Student Devotional Week 37: Spiritual Gifts: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 4 of 4)

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:11, "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Maybe it's been a while since you put a puzzle together, but have you ever really studied a puzzle's pieces? They look like something out of a Picasso painting with their multiple legs, odd-shaped curves, and no hard edges (except for those blessed border pieces). No pieces seem identical. They all have a unique place to fill in the big picture, and the portrait won't be complete until every last one of them is in place.

God's Church is made in much the same way-as a puzzle. When you become a part of the Church, you receive a spiritual gift of some kind. One person may be given the ability to lead, another the ability to encourage, and still another the ability to make people feel welcome. No matter who you are, everyone gets a gift.

The Church functions like it's supposed to when all of us, like puzzle pieces, fit together and do our parts. Leave a piece out, and it's just not the same. Because you have this gift, you're a very important-even indispensable-part of the Church. Paul made this a top concern when he was teaching his churches so they'd understand that no one can walk alone. Churches aren't filled with spectators but with unique Christians, each with a role to play in the spiritual masterpiece of the Church.

This week we're going to look at what spiritual gifts are and how to determine which gifts you have.

Student Weekly Devotional Week 36: Communion: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 3 of 4)

Key Verse: Acts 2:32 "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."

Little cups filled with grape juice. Little pieces of bland bread. Must be communion time again. We've all probably participated in communion, but do we actually understand what's going on? In the rituals supposedly included cannibalism-at least that's what some had to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus. I guess to an outsider it does sound strange, but communion is an intimate and precious thing to a Christian.

Jesus asked us to regularly take part in communion. It's a continual reminder of Christ's sacrifice and constant union with us. If we don't keep this in mind, then we could miss out on the spiritual impact that communion can bring. Paul taught the churches to practice communion, but he had harsh words for those who failed to approach the communion table properly (for example, the Corinthians).

Does communion make sense to you? It's one of the church's most intensely personal traditions. This week we're going to spend some time looking at what happens when we take communion. Why did Jesus tell us to keep doing it? what's it about anyway? Look deep this week; there may be much more going on than you've ever imagined.

Student Devotion Week 35: Accountability: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 2 of 4)

Key Verse: Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

I never would've survived high school without my best friends. Together we had some of the best years of our lives, but we also kept each other from straying away from Christ. We were accountable to one another.

In week 9 we figured out that if we're going to have integrity as a church, then we can't let sin go unchecked. That's easy enough when we're the problem, but it gets a little harder when we have to tell someone else what they're doing in wrong. That's where accountability comes in.

As Paul planted churches, he didn't forget about them once he left. While he traveled, he routinely kept track of them and even made return visits to make sure they stayed healthy. So when Paul found out the Corinthians were allowing sin to go unchecked, he wrote a letter to keep them accountable to their commitment to Christ.

Every now and then we'll have friends who stray off the path. When that happens, we need to be there to help them get back on the right track, just like we'll need them to help us. I know it sounds unpleasant, and it can get messy. But when we actually start holding each other accountable, you'll be surprised how much it helps your own spiritual life. Instead of dealing with sin on your own, you can tackle it with the help of your Christian friends. But it starts when we're honest about our own lives and open to listening to others when they confront us.

Ready? Let's figure out how we can hold each other accountable this week.

Student Devotion Week 34: Internal Divisions: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 1 of 4)

Key Verse: Romans 12:16, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

Have you ever felt betrayed-like when you found out your best friend was talking about you behind your back? It's worse-much worse-than finding out your worst enemy is trashing you. We expect that kind of treatment from our enemies but not from our friends. As Christians I believe we're ready to fight spiritual forces that are set against us and even people who don't believe in Christ. But it's a shock to realize you'll often end up fighting other people in your church.

Paul experienced this firsthand. While on his third missionary journey, in Ephesus, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. After wading through angry mobs of pagans in town after town, Paul found out that the believers in Corinth were fighting amongst themselves. The same thing happens today. Almost all of us know of a church that's split over some trivial matter like the color of the carpet. What's going on? Satan will never fight fair. If he can sabotage churches, then he's more than willing to do so.

This week we'll look at some internal problems that cropped up in the New Testament Church and see how God wants us to deal with them today. Any conflict can be defeated when we allow Christ and his truth-not our prideful opinions-to be our guide.

Student Devotion Week 33: A Night's Vision: Paul in Corinth

Key Verse: Acts 18:9-10, "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.'"

While I was on a mission trip to Mexico, some policemen rounded up a bunch of guys in our worship service and led them outside-they walked right past me. One policeman told me they were some local gang members causing trouble. I asked if they could stay, but I was ignored. Too bad, I thought. I wish they could have heard the gospel. Suddenly I felt God leading me to tell these guys about Jesus. My response to God was that talking to gang members was not my spiritual gift. God didn't buy it. So, scared to death, I went to the parking lot to chase down 12 gang members and tell them about Christ.

My situation was a cakewalk compared to what Paul endured. As he traveled on his missionary journeys, people routinely wanted to kill him. This always makes me wonder if Paul ever got scared. The answer must be "yes," since in Acts 18 Paul received a special vision from God reminding Paul that God would always be with him. Armed with that confidence, Paul never wavered as he preached and taught.

God may ask us to to do things that are frightening, but he'll always be with us. And while our fear may not go away completely, we can have faith in God that he won't let us down. This week we'll look at how to find courage in the midst of difficult ministry moments.

Student Devotion Week 32: The Unknown God: Paul in Athens

Key Verse: Acts 17:31, "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Imagine you get a chance to travel back in time and explore your favorite period of history. It sounds great at first, but then try explaining your world to the people living in that time. How would you describe electricity to someone from the Middle Ages? Those people would have a hard time understanding you because they have no frame of reference. Since they've never even imagined some of the things you're describing, they'd probably give you some funny looks. In Acts 17:16-34 Paul found himself in a similar situation as he tried to explain Christ to the people in Athens, who had no frame to reference for a resurrected Messiah. While some people thought Paul was crazy, Paul got through to the Athenians by finding out what they knew and starting from there. Witnessing to people isn't easy; but if we love them, then we'll do our best to paint a clear picture for them. There are people around you who have no idea what a personal relationship with Jesus is-or how to have one. And you may be the only person they know who can tell them. What will you say? Like Paul, this week we're going to figure out a game plan so we can meet people where they are and take the gospel to those who may have never heard Jesus' name.

Student Devotional Week 31: The Church Expectant: The Return of Christ

Key Verse: Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

As a kid, I could never sleep on Christmas Eve. I was too excited. who knew what would be waiting for me under the tree when I got up? Would I get all the things I asked for? Expectation is a powerful force in our lives. It gives us hope, makes us excited, and helps us overcome obstacles and setbacks. But as believers, we aren't waiting for a present under a tree; we're waiting for the return of Christ!

As Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, he wrote to the churches he'd visited or helped start. These letters would eventually become many of the books of the New Testament. While on his second missionary journey, Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. Like a child on Christmas morning, the members of the church were anxious for the return of Christ. But they also had some questions, such as, "What happens to those people who died before Christ came to earth?" Paul answered their questions in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

When Jesus comes again, everything will change. We'll get new bodies, we'll see our loved ones who have died, and we'll live forever with God. In the meantime God has given us a task to accomplish, and it may not always be an easy one. But if we keep our eyes focused on heaven, then we'll remember what we're fighting for. We should never settle for sin.

This week we'll look at the future of the Church and how that future helps us live here and now.