Week 8
Main Point and Overview:   

After the Apostle Paul had spent 18 months starting, building, and discipling the Corinthians, he left. It was during this time that a group of antagonists rose up calling Paul’s “credentials” into question. The danger in this was that if the Corinthians were persuaded to believe these antagonists, they could be susceptible to rejecting Paul’s doctrinal teachings and practical admonishments. Therefore, Paul “challenged” the antagonists, but he did so in facts and not feelings. The facts were that Paul was called by God to be an apostle, chosen by God to start the Corinthian church, and seen by God on the road to Damascus. He reminded the Corinthians that the evidence of his position of leadership was the changed lives that were a result of his preaching through the power of the Gospel. Over the years, many good and faithful leaders have been unfairly discriminated against, and do you know what their “saving grace” was? It’s the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the people they have taught and trained. The evidence was overwhelmingly in favor of Paul’s ministry. God was working in undeniable ways. It’s also true that Paul was the perfect example of sacrifice and humility. Instead of taking advantage of certain “rights” that belonged to him, he selflessly set aside those rights so that more and more people could come to Christ. He always had the good of others in mind. He embodied his own words to the Philippians: “looking to others’ interests above your own.” What about you and me? Do we prioritize the spiritual development of others above our own personal interests and desires? Paul was so committed to preaching the “Good News” of Jesus Christ that he was passionate about finding all kinds of ways to talk and relate to people. Instead of getting consumed with others’ opinions of him, he made the mission his ultimate mindset. How was he able to put the distractions aside? All he saw was the “prize” awaiting him – heaven with Jesus! He lived his life with passion for what was eternal and not temporal. The best way that you and I can reject the “antagonism” of others is to ignore it and push forward for Christ! One day, we will all stand before God, and what we did in this life will be evaluated. No one has time to worry about what others think.

One of my favorite verses is 1 John 4:19 - “We love because He first loved us.” 7 words. 1 BIG meaning. We have the opportunity to love others because we were first loved by Christ. We can love selflessly, honestly, without conditions - because we have seen Jesus Himself do that for us.

Something I ask myself often is “are my actions reflecting Christ?” There are lots of freedoms we have. There are lots of things that we can do as Christians, and it is left to personal conviction. Alcohol that some drink, music others listen to, TV shows/movies that are watched, what words are said, how our kids are raised; the list goes on! Sometimes it isn’t always black and white. We read God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to convict us. Again, I ask myself the question: is this making me more like Jesus?
 
The amazing thing about all of this, is that although we may feel we have the right to do something, if it causes somebody else to stumble, we shouldn’t do it out of love. This takes an immense amount of humility and selflessness. We ask: it doesn’t negatively affect me, so why does it matter? Example: you have a glass of wine at dinner with your friends. Your friend is a recovering alcoholic. Although they are not drinking, you having a glass of wine is a temptation for them. Maybe the movies you watch have cursing and violence, but you’re telling your son he can’t watch them because of the cursing and violence. Not only do we come off as hypocrites, but we also lack the ability to lay down our liberties to love.
 
Ephesians 5:2 urges us to walk in the way of love. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. It is every part of our life! Every decision, every word spoken, every text sent, every song listened to and every drink drank; when we walk in true love, we walk like Jesus. Romans 12:10 continues to remind us to be devoted to one another and honor one another before yourselves. Another verse that comes to mind is 1 Corinthians 10:23 “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.” I actually like the NLT version because it says, “I am allowed to do anything.” Sure, that is true. But not all things are good. Not all things portray the love and light of Jesus. Not all things point people to the Gospel. What are you willing to lay down?

What we want to see is people coming to Christ! Our God is so good, and He has given us a way to know Him! This is something that we want to share with all people of the world! Paul is saying in these verses not to cause anyone to stumble. Do not think so highly of yourself that you cause those around you to not be able to find Christ. What matters is not our glory, but the glory of the Lord! Paul tells us to follow his example as he follows Christ. Christ is our ultimate example of putting others first! He died for us on the cross! And Paul says to follow his example. Paul is a great missionary who did what he could to tell others about the gospel of Jesus. He went around telling people the truth of Jesus and he did it no matter what it meant for him and his own reputation. He did not care who listened, Jew or Gentile; he wanted all people to know Christ. I think sometimes it is hard for us to want to tell everyone the gospel. There are people who we just do not like to talk to. There are people who we have a hard time talking to. But the grace of God that surpasses all understanding tells us that Jesus died even for the people that we may find to be difficult people. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of all kinds of different people. We are all made in the image of God and all people need him! This is what I think when Paul tells us to follow his example. This is a man who chose to do what is right no matter what it meant for himself. This is a man who found true joy in what God had for him in his life. This is a man who shared Jesus and the gospel without fear. Follow the example of Paul as he followed the example of Christ!

1 Corinthians 10 was one of those beautiful chunks of scripture that was repeatedly talked about with our children. It’s filled with valuable life lessons. Verse 13 was so helpful in helping us teach our kids to navigate peer pressure and to help them make wise choices even when no one is watching. This verse reminds us that no temptation is inescapable and that God is faithful and will not allow temptation beyond our ability but provides a "way of escape" so that it can be endured. And fast forward to today’s devotional reading, verses 23-30, our children learned that freedom comes with responsibility. Just because they “can” do something, it doesn’t mean it’s good or helpful. Guess what readers? The same goes for you and I. Let’s dive in and unpack the wisdom in this passage.

