New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

1 Corinthians Study 4

Dear Student of the Word,

Success!  That's how I would define the study I sent out through this service last week.  I am delighted that so many people finally received their study after patiently waiting for four months.  I'm also glad that some unsubscribed--I don't want anyone to receive anything they don't value or isn't what they need. 

Paul addressed so many practical issues in his two letters to the Corinthians, who had no background or foundation in holy living.  This week I wrote:

What was Paul trying to establish in these verses?  How can we carry out the spirit of what Paul was teaching here?  I think Paul was teaching the Corinthians how to be sensitive to sin.  Remember, these were Greeks who had no history of holiness or right living prior to salvation.  Paul was trying to establish a Christian community that was different than others in more ways than just worship and teaching.  They had to be different also in attitude and moral behavior than those around them. 

Do you agree with this?  Why do you think that we aren't as "hard" on known sinners in our midst today?  Or has your experience been that the church is very hard on sin and sinners to the point of being self-righteous and aloof?  What is your own attitude and philosophy of how to relate to sinners in and out of the church?

Remember that the Bible study archives of 13 other New Testament studies can be found on my website along with The Faith Files.  You can unsubscribe by clicking on the link below (if you receive this through Feedblitz).  You can give a gift subscription by going to the site where these studies are posted every week.  And please feel free to post your own comments, insights, and questions at the same site (just click on the word at the "comments" at the bottom of this post).

Here is this week's study:  Download 1_corinthians_study_4.doc

Technorati Tags: 1 Corinthians, Bible study, holiness

1 Corinthians Study 3

Dear Student of the Word,

Well, here goes--my first attempt to send the weekly Bible studies through this new blog site and Feedblitz service.  To unsubscribe, simply click on the link below if you receive these updates automatically.  If you would like to subscribe or send a gift subscriptions, look to the right of this post (on the actual site), enter the email address and then respond to the confirmation email you will receive. 

The worrisome part is attaching the study file, which is usually eight pages in length.  I am concerned whether this will come through, so bear with me as I learn how to do this. The study should be at the end of this entry. 

If you receive this study automatically, you can go to the Bible study site and add your comments and insights to the week's study for all to see (look at the end of each entry and click on comments).  I urge you to do this and add to the value of these studies.  You can also email me any thoughts you may have.

You can find the first two studies in this First Corinthian series on my website in case you missed them.  In the attached study for this week, I wrote:

v. 16 -- The "you" here is plural.  We are each living stones built into a temple of God.  What's more, God's Spirit lives in us, not just in each person.  So there is a collective reality and presence of God that can only come about through people when they assemble together to worship and release the dynamic of the Spirit.  There are some who have withdrawn from church attendance for various reasons.  There is no doubt that they can worship God on their own, but that isn't the only expressions of worship that God commands.  Plus, God created us so that a body dynamic would be released when we come together.

We can't even pick and choose who we will be joined to in this Temple.  That is God's decision.  Otherwise we would probably choose those who made us feel comfortable or with whom we had something in common.  It's God's house and He builds it as He wishes.  Are you in a local church?  If not, examine your reasons why.  Are your reasons endorsed by Scripture?  If they aren't, then you need to re-examine why you aren't in a local fellowship.

Remember that all the studies from Hebrews, Revelation, James, Peter, Acts, Thessalonians, Luke, Ephesians, Romans, Galatians and Philippians along with The Faith Files can also be found in their entirety on my website.

Here is this week's study:  Download 1_corinthians_study_3.doc

Technorati Tags: 1 Corinthians, Bible study, church attendance