Solomon was ready to build the temple that he was always instructed that he would one day build for the Lord. It was prophesied in the time of David that Solomon would one day be able to build the temple to God. In the time of David there was not enough peace in the land for David to be able to build the temple. But now, under Solomon’s wise ruling, a time of plenty and peace has come upon the land. Solomon continued to work even when the times were easy! As king of a prospering peaceful nation, he could have taken time to say this is enough and look at all that I have done for the nation, but that is not what Solomon chooses to do! He has a purpose for the nation! He wants to see the glory given to God and he was to build the temple. He is praised for his choice to build the temple. Solomon is considered the wisest man who has ever lived. He was given this wisdom by the Lord Himself! Solomon did not sit idly by when things were going smoothly. Our culture seems to teach us that when we work hard and achieve all our goals in life we can go and do whatever we want! Solomon found a new way to serve God! His goal was more than just for the nation to be at peace. He wanted to honor God in his life, and he wanted to fulfill the purpose that was bestowed upon him. He did not sit idly when things were easy. He did not spend his life as king doing nothing even though the kingdoms were at peace. He fulfilled the purposes that were given to him, and that being to build the temple. It is good at times to rest, but what do we do when life is easy? Sometimes this is when things can be the most dangerous. We start doing what we want and pursuing our own interests instead of those of our God. We can even find ourselves slipping into temptation and sin because we allow ourselves to become comfortable. We tell ourselves that it was us who put ourselves into this now easy life and we deserve it! This can be very dangerous! We must understand who is the great provider. Jesus is the one who has set us free! He is the one who provides our comfort and all things belong to Him! We are stewards of the things that we possess nothing more! Thanks be given to God for the things in our lives that he gives us to enjoy! Keep giving all the glory to God especially when God is blessing you and things are going well in your life!

Solomon's greatness in this passage did not begin in the throne room. It began in prayer. He knew the responsibility before him was greater than his mental ability. That humility opened the door for God's wisdom to work through him.

Notice that Solomon's wisdom resulted in the child being protected. The final outcome was not destruction but restoration. The baby was returned to his true mother and the people of Israel reconciled that the wisdom of God was in Solomon to administer judgement.

When Solomon said, “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; She is his mother,” he shared that true wisdom knows how to protect what God values. Life mattered more than an argument. Compassion mattered more than possession. Justice mattered more than NOISE.

The good news is the same God who gave Solomon wisdom still gives wisdom today. He gives it to those who ask with sincere hearts. He gives it for the hard conversations, and the difficult choices. His wisdom will always pour through when we invite him into the conversations with ourselves.

A question with no good answer. This is what faced Solomon early in his reign. A question if judged wrongly would strip a mother of her child and a child of her mother. True justice (the right answer) is what is needed but justice often is perverted to meet the needs of society or selective groups. Solomon is in a tense situation as how he judges this case will set a precedent for his reign. These women are harlots; these boys were born out of societal norms. These are the people that society overlooks and often mistreats. Here in front of the king, these women plead their case. One desperate to keep her son, another unmercifully trying to steal what is rightfully not hers. Solomon could have avoided this case. Why risk the king’s reputation for a couple of harlots?

Making good decisions under pressure requires spiritual maturity. Jesus faced a similar question in John 8:1-11. A woman supposedly caught in adultery is brought before Jesus. Notice that the man is not brought to face the accusation of the religious leaders. Again, we see a difficult decision needs to be made. If Jesus rules that she committed adultery, then she is to be killed by stoning. The question is not whether she is innocent or not, it is what the punishment will be. The woman was supposedly caught in the act; therefore punishment was required. This seems like a perfect trap the Pharisees have laid. To choose to stone her would be breaking Roman law. To choose to release her would break Old Testament law. The trap is set.

Jesus and Solomon faced two different but equally difficult and pressure filled decisions. The solutions to both of these questions are stunning. Solomon puts the life of the child on the line to reveal the sacrificial nature of the mother. The real mother would rather see her child live with another mother than face execution. This solution is one of spiritual maturity. In Jesus’ case “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” (John 8:7 ESV). The accusers left, one by one, unwilling to execute judgment. Jesus doesn’t condemn her but encourages her to sin no more. Again, spiritual maturity rules the day.

Solomon was given a choice of what he wanted most in this world. He asked God for wisdom. Not fame and riches but wisdom. Spiritual discernment to make the right godly decision came from that prayerful reflection wanting and asking for God’s wisdom. Spiritual maturity comes from taking time to learn and know God’s Word. It comes from prayerful reflection on Biblical principles. This means I need regular time in God’s Word and for prayer. Not as an afterthought but time to learn and grow. It also challenges me to use what I learn in everyday life. Knowledge tested and used in real life turns into discernment and wisdom. You must “walk the talk” or it doesn’t change you. Difficult decisions are always hard but with spiritual maturity and discernment the proper answer is easier to find.

Having children is a huge blessing, no matter if it's a rough day with them or an amazing day. With having children there becomes the million questions of can I have this or can I have that and the famous but simple question of why? However, have you ever had your child ask you something that you least expected? In our household it's very common for Paisley to want a snack and when you ask her what would you like the answer is simple 1. Fruit Snack 2. Sucker 3. Candy. Occasionally, she will ask for something healthy that I'm not expecting her to ask for. At that moment I gladly gave it to her because I knew there were other things she could have asked for. This reminds me of today's passage with King Solomon when he asked God for wisdom. I want to focus on the response of God rather than the request for wisdom. We find God was very pleased with Solomon and states in verse 11:

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,

Let this verse sink in for a minute, Solomon could have asked for anything but the thing he asked for was wisdom! How often do we pray for things such as wealth, longer life, or what we want? God is not a genie in a bottle; he is way more than that. Solomon shows us the example of putting aside our needs and wants and putting others first. Solomon wanted wisdom to be able to administer justice! He wanted to do what was right! So, I ask you, is this how we are currently praying? Are we asking for things that benefit us rather than those around us? Are we praying to be more like Christ, to see others how Christ sees them? To show compassion and wisdom on how to deal with non-believers? Or maybe someone you just don't get along with? I think so often we pray for others to change rather than ourselves and Solomon shows that when we pray for wisdom God will bless.