In 1 Corinthians 10:23–30, the Apostle Paul reminds believers that while "everything is permissible," not everything is beneficial or constructive. Through Christ, Christians have been set free from the bondage of sin and the burden of earning salvation through works. This is where you say, “Amen!” However, this freedom is never meant to become an excuse for selfishness or behavior that harms others. Instead, our liberty should be guided by love, wisdom, and a desire to glorify God.

Paul teaches that believers should seek "the good of others" rather than merely pursuing their own desires. Even if an action is not sinful in itself, it may become unwise if it causes another believer to stumble or weaken their faith. Christian maturity is demonstrated not by insisting on our rights, but by willingly limiting our freedoms. When doing so, it protects the conscience and spiritual growth of others. Ask yourself, “Do my choices protect and respect the feelings and consciences of others?”

The early church faced questions about eating food that had been offered to idols. Although idols had no real power, Paul instructed believers to consider how their actions affected fellow Christians whose consciences were still weak. This principle continues today. True community means putting the well-being of others ahead of their own personal desires. Whether our choices involve entertainment, speech, social habits, or personal preferences, we should ask whether they honor Christ and encourage others in their walk with Him.

True Christian freedom is expressed through sacrificial love. Jesus Himself willingly gave up His rights to serve and save others, providing the perfect example for every believer. As followers of Christ, we are called to place the needs of our neighbors above personal preferences, using our freedom to strengthen rather than discourage those around us. In doing so, we reflect God's love and bring glory to Him in every aspect of our lives.

I love this time of year. The weather, outdoor activities, and firing up the smoker to cook some BBQ ribs or chicken. During Michigan summers, many of us will attend a cookout or open house to gather for a meal and fellowship. In Corinth they would do similar types of gatherings, but these gatherings were based on idol worship. Meat would be sacrificed and “blessed” by false priests and then a public celebration meal would happen. People from all walks of life would gather, eat, and fellowship. This is the basis of the issue that bubbled up amongst the believers in Corinth. Some believers were attending these events, understanding that idols have no power, they are just stone and metal. This action was hurting the church because others were falling away back into idol worship because of the perceived acceptance of this false worship. Paul is trying to drive the point that you may have the right to do something, but should you do it at the cost of harming another person? Paul says you may have knowledge (you technically are right on this issue) but the use of this knowledge is hurting people. The challenge is to be wise: Would a mature believer want to hurt an immature believer? Of course not! Wisdom is the application of knowledge, using the knowledge of God’s commands and applying them in a way that glorifies God. Obviously, hurting someone doesn’t glorify God and is a poor use of the knowledge of God. We have been given spiritual liberty but with that liberty comes responsibility to use it in a way that honors God. Taking the Word of God, learning, understanding and applying it empowers me to be wise in my actions, glorifying God as a result. Will you take a moment and examine your actions of late? Are they glorifying God? I need to use my knowledge of God in a strategic way that builds up those around me.

I think it's safe to say that we all know how to ride a bicycle. Most people were taught at a young age with a parent or sibling to lovingly show us. Thinking back on your experience of learning to ride a bike, how well would it have gone if someone never took the time to show you, let alone explain it? How often do we as believers do this very same thing in our walk with Jesus and how we live out our testimony? We may have the head knowledge, but we lack the love part. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 8:7 when he tells us:

“But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.”

We must understand that Paul is writing to the church about food sacrifice. Those who love God know that there is no other God than Yahweh! One of the best things I have been taught in recent years is that everyone has a backstory, everyone has a reason behind why they do something a certain way, and how they think about certain topics. At the end of the day many of us forget about the other person’s story. All too often we expect others to JUST GET IT! Rather, we should slow down and share the love of Christ with them, helping them understand biblical concepts. Even today some people are still tied to old behaviors or thought processes. Although we are called to call each other out, we must do it in love. Think back on your bicycle experience, let us help our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to grow as we share knowledge in love. Let us not fall into the trap of arrogance like Paul says in verse 1:b

“We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”

So, I ask you this question: How can we balance standing for what is true while being gentle and caring towards others? Well, it starts with leading with love and trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us.

One of our DNA Values is JOURNEY OF FAITH: Everyone is at a different stage in their journey of faith. We embrace that reality. Our gatherings have you in mind. Each week we offer a message that is both understandable and “apply-able.” We also offer class options in our growth process that will meet you where you are. We are a church filled with people struggling with different “issues” trying to take the next step! We highly value your journey of faith!

The reason why this is so important is because everybody has a different background. It’s been said that no two fingerprints are exactly the same. That is true. Neither are two “roads to God.” While some may be closely related, there are still some differences. For the Corinthians, Paul was trying to make the point that everyone needs grace and truth.

For many of the new believers in Corinth, they had a past filled with sexual immorality, pagan idol worship, and materialistic priorities. Enter the Gospel! Hearts are being changed! Priorities are being changed! Attitudes are being changed! Lives are being changed! With all of this said, there was still “baggage” that many of them had to “work through!” In the culture of that day, meat bought in the marketplace was likely to have been symbolically offered to an idol in one of the many pagan temples. Animals were brought to the temple, killed before an idol as part of a pagan religious ceremony, and eaten at a feast in the idol’s temple or taken to butchers who sold the meat in the marketplace. The “new” Christians wondered if by eating such meat, they were somehow participating in the worship of pagan idols. Many of them were struggling with eating THAT meat.

