Acts 19:23-20:1

My comments in the link below from last year are worth reading, in terms of why the reading list was set up to have an Acts passage interrupt the two Corinthian epistles, but also to follow up on what we read yesterday, that Paul had reversed his earlier plan and decided to go first to Macedonia (Philippi) as he left Ephesus, then on to Achaia (Corinth) so he could spend more time in Corinth (see I Corinthians 16:5).

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. (v. 32) Strange that this verse struck me, but I was thinking that a lot of people in today’s world don’t know why they are doing what they are doing. I started twice to write different musings about this item, that people don’t know why they are doing what they are doing, but my thoughts were not hitting the mark. What is really true in my mind, however, is that we (in this group and in our church) do know why we are doing what we are doing, and we need to share that “why” at every opportunity that the Holy Spirit affords us. Just that…

See also: May 19 (2020) / Acts 19:23-20:1

I Corinthians 16:1-24

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus … for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. (vv. 17-18) There are a couple of other possible translations for the second half of that quote, verse 18. The NASB has “…they have supplied what was lacking on your part.” The NASB also offers a second alternative, “…they made up for your absence.” My sense, as I read these three verses (and all three translations) in the context of the rest of this letter that Paul is feeling some hostility directed toward him from the Corinthians and that these three brothers are bringing good will and good wishes – reporting on the problems in the Corinthian church, but also setting Paul’s mind at ease with their words of encouragement that the situation at Corinth is not as bad as Paul might make it out to be. That’s my understanding.

But my real comment is directed at the first half of that quote, the beginning of verse 17. Paul is rejoicing at this visit from the brothers. Carol and I have made regular visits to missionaries in Czechia and Slovakia. And I assure you, they are refreshed by our visits! We are welcomed into their homes and into their worship services and other fellowship occasions. We are regularly asked to share on these occasions whatever “word” we might have. I write this to encourage the rest of you to consider a missionary visit to someone you know serving overseas or to one of the missionaries that our church supports through our Mission Committee. Or be part of a small mission trip, perhaps to Uganda the next time that a formal trip is organized (in 2022, as I recall). Now you may think that the $$ you spend might be better served as support money for that missionary. You’re wrong! Your visit will refresh their souls! Or, do both – visit and send money!! ?!

See also:

• May 17 (2020) / I Cor. 16:1-12
• May 18 (2020) / I Cor. 16:13-24

I Corinthians 15:35-58

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (v. 49) I think Paul is saying here that we currently bear the image of Adam and Eve, but in the future in our resurrected bodies we will bear the image of Jesus. And the image of the resurrected Jesus is worthy of comment. Mary Magdalene did not recognize the resurrected Jesus, thinking Him to be the gardener. (John 20:11-18) And the two disciples walking along the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them. (Luke 24:13-35) Immediately thereafter when these two disciples were telling their story to the other disciples Jesus appeared in the midst of them and they barely recognized Him, thinking that they were seeing a spirit. (Luke 24:37) Finally, Jesus came through locked doors to meet with His disciples on that resurrection Sunday. (John 20:19) So Jesus was unrecognizable in all these occasions until He revealed Himself.

So I continue to wonder what our resurrected bodies will look like. I comment in the first link below that we will see one another as we knew each other at our various stages in life. Think how television and movies can slowly morph one person’s face into another person’s face. That’s my image of our resurrected bodies, but an instantaneous recognition of that other person, whether that facial feature is the person at age 20 or 40 or 60 or 80. No matter who we meet or where we met in life, we will bear the image of the resurrected Jesus and that’s enough for me!

See also:

• May 15 (2020) / I Cor. 15:35-49
• May 16 (2020) / I Cor. 15:50-58

What a strange morning…! Today we are reading, for me, the most energizing passage in all of Scripture. I hope it’s the same for you! But first… The 12-volt battery on our Camry Hybrid was dead – I’ve known that for about a month, but we hadn’t needed it. Today was the day to get it taken care of. So I went out to see if it would start, just maybe. The first thing that I saw was my left front tire, flat. Flat on the ground, wouldn’t even register on my gauge! Got my air compressor out, got that taken care of. But, no battery – had to jump start it with Rachel’s RAV. Done. Drove 20 minutes to Toyota, thank you Lord! And their power is out, all up and down the street! So we wait. Thankfully I’m connected on my mobile hotspot. What a morning!

But back to today’s reading… Yes, energizing!! Those first 20 verses…!! Multiple witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection…! First, “…in accordance with the Scriptures…” (twice mentioned, in verses 3 and 4); second, six persons/groups of witnesses, “…most of whom are still alive…” (v. 5-8); third, Paul’s reasoned arguments in I Cor. 15:12-19 – seven times using the word “if”; and finally, the capstone – “…we are of all people most to be pitied.” Folks, this section lights me up, like no other passage in all of Scripture!

One other intriguing item… Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian church, a church that is enormously gifted but seriously beset with problems. And after spending time discussing these many problems, Paul writes to this group three of the most beloved passages in all of his letters (maybe in all of Scripture): the Eucharistic celebration in chapter 11, the “love” passage in chapter 13, and this resurrection passage in chapter 15. Very intriguing…!!

Read these verses again, folks, a second or third time. See if you are not energized…!!

