Teaching: The Most Important Thing in Life -- A Series from 1 & 2 Corinthians

Coming this Spring 2020 is a new series on “The Most Important Thing in Life!” We will take you through history and the Bible, specifically in the Bible’s New Testament books (also ‘letters’ or ‘epistles’) of 1 and 2 Corinthians. These two books are written by the Christian apostle, Paul, who originally was a Jewish leader of the Pharisees group and later transformed to follow Jesus.

These two books he writes include a vast amount of topics, themes, life issues, doctrines, personal history, theology, etc. but he summarizes everything into one important thing. The one important thing in life affects, aims, and aligns our life to it. By this one important thing in life, he lived and died. Paul found his greatest joy, worst sufferings, and ongoing purpose in the most important thing in life. Paul also instructs, teaches, guides, counsels, rebukes, corrects, influences, and engages people because of the most important thing in life.

Sometimes we may have believed and behaved as Paul did in his past, trying to question God and live however we want to — whether that’s legalistically (what we think is right) or licentiously (what we want to do regardless). We may be inquisitive or even antagonistic to God and ask questions like the following:

1. Is the world during the Bible days really different from our world?

2. Is the Bible out-dated, irrelevant, unhelpful, and only for museums?

3. Why can’t I just live the way I want to in this life?

4. Since I am born a certain way and pre-disposed to do whatever I want, then what’s wrong with that?

5. Since other people are not doing what God wants, then why should I care?

These questions and statements seem to be ever increasing and endless. Like every generation, there’s a tsunami wave of questions always bearing down on the culture in order to seemingly excuse one’s self to live however by attempting to dismiss and disprove God. And instead of seeking truth and doing what’s loving, we try to use, twist, and cover up truth and labeling it “loving.”

No matter the questions, God answers, hence why Paul wrote these two books of the Bible to the Corinthians. Paul addresses countless topics like:

1. God

2. People worship

3. False teachings

4. Deception

5. Temptation and mockery

6. Incest

7. Sexual morality and immorality

8. Marriage and singleness

9. Food and restaurants

10. Lord’s Supper, communion

11. Skills, talents, and gifting

12. Love

13. Jesus and the gospel

14. Churches, fellowship, and specific people

15. Afflictions, suffering and pain

16. History, Roman empire, Corinth, Greece, Macedonia and other regions

17. Financial generosity

18. People involved and being Christian in real life

19. The most important thing in life

And God is good and he remains steadfast throughout every generation revealing himself that brings people to be “inspired by truth and love to make life, disciples, and churches all about Jesus” — as Paul says:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

(1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV)

Teaching: Relationships - What does God want for you in real life?

In Fall 2019 (Sundays @ 10am in October), we will take time to teach through the topic of “Relationships” from God’s point of view throughout various context of the Bible. We will teach and talk through:

1. God

2. Church (local; global)

3. Older and Younger

4. Family

5. Friendships

6. Fools

7. Marriage (including weddings, dating, etc)

8. Workplace (including school/educational contexts)

9. Neighbors

10. Strangers

11. Enemies

I have been planning to address these topics specifically though we have addressed them in various ways and times already, but it is crucial to understand what God wants for anyone in real life regardless of cultural context. This helps us understand relationships through his plans, desires, and effects on people’s lives vs. seeing through our own desires, good or bad, as well as our history, baggage, sin, or brokenness.

If we have relationships inspired by truth and love, then maybe the gospel would become powerful and unashamedly central?

What would those friendships, marriages, neighborhoods, workplaces, etc. look like then?

How would that look and work? Do we result in using or abusing others? Do we resolve ourselves to gossiping or slander? Do we internally hate or attempt to disparage others? Do we exalt ourselves as if we are better somehow? How can the older train the younger? How can the younger respond to training?

Teaching: Hebrews - Christ in History, Scripture, and Life

About

We started teaching through Hebrews in the Spring 2019, and we are now finishing Hebrews in the next couple Sundays to come (early Fall 2019). Hebrews is a great book about how Jesus is the Christ in history, scripture (the Bible), and life. There are 13 chapters that develop who Jesus is, especially through the Bible’s Old Testament and the Israelite people. Hebrews does not shift or change the story of God but rather confirm and validate what has already been taught and believed throughout time.

Hebrews begins with:

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV)

A few popular passages from Hebrews are:

Concerning Jesus and the Bible:

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:11–16 ESV)

Concerning Jesus, faith, and examples of faith from the Old Testament and real life:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.For by it the people of old received their commendation.By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” (Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV)

Concerning Jesus and our life:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”” (Hebrews 12:1–6 ESV)