“There is NO SUCH THING as an idol,” was the cry of some of the Corinthian Christians who did not struggle with this kind of temptation! They had knowledge, but they didn’t have love. Instead of being sensitive to these “new” Christians, they basically told them to “stop believing that stuff!” In other words, they were incredibly insensitive to their struggles and past life experiences. They were willing to eat the meat that had been “offered” to pagan idols, even in front of their “weaker” brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? Pride.

One of my major goals as a pastor is to respect someone’s “journey of faith.” Over the years, I have had people who really wanted to grow in Christ, but they were still “rough around the edges.” I’ve had people swear in front of me who were coming to Christ. I’ve had people struggling with addictions who were coming to Christ. I’ve had people whose “dress” was still inappropriate who were coming to Christ. What they need is the balance of grace and truth that Jesus often taught and modelled. If Jesus did this, so should we.

Paul’s ultimate challenge to the more “mature” Corinthians was to make sure that they loved their new brothers and sisters in Christ enough to NOT allow their Christian freedoms to "shipwreck" these new Christians. Of course, idols don’t exist! That was not the point. The point was we should be sensitive to where someone has been and where someone is trying to go. Do you love one another more than you love your personal “rights and freedoms?” You should. So, should I. So, what does it look like in your life? Everyone has “hurdles” to overcome when he or she comes to Christ. Let’s be a blessing and not a burden to his or her “journey of faith!”

Week 7
Main Point and Overview:   

As people were coming to Christ in Corinth, there were so many backgrounds and upbringings to overcome. Unfortunately, that was not happening in an expedient manner. One such background involved meat that was offered in sacrificial worship to pagan gods. Meat that was bought in the marketplace was likely to have been symbolically offered to an idol in one of the many pagan temples. Animals were brought to the temple, killed before an idol as part of a pagan religious ceremony, and eaten as a feast in the idol’s temple or taken to butchers who sold the meat in the marketplace. The new Christians in Corinth wondered if by eating such meat, they were somehow participating in the worship of these pagan idols. For some, this was not a big issue. While for others, it was a major issue. So, the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians of a very important new reality for them – love trumps knowledge! He wanted them to consider their brothers and sisters in Christ who had “weak” consciences. In other words, he wanted them to realize that while eating the meat may be fine for some of them, it could very well cause some of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to have “wounded consciences!” Why? Because for some of them that meat was too closely related to their former way of life filled with pagan practices. Of course, since there are no other gods besides the Lord, the meat was fine to eat, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that Paul was calling the more mature Corinthians to love their brothers and sisters in Christ in humble deference toward them. Ask yourself the question: are you willing to set aside your “rights” if it means bringing people closer to Jesus? There’s a lot of opinions in the church world about alcohol, movies, music, and so much more. Are you vehemently defending your “rights in Christian freedom” when you should be living out your responsibility to help people take their next spiritual steps? It’s time that God’s church starts loving beyond our “rights!” The examples in the ancient church world may look a little different, but sadly the selfishness is the same. The church is not about you or me; it’s about Jesus and his mission! Therefore, we need to be careful not to let our Christian freedom be someone else’s slavery!

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Hebrews 13:4

Reading this verse, I am immediately drawn to the idea of “all.” Whether you are married, dating, divorced, widowed or single; you should honor marriage. If this was true, if every single person honored marriage, adultery wouldn’t exist. If everyone recognized that marriage is sacred, they wouldn’t be interested in destroying it for their own selfish desires. Sure, temptation would still exist. But the problem in our society, truly since the beginning of time, is that marriage isn’t truly respected or honored the way that God intended; whether it be by those within the marriage or those on the outside.

We are warned that God will judge adulterers and the sexually immoral. God does not take this lightly. Sexual intimacy is clearly defined as honorable and a pure gift from God in the Bible between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, our society disregards this truth. Divorce rates are higher; even within the church! Singles surrender their purity. And adultery is highlighted as a large reason for divorce.

Even if you aren’t married, you can honor marriage. No matter if you’re dating, widowed, divorced or just in a season of singleness; honor your purity! This includes pornography. God designed sexual intimacy to be a beautiful unification within marriage. This Biblical truth is very quickly disregarded as not important in our culture. The greatest thing my husband and I did to prepare for our marriage was to wait to enjoy that gift until after we said our vows! I have talked to many, believe it or not, Christian couples who have let temptation in before they were married and every single one of them regretted it. I don’t say all of this to shame you if that isn’t your story! We have a God who forgives. But that doesn’t mean you continue dishonoring your future marriage. You turn to Him, repent and continue seeking holiness in your life!

I believe that if the Bible clearly states what is honorable to God, we ought to seek to live to honor Him! This is a topic that is uncomfortable and hard to hear for some; but we can’t ignore it. We are not perfect people. At Emmanuel, we don’t condemn anyone who may have dishonored marriage in the past. We want to walk alongside you and fight for Truth!

Be Different! The world we live in is full of immorality. Unfortunately, we live in a world where comfort and pleasure is many people’s entire motivation. The Bible tells us to act differently as believers. 1 Thess. 4:3 uses the word “sanctified.” This means to be “set apart.” Once we become believers the Holy Spirit becomes a part of our daily walk. He is there with us. He has asked us to be holy for He is Holy! Once we put our trust in the Lord, we are shown a better way to live; A life that brings true joy by doing the commands of the Lord. Putting our trust in God is not just the idea of salvation, but also God’s way of life for us. The world we live in all belongs to Him! He is king and Lord of all, He created all, and He designed all things to be a certain way. Intimacy is a part of this design. Christ wants us to have true pleasure in intimacy, and He is telling us in this passage that it’s not “passionate lust like the pagans.” Our sinful desires and the desires of this world try to prove to us that this kind of passion is something worth pursuing. But the true way to have a Christlike love is one that is found in marriage between one man and one woman. God designed this for us all the way back in Genesis 1 with Adam and Eve, before there was even sin on the Earth. Do not be fooled by this world! Understand that God’s plan is one that brings true joy and not shame! Praise God for making our joy complete!

