Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14.26-33

In this passage Paul addresses some practical problems that were plaguing the worship services in the congregation at Corinth. The house church attendees were showing up eager to participate and share what God was saying to them. They were, however, getting carried away with enthusiasm, were fond of hearing their own voices, and were creating a chaotic environment where no one could understand what was being said.

So Paul lays down the law under four main headings:

1. Worship must be understandable. You can't speak in a language that nobody understands unless you have an interpreter.

2. Worship must be humble. What happens at worship must strengthen the congregation and not just strengthen the reputation of the speaker. Self-promotion is off limits

3. Worship must be orderly. Paul set limits on how many people could speak and insisted that they take turns and not speak on top of each other.

4. Worship must be accountable and open to feedback. Not every message you share comes from God. The community at large must verify that the things said in worship are accurate and not heretical.

These guidelines were given to address a specific situation that no longer exists today. But the guidelines still have validity in our services.

1. The words of the sermon, prayers, and music must be understandable.

2. The people singing, praying, and preaching need to be humble and not use their gifts in a slef-serving way.

3. The services we create should not degenerate to the extremes of dull, boring, predictability or chaotic spontaneity. Instead we should be shooting for spirited order or ordered spontaneity.

4. Everything we do is open to feedback from the congregation. Neither the pastor nor the worship team is the ultimate authority. Jesus is.

Related passages: Acts 2.3, Acts 10.44-46, Acts 19.6, 1 Corinthians 12.7-11, 2 Corinthians 12.20, James 3.16

Love Chat #3

1 Corinthians 13.8-14

It would be wonderful if ethical decisions boiled down to the choice between bad and good. That would make things easy. But I've found that things are a bit more complicated than that. In fact, I think that there are more than two categories involved. There are four:

1. Actions that are bad

2. Actions that are neutral

3. Actions that are better

4. Actions that are best

It's hard to know what items to put in each category, and sometimes the hardest choice is between better and best.

The Bible lifts up love expressed selflessly to God and others as the sole inhabiter of the best category. That's because it is permanent, mature, and clear.

1. Things like spiritual gifts, talents, work, family, etc. may fall into the better category. They are admirable and needed and better, but not the best. That's because these things eventually pass away. Prophecy will cease. Tongues will be silenced. Knowledge will pass away. But love remains.

2. A preoccupation with your talents and gifts is ultimately childish. But love is mature.

3. A focus on one's abilities is to see in a mirror dimly. To love is to see with clear vision.

So we need to make love the ultimate goal of our lives and not be so preoccupied with things that are very good, but not the best. We need to put the big rocks in first, and let the littler rocks fill in around them.

Have you made it a life goal to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are you joyfully and sacrificially loving others as you love yourself? If so, you are choosing wisely and are involved with the best things.

Related passages: 1 John 3.2, Philippians 3.12-13, 2 John 1.6, 2 Peter 1.5-8.

Love Chat #2

1 Corinthians 13.4-7

Popular culture has the wrong idea about love. If you listen to too much pop music you'll start to believe that love is sweeping emotion that overtakes you and leaves you hot blooded. People call that love, but it's really romance or perhaps just lust.

The Bible says that love is an action. It's a behavior. It's a choice. To be a loving person means you do loving things. Love gets it's hands dirty.

1 Corinthians 13. 1-4 is a list of 15 verbs in bullet point form. Verbs are what love is all about.

Here is my version of what love is.... "Love gets up in the middle of the night and feeds the baby. Love doesn’t ask when she has a headache. Love sometimes says yes when you're not in the mood. Love unplugs the toilet. It remembers to pick up milk at the grocery store. It changes diapers. It remembers anniversaries, and birthdays, and Mother’s Day, and Valentines day, and about 15 other days. Love occasionally goes to the chic flick. It occasionally turns off the football game. It wipes noses, cares for a sick child, cares for a elderly parent. Love stops talking and just listens, drives to 700 soccer games; comes home exhausted and still makes conversation; works all day, then prepares a meal for a friend. Love picks up, cleans up, mops up, shines up, and tidies up. Love listens when you don’t make any sense. Love stays connected."