When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I was in my 30s. I had never been a lead pastor until that moment. The church was roughly 300 people, and it was a bit intimidating at first. I distinctly remember a conversation that I had with Tami at that time where she said to me: “You’re good with teens, but are you sure you are good with adults?” To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure, but I was sure of the fact that this is what God wanted for our lives. I remember asking God to help me and really trying to take a humble approach to my new position. I didn’t take it for granted, and neither did Solomon.

When God offered Solomon whatever he wanted, Solomon did the unthinkable. Imagine the whole “genie in a bottle” scenario where you have a wish that WILL COME TRUE. That was Solomon, except this was no genie offering him this, it was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What would you have asked for at that moment? What did Solomon ask for at that moment? He asked for wisdom over wealth, purpose over power, and commitment over comfort. He asked for God’s will!

As you go through your day, and even your week, is the will of God your focus, or is it your own will? Many disciples of Jesus masquerade around as “faithful servants,” when in fact, they are really focused on their own decisions and desires. I recently ran into a now young adult whose parents used to come to Emmanuel. At one time, the father of this young adult was a good friend of mine. I even discipled him for a season. Reality would eventually show me that he wasn’t interested in God’s will. He was interested in God’s blessings as he sought his own will. As I spoke to his daughter, a flood of sadness overwhelmed me. I’m not even sure if she truly knows Jesus, and in reality, I am not even sure if her father or mother do either. It doesn’t have to be this way. It wasn’t with Solomon, at least in the beginning of his reign as Israel’s king.

What Solomon quickly realized was that “to whom much is given, much is required.” God had given him this unbelievable opportunity to lead the Israelites, and he needed to take that job seriously. Therefore, he needed God’s wisdom, God’s strength, and God’s discernment to accomplish such a huge task. What about you and me? We may not be the king or queen of a nation, but many of us are parents. Most of us are married. Some of us lead businesses. We should all be serving in ministry. What this means is that there are people who need our influence. Your kids don’t need more activities; they need your loving leadership in their lives. Your spouse doesn’t need more money to spend; she needs your gracious attention.

One of the most important moments in Solomon’s choice to ask for wisdom was a realistic view of himself. He was not overconfident in any way. In fact, he saw himself as “young and inexperienced” and in need of “outside help.” He didn’t try to “push through” in arrogance. Instead, he demonstrated great humility by asking God for help in his new leadership role. I wonder about you and me. Are we humble enough to ask God and others for help? When God gives you a tremendous opportunity no matter what it is, always be someone who is “teachable.” When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I knew that I had a lot to learn. In fact, I went to past mentors and others who I could trust for wisdom and help. Looking back at that time in my life, I probably could have used even more help. Make sure that you are always willing to be a “learner” for the sake of those who you are leading.

Life truly can be reduced to a series of many choices. We make choices every day that have consequences. Some more than others. One thing is for sure; you and I need wisdom to lead our hearts, our families, and our “circles of influence.” Make it a plan (if you’re not already doing it) to wake up in the morning every day and ask God for wisdom for that day. As I always tell my kids: “There is no such thing as a throw-away-day!”

Week 1
Main Point and Overview:   

What if God offered to you anything that you wanted. What would you choose? That is exactly what God offered to Solomon. The son of King David was now “taking over” for his father. There was a ton of pressure, and Solomon realized it. His father had been the greatest leader in Israelite history, and he was now in line to assume those immense responsibilities. So, when God offered such a shocking gift, Solomon responded with an even more shocking response. He chose wisdom over wealth. He chose purpose over power. He chose compassion over control. God was pleased with his request. One thing that we see early on in Solomon’s life and leadership is that he was a forward-thinker. He had the maturity to “see beyond” instant gratification to eternal impact. Soon after assuming leadership of the Kingdom, he was faced with an intense battle of two women both claiming to be the mother of a single child. Solomon didn’t panic. He didn’t rush to judgment. Instead, he used the wisdom that God has given to him to expose whose claim was a bold-faced lie. The wisdom of that decision spread throughout all of Israel, and people became enamored with his great discernment. In time, his visionary mindset led him to achievements and accomplishments that God intended for him to experience. It’s a great reminder that God is working in our lives to achieve and accomplish his eternal purposes. Are we available to be used by him? Do we even care? Remember, our mission statement at Emmanuel: “We exist to honor God by making passionate disciples!” Passion is in focus. God has an amazing purpose for each of us that coincides with Kingdom impact. Solomon was passionate to build the “Temple of God” – a dwelling place for the Lord God. He saw that project as part of his eternal purpose. What is your eternal purpose for the glory of God? As we look at several snapshots of Solomon’s life, what we see is someone who had an amazing start to his career as Israel’s king. Much of his “early on success” revolved around the fact that he was a “forward thinker” for the glory of God. He saw the future as being more important than the present. What about you? Are you “counting the cost” of the many choices that you are presently making?