Marriage is one of God's greatest gifts, designed to reflect His love, faithfulness, and holiness. In Proverbs 5:18–19 says, "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth... may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.” Ooh la la! These verses reveal that God created marital intimacy to be enjoyed exclusively between a husband and wife. Rather than viewing sex as shameful, the Bible presents it as a holy gift that strengthens the covenant of marriage and brings joy to both spouses.

The biblical perspective on sex begins with holiness. God calls His people to set their bodies apart from sin and dedicate them to Him. Did you read Pastor John’s devotion on Monday? To recap, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 teaches, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, purchased by the blood of Christ. Because God's Spirit dwells within believers, we are called to honor Him with our bodies by rejecting sexual immorality and embracing purity. Sexual intimacy is not merely a physical act but an expression of covenant love that glorifies God when experienced within marriage.

Proverbs 5 also warns against adultery and unfaithfulness, encouraging husbands and wives to find complete satisfaction in one another. Faithfulness protects the marriage covenant, builds trust, and reflects God's unwavering commitment to His people. In a culture that often separates sex from commitment, Scripture reminds us that intimacy flourishes best within the security of lifelong God-centered marriage.

A healthy Christian marriage is built on love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and mutual honor. Husbands and wives are called to cherish one another emotionally, spiritually, and physically. When a couple places Christ at the center of their relationship, their intimacy becomes an act of worship that celebrates God's design.

I pray that I always value my marriage and treat it as the precious gift that it is, entrusted to me by the Lord. I desire to protect it by honoring God with my body, remaining faithful to my spouse, and rejoicing in the covenant He has established. As I submit my life to the Holy Spirit, I recognize that my body belongs to God and my marriage is an opportunity to display His holiness, love, and grace. By embracing God's design for sex and marriage, I not only strengthen my relationship with my spouse but also bear witness to the beauty of His perfect plan.

When I was growing up, I had an aunt that was a believer and an uncle that wasn’t. At family gatherings and holiday parties, the contrast was dramatically evident. My uncle at times seemed to lean into showing his unbelief in an outward fashion. Even as a kid, I noticed the awkwardness of the situation and interaction within the family. I also noticed my aunt’s persistence in making sure she and her kids were in church every week. She had them involved in AWANA and other church functions. My aunt was faithful to God even with the resistance from her husband. Being faithful in our marriages and being true to our faith can happen in unequally yoked marriages. Maybe you are in a similar situation, feeling pressure to change your faith to accommodate the differences in priorities of your spouse. Paul is encouraging you to stay and assert godly influence on your spouse. The easy thing would be to walk away from this marriage. The easy way is not usually God’s way, the believer is called to fulfill their marital responsibilities, to honor and love their spouse. The hope is that this godly love and respect will soften and bring the spouse to a relationship with Jesus. My aunt prayed and loved on my uncle for 30 years and miraculously he became a believer. The wonderful transformation was evident and blessed their relationship. They loved each other before but after his conversion this relationship and love between them deepened. This man that fought God his whole life was transformed in his 50’s and was serving Jesus on a deacon board in his 60’s. By the faithful witness of a loving wife, God transformed a hardened man and his family. “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.” (ESV). There is hope for the believer in this situation, change can come. No one is too lost to find Jesus! BE FAITHFUL!

Let's just get to the point today, how well are we protecting our marriage? Do we give 110% effort to protect them at all cost? I hate to compare marriage to a game of football, but think of the Detroit Lions offensive side of the ball. The quarterback is protected by his line, that is their sole job. You often see quarterbacks going out of their way to make sure his linemen are cared for. The same thing is true in your marriage. I believe there are 4 points as spouses we should try to thrive in.

Protect your covenant through faithfulness
Protect your connection through regular communication
Protect your intimacy through mutual care and respect
Protect your home through prayer together

As believers we should be doing everything we possibly can to protect our covenant at all cost as it is THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP outside your relationship with Jesus Christ. So how do we do that well?

Protect Faithfulness: Bounce your eyes, set boundaries with the opposite sex.
Protect connection: Communicate with your spouse! Have weekly touch points with what is expected and upcoming.
Protect your Intimacy: Paul writes that believers are to fulfill their marital duties.
Protect your home: Do you pray for your spouse? Do you pray together?

God designed marriage to be protected through mutual love, commitment, communication, prayer, and intimacy. Protection isn't passive—it requires intentional choices from both spouses.

Are we actually any different? That’s a question that must be asked when it comes to the church versus the culture. I grew up in a Christian home…barely. My dad and mom gave their lives to Jesus right before they were married. So, I have lived in the “heart” of Christianity. Unfortunately, I have watched students in my Christian school, kids in my youth group, adults in my church, etc. exhibit the same immoral tendencies of teens, kids, and adults who don’t “know” Jesus. Sometimes you couldn’t even tell that they were Christians at all.

