Read 1 Corinthians 5 thru 11:16
 
1 Corinthians 5:12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.
 
THERE was some serious sexual immorality in the Corinth church. But it seemed to be a point of pride for the church to say, “We still accept the person who is committing the sin.” Is that the right response? After all, we are taught to “love the sinner and to hate the sin”.
   To a point, that is a view of grace. We do not judge people in general for their sins because the LORD God is the ultimate judge. But Paul teaches from the Old Testament law that the church needed to pass judgment on the sins within the church. In Genesis 3 and many other Scriptures, God teaches he does not tolerate sin in his presence.
   Return to the Passover, and you will read of God’s instructions to purge all yeast from the Passover household. This was to emphasize sin’s power to infect a household and a community. Yeast is small, but it grows to affect the entire batch of dough. So it is with sin.
   The new covenant is established on Jesus’ blood pouring out for the forgiveness of our sins. This is to purge all affects of sin from our souls. All sin, then, is to be purged from God’s house. Jesus’ blood is the cleansing agent. The church has the responsibility and the instruction to remove people who outwardly and deliberately sin. They are rejecting Jesus’ covenant sacrifice. “For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people – an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
   Yes, remember Jesus paid it all. And we must honor his sacrifice. Sin tolerated is sin accepted. Sin accepted is Jesus rejected. To dismiss sin is to dismiss the cross. To work to correct the sin is to fulfil Christ’s mission on earth.
   Yes, it is difficult to confront an unrepentant sinner. But this is on the church’s “Must Do” list. After all, that is what Jesus has done. He has come to tell us, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  (Matthew 4:17) Jesus did this because he loves us. The same is true for the church. Correcting a sinner is loving that person so much you will, in the faithfulness of God, keep him/her from perishing into death.
 

Read 1 Corinthians 1 thru 4
 
1 Corinthians 1:4-8 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
 
THIS is a remarkable introduction to Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. When we weave our way through the entire letter, we learn the church has many challenges. Some of them are exceptional acts of disobedience. There is much rivalry, too, that divides this church Paul had spent some time developing. Why does Paul begin with so much affirmation?
   We can look back to Paul’s education and experience to understand his method here. He’s an intelligent man who knew how to instruct people. He speaks to acknowledge the good things in their lives to help them remember how God has blessed them.
   How do you feel when someone says, “I always thank God for you.” What if you stop and consider the gracious gifts he has given you. And then you consider the power of knowing now that you belong to Christ Jesus! How could there be anything more wonderful? And if you need more affirmation, stop and think of how God has enriched your church in every way, including with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.
   Congratulations! This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. You’ve read these words twice. Are you understanding more personally that Jesus saves, and he has saved you unto eternal life? Are you rejoicing and glad? 
   1 Corinthians is a guidebook to churches on how to work through many challenges, so they will become effective, faithful Gospel Centers. Paul’s task was not to say, “All is well.” Because it wasn’t. His work as an apostle was to say, “You are saved. Now here’s how to correct what’s wrong. Here’s how to encourage one another. Here’s the way to love each other and receive all of God’s blessings. This is the pathway to salvation living.”
   Paul did not want to write that letter. It is extremely difficult to confront sin. But he was a responsible ambassador for Christ. The Spirit gave him the means. He praised God for what God had done. Then he corrected the church to prepare them for what God would do through them.
   This is active, effective leading. Paul was pastoring, teaching and administering Jesus’ church. These are good lessons to learn to be a living, faithful church citizen and leader.
          

Read 2 Thessalonians, Acts 18:12 thru Acts 19
 
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.
 
PAUL celebrated a growing faith and love in the church in Thessalonica. The new believers had become so strong in their faith, they were able to withstand persecutions from the Jews and the Greek cultures.
   Persecution is always present in the church. It seems God has allowed it as a means to test the faith of individuals and his corporate church. God’s will is his church is the light of God unto the world. The light shines brightest when darkness surrounds his people who glow in God’s glory. Allow the King of Glory to build your faith. Be prepared to stand and be a light for your Savior.
 
