Isaiah

Love is the shift - a reflection on Advent, week 4 (Isaiah 9:2, 1 John 1:5b, 4:16b)

Love is the shift - a reflection on Advent, week 4 (Isaiah 9:2, 1 John 1:5b, 4:16b)

CS Lewis once quipped, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen ... not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else." And in an Advent twist, this enables a perspective about Christmas that should bring a smile to your face.

#1173: Will our spiritual bodies be non-material? | 1 Corinthians 15 | Isaiah 61-62 | Psalm 128

#1173: Will our spiritual bodies be non-material?  | 1 Corinthians 15 | Isaiah 61-62 | Psalm 128

When Paul talks about us having spiritual bodies, does that mean they’ll be non-material? Spoiler alert: no. And I’ll share why on the other side.

#1170: How do spiritual gifts reflect the Trinity? | 1 Corinthians 12 | Isaiah 54-55 | Proverbs 14:27-35

#1170: How do spiritual gifts reflect the Trinity? | 1 Corinthians 12 | Isaiah 54-55 | Proverbs 14:27-35

1 Corinthians 12 is one of the more popular chapters in the Bible precisely because it addresses spiritual gifts. And while that’s not wrong, it’s useful to see it in the greater context of what Paul’s been talking about. One part of that, then, you might guess given our focus question today is, “How do spiritual gifts reflect the Trinity

#1168: In what did Paul ground his argument? | 1 Corinthians 11 | Isaiah 48-50:3 | Proverbs 14:23-26

#1168: In what did Paul ground his argument? | 1 Corinthians 11 | Isaiah 48-50:3 | Proverbs 14:23-26

In what does Paul ground his argument? Right up front you’re going to hear him argue “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ (1 Co 11:3–4, CSB),” but he’s not arguing for an order of authority, he’s assuming it as he applies to to a couple problematic particularities in Corinthian worship services.

#1166: Why celibacy and singleness? | 1 Corinthians 7 | Isaiah 45:14-47:15 | Proverbs 14:22

#1166: Why celibacy and singleness? | 1 Corinthians 7 | Isaiah 45:14-47:15 | Proverbs 14:22

If you think about it, whatever the length of your life here, an eternity in heaven is going to utterly dwarf your 60 or 80 or 100 years here. When you look at it this way, it kinda puts it all in perspective, especially when you think about how much time we spend pursuing earthly things like our sexual desires. Why celibacy and singleness? Today on #forthehope.

#1165: What is an "a priori" objection? | 1 Corinthians 6 | Isaiah 43:14-45:13 | Proverbs 14:13-15

#1165: What is an "a priori" objection? | 1 Corinthians 6 | Isaiah 43:14-45:13 | Proverbs 14:13-15

Today I’m going to teach you a four dollar word, and I don’t actually care if you remember it. What I do hope is to help you sharpen your ear when you’re in dialogue with people. So sit tight, and we’ll answer today’s focus question: What is an “a priori” objection?

#1164: When should you judge someone? | 1 Corinthians 5 | Isaiah 41:21-43:13 | Proverbs 14:7-12

#1164: When should you judge someone? | 1 Corinthians 5 | Isaiah 41:21-43:13 | Proverbs 14:7-12

Today and tomorrow you’re going to hear Paul talking about specific sins. And at the end of today you’ll hear Paul talk about judging people. What?!? Didn’t Jesus say we’re not supposed to judge people? Well, we will get to that after we read when we get to answering today’s focus question: “When should you judge someone?”

#1163: When is “beyond what is written” okay? | 1 Corinthians 4 | Isaiah 40-41:20 | Psalm 65

#1163: When is “beyond what is written” okay? | 1 Corinthians 4 | Isaiah 40-41:20 | Psalm 65

Today you’re going to hear Paul use the phrase, “nothing beyond what is written.” You might guess what the means, but I want you to hear it in context of the passage today that’s about Christian leaders and our focus question, “When is it okay to go beyond what is written?”

#1161: What is Biblical wisdom? | 1 Corinthians 2 | Isaiah 36-37 | Psalm 118 |

#1161: What is Biblical wisdom? | 1 Corinthians 2 | Isaiah 36-37 | Psalm 118 |

We often think of wisdom in kinda abstract terms, but it’s ultimately practical…wisdom is skill for living. Now lest you think — and rightfully so — that that could be how you might think about it in a secular sense, that’s exactly why we have focus questions here. So today as we knock down a short 1 Co 2, keep an ear out — and we’ll wrap up the day by highlighting a key distinction that’s worth remembering.

#1160: Why are 'group letters' important to you? | 1 Corinthians 1 | Isaiah 33-35 | Proverbs 14:4-6

#1160: Why are 'group letters' important to you? | 1 Corinthians 1 | Isaiah 33-35 | Proverbs 14:4-6

You are having a conversation with a friend, somehow end up on the topic of the Bible, and your friend says, “But all we have are copies of copies copies, AND there are a zillion errors in it.” What do you say?