When Paul was speaking to the church at Corinth, he was attempting to correct their brutal misconceptions of Christian behavior. Some were acting as if their new freedom by saving faith in Christ allowed them to live “any way they wanted.” Others were “pushing the boundaries” of holiness in that there was nothing forbidding them from living the way they were living…at least in their own words. There was actually a popular philosophy back then called Gnosticism that taught that the soul and spirit were important, but the body was not. Hence, the kind of sinful sexual behavior that many of them chose.

It is easy to excuse our behavior isn’t it? We compare ourselves to others, or we act as if it’s not “hurting anyone,” or we simply ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In the Corinthian culture, prostitution was used as a form of religion and worship to pagan gods. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that when they engaged in sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage) they were dishonoring their bodies which belonged to God. You see that was the point. What they did with their bodies mattered. Under the New Covenant, God dwells inside of us, no longer in a Temple or Tabernacle made with man’s hands. As those buildings were once sacred, we are now sacred. We are now holy. We are to be “set apart from sin unto God.” Are you treating your body as God’s vessel for his honor and glory?

What Paul really wanted the Corinthians to understand is that they belong to God. They were purchased with his blood at The Cross. Just like the Corinthians, you belong to God if you know him as Savior! You. Are. Not. Your. Own. Let those words sink in for a minute. You’ve heard the phrase: “you can’t have your cake and eat it too!” In other words, you either belong to God, or you don’t. You either have his salvation, or you don’t. You either have his joy and purpose, or you don’t. Also, you either are honoring him with your words, attitudes, and ACTIONS, or you’re not. When I think back to my adolescence, I can think of so many people who I knew that claimed Jesus as their Savior yet clearly didn’t honor Jesus as their Lord! They lived how they wanted to, often in selfish sexual immorality.

Can you imagine if I gave myself over to prostitutes? What would that say about my marriage? In all honesty, it would say that my marriage is not all that important to me. So, my question is: how important is Jesus to you? Maybe it’s time to evaluate your thoughts and actions? There is NO SCENARIO where lustful thoughts, “sex outside of marriage,” adultery, pornography, or anything else in between is acceptable for a Christian! Here are a few helpful thoughts: pay attention to who you are “hanging out with,” what you are watching on TV, the clothes that you are wearing, and the music that you are listening to - are they leading you TOWARD or AWAY FROM God’s purity?

Week 6
Main Point and Overview:   

Think “Sin City” Las Vegas! That was Corinth! Surrounded by prostitution, drunkenness, and gross amounts of idol worship, the Corinthians had a ton of temptation surrounding them. Even the “religions” were filled with immorality. The temple of the “love goddess” Aphrodite was in Corinth. This temple employed more than a thousand prostitutes as priestesses, and sex was a regular part of the worship ritual. The Apostle Paul clearly stated that Christians were to have no part in sexual immorality, even if it was acceptable and popular in culture. The sexual union is to be between one woman and one man in marriage. When you begin to “step outside of God’s will” in this area, it has been proven to create all kinds of issues. Sex is not meant to be experienced with multiple partners. Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that one of the benefits of marriage was the sexual union. The majority of people have sexual needs that must be met, and if they are not met, it causes frustration. One of the “elephants in the room” in the American church is sex. Are Christian marriages prioritizing a healthy sex life? Are claimed followers of Jesus protecting their hearts and minds with the opposite sex? How many disciples of Jesus are “hiding” in sexual slavery? Sexual immorality is never ok. In fact, throughout the New Testament, it is always a recurring theme of something for Christians to avoid. On the other hand, sex is a beautiful part of the marriage union. The “oneness” of the sexual union is an illustration of the unity of Christ and his church. The immense pleasure found in the sexual union is God’s precious gift to a husband and a wife. It is meant to be celebrated with joy. It is meant to be “regularly” experienced. It is meant to be a blessing and not a burden. Then, the apostle goes on to give “expectations” for various relational stages and circumstances of life. Singlehood is NOT a curse; it’s a stage of life! Embrace it with anticipation for what God has next if you are living in this stage. When you have experienced the pain of divorce or rejection, remember that God still has a plan for your life to be experienced as long as you are obedient to him even in the pain. Ultimately, let’s reject sexual sin and live in obedience! God has “boundaries” for your own benefit!

Have you ever looked in the mirror just to look at something behind you? Maybe you notice the pile of dirty laundry sitting on the bed behind you. Or you try to examine your outfit just to see your kid dumping toys all over the floor behind you. See, sometimes instead of focusing on ourselves and our sin, we like to look around and focus on everyone else’s sin first.

Matthew 7:3-5 says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Before we confront a brother or sister in Christ and encourage them to repent of their sin, we must first examine ourselves. Sometimes it’s easy to think our sin isn’t so bad when we’re comparing it to somebody else’s sin. But sin is sin. Disobedience to God is disobedience to God. The humility of the verses in Galatians 6:1-5 is to recognize that we ourselves are not free from sin. If it is easy for us to point out other people’s sin and notice it, that may be that we’re suffering from spiritual pride ourselves. Sometimes it’s easy to wear those rose-colored glasses when we look in the mirror at ourselves and think that we’re just cruising in life.

Humility also breeds in gentleness. When confronting sin in another believer, if pride takes over, harsh judgement is what comes out of us instead of genuine desire to see restitution. We are also never too haughty to carry the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ. If you look at someone’s mess and decide that you don’t want to get your hands dirty, so you just leave them in their sin, you’re just as bad! Jesus stepped into people’s mess. He wasn’t afraid of it. He gently, but honestly, confronted people for their sin; out of love for them. I encourage you to take a moment and recognize how you process and act when you see another believer in sin.