When I was a new believer, I heard over and over that being a follower of Jesus isn’t easy, but it is worth it. The more seasoned I became, the more I realized just how true that is! “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

The peace that I have every night when resting my head on my pillow is remembering that my joy is in God alone and not humans! We are called to serve others; but when serving others through the lens of the Gospel, we are ultimately serving the Lord. We are called to be steadfast. Immovable. Loyal. Firmly fixed. Not distracted by idols, swayed by the world or selfishly living for pleasure. Shouting from the rooftops in awe of the living God! Abounding in the blessings of the Lord in our lives. But mostly, boasting about the Gospel.

We also must make sure that the Gospel is our foundation. Change; turning from our sinful nature isn’t easy either. During those refining moments, we must remain steadfast! We must remember that it’s worth it. We’re storing up our treasure in Heaven and not here on earth.

Sharing the Gospel is not always easy. You may be rejected, ridiculed, questioned, talked down upon, discredited, disrespected and hurt by people when you share the Gospel with them. But Paul reminds us in this letter that it is not in vain. Because Jesus died, was buried for three days and rose again, our work for the Gospel has purpose. Eternal purpose! We can have peace that one day it will all be worth it when we spend eternity in Heaven! But not only that, we have the opportunity to labor and be a part of that in somebody else’s life! Following Jesus is always worth it! If you’re feeling disgruntled, discouraged or downcast - take a moment to thank the Lord for the Gospel and the opportunity to serve Him! Pray that He will be your strength and anchor; to help you to remain steadfast as you live for Him!

Our victory is in Jesus! I love these verses talking about O death where is your victory? Jesus has conquered all powers over sin and death. Our victory is not in the law. It is not what we do or what we try to accomplish on this earth that saves us. Many people live a life trying to get the most they can out of life. They live a life that is pleasing to them, working towards temporary goals, achieving things so they can live a good, comfortable life, where they can leave generational wealth to those who will come after them. They work as hard as they can to achieve what they believe will make them happy. At the end of our life, all people will suffer the same fate. All people are going to die one day! Our lives are fleeting; the things of this earth are fleeting. But as believers, our victory is not in what we achieve while here on this earth. Our victory is not in what we try to achieve during our short time on this earth. Our victory is in Jesus. He is eternal! He is the one who has conquered death! It is not for us to even try and do. Our position in this life is to serve Him! We are all creatures made to worship. We all worship something or someone. Christ wants our focus to be on Him! He wants us to wake up every morning and give Him the glory! He is the one in whom we have victory! Praise God in what He has done for us on the cross!

As I sat down to write this devotion, in my head I can hear Carly Simon singing the chorus of her song titled, “Anticipation.” “Anticipation, anticipation is makin' me late, is keepin' me waitin'.” Fun little fact is that her inspiration came from waiting on the arrival of Cat Stevens for their first date. During her wait, she felt a mix of nervous energy and agitation. Instead of just waiting, she grabbed her guitar and she wrote the entire track -the words and the music- in 15 minutes. Another fun fact; if you know the song, you are now singing it. Ha.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes the meaning of anticipation to be “the action of looking forward to something; eager.” I suppose students felt this the night before the first day of school. Maybe you can relate as you think back to your own childhood and how you felt on Christmas Eve. Our Michigan sports teams sure do produce a lot of suspense. And if you were around in the 80’s you probably remember anticipating who shot J.R. Just curious, how well do you wait and anticipate?

The greatest anticipation for every believer is the return of Jesus Christ and the promise of resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-52, Paul urges Christians to understand that our earthly bodies cannot inherit God’s eternal kingdom. “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

In a culture familiar with death, loss, and uncertainty, Paul offered hope that transcended the grave: “we will all be changed” in an instant when the trumpet sounds. This promise remains relevant today. While people anticipate careers, celebrations, future milestones or the Lions winning the Superbowl, Christians anticipate something far greater—the moment Christ transforms us, conquers death, and brings us into His eternal presence. That is our greatest hope.

Recently on a Saturday afternoon my youngest son and I were at “back to the bricks” classic car festival in Flint. It’s fun to walk around downtown Flint and see these cars from brand new to 100 years old. The contrast in technology from the first cars to today is incredible. The reliability and comfort in modern cars are so good, we take them for granted. My grandpa would tell stories from his childhood, and I remember his story about going to Lake Michigan in the 1920’s. The family would load up in the car and head to the beach for about a 100-mile round trip. On a hot summer day during the trip, they would have 1-2 flat tires. This was very common as they traveled, they would see other cars along the way having the same issues. The reliability and quality of the tires back then required constant repair. This was an open-skirted car that had to be cranked in the front to start. Compare that to our stress today. If the air conditioner doesn’t cool off fast enough, we think we have it bad. I have a heater on my steering wheel, so my little hands aren’t too cold in the winter. We have it good when it comes to our vehicles, comfortable, reliable and they are built to last.

In our passage we are given a comparison of our current state here in this world and what it will be like when we step from this world into the next. The comparison is our natural bodies we are enjoying today versus our glorified bodies that we will receive in the future. The comparison should excite and motivate each of us to take our journey of faith more seriously. The question is what happens to a believer’s body after the resurrection of the dead? The thrust of the comparison is that our current bodies are not ready to experience the glory of God or existence in the kingdom of God. “Perishable to imperishable” is a powerful promise that the physical ailments here on earth are of short duration to what we will experience in heaven. Vs. 43- “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power,” ESV. When we receive our glorified bodies, we will experience God and His blessings without the lens of sin and pain. The dishonor and weakness are gone; there is nothing left but the goodness of God in every aspect of our life. This is like going from a model T car to a luxury sedan of today. The Model T doesn’t hold up to the power, reliability or comfort that we have today. In the same way as my body will change from perishable to imperishable, my current state cannot comprehend the wonder and magnificence of my future glorified body.

