1 Corinthians 7:12-24

I've heard many times from many students and it normally ends the same way. "No, they (they being their new boyfriend or girlfriend) aren't Christians, but I hope to convert them." Or "No, they aren't really Christian but they have been to church.

First and foremost, going to church means nothing about being a Christian. People go to churches for wedding and funerals or once a year during Christmas. It's about a relationship. Secondly, we aren't supposed to be unequally yoked. In other words people shouldn't be in committed relationships with others who aren't Christian. This passage along with others shows us that we aren't to use marriage or a relationship designed to prepare us for marriage as leverage on someones salvation.

1 Corinthians 7:1-11

We will see in this chapter how serious God views marriage. Some of you might have parents that have been divorced, but I didn't grow up with that. My parents are still together so I don't know what it is like to have a step-mom or step-dad. I have talked to some people that do and it seems like God knew what he was doing when he instituted marriage. He wants people to be together for life. Statistics have shown that kids who grow up with influences from both a father and mother tend to do better in school and many other aspects of life.

Now that doesn't mean your going to suck at life if your parents are divorced, or if you only have a mom, but it shows that God does have a reason for marriage.

Stay tuned for more.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

If you have any doubt about God's law on sexual immorality after this, then... well lets just say you should read it again.

It's pretty clear that sex was designed for marriage and is a thing that God and we as Christians should take very seriously.

Maybe we will talk more about it tonight.

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Well since no one that I know of is in a lawsuit then we can skip this part of the chapter.

J J, lol.

Even though this is talking about suing another Christian, which I don't think anyone in the youth group is doing right now, we can still learn something from this. Paul is showing is utter disgust for those that create divisions in the church. He hates that people who love the same God and worship him together could fight one another and even bring in non-Christians to settle their disputes. I like what he says at the end of this chapter. He names a bunch of stuff that God doesn't like, actually I guess it is more than he doesn't like it because they will not inherit the kingdom of God. But right after he names all this stuff he mentions that some of us have been like that but we have been washed. Washed by the blood of the lamb. Then Paul uses some other big words to describe this process of being washed. You should look up some of these words to get a better understanding of them. What does "sanctified" and "justified" really mean anyways.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Well I do have to apologize, i forgot to blog on Saturday, and I even forgot to read. So I'm making it up today by doing all of chapter 5. It's only 13 verses and really one thought throughout the chapter.

Paul takes about a certain man that was sleeping with his Step-Mom. That's pretty wrong no matter who you are. Paul knows it's wrong and he thinks that the church should think it is wrong. But apparently they don't because they haven't done anything about it. What would you do about it, if you heard something like this? Are you supposed to do anything?

I think Paul explains it at the end of the chapter, but I want to get you take on it.

1 Corinthians 4:8-21

Wow, what a life Paul was living. It doesn't sound too glamorous to me. I like what he says after he talks about these hardships that he was going through. He says ""Therefore I urge you to imitate me." Could you say that about our life? I don't know if I want people to imitate everything that I do. In fact I know that there are some areas of my life that people hopefully won't imitate.

Verse 20 continues to talk about that foolishness and power of God that we discussed on Wednesday. It is really through these first few chapters more than I knew. Verse 20 says "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

1 Corinthians 4:1-7

Today's reading was pretty short and easy. I do like the last verse because it reminds us not to brag or think too highly of ourselves. God gave us the gifts so what are we bragging about? God gave me this awesomely sculpted body, so why do I show it off to everyone (yeah right)? Paul is pretty much saying "Shut your mouth because it wasn't you that made yourself."

1 Corinthians 3:10-23

The beginning of this passage is talking about how we need to get the fundamental truths about Christ straight (as a foundation) before building on that. There are many beliefs or doctrines in the Bible besides Jesus Christ. Such as communion, the role of elders, baptism, and many others. These beliefs came after understanding Christ and what he has done for us. These beliefs can sadly tear apart churches and families.