God is here for those who are broken-hearted! Growing up my pastor at our church would say that the church is made of broken people. All of us are broken people. We all have done things that we are not proud of, we have all fallen short, sinned, and everyone one of us has had people treat us poorly or sin against us. God says that He is here to comfort those in mourning. He says those who are poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of Heaven! Realizing the sin ourselves, realizing our own spiritual faults, and seeing our need for a Savior is what it means to be poor in spirit. It is not saying that we all need to be poor. What it means is to see that without Jesus in our lives we are spiritually destitute. We have nothing without Jesus in our lives! This is why we inherit the kingdom of Heaven! When we realize we are nothing without Jesus that’s when we accept Him into our lives! Jesus is also the one who comforts His children. I have really been thinking lately about what it means to have true joy. Joy in our culture, or what really is better described as happiness, seems so fleeting. People are happy one day and upset the next. The weather, how we feel, our daily circumstances, all of these things affect how happy we are day by day. God’s Word shows us that true joy comes from the Lord! It is in following the commands in Scripture that our joy is complete! Not only does following Jesus bring Him glory and joy but the Bible actually tells us that it completes the joy within ourselves! This is something that I am still trying to make sense of. He is the one that brings us peace. God is so good! Go to him for comfort and be encouraged that even when you feel broken, that is who Jesus came for!

The church in Corinth struggled with serious moral and relational problems. Paul understood that discipline was necessary to protect the purity of the church, but he also knew that restoration was essential to reflect the heart of Christ. Biblical discipline was never intended to permanently exclude a repentant believer; its goal was repentance, healing, and renewed fellowship.

I am thankful to have had a beautiful mentor in my life that helped me to understand the importance of repentance and restoration. As a young mom I allowed myself to fall into jealousy, disunity, and the comparison trap with my cousins. Instead of us girls talking through it, each of us chose to begin tallying up the offenses and bitterly refused to communicate. I shared or should I say, I complained and gossiped to grandma. She prayed with me and proceeded to give me a rock. She asked me to place it in my pocket and instructed me to continue to add a rock to my pocket every time I found myself grumbling or getting angry over the situation. It didn’t take me long before my pockets were spilling over and I figured out that she was trying to teach me that carrying the weight of the “problem” is heavy and burdensome. I got rid of those rocks both figuratively and literally. I humbly apologized, we all worked toward forgiveness, and we were back to being OBHF (one big happy family). ?

A healthy family isn’t defined by the absence of conflict, but by respectful communication and forgiveness. The church is not defined by the absence of sin, but by its commitment to biblical restoration. In 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, Paul addresses a believer who had committed an offense and had already experienced discipline from the church. Rather than continuing punishment, Paul instructed the congregation to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love for the repentant individual. He warned that excessive sorrow could overwhelm the offender and that unforgiveness could provide Satan with an opportunity to damage both the individual and the church.

Restoring an offending believer promotes unity within the body of Christ, demonstrates God's grace, and prevents bitterness from taking root. It reminds the church that every believer depends upon the mercy of God. Restoration also strengthens accountability by showing that correction is motivated by love rather than condemnation. Biblically, God consistently demonstrates a desire to restore those who repent. Just as Christ forgives and restores sinners, believers are called to extend forgiveness and encouragement to one another. A healthy church balances truth with grace, discipline with compassion, and correction with restoration. When believers lovingly restore those who have repented, they display the gospel and strengthen the entire body of Christ.

Confrontation is something that most of us don’t look forward to doing. The idea of addressing the wrongdoing may feel judgmental. Often believers avoid confrontation, just letting it go, or have a confrontation that is done in a public way that causes more harm than good. Neither of these solutions address the real problem. Neither of these situations are what Jesus expects out of us. We are a family and wrongdoing must be addressed in the proper way. What is the proper process for confronting a brother or sister in Christ that has hurt or offended us? In our passage Jesus lays out a process that both addresses the wrong and sets the stage for healing.

1. Keep the situation private: Presently, it seems that many of us deal with grievances through social media. If I have a grievance, I grab my phone and drive around while filming, articulating my latest gripe. It’s easier to address the problem remotely and avoids the ugly process of meeting face to face. The problem with this approach is the wrong is never dealt with properly and will set the stage for bitterness to creep in. Notice Jesus tells me to GO to my brother and tell him how he has hurt me. This requires humility and addressing the situation in a loving non-judgmental way. Often, this will resolve the misunderstanding and hurt. The reward for this is often the two parties become closer, with a deeper sense of trust. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, then the next step is required.

2. Gather one or two mature believers and address the situation again: If the first session didn’t go well, ask for help. Find a couple of mature believers that know both of you. Approach with humility and grace, giving the opportunity for reconciliation. Remember the goal is not to win the confrontation but to build unity and understanding between the two.

3. Ask the church to get involved: If the grievance is still not resolved between them, bring it to the church leaders. This is not a one and done step. First, church leadership would be involved in one or several meetings to resolve the issue. If resolution cannot be reached, then the offender must be brought before the church for discipline by removing him from the church body. This last step would be done after much deliberation and prayer.

