07012014 @ CCF Daily Devotion HOW CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BEHAVE Bible Reading: Acts 18:1-11 https://biblegateway/audio/mclean/niv/Acts.18 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. 9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Our reading today gives us the story of the beginning of one of the most remarkable churches in New Testament times. The church at Corinth was one of the most gifted churches; it could have been one of the largest. It also seems to have had the most problems. Because of all this, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write at least twice to the Corinthian church, telling them how to behave as church members and also instructing them in some of the basic truths of the Gospel. It will help us to study again the teaching Paul gave. Over the next two weeks we will be reading the first six chapters of the epistle to the Corinthians. We will come back to it again later in the book. One of the basic problems facing Christians today is this: How can we live as Christians in a Christless world? Do the old standards still apply? Is our faith only something we believe with our minds or does it work out in daily life? Is our Christian faith personal, practical, alive and vital? The first epistle to the Corinthians clearly sets out some definite principles for Christian living. It is one of the most searching and one of the most thorough of all the epistles as it speaks to us on a number of subjects. For example, here you will find some of the longest passages on division in the church, on separation from the world, on marriage, on speaking in tongues, on love, on the resurrection and on the second coming of Christ. It is a wonderful book. You will enjoy reading and studying it even if some of the problems raised still do not have easy solutions. If you want to know how to live for Christ in a Christless world, you have some wonderful readings ahead of you.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:47:36 +0000