This doesn’t mean that I can’t glorify God today. I can glorify God through my actions and devotion to God. There is still a purpose in strengthening my faith walk. The promise of our glorified state in the future is exciting and encouraging as I try to grow closer to Jesus. At “Back to the Bricks” there were many cars that had been salvaged from a junkyard and brought back to life. These cars were given up for dead, but someone breathed life into them and restored them to their former glory. Jesus is going to do that to each believer, restore us from dishonor to honor and glory. Maybe you feel like you are a wreck, that there is too much damage to be restored. You’ve been hurt emotionally, physically and maybe spiritually. Your mess is not too much for the master builder Jesus Christ. Jesus takes that which is broken and needs a second chance and heals and makes them whole. Bring your hurt to Jesus. He can give you a new beginning.

When I think of today's passage and the title of “The Resurrection Necessity,” my mind instantly goes to a song found in The Jungle Book. During the movie Mowgli is sung to by Baloo, and the song has a powerful line in it: “Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities.” We are going to find today that Paul is telling the Church in Corinth without the resurrection of Jesus Christ everything else the church had was useless (this was the necessity!) The same is true for us! When we think of our salvation it begins with the birth of Christ and goes all the way to the resurrection. Without the birth of the Savior there is no death on the cross, without the death on the cross there is no resurrection, without the resurrection there is no defeat of sin and death! This is what Paul is making sure the church of Corinth understood. The resurrection isn't just a side story of God's grace and salvation; it's the fundamental component.

I love that in our passage today we have a turning point, we see in verse 12-19 Paul talking about what it would be like if Jesus did not conquer the grave. However, in the first half of verse 20 we see it all come together:

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. ”Everything before verse 20 is devastating if Jesus is still dead, but everything after it brings hope! Verse 20 goes on to speak of the first fruits. Paul is calling Jesus Christ the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, meaning that the resurrection of Christ was the beginning and a promise that more was coming. We must be thankful for every part of the redemption plan! Let us not take any of this for granted. So, I ask you this one simple question: do you cherish the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

This past summer, we decided to do something that we haven’t done in a while. We decided to NOT “treat” our backyard grass. With our daughter’s wedding and final college tuition payments, we just didn’t have the money. An interesting thing happened. Both grass and weeds began to grow together. Over time, if you looked closely, you could see which was which. Maybe next year we’ll fertilize our lawn again, but for now, we are going to leave it the way it is. We’re expecting the natural grass to have more of an impact on our backyard lawn over time.

This is in essence what Paul was alluding to here in our text. From the beginning of time, every church has been filled with both believers and unbelievers. Some of the unbelievers are moving in a direction toward belief, and some are simply pretending to be Christians. Over time, the cream will rise to the top. What is authentic will prove itself. The Gospel has THAT KIND OF POWER. It always “exposes” genuine from imposter.

The Corinthians were really struggling as we have shown over our sermon series. Many of them had come to saving faith in Jesus, but they were struggling to “live out” that faith on a regular basis. They needed to be constantly reminded of their confession of faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. They needed to hear the Gospel over and over again.

Years ago, I was talking with my brother when he first took over as the lead pastor of a church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He told me something that was stunning to me: “John, most of my deacons aren’t even Christians.” I could NOT believe what he was saying. I questioned the validity of such a statement, and he began to explain to me some of the things that these men believed. He was right. I was horrified. What happened? Cultural Christianity. Many of those men were focused on religion without a relationship with Jesus. The Apostle Paul wanted to make sure that the Corinthians did not make the same mistake. He wanted to make sure that they truly understood and valued the Gospel.
The Gospel must be spoken often in our church. The Gospel must be spoken often in your life. The Gospel is what gives us hope and freedom. The Gospel means “good news,” and it’s the best news because it is what gives us purpose for this life and a home in heaven with God someday. The Gospel is that God the Son came to this earth to dwell among men, he lived a sinless life, he died in your and my place on The Cross for our sins, he was buried for three days, and HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE GRAVE CONQUERING SIN, DEATH, HELL, AND THE DEVIL! NOTHING is more important than this amazing and life-changing good news!

Paul even reminded the Corinthians that after Jesus rose again from the grave, he proved it all by appearing to Peter, the twelve disciples, James, Paul, and over 500 other people. The Resurrection is undeniable! It happened. Over the years, I have met people, even becoming good friends with some, who believe much of the Bible, but they deny the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sadly, these friends of mine are still “lost in their sins.” Until God illuminates their minds and opens their eyes, they have not been forgiven of their sins. Why is that? It’s because without the Resurrection, Jesus was just another “good man.” That’s just it: Jesus is more than a “good man”; HE IS GOD IN THE FLESH!

Ultimately, the Gospel is what “divides.” Just like in the beginning of this devotional, every church has people in it who are not saved from their sins. It’s the Gospel that determines where a person truly stands with God. Then, for those who do believe, we need to be reminded all the time of its importance so that we will both live God-honoring lives and share this same hope that changed our lives with others who need it. At Emmanuel, we say it again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. I think you get the point!

