers have become a theatron to the world. In an execution event, the last person to be paraded into the amphitheater was the person who the authorities wanted to make the biggest example of. Paul says God has purposely exhibited us last, and has allowed your life to be a theatron in order to put His glory on display. We may feel that if this is true, our lives should be put together and problem free. But it was Paul’s response to the problems he faced that made him a theatron in the first place. The motive of his heart was the gospel, which allowed him to be OK with however God chose to exhibit him. What are your heart’s motives?

Declaration of the Week
I will silence the voices that compete with Christ’s and commit to following Him alone.

Application
What “hidden things” need to be brought to light in your life?

when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. – 1 Corinthians 4:13

Greek
παρακαλοῦμεν/parakaloumen: to call near, entreat, comfort, bless

Why It Matters
What is the difference between a follower of Jesus and a skeptic? We might be tempted to say that one difference is how a Christ follower treats people, but many people who are far from God treat others well. Paul tells us that the difference lies in the motives of the heart. When reviled, Paul says that he and his fellow workers parakaloumen in response. Rather than retaliate in anger, Paul was known to comfort, or entreat. The beauty of this response is that it was designed to showcase the grace and character of God. This word is the same one that Jesus uses when He says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” When we choose to bless those who slander us, we are choosing to follow the One who died for His enemies.

Declaration of the Week
I will silence the voices that compete with Christ’s and commit to following Him alone.

Application
What “hidden things” need to be brought to light in your life?

I urge you, then, be imitators of me.  – 1 Corinthians 4:16

Greek
μιμηταί/mimetai: a mimic, follower or imitator

Why It Matters
When Paul refers to himself as a father to the Corinthians (4:15), he is not stating a position of authority over them. Rather, this church planter is taking responsibility for their spiritual development in Christ. It is a poor father who would tell their children to behave one way while living another way. Ideally, a father would strive to set a good example of how to navigate life in a difficult world. Paul expertly uses the word mimetai to get his point across. His desire is for the Corinthians to mime, or mimic how he lives. This requires them to pay close attention to his actions, even inviting them to scrutinize his life. Like any good father, Paul would have to be consistent in the way he lived, but that is exactly what the gospel allowed him to do! Paul was free to give his life for the glory of the One who gave up His own. It was Christ whom Paul himself was a mimetai of… who are you imitating?

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the beauty of the gospel to change who I am in private as well as in public.

Application
What actions do you need to take this week to raise your level of integrity?

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.  – 1 Corinthians 4:17

Greek
ὁδούς/hodous: Journey, path or way

Why It Matters
The theme of consistency continues as Paul thinks ahead to what the Corinthians will need from him. He is concerned that they will need a reminder of what ultimately matters and so he sends Timothy. Paul considers Timothy a spiritual son, to remind them of what he teaches everywhere – his ways (hodous) in Christ. This word is often translated as a person’s path, or journey. Paul therefore has sent Timothy to remind the Corinthians of Paul’s journey with Christ, which inevitably would encompass both the highs and lows of life. His experiences might not be consistent, but Christ in his journey and along his path certainly is! We are not that different from the Corinthians, since we often need that reminder of Jesus’ consistent presence in our lives, too. He gives us the promise to never leave us or forsake us regardless of how difficult our journey is.

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the beauty of the gospel to change who I am in private as well as in public.

Application
What actions do you need to take this week to raise your level of integrity?

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.  – 1 Corinthians 4:20

Greek
λόγῳ/lógō: Word, message, speech, sayings, talk

Why It Matters
One of the benefits we have as 21st century people is our ability to “stand on the shoulders” of Christ followers who came before us. There is much to learn from the men and women who for two thousand years have been faithful to Jesus in good times and bad. However when our faith rests on the experiences of others, we run the risk of missing out on the potential of the Kingdom of God. Paul warns us not to put our faith in talk (lógō) because talk is not what the Kingdom consists of. This is not the same concept as Jesus being The Word, who came to earth as the exact representation of the Father. Rather Paul is declaring that the Kingdom of God isn’t found in what enters our ears or leaves our mouth, but what changes our hearts. It has the power to transform our circumstances as well as to transform us. As a result, no one person can say they have a completely unique connection to or understanding of the Kingdom. Because of who the Holy Spirit is and what Jesus has done, the power of the Kingdom of God is available for you at this moment!

Declaration of the Week
I will allow the beauty of the gospel to change who I am in private as well as in public.

