Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul has just listed how much suffering he has gone through for the sake of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Observation: Paul points out the weaknesses in himself.

Application: I want to show others my weakness as a man, friend, parent, husband, leader, teacher, etc.  I want God’s power, not mine, to be seen.

Are you trying to cover your weaknesses and boast in your strengths? In what areas?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul is talking about cheerful giving – those who sow sparingly, reluctantly and under compulsion versus those who sow bountifully, what they have decided in his heart and cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace about to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may about in every good work.”

Observations:

• My good works are not about my ability but God’s ability.
• Verse 9:10 goes on to say – “He who supplies seed… will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness…”

Application: I must not trust my own abilities or resources, but decide in my heart to freely and cheerfully give to God.  He will supply all sufficiency in all things at all times.

Are you a cheerful giver?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul is expressing how the life transformation in the church in Corinth has brought him joy.  His first letter caused them grief that led to repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

Observations:

• Godly grief (seeking to please God) produces repentance.
• Worldly grief (seeking to please the world) produces death.

Application: “Lord, I want to focus on your response to my life.  Before you, I am grieved by my sinful heart.  Today I want to consider your response to everything I think, say and do.  Thank you for taking care of the penalty and power of sin through Jesus.  Your unconditional love compels me to be transformed.”

Is your life motivated by Godly grief or worldly grief? 

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Personal Context: Last night, Rebecca and I prayed for a renewed boldness and confidence in our ministry.

Scriptural Context: Paul says that he does not need a letter of recommendation to preach the gospel.  Paul argues that the life transformation that has taken place in the hearts of those in the church in Corinth proves his message.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Observations:

• We have confidence through Christ before God.
• We are not competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves.
• Our competence comes from God.

Application: Through God’s Word this morning and Rebecca, my prayer from last night has been directly answered.  I enter today encouraged.  I want to look for opportunities “not to claim anything for (myself)”, but to confidently minister with the competence God has given me through Christ.

What is your source of confidence and competence today?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  Paul explains that prophesy benefits the church because it is understood and clear.  Someone who speaks in tongues needs an interpreter to benefit the body.  He tells communicators in the church to “speak intelligible words with (their) tongue.”

1 Corinthians 14:8 “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?”

Observations: It is important for teachers in the church to be clear.  The body should be able to listen and respond.

Application: I am teaching at PCBC’s youth camp today.  I must relentlessly pursue clarity.  Prayer: Lord, help me sound a clear call so our youth will get ready for battle!

Are you sounding a clear call in your church, your community, your office, your school, your home, etc.? 

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  Paul is arguing for unity and diversity in the church.  Some are hands, some are feet, and all are equal before God.

1 Corinthians 12:18 “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.”

Observations:  You are gifted just the way God wants you to be.  In addition, you are placed in a body intentionally so that your gifts will meet needs around you.  Your spouse is gifted just the way God wants him/her to be… Your parent, child, your boss, your coworker, your ministry team partner, etc…

Application:  I enter today eager to use the gifts that God has given me where He has placed me.  I will not try to be anyone else other than who God has made me to be.

Do you believe you are where God wants you to be and have the tools to do what He wants you to do?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul is talking about disciplining his body, so that he can become all things to all people so that they can come to know Christ.  “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize…”

1 Corinthians 9:25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

Observation: With the Olympics coming, we will have the opportunity to see many athletes that have gone through strict training with the goal of winning a medal that is temporary.  At the same time, we have the opportunity to train spiritually to win souls (eternal) and eternal rewards.

Application: Today, I want to train spiritually.  I want to make an effort to let God work in and through me and to mature me through prayer, worship, Bible reading and loving others.

If you boiled your life down, are you training for a crown that will last?

Context: In verses 2-4 Paul has said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power…”

1 Corinthians 2:5 “…so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

Observations:  Paul’s only point was the gospel.  Paul’s posture was fear and trembling.  Paul’s demonstration was the Spirit’s power.  Paul’s motive was for the church in Corinth to respond with faith in God’s power and not “human wisdom.”

Application: As I prepare to preach God’s Word today, I must keep the focus on the gospel and demonstrate it through God’s power and not human wisdom.

Are you sharing “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” the way that Paul did?

Context: Paul observes that the church in Corinth is divided… “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”  He then asks, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

1 Corinthians 1:17 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

Observations:

1. The cross is powerful on it’s own. – Praise God!
2. Paul’s mission is to exalt the work of Christ by preaching the gospel.
3. Paul does not want to try to make himself look good through “wisdom and eloquence.”

Application:  Father, I confess that I have sought to use “wisdom and eloquence” in my preaching.  Forgive me.  Help me to only lift up the cross!  May the gospel truly be central.  “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31).

How can you lift up the gospel and not yourself today?

Read the New Testament with me through the Project 345 reading plan.

Context: Paul has been instructing the church in Ephesus to be careful and to live rightly.   They must not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit, which leads to worship.

Ephesians 5:19b-20  “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Observations: Our hearts should always have a worship posture.  Thankfulness should be overflowing to God from our lives through declarative praise music.

Application: Today, I want to open my eyes to see God around me.  I want to allow the Spirit to fill my heart with music and to overflow with genuine praise songs.

Stop for a few minutes and let the Spirit fill your heart with songs of praise.  How would it feel to live with this mindset?