Love is an action. So be a person of loving action!

Related passages: James 2.17, 1 John 3.18, 1 John 4.7-8, John 13.34, Romans 13.8, 1 Peter 1.22.

Love Chat #1

1 Corinthians 13.1-3

There are two significant Holy Spirit lists in the New Testament: the list of the Gifts of the Spirit and the list of the Fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit are character qualities that are developed in Christians over time. They are found in Galatians 5 and include things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All Christians are supposed to grow all of these things all of the time.

The gifts of the Spirit are special talents and abilities which the Spirit gives to us individually. There are lots of spiritual gifts referenced in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 12 mentions a dozen: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation, administration, teaching, and apostleship. We don't get all of these gifts; each of us only gets a few.

The problem in Corinth was that people were very gifted, but not very loving. They had great gifts of the Spirit, but were not demonstrating much fruit. They had lots of talent, but not much character.

In the passage today Paul declares that character is more important than talent. You might have amazing ability to preach, sing, teach, pray, give, communicate, discern, or whatever; but if you do not have love you are nothing.

This leads to three implications:

1. Character development trumps talent development

2. Character development will involves spiritual disciplines

3. How we get along is critical to church life

I encourage everyone to fully develop your talents. But more importantly: fully develop your character.

Related passages: 1 John 3.4-20, 1 John 4.19-21, 1 Thessalonians 3.12, Colossians 3.12-14

Clueless and Oblivious

1 Corinthians 11. 17-34

Sometimes we do things that impact others in a negative way, not because we are mean or evil, but because we are self-absorbed, clueless and oblivious.

This happened in Corinth. A group of well off Christians with time on their hands would arrive early at the church agape feast (potluck dinner with communion). They would eat and drink and enjoy their friends, oblivious to the fact that they were eating all the food that the poorer church members relied on. When the slaves and working class arrived after a hard day of labor there was nothing left for them and their wealthy brothers were sloshed and gorged.

This accentuated the class differences that the church was trying to bridge, and ruined the whole idea that "in Christ we are all equal and unified."

Paul told the early arrivers to get their eyes off themselves, start being aware of others, and eat at the same time!

In our day, it's easy to be self-absorbed and oblivious, hanging out with people just like ourselves, forming little affinity groups, and ignoring people who need our help or who are not just like us.

So I suggest five things that we can do to stave off this problem.

1. Attend the next mystery dinner. Occasionally we offer nights where 4-5 families gather to have dinner. Nobody knows who will show up to their group. New friendships are formed and barriers are crossed.

2. Commit to meeting new people during our handshaking times in the services. Don't just run to greet your friends. Reach out to a stranger. Empathize with the person who knows nobody, and do something about it.

3. Commit to meeting new people after the service at the coffee hour. Look for the person standing in a corner and include them. Don't be so self-absorbed that you don't even see the isolated person. Don't be clueless and oblivious.

4. While taking communion remind yourself that despite some pretty big differences, we are all one in Christ.

5. When you attend a church potluck dinner look for the family that is sitting alone, and plop down next to them. This is especially important if that family is new or is attending a potluck for the first time.

Most Christians I know are really great people. They are not mean or nasty, but they can be oblivious. Let's reduce our clueless level and reach out to people who are not just like us!

Related passages: Jude 12, Acts 2.42-47, Ephesians 2.19-22, Galatians 3.28.

Clueless and Oblivious

God, Hats, and Long Hair

1 Corinthians 11.2-16

In this chapter Paul lays down the law and declares that all women in the church must cover their heads, that all men must uncover their heads, that women should have long hair, and men should have short hair. Paul was quite insistent upon these things. It was a big deal.

Are we messing up today?

I don't think so.

In the first century women never went out in public with their heads uncovered. It was considered immodest. In fact, it was the mark of a prostitute to go hatless. Paul was concerned with the reputation of Christian women, that they would not appear to be involved in things that were evil. So he ordered all the women to wear hats.