Application
What actions do you need to take this week to raise your level of integrity?

you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 5:5

Greek
παραδοῦναι/paradounai: To surrender, deliver up, put in prison

Why It Matters
The church is expected to be a conduit of God’s grace, but Paul teaches that one way this happens is through disciplinary action. The importance of discipline can be seen in the powerful language of 1 Corinthians 5:5. Paul instructs the Corinthians to paradounai (deliver) the one in need of correction to Satan “for the destruction of the flesh.” This is the same word that Jesus uses when he declares that the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes… (Mark 10:33). Sometimes the most important thing we can do is to keep focused on the big picture. As Jesus submitted to being delivered up as part of God’s plan, the goal of church discipline is to prioritize the eternal – that the flesh may be delivered over for the salvation of the spirit. Our spirits will continue on after our flesh has been destroyed, and proper discipline keeps this in mind no matter how difficult the situation may be. When the church brings that perspective to the process, the grace of God flows freely.

Declaration of the Week
I will choose to err on the side of grace in dealing with myself and with others.

Application
What lie do you need to replace with truth this week?

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  – 1 Corinthians 5:7

Greek
ἐκκαθάρατε/eckatharatei: To cleanse, purge, clean out

Why It Matters
When the Israelites would celebrate the Passover, they would search for and get rid of all leaven before the festival began. Even to this day, the faithful observer will only eat unleavened bread for seven days before Passover. This represents their delivery from the bondage of sin. Paul challenges the Corinthian believers to remove the “leaven” of sin because our celebration of freedom has already begun! Jesus is our Passover lamb, and his sacrifice means we are free from what has enslaved us since Adam and Eve fell in the garden. As we celebrate, we do so by imitating Christ. This is why the verb eckatharatei (to cleanse) is important. The stain of sin has no place in our lives, and should be purged from our system in our pursuit of Jesus. Just like the Passover lamb needed to be one without spot or blemish (Exodus 12:5, 1 Peter 1:19), we need to actively purge, or clean out, our lives of anything that would taint our celebration of freedom.

Declaration of the Week
I will choose to err on the side of grace in dealing with myself and with others.

Application
What lie do you need to replace with truth this week?

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  – 1 Corinthians 5:11

Greek
λοίδορος/loidoros: A blackguard, mischief maker

Why It Matters
“Grace, grace, God’s grace! Grace that is greater than all our sin.” The lyrics to this hymn remind us of what scripture declares: God chose to respond to us differently than we deserve. Paul continues his instruction on church discipline by warning the Corinthians to stay away from anyone bearing the name of Christian who was found guilty of a list of sins. The interesting thing about the list in verse 11 is that the church is still familiar with most of it, with perhaps one exception – reviler (loidoros). This word is used to describe someone who enjoys stirring up trouble. So how does a Christian justify being a loidoros, or mischief maker? Often it stems from forgetting the grace that is greater than all our sin. Some Christians in Corinth – and in the 21st century – would rather treat people the way that they think people should be treated based on personal preference or arbitrary criteria. In other words, a reviler is often someone who doesn’t treat others with the grace they’ve experienced from God. Paul’s warning to not associate with such Christians rings just as true today. Let us strive to bring grace to the particular sphere of influence we’ve been given, thereby imitating the One who refuses to treat us as our sins deserve.

Declaration of the Week
I will choose to err on the side of grace in dealing with myself and with others.

Application
What lie do you need to replace with truth this week?

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Greek
κληρονομήσουσιν/klayronomesousín: To be an heir; to obtain by virtue of inheritance

Why It Matters
The Kingdom of God is sometimes compared to the Old Testament Promised Land. These two realities are promises from God that denote both physical blessing and spiritual acceptance. Yet Paul distinguishes between the Kingdom of God and the Promised Land in one key area, and that difference can be seen in his use of the word klayronomesousín (inherit). This word reminds us that the Kingdom is not earned by our ability to fight and overcome adversity; it is inherited. The Israelites were promised a better land, and their response in faith was to fight and overcome those who were already entrenched in the Promised Land. They needed to rely on God, but they also needed to fight to achieve a victory with God’s help. Paul reminds us that the Kingdom of God was also fought for, but the victory was achieved through Jesus Christ. Therefore we inherit it – we have position in it by virtue of who our Father is and what family we belong to! And just like the Israelites we, too, respond in faith to that promise, but our response is to worship the One who has already achieved the victory.

Declaration of the Week
My heart will focus on the goodness of God rather than the inconsistency of people.

Application
Who do you need to show grace to?

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:11

Greek
ἀπελούσασθε/apelousasthe: To wash completely

Why It Matters
Corinth in the first century was morally corrupt by any standard. Their “anything goes” philosophy applied to their relationships, their ethics, their sexuality… any and every sphere of their lives. In this context Paul says to the Corinthian church “such were some of you.” This church wasn’t comprised of people who disliked the moral climate of their city and wanted to associate with people who felt the same way. It was made up of people who had been cleansed by God. Paul uses the Greek word apelousasthe (washed) in the aorist tense to declare that this was a once for all time event that had changed them completely! It is also the middle tense of the verb, so Paul is literally saying “but you have washed yourselves.” This matters because Paul is not saying that they have the ability to make themselves clean on their own. Instead, he is telling the Corinthians – and us – that they have chosen to make a clean break with their old way of life and submit to the washing that God provided through Jesus. We can make a clean break with our old way of life, but only the Lord Jesus Christ can cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Declaration of the Week
My heart will focus on the goodness of God rather than the inconsistency of people this week.