See also:

• May 13 (2020) / I Cor. 15:1-19
• May 14 (2020) / I Cor. 15:20-34

I Corinthians 14:20-40

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (v. 33) I remember reading a Christian book, Miracle at Darien, which is the story of a major revival in a (then-?) Episcopal church in Darien, Connecticut. They had hired a new rector who, on his first talk to his new congregation said, “Jesus Christ is the head of this church.” All agreed – nice words. Then a day or two later at a ?prayer meeting? he said the same thing. Again, all agreed. Finally he said the same words at the Vestry meeting, again soon thereafter. The Vestry members were, frankly, tired of hearing these words a third time. Then the rector went on to explain that if Jesus Christ were the head of this church that He would be present at the Vestry meetings and that the Vestry would agree unanimously on decisions that had to be made, knowing that Jesus Himself had a voice in those decisions. The church was transformed!

Which brings me to our church’s decision in 2019 to move from two services to one and the sad fallout from that decision. What did we miss? God is not a God of confusion but of peace. Yet peace was not the outcome of that decision. As we have moved forward, mostly I’ve come to the conclusion (the hope?) that God is working in our midst and working in the hearts of those who left and those who stayed. Our task is to pray for our church and for those who left and trust that they are doing the same, praying for those they left behind and those with whom they are now worshiping. God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

See also:

• May 11 (2020) / I Cor. 14:13-25
• May 12 (2020) / I Cor. 14:26-40

I Corinthians 14:1-19

Paul was not present at the first Pentecost celebration. Otherwise he might have referenced that day when …suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4) In today’s reading Paul is not dismissing or diminishing the gift of tongues – he simply wants to put that gift “in its place”. Personally he lauds the gift of tongues: Now I want you all to speak in tongues… [and] I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. (vv. 5, 18) But more than the gift of tongues, Paul is all about “building up the church”. (v. 12b)

The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself… (v. 4, NASB; the ESV has “builds himself up” in place of “edifies himself”). My Study Bible explains this verse in these words: “This edification does not involve the mind, since the speaker does not understand what he has said. It is a personal edification in the area of the emotions, of deepening conviction, of fuller commitment and greater love.” Someone in our Men’s Group asked me a few weeks ago what it felt like to speak in tongues. I gave some response, whatever I said, but this explanation from my Study Bible seems to sum up for me the emotion that is the gift of tongues. I can attest to the “deepening conviction” and the “fuller commitment”, and I have to trust that the “greater love” has followed. I certainly know that “greater love” was there the first time I spoke (prayed) I tongues!! But that’s another story!

See also:

• May 10 (2020) / I Cor. 14:1-12
• May 11 (2020) / I Cor. 14:13-25

I Corinthians 13:1-13

When I read this chapter I find myself focused on my love for Carol and how I rate on each of these love-attributes. Sadly, I fall short on all too many! Then I also think of God’s love for us, especially that He “bears all things, … endures all things”, and how He must get frustrated with us, yet He continues to love us with love immeasurable! Then this morning I went one step further and thought of people in our church and people outside our church and asked myself how I rated for each of those groups on these love-attributes. I find that with almost every sentence in I Cor 13:4-7 I can point to someone where my love fails on this attribute toward that one (or more) person(s). About the only exception that I can find is that I don’t think that I “rejoice at wrongdoing”. If I see wrongdoing I am sad, not happy. But then I see my own problem of failing to bear or endure that wrongdoing. I can’t win!! But I know that God forgives me in my weaknesses and I can move on, praying that I can get better at living out verses 4 through 7: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

See also: May 9 (2020) / I Cor. 13:1-13

I Corinthians 12:1-31

Yesterday my comments had to do with the Sacramental Stream in our Three Streams theology. Today it is the Spirit Stream – specifically the gifts of the Spirit. There were some real hesitations in our Men’s Group’s initial discussions of the Spirit Stream. Changing the wording to “Spirit-filled Stream” helped a bit. But it is my observation that people who are troubled over this Spirit Stream are looking at the manifestations of the Spirit (the Pentecostal/Charismatic speaking in tongues, hand-waving, healing ministries, etc.), not the gifts of the Spirit or the fruits of the Spirit. Paul’s lesson in today’s reading focuses on the gifts of the Spirit. In verse 28 hand-waving is nothing, healing is listed fourth, and tongues comes last of all: And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. I think this is the only place where Paul places a ranking on these spiritual gifts. He has a similar listing in Ephesians 4:11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers… , but no ranking anywhere else of which I am aware. (See also Romans 12:6-8.) So let’s embrace this Spirit Stream and the gifts that He gives. We’ll deal with the fruits later.

See also:

• May 7 (2020) / I Cor. 12:1-14
• May 8 (2020) / I Cor. 12:15-31

I Corinthians 11:23-34

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (v. 26) As I read today’s reading I picture myself at St. Andrew’s during our Eucharistic celebration. I see the host being lifted and Jay speaking Jesus’ words, then the same for the chalice. Then I picture myself going forward for communion. All this is the epitome of the sacramental aspect of our “Three Streams” theology, what we often refer to as the “Catholic Stream”, which was so important to me in my early Christian formation. And picturing all that I call to mind Mark Royster’s Lenten Three Streams teaching on the Sacramental Stream. It was powerful. I would encourage you all to watch his video presentation on the Sacramental stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T51XNmSz43U. (After introductory prayer and comments, Mark’s teaching begins almost 11 minutes into the video.) Worthy…!

Nothing more to say…

See also: May 6 (2020) / I Cor. 11:17-34