Week 12
Main Point and Overview:   

There will always be people who say that Jesus did not rise from the dead. Many people in our culture today believe in Jesus…the teacher, or Jesus…the prophet, or Jesus…the humanitarian, but few people see Jesus as the resurrected Christ. The Apostle Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that hundreds of people saw Jesus after his resurrection. Apparently, false teachers were beginning to call the resurrection into question, and some of the Corinthians were getting confused and even starting to follow this heresy. So, Paul aggressively confronts the issue by reminding the Corinthians of the importance of the resurrection. The fact is that nothing is more important to the Christian faith than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If it is “torn down,” the Gospel of salvation is torn down. So, Paul took the time to remind the Corinthians of what the Gospel actually was – Christ died for our sins, was buried for three days, and raised to life by the power of the Holy Spirit! Too many people struggle with the supernatural. They see things from a logical lens which often can keep them from faith in Jesus. Paul’s argument was that the resurrection of Jesus changes lives! How can you explain an addict becoming clean, or a bitter man becoming a joyful friend, or a selfish jerk becoming a selfless neighbor, or an arrogant woman becoming a humble servant? It’s the power of the Gospel. Sure, people can make some “limited” changes without Christ, but the Gospel completely changes a person from the “inside-out!” If the resurrection is a farce, then we are still lost in our sins, and life-change is not possible. Ultimately, the great apostle wanted the church to understand and look forward to the future. Someday we will all die, and then we will stand before God at the final judgment. When we do, we will receive a heavenly body with no limitations. It’s easy to fear death, but for the disciple of Jesus, there is nothing to fear! Death will only have a “limited victory” over us. Eternal life with Jesus will then become our “realized gift.” Paul’s ultimate encouragement was that since we know what’s coming in our future, we should passionately serve the Lord in our present. As we preach the Gospel, we can be assured that it is totally worth it for both us and others.

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

I hate to say it, but we’re going to dive right into the uncomfortable. Pride.
When we break this verse down, it begins by saying that those of us who are younger (not just in age, even in time as believers) to submit to those who are elder or more experienced. This is a very hard topic in our culture today because submitting is seen as a weakness. It is NOT. I truly believe God puts people in our lives who are more wise and experienced than us so that they can help us along in our journey of faith. In our culture, we say things like “I got it” and “I don’t need help.” But we do.
 
The verse continues to say that we must clothe ourselves with humility toward each another! Clothe, cover yourselves; entirely! We are called to wear humility so that others can see Jesus in us. The scripture continues with a warning that God opposes the proud but favors the humble.

Take a moment to ask yourself: what spiritual clothes am I wearing? When someone looks at me, what do they see? Do they see attitude? Pride? Stubbornness? Lack of compassion? Cowardice? Anger? Or do they see love? Humility? Patience? Joy? I mean I could cycle through all 9 fruits of the Spirit!

You may be asking yourself, how do we change our spiritual clothing? Jesus. There is nothing you can do alone to change your appearance! I’ve spent years trying to take off my impatient hat. But at the end of the day, full submission to Jesus Christ and the Word of God will help get me there. It comes from diligence in spending time in prayer, thanksgiving and awe toward the Father! It grows each time we crack open our hearts to hear God’s living Word and be transformed! Change doesn’t happen overnight. Maybe God helps take your hat off and maybe your shoes; but you still have your shirt and jeans on. It takes time. One degree at a time.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

Love will remain! Many things God created or things that we have on this earth were made to be temporary. They were made to be there for their time. All things of this world will wash away. The things that we cling on to in this world are like a vapor in the wind, they pass away and become a part of history. But love remains! The love of God is forever. Faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love. All throughout Scripture (which was written over many centuries) makes clear to us the love of God. He shows us His sacrificial love towards those He has created. What is it that we cling on to? What is it that we find so important that we have a hard time letting go? God has given us so many things to be grateful for! He has given us so much that He expects us to be good stewards of. Our families, our things, our jobs, but above all else we are to put Him first and then the people around us. We are to show the same kind of sacrificial love that Christ had for us on the cross. Greater is no love than those who would lay down their lives for their friends! Christ’s love is one of sacrifice. He showed by example how all things can be destroyed, but the love of God will endure forever. He has gone to prepare a place for us that is so much greater than anything we could ever imagine while here on this earth and will last so much longer than the vapor of this world. But yet, we still find it hard to give up the things that we choose to love while living here in this fallen world. Choose to love! Choose to give up the things that are temporary and choose love that lasts forever!

In the New Testament, we find that there are a few types of love that are present. Maybe you are familiar with some of them; eros, storge, philia, agape and puppy. Ha. Ok, puppy love probably isn’t in the Bible. I have had puppy love on the brain lately. Recently, Pastor Alec put together a “Puppy Party” event for the youth group with the sweetest bunch of golden retriever pups. And from that litter, I now have two new grandpups. One is a female and she is adorable. She is appropriately named Hatty which means ruler of the home. The other grandpup, a male, is named after a character from the Pixar movie, Up. Dug is a lovable sweet golden retriever who wears a special high-tech collar that translates his thoughts into human speech. He is famous for his cheerful personality and the iconic line, "I have just met you, and I love you."

Biblical love goes much deeper, MUCH deeper, and stands the test of time because it is not based on feelings, circumstances, what we can get from someone, or sweet puppy cuddles. It is a deliberate choice to reflect the character of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, Paul describes love in practical terms: it is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud or rude, does not demand its own way, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

Historically, these words were written to the church in Corinth, a diverse and prosperous city influenced by competition, social status, wealth, and personal ambition. The Corinthian believers were struggling with division and pride. Paul reminded them that spiritual gifts, knowledge, and accomplishments mean little without love. Love was not supposed to be merely something they talked about; it was supposed to shape how they treated one another.

That message remains powerful today. Our culture often encourages us to put ourselves first, protect our image, seek recognition, and walk away when relationships become difficult. Biblical love challenges that mindset. It asks us to be patient when patience is difficult, forgive when we have been hurt, and choose kindness even when we receive nothing in return.

Just a final thought about “puppy love.” Let’s be like Dug who cheerfully says, “I have just met you and I love you” and like Hatty as you allow love to rule your hearts and home. Ok, maybe that’s a stretch. The reality is that someday, we will be gone. Our possessions, achievements, titles, and recognition will eventually fade. But the love we give can continue through the lives we have touched. That is why love is not about us—it is about what we leave behind. Love, true biblical love, endures because “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). When everything else passes away, love remains.

Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of my favorite stories. I like the transformation that happens to Ebenezer Scrooge from a hateful, greedy and unmerciful man to a man who is generous, loving and kind. Ebenezer has wealth, health and financial wisdom. Ebenezer has everything to be successful but is in reality living an empty, hollow life. The missing element is brotherly love. His greed clouded his vision and saw everyone as a threat; scammers, lay abouts, and cheaters. It was an empty life until he added love to the mix. Love and kindness opened the door to healing broken relationships and building community with others.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is warning of a similar structure to our faith. I can have all the faith, wisdom and spiritual gifts and not actually move the Kingdom of God forward. The absence of love and grace nullifies the transformational power that faith can have. When I was growing up in church, I saw men that had faith, knowledge of the Bible, and had the ability to teach and lead. I saw these men who seemed to be mature spiritually, crumble when difficulties came up in the church family or their own personal lives. Looking back, I see that they were checking off a to-do list of spiritual things they need to do or acquire. This turned their faith into task-oriented rather than relationally based. The absence of grace, compassion and kindness stifled deeper connections and often missed spiritual need in others.

This is why without Christlike love involved in my faith, I will continually be spiritually immature. The basis of my salvation, my faith, is the love of God. Love is the foundation that my faith is built upon. Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s travels, wrote: “We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one another.” Vs. 1- “But have not love, I am a noisy gong” ESV. The goal is to be motivated by love. I need to check my motivations; make sure I’m not checking things off my spiritual list but moving as Jesus would. How do I love better? Look at Jesus' example. Time and time again He put people first. People matter; checklists don’t. Spirituality without love is not Christlike; it's an empty, hollow shell of who I am supposed to be. Examine your motivations for your faith. Are they goal oriented or relational? Show love to those around you and see the difference in spiritual impact that will result. Love like Jesus.

It’s safe to say all of us at some point have felt like we were in a fight with no help in sight -we felt alone, abandoned, just simply no help in sight. While that emotion is real, we see in today's passage that as believers we are called to be each other's support system. We see in the Bible that the body of Christ (believers) are like our human body, made up of many different parts. Different parts mean that each part has a different role, now all roles are important, but they may not do the same exact thing. As we know through living our life, when things don't necessarily work the same way, tension begins to form. Paul writes to the Church of Corinth and reminds them that the body of Christ all works together for the glory of Jesus Christ, no matter what part of the body you are. We see right off the get go Paul's example in verse 21: The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

We must be careful in the American church that we are not becoming a church who pushes other believers away telling them we don't need them. Of course we would never say that, but I challenge you to see how your actions make other believers feel? Paul instantly goes into the next point that every part matters! We must understand that some people's roles may seem less important, but God gives value to every part of the body! It's easy to sit and think that whoever is preaching on Sunday has a bigger role to play than maybe someone doing the sound booth. However, that is not true at all, we all have a part to play no matter if it's in front of others or behind the scenes. In reality when you think about preaching on Sundays, if it wasn't for a tech team you probably wouldn't be able to hear the preaching. Every part matters! We must continue to create a culture that protects that as well as encourages that. Which leads to Paul's final point that we carry each other. We read in verses 25-26:

So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

When one person hurts, we hurt together. When one rejoices, we rejoice together! I simply ask you when was the last time you went up to another believer and asked them if you could pray with them? How about the last time you asked them what God was doing in their life? I challenge all of us to be an encouragement to one another. As believers we should want to lift each other up while also praising God for the good he is doing in others’ lives. Remember we are not just a single body but a part of a bigger body. So, I leave you with this simple takeaway: We weren't created to do Christianity alone. We are part of the body - and the body is stronger when every part is connected.ded.

The beauty of the church is that it’s NOT about any one individual’s abilities, talents, or personality. It’s about the glory of God displayed through the cooperation of his people. No one stands out, only God. Too many American churches are the opposite. They are known for having a dynamic speaker, or an inspirational worship leader, or a fun youth or kid’s pastor. The church finds its identity in a singular leader or a small group of leaders which leads to a dangerous and eventually damning reality - “I AM NOT REALLY NEEDED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!” We cannot let this ever happen at Emmanuel!

The Apostle Paul wanted the Corinthians to realize that each and every one of them had a role to play for Kingdom impact. He used an illustration that would be familiar to them, and it’s surely familiar to us. He used the human body. Think about our bodies. As I get older, I am starting to realize this more and more. For many years, as a young person, I took the individual parts of my body for granted. Why? It’s because they were all fulfilling their roles leading to physical health. As I get older, that’s not always the case anymore. Suddenly, I have back problems. I have digestive problems. I have the beginning of varicose veins in my legs. To be honest, I don’t worry about any of it, but it still affects me. When my back hurts, it causes my neck to “feel it.” When my stomach is bothering me, it causes my mind to be distracted. When my leg is struggling, it causes my pace to be much slower. I think you are getting the point. Each part of our bodies affects the other parts. It truly does.

Paul compares the body of Christ to the human body. Each part has a specific function that is necessary for the body as a whole. The parts all have different purposes for one ultimate purpose - health and function. In their differences, they all work together. If one struggles, the others struggle. If one succeeds, the others succeed. As disciples of Jesus, we must avoid two common mistakes: (1) Thinking our abilities are more important than the abilities of others in the church (2) Thinking we have little to nothing to offer to the body of Christ. The Corinthians had fallen into these traps. In particular, they began to compare themselves to others trying to steal glory away from God. It was beginning to weaken their influence. The loving apostle wanted them to correct this now before it was too late.