To the Extreme
 
Acts 19:10-12 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia both Jews and Greeks heard the word of the LORD. 11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
 
PAUL was teaching in the synagogues and debating with people. There was much opposition. But the Spirit kept Paul persistent. And God helped his apostle reveal God as the Holy Spirit’s power miraculously healed the sick.
   Since sin entered the world, God has been making himself known with his creation power. God’s intense love activated his healing miracles through his chosen servant Paul. To the sinner’s mind, the very thought of an eternal God, who would come to earth, live in poverty, suffer severely, die a criminal’s death, then rise again to glory was foolishness!  It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:22)
   The LORD God reveals himself as extreme love. The essence of the gospel is a loving sacrifice for undeserving people. That’s why the LORD  is still making his name known in extreme ways today. There are many, many accounts around the world of similar types of circumstances in which God has healed multitudes. God will overcome sin and heal humanity. To do so he will choose times to gloriously heal the broken. God’s healings bring people to attention. God glorifies his name. He saves lives on earth to change lives for eternity.  

Read 1 Thessalonians
 
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
 
NOTICE the fullness of God working in this new church in Thessalonica. Paul wrote of God the Father. He wrote of the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he taught that all is possible with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.
   Are you a faithful believer in Jesus, your Savior? Thank the Father, Son and Spirit for his good work in your life. Pray to the Trinity for your unsaved friends, family and world. God, one in Three Persons, has come to save his broken world.
 
Jesus is Not on Easy Street
 
1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
 
AS Paul encouraged the Thessalonian church to make your hearts strong, does this challenge you? To make a strong structure requires diligent, good work with the best materials. It’s the same with the heart. Perhaps you’re thinking, “That sounds like work.”
   I was listening to an ad recently for a system to teach foreign languages. For several minutes the promotion was focused on how easy and simple learning a foreign language would be with this system. There was no mention, “You have to diligently work at it.”
   It’s common, also, to read or hear an advertisement that says something like, “Seven Easy Diet Tips” or “Five proven simple ways to get rich.” It seems the human condition has been trained to go to “easy street” to get what we want. If you want people to do something, you need to tell them, “It will be easy”. Do you think that’s one reason Adam and Eve submitted to Satan’s temptation – one bite and they would easily be as God!
   The truth is, you must work diligently to achieve some new skill or changed way of life. Our nature is to sin. To redirect our nature requires good work. You can’t have a strong heart for Jesus is you choose “easy street” Christianity.
   That’s too often our choice, though, isn’t it? We’d like to take a day off from Bible study. Then it’s two days, three days and more. It’s too much “work” to go to church this Sunday, then it’s two Sundays, three Sundays and more. We’d like to take a break from our prayer routine, and then it’s twice, three times and more. After a while, your life with Jesus is so easy, you easily turn to sin. Easy habits easily lead you to an easy, weak heart.
   Are you tempted to look for Jesus on “Easy Street”? Forget it. You won’t find him there. He’s leading a faith workout today. 

Read Acts 16-18:11
 
Acts 16:1-3 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.
 
ONE way God advances the gospel is to join people of various cultures and countries to learn from each other and to work in harmony. Sometimes there are conflicts as Paul’s rejection of John Mark in Acts 15. But God worked even through that issue. Barnabas and Mark would become powerful evangelists into new places to tell the story of Jesus. And Paul would welcome Timothy, a needed helper on his Second Missionary Journey. Timothy proved to be a strong student, evangelist, and true teacher for many years beyond Paul’s lifetime.
   You may wonder why Paul circumcised Timothy. After all, we have read in Galatians of Paul’s passionate plea to the church there to reject circumcision as works. The council of apostles in Jerusalem had also affirmed circumcision was unnecessary to be a Christian.
   But Timothy’s circumcision was not about faith. It was done to remove obstacles he would face among the Jews, who had not yet learned of the new covenant. Timothy’s circumcision was for the sake of the ministry, not for his salvation. Paul wrote about putting mission above self: “Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I also lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this, so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)
   This should help us understand how we can connect with people around us. We must be willing to step into others’ lives in a way that will allow us to truly know them. In relationship, they will be more willing to trust us when we speak of Jesus’ great love for them.
   Evangelism should be an outpouring of our love for Jesus. As we are eager to tell people of our family, be eager to tell people of the Father, Son and Spirit’s work to draw people into God’s household.  

