1 Corinthians 9 is a chapter where the Apostle Paul defends his rights as an apostle and discusses the principles of self-sacrifice and serving others for the sake of the gospel. In the same message Cam and I discuss whether or not one can lose their salvation. We know these are big topics so please follow along and feel free to reference each verse we mention. Bible Verses: Deuteronomy 25:4 1 Timothy 5:18 Acts 16:3 John 6:37-39 John 10:28-30 Romans 8:38-39

Paul addresses an issue that is just the tip of the iceberg. He initially brings up eating food sacrificed to idols, but this is just one scenario as there are many things that Christians can eat, drink, say, or do, to turn others away from God. If you read Matthew 15, where Jesus talks about what makes a person unclean you'll see it's not what is consumed that defiles a person, but what comes from the heart. Jesus and Paul are addressing things that stem from the heart, not things consumed. Take a listen and tell me what you think!

The church of Corinth has questions and Paul answers them. It's okay for Christians to have questions about the Bible, and it's not shameful for the wise men and women in the church to answer. That's what Paul does except these questions pertain to marriage and circumcision - should members in the church marry and should they get circumcised? Both are very different questions with two very different answers, but Paul answers with wisdom and according to God's word.

Cam and I discuss the purpose of prophecies for the first half of the podcast. We eventually found our way to 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul addresses the solution to the church's problem, that being marriage. In chapter 7 he reminds the church of God's commandment but then gives his personal recommendation on marriage vs. not marrying.

The church of Corinth is facing some serious allegations, but it's not what you think. Paul finds out that the church of Corinth is playing with fire by living in sinful behavior all the while proclaiming to be Christians. No one is perfect, but the church is blatantly living in sin for all to see, but also living in division. Paul writes a series of letters addressing the unity and integrity of their faith reminding them to live and love as Christ does. It's not easy to live the Christians life, just as it's not easy holding others accountable as Paul does. I believe this chapter is two fold: the first is for the believer living in sin, and the second for other believers boldly holding other accountable.

This chapter is tough. Paul addressed a certain man in the church who is not only living in sin, but also boasting about it. It's so bad that even church members have joined him in boasting in the matter. Today's episode is about how to biblically address serious problems in the church and properly hold each other accountable.

In this next chapter Paul continues to address the division in the church, except this time he clarifies that he states he's their spiritual father. This establishes a role leaders in the church have to students, new believers, and even long time members in the church. Those who have been selected to lead in the church whether head pastor, youth pastor, small group leader, worship leader, etc., they have an obligation to be spiritual parents when someone strays from God's will. As spiritual parents you have the option to either discipline with love or discipline with a rod. Of course it's not easy to disciple anyone much less members in the church, but it must come from love and not hatred.

Before Jesus went to the Father, he preached that we (the believer) are unified through him. Just as there is one death, one burial, one resurrection, and one God, we should be one church. Division has always been around since the first church, but Paul addresses the issue that just because some follow Apollos and some follow Paul doesn't mean there should be division but only UNITY. Set aside the differences and ask yourself the real question, "who is Christ and what does he mean to you?"

In Chapter 2, Paul explains to the church that proclaiming the gospel is not about lofty words or an amazing speech but is about Jesus. We live in a generation where most people cling to a church based on how the speaker makes them feel or if the worship is good. It's not bad to attend a church where the speaker is good and worship is amazing, but we lose focus when those things become our main priority for attending any church service. The purpose of church, the purpose of small groups, the purpose of worship is to come to the feet of Jesus because he's all that we need and nothing else!

Paul always starts off his message with a greeting and it doesn't surprise me that he even encourages the church of Corinth. At the same time he doesn't waste time before he begins addressing conflict amongst the other believers. Some follow after Paul, others after Apollos, and others might even follow the other disciples, but in the end we're all unified through Christ. Jesus didn't die individual deaths for each church or each member, but he died once for all so that we might be unified THROUGH him!