Beyond the Weekend

December 9 | Variety

December 9, 2019

Join us as we focus each day this week on a different part of 1 Corinthians 13.
Monday: Love is patient, love is kind.


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13a

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Listen: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

TODAY’S MESSAGE

New Christians in Corinth had a lot of trouble with self-comparison. The focus of their culture was to take advantage of opportunities to better themselves. It created an atmosphere of “I’m better than you!” that they carried into their church experience. They would flaunt their God-given gifts to elevate their status, causing others with less impressive gifts to feel inferior and unqualified to serve.

Paul addresses this issue with a powerful metaphor. He compares the church to a human body that is united and held together by the Holy Spirit. He makes it clear that all gifts God gives believers are necessary and powerful to grow the church and spread the Gospel. No gift is better than any other. When Christians exercise these Spiritual Gifts, God gets involved and makes extraordinary things happen.

This week, we will discover how everyone is important in the Culture of the Cross. As Pastor Jeff Manion points out that there is one body, many parts. Everybody matters and everybody’s needed. The Holy Spirit empowers the church through the variety of gifts that he assigns as he makes us interdependent on each other.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Recommit yourself to the Habits of Love Challenge this week. Journal how God has used this challenge to affect your relationships on page 72 in your Culture of the Cross Journal. Ask him to help you make these habits your way of living as you go through each day. Consider your biggest love-challenge today, and trust God to help you.


Click on the photo below to “save image as” to set for the lock screen or home screen on your mobile device to cycle back to each phrase twice daily to remember to live a life motivated by love.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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