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The post Offending God (1 Corinthians 10:14-22) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

11/19/23

Do not touch that! Children in every culture must learn the dos and don’ts of their society. The easiest way to learn is by example. Adults in a child’s life ought to model correct behavior. The Apostle Paul gives the Church at Corinth a history lesson, a warning, and encouragement.

The Apostle Paul looked back to Israel’s history during their exodus from Egypt.

The warnings and admonitions took place and were recorded as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as the Hebrews did.

This is the equipping word for us today – no one is immune to temptation, so we should not be overconfident and self-righteous, otherwise we might fall into sin and condemnation just like the Hebrews.

God is faithful to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist, but along with the temptation He has in the past and is now and will always provide the way out. Why would God do this? So you will be able to endure temptations that come in your life and have His complete joy in the process.

The post Sin Brings Death (1 Corinthians 10:1-13) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

11/12/23

Paul faced opposition after being called by God as an Apostle. The religious and nonreligious society opposed him while he ministered in his lifetime and some still oppose him today. He provided clarity for unity.

Paul asked the Church at least nineteen rhetorical questions in order to provoke them to think. He sought to honor God and set the record straight.

Paul vindicated his faith, his call, and his official Apostolic authority. Acts 9:1-22

Paul countered those within the Church at Corinth who questioned the validity of his Apostleship.

Paul summarily cataloged his Apostolic rights and privileges.

Paul restated his purpose. He preached the hope of the Gospel.

Paul was motivated to reach all people with the Gospel with whatever appropriate means necessary.

Paul challenged the Church at Corinth to compete. This challenge would cause the Church to exercise the discipline necessary to grow spiritually and fulfill the will of God. The prize was Christlikeness. Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7,8

Paul used his ministry as an example for others to follow. He believed upon Jesus and was saved. He submitted his life to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He was a student of the Word of God. Galatians 2:20

Paul’s missional lifestyle followed God’s leading and honored God’s call.

Paul gave a Biblical defense for his ministry. In preaching to others he disciplined himself so as not to become disqualified!

While we are not Apostles, we are Christians who are led by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Holy Word of God, called to live self-disciplined, holy lives, and make disciples of the nations through the sharing the Gospel.

The post A Biblical Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-27) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

11/5/23

Christians instinctively know that idolatry is folly. (Isaiah 44:9-20) The Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthian Churches ego over their religious “knowledge.” Some of the Christians in Corinth were hurting their brothers and sisters by being “puffed up” with knowledge they had acquired by their learning, efforts, and their experiences. They were not unified.

Paul acknowledged that the Christians at Corinth had knowledge concerning meats sacrificed to idols. His issue was with their self-righteous arrogance and their lack of unselfish love for others. Knowledge without love amounts to little.

God desires for His Church to build one another up and encourage one another to grow in wisdom. We cannot know what we ought to know pertaining to divine matters without love.

If we love God with awe-filled reverence, obedience, and gratitude we will be greatly loved by Him and be known as His very own! 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Paul declared this truth, “there is but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things that have been created, and we believers exist and have life and have been redeemed through Him.” John 1:1-3

In the Church in Corinth, not all believers had a proper knowledge of God. Before Christ, some of the Corinthians had been accustomed to worshipping idols as real and living. After salvation, their consciences still were weak and they felt guilty and ashamed when they experienced the idol meat market.

“Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, mere knowledge has been a snare to the human race.”

The post In Good Conscience (1 Corinthians 8:1-8) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

10/29/23

God distributes His gifts to His people so that His Church might be in order.

Every Christian is unique and is accountable for his/her choices and conduct.

Every Christian was called by God. God always initiates salvation. John 6:44

Christians must be the person God has called them to be. Our lives must be brought under the authority of God’s Word. Be the best you can be just as you might envision the Lord being.

God becomes priority number one in a Christians life when we abide with Him. We valuable to God, we were bought at a precious price paid by Christ.

The Apostle Paul gives instructions to singles, widows, married, separated, and divorced people. His focus is on living for Jesus in the state you find yourself in.

The Apostle Paul had a focus on the Kingdom. He encouraged the Corinthian Church to look forward to the day of Christ return. We must live daily with the same expectation. This world is passing away and Jesus is coming soon!

God through Paul instructed the Corinthian Church to live as if Jesus was the proper authority in their lives. He wanted the Church to serve God without distractions.

Is it possible to live this Christian life on our own? No, impossible. This is why the Holy Spirit guides us through His holy Word and walks us through this life with brothers and sisters. He will make our paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Is it profitable for a Christian to live life God’s way? Yes. When we do it God’s way, we always get God’s results.

Where are you today with your Christian walk?

Is Jesus a priority in your life?

The post Consider Your Calling (1 Corinthians 7:17-40) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

10/22/23

The Congregation at Corinth had questions. Their culture was so divisive with sexual immorality, they needed guidance. The Apostle Paul helped with their questions head on with God’s holy truth.

Sexual immorality in relationships was within the Church. God provided clarity for believers through the Apostle.

Those who have never married should not have sex outside of marriage. If there is a struggle in thought and action with overpowering sexual temptations, get married.

Husbands and wives must fulfill their marital responsibilities toward one another with goodwill and kindness.