Application
Who do you need to show grace to?

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:11

Greek
ἐδικαιώθητε/edikaiothete: justified; declare righteous

Why It Matters
Have you ever had a hard time treating someone with kindness who has mistreated you? If so you’re not alone. We often rationalize withholding grace from people who have withheld grace from us. Paul is writing to a church (Christians!) who had some critical things to say about him, yet he still chooses to encourage them and remind them of the Gospel. He uses the passive voice of the verb edikaiothete (justified) to remind them that they have been declared righteous because of something that has already happened. This past event was God’s doing, being justified “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Paul could have let his feelings fuel a punishment mentality, but like the God he pointed to, chose to extend grace to people who treated him like an enemy. Jesus’ justifying work is not contingent on our present effort! Will that truth compel you to show grace to the people who need it most?

Declaration of the Week
My heart will focus on the goodness of God rather than the inconsistency of people this week.

Application
Who do you need to show grace to?

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.- 1 Corinthians 6:17

Greek
κολλώμενος/kollomenos: to glue; to stick together

Why It Matters
What if the way we deal with sexual immorality is inherently flawed? Traditionally, the church has created a list of reasons this sin is to be avoided. However, reason appeals to our logic, and logic rarely plays into a person’s decision to sin. Paul here seems to argue that this issue has something to do with our spirit. When a person chooses to give their life to Jesus, they are connecting their very being to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:15 asks the rhetorical question: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Our bodies serve as the limbs of Christ! Paul takes this connection with Jesus even further here in verse 17. The Greek word joined (kollomenos) literally means to glue together with an adhesive, and as a result we are one spirit with the Lord. This is critical for Paul’s instruction about sexual immorality. Since our body is a limb of Christ, and our spirit is one with him, everything we have is already spoken for. Suddenly the conversation around how we use our bodies must move from what we desire to Who it is that desires us. That answer, for the believer in Jesus, is the God who paid it all so that we can be glued together. Sexual immorality affects our spirit as well as our bodies, but as we are kollomenos to the Lord, we can trust that both of those parts of our being are in good hands.

Declaration of the Week
I will make decisions based on the truth of the Gospel, not based on my unhealthy hungers.

Application
Who will you talk to about your unhealthy appetite?

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. – 1 Corinthians 6:17

Greek
κολλώμενος/kollomenos: to glue; to stick together

Why It Matters
What if the way we deal with sexual immorality is inherently flawed? Traditionally, the church has created a list of reasons this sin is to be avoided. However, reason appeals to our logic, and logic rarely plays into a person’s decision to sin. Paul here seems to argue that this issue has something to do with our spirit. When a person chooses to give their life to Jesus, they are connecting their very being to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:15 asks the rhetorical question: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Our bodies serve as the limbs of Christ! Paul takes this connection with Jesus even further here in verse 17. The Greek word joined (kollomenos) literally means to glue together with an adhesive, and as a result we are one spirit with the Lord. This is critical for Paul’s instruction about sexual immorality. Since our body is a limb of Christ, and our spirit is one with him, everything we have is already spoken for. Suddenly the conversation around how we use our bodies must move from what we desire to Who it is that desires us. That answer, for the believer in Jesus, is the God who paid it all so that we can be glued together. Sexual immorality affects our spirit as well as our bodies, but as we are kollomenos to the Lord, we can trust that both of those parts of our being are in good hands.

Declaration of the Week
I will make decisions based on the truth of the Gospel, not based on my unhealthy hungers.

Application
Who will you talk to about your unhealthy appetite?

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:20

Greek
1 Corinthians 6:20: ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς/agorasthete gar timace: You have been bought for a valuable price

Why It Matters
Have you ever told yourself “I’m not going to eat those Doritos” only to break open the bag a few minutes later? Or what about this: “Just one more Oreo” only to have the entire sleeve empty before you know it? Sometimes it feels like we have no control over our physical appetites. The Corinthians belonged to a culture that was accustomed to enslavement. It wasn’t unusual to have a person sell the use of their body to the highest bidder, thereby giving up actual control of their flesh. Paul reminds his readers that they belong to a new master – the Friend of Sinners had found the cost of purchasing them worth it to him! Now we have an obligation to respond, and that response is to glorify God with the body he purchased. His grace and power will allow us to see the taming of our unhealthy appetites as worship.

Declaration of the Week
I will make decisions based on the truth of the Gospel, not based on my unhealthy hungers.

Application
Who will you talk to about your unhealthy appetite?