It’s a simple question, “How are you?” with many forms: “How’s it going?” “How ya doin’?” “How are things?” These questions have become a pleasant formality, a nicety, rather than a serious question. And the polite response is “Fine.” Or “Good”. The pleasantries complete, we move along having just completed our relational duty. But we’reContinue reading “Are you feeling defeated? There is hope!”
Tag Archives: 1st Corinthians
90 days to a new you! – 1st Corinthians 15:35-50
Wish you could change your life? Get a new body? Fix a relationship? Stabilize your finances? Quit smoking? I found the banner above claiming that it takes 30 days to change a habit, and 60 more to change your life. I also saw lots of pictures for workout programs, classes, diets, and the like. AContinue reading “90 days to a new you! – 1st Corinthians 15:35-50”
What would you do to get a new body?
What would you do to get a new body? Think about how much money, time and effort people go through to get new bodies. I love a good weight-loss story because I lost a bunch myself, and it feels great. But some other new body stories scare me. Endless plastic surgeries, injections, pills, etc. WhatContinue reading “What would you do to get a new body?”
Believing the Gospel is not enough – 1st Corinthians 15:1-11
Last week I asked “Have Christians Forgotten the Gospel?” The reason I asked that is because in the next section in our study through 1st Corinthians, 15:1-11, Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that he needs to remind them of the Gospel. Did they forget it? Seems that way, at least to some extent. SinceContinue reading “Believing the Gospel is not enough – 1st Corinthians 15:1-11”
Have Christians forgotten the Gospel?
Christians talk a lot about the Gospel. As they should. The Gospel is the foundation of our faith. But what if Christians have forgotten about the Gospel? This post is written to Christians, but I would be very interested to hear what those who are not Christians would think of it as well. Maybe thoseContinue reading “Have Christians forgotten the Gospel?”
Experimental Worship? – 1st Corinthians 14:26-40
I have read that early Christian worship was influenced by the order of worship in Jewish synagogues. The picture that Paul gives us in 1st Corinthians 14:26-40 (and in all of chapters 11-14, really) is a very disorderly kind of worship as practiced by the Christians in the city of Corinth. I introduced this conceptContinue reading “Experimental Worship? – 1st Corinthians 14:26-40”
Do we need an order of worship?
Raised in a Conservative Baptist church that practiced a style of worship very much influenced by the frontier free worship tradition, I will never forget two of my first experiences with liturgical style. The first was at a mainline Presbyterian Church in New Jersey where my mother’s sister and her family attended. After quite aContinue reading “Do we need an order of worship?”
Is Speaking in Tongues fake?
What is speaking in tongues? Or what is it supposed to be? There is a lot confusion, a lot of skepticism and fear. Some people say that it is all fake, that the gift of tongues ceased, and that’s what Paul meant in chapter 13 verse 8 when he said “where there are tongues, theyContinue reading “Is Speaking in Tongues fake?”
Google is confused about love! – 1st Corinthians 13
Google is confused about love. Is love a feeling or not? I did an image search and found both answers! So what is it? When I love someone, I definitely feel something. But I also know that those feelings can go away when that person is being difficult (not that I am ever difficult…). ItContinue reading “Google is confused about love! – 1st Corinthians 13”
That time the Apostle Paul talked about unpresentable parts
I really think there was a twinkle in his eye. He wasn’t there when they read the letter, so I have to imagine that twinkle, and the corners of his mouth turning up as he grinned to himself thinking about when they would read this. They would get the letter, gather the group of followersContinue reading “That time the Apostle Paul talked about unpresentable parts”
Engaging Scripture 