We are just finishing up August Training Month here at Emmanuel. Just recently, I had a couple of people come up to me and ask how they can serve the Lord this upcoming fall. We had a great conversation. Here are a few things that I suggested to them, and here are a few things that I suggest to you as you consider what your part is in Kingdom living here at Emmanuel:

1. What do you like to do? How has God “hard-wired” you?
2. What do people see in you as a ministry that you are capable of doing?
3. Sign up and someone will contact you:

     https://weareemmanuel.life/serving.

In Corinth, there were so many different people coming to Christ. There were different religious groups (Jews & Gentiles) and social groups (Slaves & Free). The fact was that they had to overcome stereotypes, social statuses, and religious dogmatism, understanding that they were all now “one in Christ!” I think of our church. So many different backgrounds. So many different religious experiences. So many different social groups. So many different beautiful people all looking to “find their way” to Christ. I love it! I am so excited for our future! So, let’s love each other. Let’s engage in a growth group together. Let’s, ALL OF US, use our spiritual gifts for the glory of God THIS FALL! You. Are. Needed.

Week 11
Main Point and Overview:   

The Corinthians were extremely gifted, and unfortunately, they knew it. What I mean is that they started celebrating certain spiritual gifts over others. It became easy to even compare gifts in immature arrogance. The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear that every disciple of Jesus has spiritual gifts, and each gift is necessary for the betterment of others. In fact, he used the human body as an illustration of how the “parts make up the whole.” In other words, he showed how the foot needs the hand, and how the ear needs the eye, and how the head needs the foot, and so on and so forth. His dramatic point, in almost a humorous way, was that the whole body is not an eye. Can you imagine a six-foot eyeball ?? Each body part has a role that when “lived out” makes the entire body better, stronger, and more effective. The same goes for God’s church. Every person is needed. This was a “punch to the gut” of those who were arrogantly parading their spiritual gifts as if their gifts were better than other people’s gifts. In the 1st century church, “sign-gifts” were a part of the church which consisted of “speaking in tongues,” “prophecy,” and “healings.” These supernatural and very visible gifts were meant to establish and authenticate the power of the Holy Spirit in the beginning of the church age. Other gifts like “knowledge” and “mercy” were less visible and spectacular, therefore, easily dismissed by those who possessed the “sign-gifts.” Paul made it clear that you can have all of the abilities and gifts in the world, but if you do not have sacrificial love attached to them, you have nothing! Think about it. God doesn’t really care how talented you are. He cares that you sacrificially love him and others. How are you demonstrating an attitude of love in what you do for him? Ultimately, it is Biblical love that stands the test of time. Everything else has a duration, but true love will never end. It’s time that we take an evaluation of our role in God’s church. First, are we doing our part to participate in the mission of the Gospel? Second, are we working as a team filled with humility and deference to others on the team? Third, are we investing in what is eternal? Too many Christians make the church about their desires. Are you that kind of person? Don’t be!

How many of us are routine driven people? I am! It can be so easy to go through the motions every single day, every single week, for months, years, and forget the why. When I am intentional and start my day understanding why instead of focusing on the what; my day is much more fulfilling and peaceful.

The problem that I see so many people run into, and I myself have run into, is that we serve out of repetition or a feeling of obligation. Or we tell ourselves that we’ve always served here. We don’t remember the why to our service, so we feel disconnected. We wake up Sunday morning and suddenly dread going to church because it’s our week to serve. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and remind ourselves that we committed and we can’t let people down and we are called to serve. I don’t say that in a condemning way, but it’s important to be honest with ourselves! You are not alone in that feeling.

But I do encourage you that when (notice I didn’t say if) that happens, that you must truly take a pause and remember your why. We serve Jesus because we are grateful for what He did on the cross for us. We serve Jesus because we want to bring honor and glory to His name. We serve Jesus because we are eternally indebted.

I love the story in John 13 where Jesus washes His disciple’s feet because it tells a simple, but incredibly humble and powerful truth. See, I doubt anybody wanted to wash another person’s feet. It was likely caked in dirt, animal waste and a smell that water just couldn’t rinse away. Sometimes we don’t want to serve others; and I don’t just mean in church! Sometimes we don’t want to love others because they’ve hurt us. Or they’ve lied to or about us. Or they’ve deeply betrayed us. Or they are just unlikable and hard to be around. Serve them anyways. Jesus set the prime example that we are not greater than others; to put others before ourselves even when we don’t want to.

At the end of the day, it is about our heart posture. The Lord knows our hearts! It is better to not serve at all than to serve with a poor attitude. We must remember to serve because our hearts are overflowing with gratitude towards Jesus. We know that we can never earn our way to Heaven or the love of Jesus by serving (in other words; works) but we can look more like Jesus by serving humbly and gratefully.

Consider what the Lord has done for you! This is what the Psalmist is doing here! He is calling the Israelites to remember the great acts of the Lord, considering the 10 plagues and His rescuing of them out of the hands of the Egyptians. He is remembering what God did for Joseph. He reminds them of the promises given to Abraham. God comes through time and time again for his people. We see this to be true all throughout Scripture in the Old Testament. We see it in the New Testament by God sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins and giving us the forgiveness of sins and restoring that relationship with Him! What has God done for you in your own life? Sometimes it can be easy to reflect on and see only the bad things that are happening around us or even to us. We see the people around us as out to get us, or just acting selfishly, not caring about us. But God does care about us! He has proven it time and time again even in our own lives! We are children of God who Jesus cares deeply about and wants to see grow. Take time to reflect! Take time to remember when... Take time to think about your story and your testimony of how you came to know Christ as your personal savior. Share your story with someone! It has been awesome to have KNGDM Revival here with us and to hear their story and what God has been doing in their lives! God is so good! Take time to reflect!