Read Galatians
 
Galatians 1:14-17 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
 
GALATIANS is an epistle, a letter of teaching. This was one way the apostles instructed churches. These epistles may have been addressed to one particular church and then passed on to other churches to expand the instruction. One ongoing theme through many epistles is that God’s grace is the foundation of salvation. One early false teaching in the church was that grace was not enough. Many Jews believed circumcision and other sacrifices were necessary to be saved. Paul wrote to confirm God’s grace is sufficient.
   No one may have been better qualified than he to truly know about grace. Paul was an excellent Jew. He was a top-notch Pharisee, young, ambitious and ready to stand firm for all the law. Then Jesus resurrected Paul from his unbelief. Jesus changed Paul’s passion for the law into compassion to fervently administer God’s gospel of grace. “God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” is a confession for every believer.
   One of the great sources of evidence for God’s existence, the Savior’s resurrection and the Spirit’s power is the Pharisee Saul’s conversion to the apostle Paul. Paul’s life changed as completely as a life can change. His life gained an eternal purpose. And he gained many hardships. Paul quickly left behind the comforts of an exalted standing in the religious system and the culture. Ahead of Paul each day were hardships, disputes, jail and enemies.
   Be assured, faithfully following Jesus will change you – sometimes dramatically, often gradually. People will reject your testimony, “God changed me.” Most unbelievers do not understand that God cares enough for his own to personally transform each life over time to become holy as he is holy.
          Live with a passionate compassion for the world. Be as Paul and generations of Jesus’ saints. Listen to your Lord. Celebrate your salvation. This is God gift to you for you to use for his glory. 

Read Acts 13-15
 
Acts 13:29-31 “When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead! 31 And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.”
 
DO you want evidence Jesus of Nazareth lived, was crucified, dead and buried? Do you need to know he rose again? Then read these Scriptures and believe it.
   Think about this. Paul, the preacher, and Barnabas, his helper, lived the same time as Jesus. They were about his age. Paul, as a Pharisee, would have talked with other Pharisees about Jesus. Barnabas, too, would have heard of Jesus’ miracles and the account of his resurrection. They knew from personal experience about Jesus’ life and death.
   Then Paul personally met the Living Lord. The “resurrection rumors” became resurrection truth for Paul just as it was for the other apostles. Paul’s and the apostles’ fervent preaching of Jesus crucified and resurrected was spoken in the power of absolute knowledge in their mind, heart and soul. Jesus is risen from the dead!
   As Acts records the unstoppable passion of these first preachers, it also tells of vicious assaults against the preaching. Evil minds cannot tolerate the truth. It happened then and happens now. There is no such thing as saying, “This is the worst it has ever been!” because gospel preaching has always encountered lies, rumors, jealousy, evil, brutality and death.
   A gospel preacher has said, “If the church is not at war, it is not the church.” Speaking the truth, we are at war with evil. That’s what Jesus did. That’s what the apostles did. They became martyrs of the war. And that has been the church’s story through the ages.
          Did you know you are called to be a martyr? When we see or hear “martyr” we think of someone who has been persecuted and/or has died for Jesus. But the word actually means “witness”. In that sense we are all martyrs for Jesus if we witness his gospel to the world! This is a holy calling from your holy God. How will you answer? Are you willing to be at war with evil to proclaim Jesus’ victory? 

Read Acts 9:32 thru 12
 
Acts 11:2-3 But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. 3 “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.
 
ACTS 9:1-31 records the great transforming work God did to call Saul, the Pharisee, to become Paul, the apostle. The LORD’s new-life work continued in Acts 9:32-10:48 as he directed Peter to the Gentiles. Note in Peter’s sermons from Acts 2 and in Acts 9, he focused, as Stephen did, on God’s story to create, form and save. The gospel message is very straight-forward if we know God’s Love Story.
   Yes, God’s saving good news flowed to the Gentiles. But what was the Jewish believers’ response? They were enraged that Peter would break the Jews’ law as he entered Cornelius’ home! The men who said, “I confess Jesus as my LORD and Savior.” expressed the same restrictive legalism that Jesus condemned in the Pharisees.
   Did they forget, or did they not know of Jesus entering into “sinners” homes? Had they neglected his healings among the Gentiles? Did they not remember God’s promise to Abraham was for all the nations? And had they not understood Jesus is the Light of the world?
   Fortunately Peter’s testimony of the Spirit’s work changed their minds. God used those occasions to advance the gospel and direct these new experiences to be an education of his purpose and means to his new church.
   The LORD God had formed the Jews as a nation set apart under a specific law that was as no other on earth. He had demanded a separatism to prevent idolatry and worldly influences that would destroy his people’s relationship with him. Thus, the Jews who became Christians had to learn how God’s true nation was changing and expanding.
   These are always lessons for us. The church can become very different when new people come. We must learn how to discern God’s purpose and welcome the ways God expands his gospel into our neighborhoods. Let’s be sure customs and traditions do not block God’s plan. Know what is essential to hold onto. And understand how God is making things new. 