This process Jesus has laid out is loving and is an important tool for you. Learning how to address wrongs in a godly way brings unity, closeness and deeper relationships. This brings us to the hard question: Do I have a grievance that I am avoiding? Be bold and address the situation following these steps. Jesus wants us to have deep close relationships that are built on trust and love. Pursue restitution today.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room, confronting things is not an easy thing. It takes a lot of courage to confront someone who is doing something wrong. Imagine being Paul, talking to the church in Corinth. There was open unrepentant sin that was being tolerated. In a city that wouldn’t address issues, Paul comes in and urges the believers to confront it. He tells them to do the hard thing, but not out of anger, in order to protect the spiritual health of both the individual and the church.

So often sin has a way of spreading when it goes unaddressed. It reminds me of an illustration I saw years ago with fruit. If you take a bad orange that is moldy and put it in the same container as a fresh orange, very quickly the fresh orange begins to mold and is affected by the moldy one. The same thing happened in the church of Corinth, sin was not dealt with, and it began to grow. Paul tells them to stand firm and confront it. Once again, it’s not an easy thing to do but as believers we should want to help our brothers and sisters out by calling out their sins in love so that we can see repentance that leads to restoration and holiness.

I warn you that some may try to argue that it is not okay to judge others, Paul addresses this concern in verse 12 and 13 by saying, "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked person from among you."

As believers let us take time today and think about our own lives. Are there areas we have compromised and are excusing rather than facing? And how can I speak life into a fellow believer when confronting sin, and how can I do it in love?

When I was in youth ministry many years ago now, I went to a Youth Specialties conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In one of the big-group sessions, the speaker spoke about something he called “the clustering effect.” He proceeded to describe to us the hypocritical tendencies of most youth. For example, a student is one minute having sex with his girlfriend in the backseat of his car, but the next moment, he is serving the Lord on a mission trip. It’s crazy to think about how one is the complete opposite of the other. How is this even possible?

I’d say that the Corinthians were a lot like teenagers. They had good intentions in many ways, but they were still immature struggling with their own temptations. Enter the issue in Corinth. A man was “sleeping” with his father’s wife. Talk about a brutal situation. It’s interesting to see in this situation that Paul didn’t address the man at first, instead, he came down hard on the congregation. Why? It’s because they were not holding this man accountable. In fact, many of them were “celebrating” the sin instead of judging the sin. I have a story that comes to mind.

Years ago, when I was in college, I got into a verbal altercation with one of my roommates and another friend. A kid named Chris came down to my room to tell my roommate, who ironically was also named Chris, about his family cruises in high school. As I began to listen to Chris’ stories, what I soon realized was that it went beyond water slides, shows, excursions, etc. Chris was telling the other Chris about his “hookups” with girls. It soon turned into his sexual exploits and escapades with both of them laughing as they sensually indulged in the details. I became infuriated. This is a Christian college. You claim to be a Christian. This is NOT ok. I marched right over to both of them and “chewed them out!” I kicked the one Chris out of our dorm room, and I told the other Chris that his behavior was awful and dishonoring to the Lord. I could not believe what I had been hearing.

Here’s the thing: I am NOT perfect. I know that. I also know that sexual sin is NOT something to play around with, indulge in, or celebrate in any way. Paul was infuriated with the Corinthians. Remember, he was no longer with them, so this was his letter of chastisement from a distance. How could they gather to read the Torah or study the Apostle’s teachings, and allow this to happen? How could they gather to sing songs of praise to the Messiah and allow this to happen? How could they remember Jesus’ great sacrifice in the “Lord’s Supper,” and allow this to happen? How could they “pretend” to honor God, when behind the scenes they were celebrating such gross sexual sin? Sadly, many Christians do the same thing today.

We need to especially remember that the sins that we enjoy also “nailed Jesus to The Cross!” It’s easy for us to despise the sins that we don’t struggle with - people do it all the time. We snarl at child molesters. We roll our eyes at the glutinous or the drunk person. We get angry over sins that we don’t have problems with while excusing or even celebrating sins that capture us. We need to get back to hating sin, especially our own sins. Do you hate your own sins?

Here are a few questions and encouragements to close our devotion:

(1)              Question: What sin of yours are you ignoring or celebrating?
Encouragement: Seek out accountability with someone you trust.
(2)             Question: Do you have a friend whose sin you are currently ignoring?
                    Encouragement: Go to that person in humility offering to help.
(3)             Question: Have you been celebrating or enabling someone’s sin?
                    Encouragement: Repent and ask your friend for forgiveness.

We are NOT a “good ole boy” club at Emmanuel! The glory of God comes first! Do NOT ever ignore or celebrate sin. It’s NEVER ok.

Week 5
Main Point and Overview:   

Is our church a “country club,” or is it the “pure bride of Christ?” Many churches are filled with people who “show up” but don’t “stand up” to sin, either theirs or the sin of others. Have you ever heard the phrase: “They want their cake and to eat it too?!” They want the “blessings” of Jesus, but they are not truly committed to following his clear expectations. In American culture we call that being “two-faced.” On the outside, we “look the part” - Dressing nice, carrying our Bibles, and singing the songs; on the inside, we are filled with unrepentant sins. What makes this scenario even sadder is when other church members are unwilling to lovingly confront their brothers and sisters in Christ who are living in sin. In fact, in many scenarios, they even celebrate it. How is this possible? It’s called spiritual immaturity. This was indeed the issue in Corinth. Coming from a culture that was saturated in sexual immaturity, the Corinthians had a hard time making the transition from haughty to holy. They were used to celebrating the grossest and most extreme kinds of sexual immorality, and when many of them came to know Jesus Christ as Savior, they still had a difficult time making the change. One particular problem in the church revolved around a man who was having an affair with his father’s wife (presumably his stepmother). Was he lovingly confronted over his sin? No. Instead, the “good old boy club” gave him “high fives” and “atta boy” praise! The Apostle Paul was infuriated, so much so that he demanded the immediate action of removing this arrogant man from their church congregation. There has been a lot of misunderstandings in recent years about the love of God. In fact, people tend to see it as inclusive, making tolerance their battle cry. They claim that the Bible says to “judge not,” yet this is exactly the opposite of what Paul was demanding. He is in fact demanding holy judgment for the purity of the church. Of course, this kind of judgment must be meted out from a broken heart and the hope of restoration. Thankfully, this arrogant man seemingly came to his senses and repented of his actions. So, are you a “healthy” church member? Are we a “healthy” church? One litmus test of these questions is how we deal with sin.