In that culture hat wearing was a sign of respect for God for women, while taking off your hat was a sign of respect for for for men. And long hair for women was considered a kind of head covering, while short hair for men was considered a kind of head uncovering. Respect, again, was the issue, as well as modesty.

We don't worry too much today about what people wear on their heads or how long their hair is. But three principles remain:

1. We are called to respect God

2. We are called to dress modestly

3. We are called to live in a way that does not harm our witness.

Related scriptures: 1 Timothy 2.9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4.11-12, Acts 2.46-47

Dumb Bunnies

1 Corinthians 10.1-13

Do you remember the Aesop fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare?" In it the slow but steady turtle upsets the much faster rabbit in a race. Despite huge advantages the rabbit suffers a crushing defeat because he is overconfident and distracted by things like play and sleep.

The Corinthians were losing their race as well. Despite having started strong in the faith and having the blessing of God they were now distracted and overconfident and in danger of losing a reward that never should have been in doubt.

So Paul gives them a bit of a history lesson and warns them not to be like their forefathers. He reminds them that the early Israelites had incredible advantages: the Red Sea parting, manna provided for breakfast, miraculous water, and direction by a cloud. But they, like the dumb bunny of Aesop's fable, eventually became distracted by sin and overconfident in their relationship to God. They grumbled, they tested God, they worshipped idols, and they got involved in sexual immorality. So, God punished them, and many never made it to the Promised Land.

It's a sobering fact: people with great advantages sometimes fail.

This can happen today as well.

1 Scores of famous preachers and Christian artists have gotten distracted and had highly publicized moral failures

2. Many strong Christian teenagers get distracted and overconfident when they go off to college and leave the faith

3. Many church attendees start strong and serve Christ, only to disappear from church when tempting hobbies or activities distract them.

4. Many veteran church members lose their edge over time, begin to auto-pilot their faith, and never really regain their fire and intensity for Christ.

Paul warns those of us who think we stand to be careful lest we fall.

Are you pursuing God with great fire and intensity? Or are you napping and playing and coasting? Paul would urge you: "Be careful! Don't be a dumb bunny!"

Additional scriptures: Exodus 32, Numbers 25.1-2, Numbers 21.4-9

Spiritual Training

1 Corinthians 9.24-27

The world came to ancient Corinth every other year for an athletic extravaganza known as the Isthmian games. Athletes from around the globe descended upon the city to compete in sprints, distance races, discus, wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts, and even music and poetry reading. This was a really big deal. These games were every bit as important in their culture as the Super Bowl is to ours.

Everyone wanted to win. So the runners endured strict training measures with special diets and rigorous physical workouts. Boxers pounded away at each other to toughen themselves up. They practiced. They put in long hours in the gym. They sacrificed the pleasures of life. All to win the race.

The winners received a crown of honor made out of celery leaves. Special songs were written in their honor. Their statues were sculpted and displayed in prominent places. They received big financial stipends. In was exceedingly good to be an Isthmian Games winner!

In the passage today Paul says that life is like a race. And life is a race we want to win. We want to receive the crown of life at the end of our days. When we die we want Jesus to say "Well done good and faithful servant!"

And if we are to win that race we will need to commit ourselves to rigorous training.

How can we train? Let me make some suggestions:

1. Train by committing to worship every Sunday

2. Train by reading your Bible daily

3. Train by praying every day

4. Train by giving generously

5. Train by listening for God's whispers and saying yes

6. Train by helping anyone who comes your way

7. Train by sharing your faith whenever you get the opportunity

8. Train by committing to a small group

Don't be spiritually flabby. Create a training plan that will produce a well muscled spiritual life.

What is your training plan?

Other passages: 1 Timothy 4.7-8, Titus 2.4-5, 2 Timothy 2.5, 2 Timothy 4.8, James 1.12, 1 Peter 5.4, Revelation 2.10

Not Paying the Preacher Enough

1 Corinthians 9.1-18

There was a big controversy in Corinth. Preacher Paul's critics were on the prowl. He was getting beaten up on the gossip lines. Powerful people in the church hierarchy were angry with him.