​Read Acts 8:2-9:31
 
Acts 9:3-6 As Saul was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
 
IF anyone says, “God doesn’t force anyone to do what they don’t want to do.” point them to Acts 8-9. Did you notice in Acts 8 how the Holy Spirit moved Philip to the Eunuch and then to Azotus, where he preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:40) God did not ask Philip, “Would you like to do this?” It was the LORD’s will done for his purpose. This is God’s story, not ours.
   Another example of God s unrelenting will upon a chosen servant is Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. This is great evidence for the existence of God and one of Scripture’s most famous passages. Saul was a Pharisee on fire against the Christians. He had letters authorizing him to arrest Christians and take them to Jerusalem for trial. He was opposed to every aspect of that pretender Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. No false Messiah would mislead him!
   Nonetheless, the true Messiah came. He transformed Saul and began to lead him along the road of salvation. This was the last time the man who became apostle Paul would address Jesus as “lord”.
   Paul’s question, “Who are you, lord?” would open Paul’s life in a similar way as the question, “What must I do to be saved?” has opened many a sinners’ hearts to confess and receive Christ. Imagine the shock to Saul’s mind when the reply was, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” The impassioned servant of the law was hearing from the Living Word, who had written the law. From the moment Jesus said, “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saul’s life belonged to Jesus. In Christ he became a new creation. Jesus intruded into Saul’s life to shape him into a servant who would live out Jesus’ commands to disciple the nations.
   Jesus took from Saul each aspect of Saul’s authority. He blinded the man, so Saul would need help, even to walk. A blind man in that culture was seen as weak and cursed. Saul became helpless and could only wait on Jesus’ next moves.
   Jesus sent Ananias to be Paul’s helper. This was a challenge for Ananias to go to this hateful man. But Jesus told him what to do, so Ananias obeyed. Ananias prayed, and Jesus healed Paul’s eyes. (There is evidence Paul did not clearly see again.) Soon Paul became a powerful preacher. The man who was going to ride with authority in Damascus left in a basket over the wall at night. The new man was born again into the kingdom of God.
   Paul then met Barnabas, a man who modeled encouragement to new leaders in Jesus’ church. How quickly the LORD acted to gift people for the gospel’s mission.
   God was on the move then, and of course he is moving today. What has Jesus told you that you must do? Are you willing to get up and do it?
 
 

Read Acts 6:8-8:1
 
Acts 6:5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith)…8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people…13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
 
STEPHEN’s flame was bright and hot for Jesus for just a short time. We meet him with a wonderful phrase as he was chosen among the first deacons: a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:8 tells us, too, he was full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. Perhaps that is why certain Jews from other nations began to accuse him. Was it jealousy? After all, none of his accusers could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. Jealousy is a violent opposer of truth. So they lied about Stephen. They had nothing against him, so they created a crime against this godly man.
   If you want a good summary of God’s Love Story, you’ll find it in Acts 7. Stephen’s defense is not about his innocence. He spoke only of God’s work to create the world, create the Jews, form a nation of law, establish prophets and kings, judge Israel’s crimes and restore them from exile. He taught them of Jesus fulfilling the law. The Stephen declared he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God!
   Indeed, this man was Spirit-empowered. And one might wonder why God would so quickly take Stephen from the earth so soon. But ours is not to wonder of the mysteries of God. Our work is to celebrate the wonderful mystery of God’s Love Story that continues to weave its way through history.
   Stephen’s voice should echo in our souls as we consider who God is, what God has done and how this applies to our lives. Each one saved from sin is a Spirit-empowered human being gifted to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
   Learn God’s story. Tell it to people because so few people know. Rejoice that you, too, will one day see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand! (Acts 7:56)