This portion of Scripture really challenged me this week. When it comes to teaching the Gospel, sometimes I feel like I am repeating myself. And I am. But it isn’t boring. It isn’t mundane. The Gospel is more than just words. Or a story. The Gospel is life. Jesus is alive and the story of His birth, death, burial and resurrection is anything but boring. With teaching kids, I am always challenged on how to share the Gospel in a way that they will understand. I never dumb it down. I never spruce it up. The Gospel doesn’t need that. I simply teach it in ways that they can understand.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Once we hear the Gospel, we are called to share it! Not change it, not make it more exciting. But pass on the Good News of Jesus Christ! It is the most important thing to tell others. No matter how many times you have told it! Sometimes we look for something more interesting to move us emotionally to make a change or feel closer to Jesus. But that is just not necessary. The Gospel; the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ life on the cross to save us from a well-deserved eternal death, should be enough to encourage you. His Word is living. The Holy Spirit brings us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It also convicts us and gives us a yearning for our Father in Heaven.

Before being moved emotionally or awestruck by an amazing speaker, the most important part of hearing the Gospel is hearing the Gospel. Bri, what do you mean? I mean truly letting His Word change you each time you hear it. Not just hearing about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and allowing it to go in one ear and out the other. Listen, I am guilty of this! We think that we know the Gospel, so we aren’t challenged by it. We think that part of the sermon isn’t for us. But it is. I challenge you to read through the Gospel this week and pray over it; let it continue to change you.

The power of the Holy Spirit is within us! There are 2 things in life that the Bible tells us are real power, but I think we as believers have a hard time believing it. The power of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Both seem sometimes like spiritual “talk” without meaning. Have you ever had someone come up to you and spill out their heart? You are sitting there listening and because of how much you care about them, you want to help? You want to help them navigate the pain, sorrow, and struggle. Yet, you know there is really nothing that you can do. So, you say, “I will be praying for you!” I have done this! Something I am working on is understanding that this is one of the best things we can do for people! Prayer and the Power of the helper (Holy Spirit) is the best thing we can do for people. The Holy Spirit is the one that changes lives! The Holy Spirit is the one that can bring true change and everlasting peace! Yet sometimes we think about prayer as, well I do not know what else to say so, I am praying for you! That is how we can tend to view the power of the Spirit! The reality is though that this is what we need to be doing for all people. One thing that I have been trying to practice lately, because of an example of a friend doing this for others, is praying for people right there in that moment! Instead of telling someone you’ll pray for them later, ask them right in that moment, “Can I pray for right now about everything that is going on?” See how their heart lifts from this simple step! You are now showing them that you do care. Praying for them is a first step that we need to take when helping any person! Show people the true power of prayer and the Holy Spirit! He is real! He is our Helper! Pray and rely on God’s Power!

This week’s devotions have been so helpful, and I need all the help that I can get. ?Pastor Ken’s devotion, “The Spirit Factor” yesterday was on point! The Holy Spirit is no gimmick. In fact, the Holy Spirit is right alongside God the Father and Jesus the Son. Rather than a trick or a scheme, the Spirit is active and the divine presence of God living within believers, guiding us, and empowering us for service. While the Holy Spirit itself is not a gimmick, Christians frequently debate and warn against manufactured gimmicks—such as emotional manipulation or artificial emotional highs—that are sometimes passed off as a "move of the Spirit.” And guess what? In John 14, Jesus promised that those who love and obey Him would receive the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who would dwell with them forever. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17. We have a helper!! And Jesus further explains this ministry of the Spirit in John 16:13, saying, "Godly wisdom is not simply the accumulation of knowledge or life experience. It is the ability to understand and apply God's truth in a way that honors Him and produces spiritual fruit. Jesus taught that believers are not left to pursue wisdom on their own.”

Pursuing godly wisdom begins with a relationship of obedience and surrender to Christ. The Spirit of truth guides us into ALL truth. As we seek His direction, the Holy Spirit illuminates biblical truth and helps us to apply it to everyday situations. Whether facing challenges in family life, ministry, work, or personal decisions, you and I can rely on the Spirit's guidance rather than our own understanding.

The pursuit of godly wisdom also requires humility. I desire that for our church. Matter of fact, I am going to commit that when I see my fellow brothers and sisters on Sunday, I am going to pray that we would be humble and wise believers recognizing our need for God's direction and that we would actively seek His counsel. Would you join me in praying that we would listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading, that we would grow in spiritual maturity and become better equipped to serve others? May we be steadfast and remain faithful to Christ, studying His Word, and depending fully on the Spirit's guidance. Help us believers to walk in truth, make wise decisions, produce Kingdom fruit and glorify you Father God in every area of our lives. Amen.