What was the big problem? Well, for the first time in history church leaders were mad at their pastor for not taking a salary! Paul was working for free and they didn't like it.

This would never happen in my church. If I declined taking a salary there would be weeks of feasting and celebration. So, why the big flap?

It was all about image and status. Religious leaders in the ancient world were supported by their congregations and their large salaries and prestigious lifestyles were a source of pride to their memberships. In addition, traveling philosophers charged large fees to hear them speak and Paul appeared to be giving his wisdom away for free. This made him come across as small and insignificant. In the first century world people who worked with their hands were considered second class. Paul was making tents for a living. This was embarrassing to the status minded members at Corinth.

Bottom line: Paul wasn't acting enough like a big shot, and the people of Corinth wanted a big shot for a pastor. To them, his way of operating was a bad reflection on them.

Paul responded by calling this whole line of thinking rubbish. Status and perks meant nothing to him. All he wanted to do is get the gospel out. And he was willing to make any sacrifice and go to any length to insure this would happen.

How important are status and perks to you?

What do you need in order to feel important?

Who are you trying to please and look good for?

How critical is sharing the Gospel with others to you?

How critical should it be?

Related scriptures: Deuteronomy 25.4, 1 Thessalonians 2.6-9, Proverbs 27.18, Acts 18.1-4

Meat Offered to Idols

1 Corinthians 8

In this chapter Paul addresses a controversy that doesn't exist anymore. Back in the first century people would gather at pagan temples to feast on meat that had been dedicated to one of the many gods that were worshipped. These feasts were very common. They happened in temples all over town. The temples served as a sort of religious restaurant. After these feasts there was always meat left over, so it was sold on the street in the marketplace for a reasonable price.

But a controversy arose around this question: should Christians be buying and eating this meat that had once been offered to idols? Some Christians said no since this would be idolatry. But other Christians said yes because it was only a piece of meat and the false gods were just statues anyways.

The debate got pretty heated so Paul wrote chapter 8 to address this controversy. Here are his basic teachings:

1. Paul wanted them to stop bickering about this. Knowedge puffs up, but love builds up.
2. Paul did not want them to attend the feasts in the temples as this would definitely be idolatry.
3. Paul was open to meat eating in general, feeling that its not a big deal, but he did not want the Christians to flaunt their freedom in such as way that hurt the fledgling faith of other believers.

We don't argue over this issue today. But there are many issues in modern times where Christians disagree. When we disagree, we need to do it agreeably, and keep the good of others in mind. And sometimes we need to adjust our behavior for the good of the community.

Related scriptures: Acts 15.20, Acts 15.29, Acts 21.25, Rev 2.14, 1 Corinthians 10.14-23.

Is God #1?

1 Corinthians 7

This chapter is filled with answers about marriage, divorce, singleness, and sex. That got yout attention! And this should be riveting reading. But when you wade into this chapter you never get a clear sense of what Paul wants us to do. Paul says its OK to do this, but also good to do that. He recommends one thing, but then lets us off the hook by saying that the other option is acceptable as well. And several times he advises us to simply remain in the situation you are in.

There are two reasons for the vagueness of all this:

1. Paul is giving us answers without supplying the questions
2. His advice can be classified as an interim ethic. It's a way to live in the special situation that time is short and the world we are living in will soon pass away. When time is short our priorities get clarified and things that seemed really important lose their luster.

These factors make this passage murky and hard to understand. It is hard to sort out what advice is valid for the 21st century. But one thing we know for sure: Paul's wanted everyone to make pleasing God the #1 priority of their life. Undivided devotion to Him is job one. Everything else pales in comparison.

Where does God rank in your list of priorities?

I'd suggest that we settle this issue right now at the beginning of a new year. You could decide that in 2011 the focus of your life was to please God and give him your full devotion.

What a year it could be!