The passage then talk about the foolishness of worldly wisdom. Does this mean we shouldn't go to school? Yes it does. Quit school immediatly and become a bum for the rest of your life. No it doesn't mean that. I like what Matthew Henry''s Commentary says on this verse say I'm just going to quote it:

"To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that worldly men esteem, is foolishness with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led away, by pretences to human wisdom and skill, from the simple truths revealed by Christ. Mankind are very apt to oppose the design of the mercies of God. Observe the spiritual riches of a true believer; "All are yours," even ministers and ordinances. Nay, the world itself is yours."

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

I hope through this study we will be getting "solid food," and we won't just read the scripture and say the right answers, but we will dwell on what Paul has to say.

Another way to get "solid food" is through the small group that we are going to start. Details are coming...

1 Corinthians 10b-16

I don't know if you have ever seen the movie Lord of the Rings, but I am currently reading the books and these verses reminded me of them. Maybe because I was just reading them about an hour ago, or maybe it really has to do with the verse.

Here is why I though of the Lord of the Rings: In the Lord of the Rings there is this evil force, or power (not really a person) called Sauron. His embodiment is that of an eye that sits in between two spires on the top of a tall building. This eye is "ever roaming, and see everything." I thought about this eye when I read the first verse of todays scripture. "The Spirit searches all things." I thought about God being able to see everything, even a mans thoughts and feelings. That makes me feel pretty vulnerable and open.

1 Corinthians 2:1-10a

Sometimes we get caught up in making sure we know everything before sharing God's word. We look at different ways to approach someone about Christ, we make sure we understand the theological differences of Transubstantiation and all that big word stuff. Paul clearly says that he didn't come with all that, but just Jesus Christ.

What a promise that we get for Isaiah 64:4 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what Got has prepared for those that LOVE him."

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

I like these verses because it brings up something that we don't think about a lot. The fact that we say our God came down to earth to...die. You think Jesus would have done some Superman move or pulled out some super human power to save us, but instead he died. That doesn't make sense, that's why Paul calls it foolish, and he points out that it is hard for a lot of people to understand.

This verse also gives me encouragement when it talks about Gods weakness being stronger than my strength. So, does God have weaknesses? I though God was all knowing, all powerful, and all that stuff. Does Paul say that God is weak in something?

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Well today was the first day for reading Corinthians. If you are in the church youth group then you should have gotten a reading plan for the next five weeks. If not comment and I'll send you one through email.

Day 1: When reading about the division that the church had in Corinth I started to wonder about our youth group and the divisions that we have. Are we divided? Does any group think they are better for any reason? I think we have a great group that is pretty united.

Another thing that really stuck out to me was the last part of the last verse. Vs 17 says "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." What does Paul mean "words of human wisdom. I thin that he is getting at the fact that Christ dying for us doesn't make sense in our world of " It's all about me." I think tomorrows reading will shed some more light on it.

1 Corinthians

Hey Guys!

Well I hope you made it here because you are doing the Bible study with the youth group. If your not, feel free to join us. Everyday I will post the scripture that is supposed to be read, and then some thoughts on it.

Stay tuned for tomorrow as it will be the first day to go through Corinthians.

Feel free to leave a comment so that we know who is doing the Bible study together.

First Post...

I don't know how many people will read this, and if they do read this how many people will care. I hope that I keep it up seeing as it will be somewhat of a journal for my thoughts, but also a glimpse into my world. Why you would want to enter my world? I don't know. Why does anyone really?

Today I have started writing my sermon for Sunday. IT should be interesting as I have a text, but have no idea where the text is going to take me, nor what topic will be the main theme. The text is 1 Kings 13. Yes the whole chapter. It is about a unnamed man of God, and his attempt at ...well I don't really what his main goal was. Maybe you can help me. Was the man trying to change the mind of the king, was he simply showing us the power of God, was it simply a lesson for us?

I hope I can figure this out before Sunday :)