In Ephesians 4:11-16 we’re given eight characteristics of the calling of God upon His people. God gives gifts to His church for His glory and the edification of His body. When we grow in grace, humble ourselves before the Lord, and are filled with the fullness of Christ the church thrives and the joy of the Lord permeates through the lives of God’s people.

The word “believe” appears around 100 times in the gospel of John. The Apostle John tells us his reason for writing his gospel letter, “..that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Though the entire gospel letter points to salvation in Christ there’s one verse that perhaps sums up the message best. Many refer to it as the most popular verse in the Bible.

The Greek word “hikanos” translated as adequate can mean sufficient, worthy, or enough. The Lord made sure to remind the Apostle Paul regularly that he was not “hikanos”. He was not sufficient in and of himself. The fact is nobody is. The believers only sufficiency comes from Jesus Himself who said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” The paradox of the Christian life is that we are both not sufficient and we are sufficient. Paul points this out to his Corinthian readers while reminding them that no matter what we go through in life we always triumph through Christ Jesus our Lord.

If there was a theme that could sum up the ministry of the Apostle Paul perhaps it would be the saying “As sorrowful yet always rejoicing.” Paul knew deep suffering and he also knew the fullness of joy found in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians Ch.2 begins with the Apostle bearing his heart regarding his own sorrows and those experienced by the Corinthian church. He then turns his attention to an unnamed man, and closes with the ways to overcoming ignorance in regards to the works of darkness.

The Cambridge dictionary defines integrity as, “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change.” As Paul and his ministry team receive judgements from the Corinthian church, he responds with arguments defending his integrity. The close of the first chapter of 2nd Corinthians paves the way for the rest of the letter. Patience, long suffering, and truth will guide the way as the Apostle attempts to win the hearts and minds of the Corinthians to the Lord.

The epistle of 2nd Corinthians begins with a man who is wearing his heart on his sleeve. He’s been through too much and he has nothing to hide. The sorrows of life have become so excessive, he has nowhere else to turn but to God. Some claimed that his sufferings, coupled with his mangled speech and unimpressive appearance, proved he wasn’t even an apostle. Paul turns it around and shows that these are the very characteristics that make him fit for the ministry. He would allow nothing to get in the way of him serving and glorifying his King.

As the letter of 1st Corinthians comes to an end were introduced to several faithful ministers of the gospel. These servants, like many others mentioned in the Scripture, are held in high regard for their dedication to the Lord. The Apostle then sends several greetings to the Corinthians and closes with a sober warning. With his ministry marked by an abundance of grace and truth, it’s fitting that the Apostle closes where he does—the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and a dire warning to those who don’t love Him.

Throughout the Old Testament God calls Israel’s attention back to the Exodus. Over seventy times God tells them to remember what happened there and who it was that set them free. The story of the Exodus foretells and depicts the gospel message where Christ our Passover Lamb triumphed over his enemies and proclaimed freedom to those who put their faith in Him.

As the Apostle Paul begins to give his closing remarks to the Corinthian church, he encourages them to set aside a collection on the first day of the week for the saints in Jerusalem. In the midst of all of Paul’s pursuits he never forgot the poor.

Paul then shares his intent to send his brother’s in Christ to minister to the Corinthians and closes his beginning section with five powerful commands to the church. If the Corinthians could obey this short list of commands their church would be radically transformed.

The Apostle Paul continues his arguments for the resurrection in 1 Corinthians Ch. 15 turning to earthly analogies and comparisons of Christ and Adam. He then shifts to a timeline of the end including the last trumpet and the manner in which the perishable will take on the imperishable, and the mortal immorality. The glorious event will finally and completely deal with death once and for all as it is written, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The victory is found in Christ who always leads us in triumph. All the service and work and labors and toils unto to Him are not done in vain—He sees it, He will reward it, and He is worthy of it all.