Godly marriage standards are so important, husbands and wives share mutual authority of one another’s bodies. The two have become one and are yoked together for life.

Intimacy is not to be dismissed in marriage except for a time of spiritual retreat which has been agreed upon by both husband and wife. This is the marriage partnership at it’s best.

Satan will attempt to deceive many who lack self-control, especially in the realm of human sexuality.

Paul gave this personal testimony, his singleness was a gift from God.

The unmarried were singles who were formerly married. The widows were singles whose spouse had died. Both groups were challenged to remain celibate unless they lacked self-control. They were instructed to marry if they “burned with passion,” in order not to engage in sexual immorality.

Christian married couples are commanded to keep their marriage vows. God hates divorce.

God commands Christians to live in peace. Personal relationships vary and God has answers for each. Humans complicate the simple plan of God because of selfish desires.

The post Real Questions – Real Answers (1 Corinthians 7:1-16) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

10/15/23

The Apostle Paul taught the Corinthian Church that Christian liberty has limitations. The desires of the flesh should never be allowed to override the Holy Spirit’s gift of self-control. Ephesians 4:17-23

Christians are commanded to live pure, holy lives. 1 Peter 1:3-16

God resurrected Jesus and will resurrect the Believer through His resurrection power. Romans 10:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Christian’s body is set apart by God. When Christ is Lord and Savior of one’s life, that person is unified with God as a member of His body.

Paul emphasized that Believer’s in Jesus Christ are united and joined to the Lord in one spirit.

The Bible is clear that the righteous person must run away from sexual immorality in any form, whether in thoughts, actions, or behavior, whether visual or written. 2 Timothy 2:22

The sin of sexual immorality is an internalized sin. Sin stings and stains. It has lasting affects for all parties involved. God wants pure living from His saints. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

The Believer is also the spiritual temple of God and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, you are expensive property of the Most High God.

Every Believer was bought with a great price. Christians were purchased with the precious, expensive blood of Jesus. Jesus made us His own.

Daily, Christians are to honor and glorify God with their Spirit-filled, earthly bodies. This is part of the Believer’s Biblical stewardship.

Are you living like you are loving Jesus?

How’s your Biblical stewardship?

The post Expensive Body and Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:9-20) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

10/8/23

Paul discouraged secular lawsuits between the Christian community in Corinth. He stressed Church matters should be settled within the Church and not before the world.

Paul insisted the Church place all Christian disputes and wrongdoings before God’s people in order to receive Christ-like outcomes.

The Church is part of the Kingdom Judicial System. One day in the future the Saints of God will judge the world. Paul argued if the world be judged by the Church, in a greater way the petty disputes between Christians ought to be decided within the Church, by the Church. Revelation 20: 4-6

Paul further assured the Church one day in the future the Saints of God will judge and rule over angels. It is God who gives Saints their power, status, and standing in His Kingdom. Matthew 19:27-30; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Peter 2:4-10

The Corinthian Churches leadership was weakened by their self-centeredness. Paul called out the Churches faults. He rightfully judged the Churches poor behavior. He called for competent Christian leadership. It is required of God’s leaders to be bold, full of integrity and wisdom.

Accountability had been disregarded by most of the Corinthian Church until God had had enough and called Paul to correct it. Paul obeyed God.

Paul understood sinful human nature. Christians are capable of defrauding, hurting, maligning, and sometimes even attacking fellow Believers. Scripture is clear that God hates discord and fighting among His children. God corrects those in sin and drives the wrongdoer and the one done wrong to repent, seek reconciliation, seek forgiveness, and reenter right fellowship. Galatians 5:1-26

On God’s behalf, the Apostle Paul demanded the sinful actions of the Church in Corinth be stopped. Through many words he shouted Stop It!

The post Legally Responsible (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

10/1/23

The post I Must Say About Sin What God Says About Sin (1 Corinthians 5) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

9/24/23

God has given the Believer every opportunity to mature in their faith and the ability to be encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-26

Paul specifically saw himself as a servant of God and a steward of the mysteries of God. He understood God demanded him to be faithful and trustworthy.

Paul made it abundantly clear that he was not under human evaluation regarding his ministry but under the judgment of God. He knew God judged faithfully.

Paul forbade the Church from sitting in judgment on other Christians but instructed them to wait on the Lord who will judge the secret things that are hidden in darkness. God discloses the motives of people’s hearts.

Paul made the analogies about factions to himself and Apollos for the Churches benefit. His goal was to teach them not to go beyond what is written in Scripture so that they would not be puffed up and boast in favor of one minister or teacher against the other.

The unmature believers in the Corinthian Church thought they were superior or special in some particular way. They worked diligently to exalt their opinions and influence others with their words.

Paul disclosed the patient trials of the Apostles. He shared their sufferings for Christ. Matthew 5:3-16

Paul reinforced his love for the Corinthian Church which he helped found through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved them like a spiritual father. He sent Timothy to edify the Church.

He recognized that many in the Church remained puffed up with spiritual pride, so he invoked his Apostolic authority and challenged them. He insisted the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power.

Paul asked the Church, shall I come to you with a rod of discipline and correction, or with love and a gentle spirit? They had a choice to make.

The post Puffed Up! (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.