In 1 Corinthians 11:27–34 Paul confronts the church at Corinth concerning the Lord’s Supper. Historically and culturally the Corinthian believers were gathering for a shared meal, but their behavior reflected divisions, selfishness, and disregard for poorer believers. Some were eating and drinking excessively while others were being neglected. What was intended to remember Christ’s sacrifice had become an opportunity for selfishness and social division.

Paul tells them to “examine themselves” before participating in the Lord’s Supper. His warning about eating and drinking “in an unworthy manner” was not a command to be perfect, but a call to approach Christ with humility, reverence, repentance, and genuine love for others. Their outward religious activity could not compensate for inwardly wrong motives.

This principle remains deeply relevant today. We can attend church, serve, give, worship, and even speak biblical truth while carrying pride, bitterness, selfish ambition, or unforgiveness in our hearts. God cares about the condition of our hearts because our motives influence how we treat Him and how we treat people.

Most of us probably look in the mirror at least once, maybe twice a day. Do you ever use a magnification mirror? They sure are helpful in finding stray eyebrow hairs, blemishes, fine lines and whiskers (which is pretty important if you’re a female). It’s important to look in the mirror. Can you imagine if you used one of those extreme close-up mirrors on your inside? No, not your intestines and guts, but your thoughts, your mind, your intentions, and your heart. The truth of God’s Word acts like a mirror that shows us the true condition of our heart and life. Self-examination should be a regular spiritual discipline. Before we ask, “Am I doing the right thing?” we should also ask, “Why am I doing it?” Are we seeking God’s glory or our own recognition? Are we loving others or protecting our pride? Our motives matter because God is concerned not only with what we do, but why we do it.

Taking time to examine ourselves allows the Holy Spirit to expose unhealthy motives, lead us toward repentance, and restore our relationships. When our hearts are surrendered to Christ, our actions become an expression of genuine faith and love.

When our boys were young dinnertime was always an adventure. We would gather around the table and talk about the day’s events. One of the boys would get the conversation started and you never knew where the discussion would lead. Sports, school (It’s like a prison and I didn’t learn anything), video games and other things that young boys are interested in. As time went by and they got older and busier, less meals were shared together with the whole family. Now we gather only a few times a year with the whole family around the dinner table. During these meals we often reminisce about times when they were kids. Sweet conversations of games played, funny stories about mom, dad’s parenting skills and the wonder of childhood.

Communion: remembering Jesus and the wonderful grace He showed us with His sacrifice to pay our sin debt. Communion is a gathering of the church family to remember this sacrifice. Our passage brings us back in time to the upper room. “The Lord Jesus the night He was betrayed” Vs. 23 (ESV). I am reminded of the events in that room. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. A beautiful example of servant leadership, but more importantly, the need for Jesus to wash my sins away. Jesus is giving instructions and encouragement. He tells the disciples that He is leaving but one day will take them to be with Him. Jesus states that He is the way, truth and the life and no one enters heaven except through Him.

Jesus states that this bread they were going to eat represents his body which is going to be broken for them. Jesus’ body was beaten, whipped and broken, paying for my sin with His life. “This cup is the new covenant” (Vs. 25 ESV). This represents Jesus’ blood that had to be spilt to pay the full price for sin. The horrible sequence of beatings, crucifixion, and ultimately death then placed in a tomb seemly defeated. This is something that is hard to remember, something I may not want to focus on, but is important to often remember the magnitude of love Jesus expressed so I can be saved. This remembrance is made sweet because Jesus is no longer in the tomb and has victory over sin and death. That somber remembrance now turns into joyful celebration. We once were slaves to sin- now we are free in Jesus!

Remembrance doesn’t have to just happen at church during communion. We are commanded to remember and proclaim the Gospel, the good news that we can have victory over death. Take some time today to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and how that affects you today. We wait anxiously on Jesus’ return, until then we will remember with reverence the wonderful work of Jesus on the cross.

As I return home to the states from spending 10 days in Germany, I am reminded of how truly blessed we are to live in America. However, I was also reminded of how we can be entitled without even really trying. We take things for granted that are truly a blessing to have. I saw in action multiple nations and languages come together to worship and bring glory to our Savior Jesus Christ.

As I look into today’s passage, I see a troubling problem being called out by Paul. We must understand that the Church of Corinth was gathering together but their gatherings were being taken over by division, selfishness, and some could even say disregard for one another. We see in the passage that some had plenty to eat while others went hungry. Paul calls the church out in verse 20 by saying:

 “So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat”

Yes, the church was gathering together but not for the right reasons! We too need to be aware and understand that as believers in Christ Jesus we are called to gather together to worship our savior! Church is not just a social club where we network and hang out. Church is meant for a place of worship, encouragement, and growth. Fellowship is more than sitting in the same room. It's loving, serving, honoring, and caring for one another. Some of the Corinthians were eating their own meals while others had nothing. The problem wasn't simply food; it was lack of love for others. So, I ask you what do you get out of church? Are you seeking social over spiritual growth? Are we more focused on what we are getting out of church than how we can be the church? A church that is loving and ready to serve one another?

While in Germany we studied Jesus’ final words to the disciples and how Jesus spoke to them about loving one another and serving. Jesus shows the example of washing the disciples’ feet. It's easy to stay in our close groups and not stretch ourselves outside of our comfort zone. But I was able to witness how God can use anything and everything if we are willing to put our selfishness aside and lay everything we have down for the sake of the gospel. Let us be reminded that we are the church! Let us go, share, and love on the lost and fellow believers for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ!