Coming to the Still Waters

A mom and a mom to be but really a mom already for this 9 months.  We are waiting for the arrival of another to love in our arms.

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, which read,   v.6 - Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Isn't it interesting that Paul has went from the sin of the church member that makes even the pagan Gentiles blush to the sin of the church with not dealing with the sin or dealing with it in an inappropriate way?  They were boasting about it.  I see a pattern here in this church.  For the sin of pride, they used good holy men to make up their divisions within the church.  For the sin of boasting, they used a well known written sin of the Scripture in a way to make them look good for allowing it rather than working to correct it.  The perversion of the body of Christ in Corinth runs deep. Leaven is that agent that you want to get through the whole batch of dough so that the bread will rise up evenly.  The leaven in Scripture is used as an analogy of influence both ways as a good thing and a bad thing.  T

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 5:3-5, which read,   v.3 - For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.   These are hard verses to write and speak on.  Paul has found out that there is a member of the church in Corinth that is participating in illicit sexual activity.  He has also found out that the church has been arrogant in their treatment to this activity by condoning it as a badge of honor to them as a church.  Doesn't this sound so familiar to the world we live in today?  Some denominations are raising the banner that we are "open and affirming" to what in Scripture is a wrong but made right by the country we live in. Paul has judged this man.  But aren't we not to judge?  The judging that Paul is talking about here is the man's actions in accordance to Scripture.  He is not talking about final judgment of the man's life because that

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 5:1, 2, which read,   v.1 - It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles that someone has his father's wife. Paul has received the report of something else that has been happening within the church of Corinth.  Along with the sin of pride that causes divisions is the sin of immorality and as we will see the sin of not dealing with it in regards to the life of the church.   Immorality is "illicit sexual activity" which would include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, and the like.  The word "porneia" has its base in the word meaning "to sell" and relates to selling our bodies to something other than God's rule of lawful relationships.  You can see that this is where we get our word pornography.  There is nothing good in the Bible said about this word or anything related to it. A

It should never be our goal to elevate or pick out one sin of the Bible over another.  For the Christian, when sin is revealed to us through the word of God, we are to avoid it.  If we fall to the temptation of a sin, then we are to seek forgiveness and repent of our ways. At the same time, we are not to institutionalize any known sin of the same Bible.  To say it another way, we are not to condone or participate in the making of a wrong of the Scripture into a right.  Rather, in love, we are to help each other to recognize sin and seek reconciliation to God's way and word. In both situations, the word of God is what guides us to avoid sin or, if needed, to repent and seek forgiveness and to recognize sin as it is revealed in His word.  As Christians, we are not to relish in any sin but we are to repent of it. I will continue to follow the Word of God as God's Word and as the supreme written authority in my life.  I will continue to preach the message

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 4:14-21, which read,   v.14, 15 - I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.  For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Paul has had to be tough with the Christians at Corinth about the sin of pride in the church but he wants them to know that it wasn't without reason and direction.  He loves them as a father to a child.  His correction is not just from someone who is tutoring them but someone who is by blood part of them.  The Christians in Corinth had numerous spiritual tutors who were feeding them information good and bad about the gospel but Paul was their spiritual father that told them first of the gospel. Remember that the word beloved means someone who you have as a friend that you wish well of that has become someone who you love in a general way that has become someo

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, which reads, v.8-10 - You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we also might reign with you.  For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.  We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. Paul is speaking to the Christians in Corinth in a sarcastic way.  He is speaking to their actions that paints a picture of them as being self-sufficient.  They are already filled, rich, and kings who are reigning.  They have arrived.   In contrast to those self-sufficient Christians is Paul and the Apostles who are displaying just the opposite.  They are being put through the storms of life and of persecution by God and for Go

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 4:6, 7, which read,   v.6 - Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. Paul has used the illustrations of the farmer, the builder, and the servant-steward to be applied to his life and the life of Apollos.  Paul instructs the Christians in Corinth not to "exceed what is written" in respect to them, their spiritual leaders.  What is written is to provide for our spiritual leaders and give them respect as those who are giving us the Word of God but we are not to idolize them.  They bring the message but they are not the message.  They lead us but not to themselves but continually onto Jesus. What happens when we put another human being in the place of Jesus is the sin of pride.  We will become "arrogant in behalf of one against the

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which read,   v.1, 2 - Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. Paul's name, along with others, has been used as a tool of Satan to foster pride in the church among the Christians that has caused divisions.  He is still working on this issue.  Paul labels himself as a servant and a steward and not a savior or a status symbol.  The word "servant" literally means "under rower."   It is a working position on the ship of a slave who is not even on deck rowing but with the crew that is under the deck rowing unseen.  He is willing to take any position under Christ and in that position he is also a steward.  He has a responsibility to unlock the mysteries of God by telling them about Jesus Christ. A person who does such a thing needs to be found trustworthy.  Trustworthy

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, which read,   v.18-20 - Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that the may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.  For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again "The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless." Paul has led the Christians in Corinth back to the fact through elementary teachings that they are the temple of God that has been built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God dwells within them.  Doesn't that sound sufficient?  Would we need anything more from any other man? We can deceive ourselves.  We can think we are what we are not.  We can dream up realities that really aren't realities but live our lives like they are.  We can rationalize evil to make it good.  We have this ability but it gets us in

Here is Steven Curtis Chapman's song in response to the tragedy in the church in Charleston.  Take time to listen but also time to pray for those hurting at this time. Pastor Adam

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17, which read,   v.16 - Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Paul has used an agricultural illustration and then a building illustration to explain to the Corinthian Christians how they have veered from the truth.  God makes the seed grow, man just scatters it.  God is the foundation, man only builds upon it.  What is the building that is built on this foundation? Paul tells them that the building built on the foundation of Jesus Christ is themselves.  Their very lives are temples of God in which the Spirit of God dwells.  It is not the block and mortar of Union, it is the people of Union that are the temple of God and the Spirit has taken up residence in them.  It is easy to get caught up in the building and the physical surroundings.  We use them so much and they are tools given to us but they are only tools to be used to help build the real temple.  The people are more

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, which read,   v.10 - According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it. Paul has went from the farming illustration to a building illustration.  He is speaking in these simple, common stories because the Christians in Corinth need big, hard page children books to understand the basics again.  They had gotten off center by worshiping the creatures rather than the Creator.  They had let the sin of pride creep into the church and it has caused divisions with groups forming on a figure other than Christ.  Paul came to the Corinthians and laid a foundation on which everything else would build upon.  Actually others had come behind him to build upon that foundation.  The foundation is set and it is very important that each builder structures his addition according to the foundation that has been

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, which read,   v.5 - What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. Paul keeps speaking to them with childish language or of milk rather than meat.  He continues to say the obvious because they are following the flesh rather than following the Spirit.  Paul and Apollos are nothing compared to Christ.  They are just men who are servants of Christ and doing what Christ called them to do.  They spoke the Word but they are not the Word.  Jesus is so much more that Jesus even gave them the opportunity to believe.  Paul and Apollos could give witness of Jesus Christ but Jesus Christ was in control of the hearer's heart.   v.6,7 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. It sounds like we are back at the parable of the soils. 

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, which read,   v.1 - And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.   The problems of division in the Corinthian church were so deep and so destructive that Paul needed to go back to the basics.  Paul is calling them "brethren" but they are infant brothers by the actions of their flesh.  They were allowing their flesh to dictate their actions rather than the Spirit of God.  To be mature in Christ is to walk in the Spirit rather than walk in the flesh.  The Christians in Corinth by Paul's assessment were not acting as mature Christians at this point. v.2, 3 - I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.  Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly.  For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? As Christians we all start with

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, which read,   v.14 - But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. Paul is sharing with the Christians in Corinth that there is a big difference between one who is converted and one who is not converted or one who is a believer and one who is not.  "The natural man" is the unconverted person who thinks what the converted person does, follows, and believes is foolishness.  The converted person is "spiritually appraised" to be able to have the capacity to understand the Word of God through the Spirit of God.  The unconverted person does not have this ability.  This is something that we have not earned on our own or studied to get but something offered as a gift from God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What we know has been given to us and we have accepted it.  v.1

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, which read,   v.10 - For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. What a great verse Paul gives us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Paul is "carried along" by the Spirit of God to have penned the very words of God to us.  The Spirit of God reveals to us God, the unknown God to us at one time.  A God revealed and not only revealed but deeply revealed.  This is why, you as a Christian, can go back to that Bible and that same passage that you read so many times and maybe even memorized and see something new.   v.11 - For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the thoughts of God, no one knows except the Spirit of God. We have our own thoughts and we are the only ones who know those thoughts unless we share them with others.  They are contained within us until we choose to share them

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 which reads,   Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." Paul gives us yet another long run-on sentence but maybe it isn't so in the Greek language.  Paul wants the Corinthian Christians not to toss out all wisdom or that he isn't giving them wisdom but to seek and put into action the wisdom of God.  This is a wisdom not from man who will pass away but from God who is eternal and even Go

Here is a short video of our VBS this year calling "Trek to the Top."  It was a great week with some great kids and a great, great God!!!

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, which says,   v.1,2 - And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. A new chapter and Paul touches on what was in the previous chapter.  Paul was determined not to come to the Corinthians in a prideful manner.  He was determined not to come with them elevating him because of his speech or wisdom but to come to them with just the testimony of God.  I think it is interesting that this is something that Paul needed to set his mind on doing or coming in this way.  Paul knew he could have come that way to the Corinthian Christians.  He needed to plan ahead of time to come with the testimony of God that was Jesus Christ and Him alone and the message of the cross. Maybe we don't plan and pray enough to make sure our main and only goal for that next service or

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, which read,   v.26-29 - For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. Here is another of Paul's long sentences.  Paul tells the Corinthian Christians to consider their calling of God.  Paul might not be flattering them here because he is calling them "not many wise" and "not many mighty" and "not many noble."   It is like Paul is saying, "You guys are just some regular people, but God chose you.  This is a good thing because when others see what is done through you they will have to co

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, which read,   v.18, 19 - For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." Paul has been writing to the Christians in Corinth about the sin of pride and elevating themselves over others rather than elevating Jesus.  This sin of pride is causing division in the church and many are grouping up and using holy men's names and even Jesus' name to show how important "they" are.  Paul is going to go all out again with who Jesus is and He alone. I can't help but think about the two thieves on the crosses on each side of Jesus who was also on a cross.  They both started by thinking it was foolish for Jesus to be there and ridiculed Him.  They thought they were wise in their opinions and clever with words along with

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:14-17, which read,   v.14-16 - I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.  Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. Crispus was the leader of the synagogue in Corinth.  Gaius was a host to Paul, so he gave Paul housing.  Nothing is known of Stephanas and his family.  Paul is continuing on about the first thing he is pointing out where the Corinthian church has diverted from the gospel.  The members of the church have divided over the sin of pride.  They are using "who they know" to distinguish them over each other.  Paul's name and even Christ's name is used in this sin.  Even though Paul is trying to point out this sin and thankful that he did not baptized more than he did so it could be used in this negative way, it is great to see these names and get an insight o

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, which read,   v.10 - Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. Something must be broken or there must be some disunity if Paul is exhorting them, encouraging them strongly, to agree, not be divided and made complete.  What will unfold is how they are not in agreement and what has divided them so that they do not have unity.  I am assuming it is something more than the old saying that they couldn't agree on the color of the carpet in the sanctuary.  It has to be more than that when motive of the agreement is backed by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and this unity will result in thinking and acting the same.  This has to be more than agreeing on the color of the carpet.   v.11 - For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that the

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, which read,   v.4-8 - I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here goes Paul again with one long run on sentence.  So many thoughts that could have been separated but at the same time it is run altogether because so much hinges on each other. The first point is that the grace of God is hinged on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The second point is everything we do and that has been done for us is connected Jesus Christ - our enriching, our speech, our knowledge, and even the testimony given of Jesus to us. The third point is that

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, which read, Before we look at the verses today let us get some background on this book and church. Paul is the author as stated in verse 1 and he is writing this letter to the church in the city of Corinth.  He wrote this letter about 55 A.D. while he was staying in Ephesus.  Corinth is located in modern day southern Greece.  It was a city of commerce, athletics, and immorality.  They had their own form of the Olympic games called the "Isthmian Games."   Their name was equated with immorality.  To "corinthianize" was a slang term for anything or anyone who was involve in gross immorality.  The Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek god of love was in the city along with many other false gods.  Paul visited there on his second missionary journey and stayed for a year and a half.  He was assisted by some other tent makers named Priscilla and Aquilla and Silas and Timothy joined him later.  Of those being converted,