Annie - 1st Corinthians:
My first Corinthians lecture was a success! Thank you to everyone who was praying for me. Thus far, this has been my most challenging lecture to prepare because of the controversial nature of some of the book's content, and its length. This was my first 3 day long lecture. (lectures in SBS generally range from 1 day to 3 days) up until 1 Corinthians, all of my lectures have been 1 day.
God gave me everything I needed to complete the task that he handed me and I am so thankful that I had you behind me in prayer. I definitely felt it!
Our class, looked at the context, historical background, authors intent and importance to the original reader of the book, as we tried to unpack some hot and often misunderstood topics found within its pages. Inductive teaching and study helped shed light on some passages that can often be confusing and misunderstood. It also opened the door for some healthy discussions, about some of the them. Some of the topics addressed in 1st Corinthians are: disunity in the church, women in ministry, head coverings, the trinity, the resurrection, spiritual gifts, orderly worship, laying down of rights, marriage, divorce, sexual immorality, church discipline and more...
After looking at the book inductively, students left with alot more clarity in many of these areas.
Our main focus however, was not the issues, but the solutions...what is at the core issue causing problems in the Corinthian church?...a lack of love. So then, the solution, would be to walk in love. What then, does that look like? This was our highlighted application point.
Woven throughout the book, are examples that help to answer the question, What does true love look like? My conclusion - Love is to take the focus off of ourselves. Throughout the book we see many ways that the 1st century church in Corinth was struggling with the concept of love. They were not walking in a way that was loving to one another. They had taken the focus off of Christ (which is the ultimate example and source of true love) and the result was pride and selfishness. This lack of love led to a selfishness and pride that was at the center of their misunderstandings with one another, and their faith.
Many of the things we see the Corinthian church was struggling with, are still things that the church today struggles with. How can we be a source of truth in those places of hurt in the church and other areas of the world? By walking in a genuine understanding of love. Love is not a feeling, but it is a choice to put someone else's highest and best interests before our own. Sometimes this means doing things that we don't like or even that person doesn't like, in order that they might benefit the most.
Throughout the week, students meditated on how this genuine love is walked out - one of the most powerful ways that we are learning to apply it, is to understand that our lives are not about us! They are about God - they are about sharing his love with the world. They are about glorifying him and being messengers of truth in a broken and hurting world. The minute we take the focus off of him, and start making it about us, we loose the kind of love for others that we are called to walk in.
There are many areas of life where we do this - I used the example in my lecture that for me one area I am learning this in right now is my marriage. My marriage is not about me, it is for Christ. It is for him to accomplish what he wants in and through it. Is it a blessing to me? Absolutely, but that can not be my main motivation in my marriage. The minute I start making it all about me: my needs, wants, desires etc; I loose sight of the truth, I loose sight of Christ and in turn I become selfish and unloving toward my husband.
Students were challenged to look at areas of their own lives where they have made it all about them. I charged them too take their focus off of themselves in that area and be reminded that it is for Christ.
On Monday, at the beginning of class, I asked students to write a personal definition of love on a piece of paper. On Friday, at the end of class, they were given some time to reflect on what they had written a few days prior. Had their definition changed at all after studying 1st Corinthians? If so how, and how can they walk in this new revelation of love? If it hadn't changed, then how has this book shown them a new and practical way to walk out their already correct definition of love? May the power of God continue to open their eyes that they may choose to love every day.
1st Corinthians is a book that I fell in love with two years ago during my SBS. Through the experience of teaching it, I fell in love all over again.
"Let all that you do be done in love" - 1 Corinthians 16:14
Thank you again to everyone who prayed for me. You helped to remind me, as did this amazing book, that it is not by me, but the power of God that I am able.... May it always be less of me and more of him.
- We covet your prayers as Justin prepares to teach 1 Timothy next week (December 11) and I prepare to teach 2 Timothy on December 14th
- An update on Justin's recent 2nd Thessalonians teaching will be posted shortly...stay tuned
We love and appreciate you all, more than we can express,
- Justin & Annie
