Here are my thoughts and highlights from I Corinthians as I continue my journey through the Bible:

  • As Christ-followers, we’re "cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life." The fancy way to say that: "We’re sanctified." Now you can drop that in a conversation and impress your friends.
  • "God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track… He will never give up on you."
  • I’m not trying to create a following for myself. I’m trying to create a following for God.
  • "I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did–Jesus crucified." How about that? Paul was also a simply strategic guy.
  • God’s wisdom is mysterious.
  • "There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up." Same could be said of churches.
  • "Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact." The "physical fact" part is pretty good though.
  • "Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life." I’m amazed at how much the Bible has to say about our sexuality. It’s as if God designed that to be an important part of marriage.
  • "You’re going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of." Following Jesus isn’t about following rules–it’s about experiencing freedom!
  • "When you marry, you take on additional stress." That’s true. But it’s so worth it.
  • "Some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive." Most of those people end up blogging.
  • Not to be self-serving, but Paul makes it pretty clear that we’re supposed to financially take care of those in ministry leadership. "We who are on missionary assignments for God have a right to decent accommodations, and we have a right to support for us and our families."
  • "I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized–whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ–but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life." Amen.
  • I’m not exempt from temptation and sin. Paul reminds me, "You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else." That produces humility and reminds me my confidence comes from God.
  • "He wants us–all or nothing."
  • God doesn’t want stupid, drink-the-kool-aid followers. "God wants us to use our intelligence." He designed us to use our heads.
  • "No matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of." I’m only as good as my team.
  • Paul cautions us to consider how we worship keeping in mind that "unbelieving outsiders" may be present. I wonder how often churches consider "unbelieving outsiders" when they are planning their worship services?
  • "Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping."