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Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 13

Theme                             : Love

This passage is the central chapter in Paul’s lengthy discussion of spiritual gifts, that is, the “more excellent way” in which God has planned for all of the gifts to operate.

1. The importance of love (13:1-3). The health of spiritual living is not reflected in spiritual gifts, but in spiritual fruit, the first and chief of which is love (Gal 5:22). It is through the fruit of the Spirit that God gives the motivation and power to minister His gifts. Without the motivation of love, all the things that we do – be it prophecy (proclaiming God’s truth), knowledge, faith, benevolence or martyrdom – is counterproductive and is all nothing.
2. The qualities of love (13:4-7). Love is active, not abstract or passive. Only when love acts, then it is fully love (1 John 3:18). Here, Paul focuses on what love does and does not in order to help us understand how to apply it in our lives. This beautiful portrait of love is a portrait of Jesus Christ, who has lived out in perfection all of these virtues of love.
3. The permanence of love (13:8-13). In contrast to spiritual gifts which are temporary, partial and elementary, love is permanent. It cannot fail because it shares God’s nature and eternity. Gifts, ministries, faith, hope, patience, all one day will cease to exist because they will cease to have purpose or meaning. But in that perfect day when we see our Lord “face to face”, love will just be a beginning for us.

Praying the Scripture

1. In contrast to the world’s definition of love as “romantic feeling” or “attraction”, true love (agape) is above all sacrificial. It sacrifices self for the sake of others, even for others who may care nothing at all for us and who may even hate us. It is not a feeling, but a determined act of will, which always results in determined acts of self-giving. This supreme measure and example of agape love is God’s love, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Love is so much an absolute of the Christian life that Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another (John 13:34) as the supreme mark of discipleship to Him. We do not have to manufacture love, we only have to share the love we have been given “because the love of God has been poured our within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom 5:5). Let’s pray that we will be determined to do everything in love as prescribed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
2. Paul strengthens his emphasis on the supreme nature of love by comparing love’s permanence to the impermanence of three spiritual gifts: prophecy, tongues and knowledge. Though we are told here that all three gifts would someday cease to exist, two different verbs are used to indicate their cessation. For the gifts of prophecy and knowledge, they will be made inoperative (“pass away”) by something outside themselves one day. But the gifts of tongues will stop (“cease”) by itself like a battery with limited lifespan. Let’s pray that we will seek love as the greatest gift by practicing and living love now in our temporal life.

经文：哥林多前书13

主题：爱

这篇经文是保罗对属灵恩赐的冗长论述中的核心篇章。这就是神策划所有恩赐当行的“最妙的道”。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 12

Theme                            : Spiritual Gifts         

This passage introduces the section (chap 12-14) that focuses on spiritual gifts. Like much of the church today, the Corinthian church was seriously affected by counterfeiting as well as by misunderstanding and misuse of spiritual gifts. Such perversion of spiritual gifts was largely due to ideas and practices they had dragged from their pagan society into the church.

1. True spiritual gifts vs counterfeit gifts (12:1-3). Spiritual gifts are special equipment for ministry that the Holy Spirit gives in some measure to all believers and that are to be wholly under His control and used for Christ’s glory. A way to determine which gifts are true and godly and which were counterfeit and satanic is to compare if it agrees with Scripture.
2. The source and purpose of spiritual gifts (12:4-7). Spiritual gifts are not given as privilege or prestige, but as tools of ministry. The Lord gives them to His servants so they can serve, and He gives them for a limitless variety of services to manifest the Holy Spirit and edify the church.
3. The diversity and unity of spiritual gifts (12:8-31). Spiritual gifts fill two major purposes: the permanent gifts edify the church and the temporary gifts are signs to confirm the Word of God. Each gift is supernaturally given by one and the same Spirit, who also energise and make effective the gifts He sovereignly gives. The diversity of spiritual gifts are to express and strengthen the unity they have in their Lord Jesus Christ. However, unless each diverse member recognises and accepts his part in the whole body, diversity will divide rather than unite.

Praying the Scripture

1. Spiritual gifts are special capacities bestowed on believers to equip them to minister supernaturally to one another. There are a multiplicity of gifts which falls into two general types – speaking or verbal gifts (prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, teaching and exhortation) and serving or non-verbal gifts (leadership, helps, giving, mercy, faith and discernment). It is best to see each person’s gift as a unique blend of the categories of giftedness. Every gift is spiritual and important and each person is to exercise his / her gifts to serve one another (cf. 1 Pet. 4:10). However, there are two primary reasons some Christians never get involved in ministry. Some feel they have no gifts or abilities that are worthwhile and so they sit back and let others do the work (12:15-17) while some feel so highly qualified that they do not need the help of others to perform their ministry (12:21). Such individualism of inferiority or individualism of pride is never biblical or pleasing to God. Rather, all of us are responsible to discover and gratefully use the gifts that the Lord has given to each of us. Let’s pray that we will faithfully use the spiritual gifts that God has given us to serve Him and the church.
2. Permanent gifts are given to believers for the duration of the church age while temporary sign gifts were limited to the apostolic age and therefore cease after that time. These temporary gifts include healing, miracles, languages and the interpretation of languages. As B.B. Warfield wrote, “these miraculous gifts were part of the credentials of the apostles, as authoritative agents of God in founding the church. Their function confined them distinctly to the apostolic church, and they necessarily passed away with it.” Let’s pray that we will be able to discern between true and counterfeit spiritual gifts.

经文：哥林多前书12

主题：属灵恩赐

这段经文既是对12-14章有关属灵恩赐的介绍。如今日的许多教会一样，哥林多教会受到假教导的严重影响，并对属灵恩赐有错误的认识及应用。这歪曲大部分是因着他们把外邦社会的思想及做法搬入到教会而造成的。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 11

Theme                            : Order in the church           

In this passage, Paul gave instructions on how order in the church is maintained by 1) subordination of women in the church and 2) proper celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

1. The subordination and equality of women (11:1-16). One foundational way that Satan feverishly tries to upset the divine order is by perverting the male-female roles and relationships, which has found its way into the Corinthian church. However, men and women were not on the same level of function in God’s design. In setting the divine order in male-female roles, Paul established that women are to be submissive to men because of the relationship in the Godhead (v.3), the divine design of male and female (v.7), the order of creation (v.8), the role of woman (v.9), the interest of the angels (v.10) and the characteristics of natural physiology (v.13-15). Yet as far as saving and sanctifying grace is concerned, a woman comes as deeply into communion with God as a man.

2. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34). The early church had special fellowship meals called love feasts (Jude 12) which usually closed with the observance of Communion. Though the Corinthian church followed this custom, yet they had turned the meals into gluttonous, drunken revelry which involved selfish indulgences, shaming the poorer brethren, mocking the Lord’s sacrificial death and scandalizing the church before the unbelieving world around them. Such abuses of the Communion had obscured its divine purpose and destroyed its sanctity. Therefore, Paul admonished the Corinthians to come worthily to the communion by examining themselves and to honor Christ in order to avoid God’s chastening.

Praying the Scripture

1. The principle of male authority and female subordination is not a traditional custom, but a principle established by God for the purpose of order and complementation. In God’s unique design, man is to be the head, leader and provider while woman is to be the helper (Gen 2:20), supporter and companion. However, the man’s proper authority does not make him independent of woman, nor does her proper subordination make her alone dependent. Therefore, man as a fellow creature has no innate superiority to woman and has no right to use his authority tyrannically or selfishly. Let’s pray that the men and women in our church will lovingly follow the divine order in order for us to be a strong and effective church.

2. When we come to the Lord’s table, we remember Christ’s work on the cross (11:25), proclaims salvation in Christ (11:24-25) and anticipates the return of the Lord (11:26). If we come with anything less than the loftiest thoughts of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, anything less than total love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we come unworthily to the Lord’s table. Therefore, we must always give ourselves a thorough self-examination before we partake, looking honestly at our hearts for anything evil. If we confess our sins, wrong attitudes and motives, God “is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Let’s pray that we will not come to the Communion unworthily and ritualistically, but to come with proper discernment and response to the holiness of the occasion.

经文：哥林多前书11

主题：教会里的秩序

在这段经文中，保罗给予指示，吩咐教会秩序包括：1）妇女在教会中的顺服；及2）庆祝圣餐的正确方式。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 10

Theme                             : The Proper Use of Christian Liberty       

After explaining how using our freedom affects others in chapter 8 and 9, Paul now shows how our use of freedom affects our own life.

1. The abuse of liberty (10:1-13). Though all Israel had been graciously liberated and blessed by the Lord, most of them had failed the test of obedience and service by abusing their freedom and blessings. They had not brought their bodies under control, but had indulged their every desire, lust and craving by falling into idolatry (Ex. 32:6), immorality (Num. 25:1-2) and rebelliousness (Num. 16:41, 21:5). Therefore, they were disqualified in their spiritual life and lose their usefulness as their bodies scattered about the wilderness like pieces of broken vessels.

2. The forbidden use of liberty (10:14-22). Christians have no liberty in regard to outright sins such as idolatry, immorality and complaining against God. It is not a moral issue to eat something offered to an idol, but it is a serious sin to engage in any form of idol worship. With strong words, Paul rebukes those who would take their liberty too far and became involve in the evils of idolatry, which is an abominable sin before God.

3. The honorable use of liberty (10:23-11:1). The proper use of our liberty is to give glory to God. Though all things are lawful (i.e. gray areas of Christian living not specifically forbidden in the Bible), yet not all things contribute to our spiritual growth and to the good of others (cf. Phil. 2:3-4). Therefore, we are to use our liberty selflessly and carefully by imitating Christ, the supreme example of One who set aside His rights for the sake of others (Phil. 2:7-8).

Praying the Scripture

1. One of the surest ways to fall into temptation and sin is to become overconfident (cf. Prov. 16:18). As some Christians may say today, “This is the age of grace. We are free and God is forgiving. We can’t lose our salvation so why not get everything out of life that we can?” When we push our liberty to the limits to see how much of the flesh we could indulge, we are trying God and risk severe discipline from Him. Let’s pray that we will seriously give thought to the warning “let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), so that we will not be disqualified from effective service to Christ.

2. The basic meaning of temptation is simply to test or prove. Whether it becomes a proof of righteousness or an inducement to evil depends on our response to it. God’s faithfulness promises us that He will not let us experience any test we are not able to meet and has provided the spiritual resources to help us endure through temptations. Let’s pray that we will be proven faithful by relying on God’s resources to endure temptations – prayer (Mark 14:38), trust (Prov. 3:5-6) and focus on our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:3-4).

3. The first question and answer in The Shorter Catechism are: “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” This is the pinnacle of man’s being. There is no higher purpose for any individual than to be totally absorbed in the person of God and to view all of life through eyes filled with His wonder and glory. Anything and everything a Christian says and does should thus be to God’s glory. Let’s pray that this will be our life commitment even in the most mundane, routine and non-spiritual things of life such as eating or drinking (1 Cor. 10:31).

经文：哥林多前书10

主题：信徒自由的正确使用        

保罗在第八和九章解释了我们的自由是如何影响他人后，他现在要阐明我们对自由的运用会如何影响我们自己的生活。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 8

Theme                            : Christian Liberty

Continuing his answers to the Corinthians, underlying the question on food offered to idols is the wider issue of “Christian liberty”. In this passage, Paul gave the first principle in enjoying our Christian liberty with respect to other believers: knowledge must be balanced by love.

1. Knowledge (8:1-2). Knowledge can be a weapon to fight with or a tool to build up, depending on how it is used. The strong believers in the church had knowledge that idols could not contaminate food, but they were not using their knowledge in love. Instead of building up the weak saints, the strong Christians were only puffing up themselves.

2. Love (8:3-6). Paul’s great concern was that the strong saints help the weaker saints to grow and to stop being weak saints. It is here that love enters the picture, for “love builds up” and put others first. When spiritual knowledge is used in love, the stronger Christian can take the hand of the weaker Christian and help him enjoy his freedom in Christ. Knowledge must be balanced by love if we are to use our Christian freedom in the right way.

3. Conscience (8:7-13). Conscience is the internal court where our actions are judged and are either approved or condemned (Rom. 2:14-15). Conscience is not the law, but conscience depends on knowledge. The conscience of a weak Christian is easily defiled (v.7), wounded (v.12) and offended (v.13) because they lack knowledge. For this reason, the stronger saints must defer to the weaker saints and do nothing that would tempt them (v.11) and to help him mature.

Praying the Scripture

1. A know-it-all attitude is only an evidence of ignorance. The person who really knows truth is only too conscious of how much he does not know. Furthermore, it is one thing to know doctrine and quite something else to know God. It is possible to grow in bible knowledge and yet not grow in grace or in one’s personal relationship with God. The test is love. Are we loving our brothers and sisters and seek to edify them, or are we puffed up by spiritual pride with our knowledge?

2. “We love because He first loved us. If anyone says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:19-20) Jesus commands us that we love one another in order to testify that we are from God. Love builds up and put others first. Let’s pray that we will love one another in our church just as Christ loves us and gave Himself up for us.

3. We are free in Christ, but we must take care that our spiritual knowledge is tempered by love and that we do not tempt the weaker Christian to run ahead of his conscience. Let us be sensitive to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ and seek to help them grow, for he or she is a brother for whom Christ redeemed by His precious blood.

经文：哥林多前书8

主题：信徒的自由

保罗继续回答哥林多教会的疑问。这里，吃祭偶像之物的根本问题是对“信徒自由”的了解。保罗在这段经文中给予享受信徒自由的第一原则，即与其他信徒有关：知识要与爱平衡。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 4

Theme                            : True Servants of Christ     

This is the concluding passage regarding divisions in the Corinthian church over different ministers.

1. The right way of viewing God’s ministers (4:1-5). Christian ministers are, above all else, servants of Christ. The term “servants” literally means the lowest galley slaves, which were the most menial, unenvied, and despised of slaves. Because all ministers are no more than servants and only God alone can judge the true spiritual value of that service, it is not only destructive, but ridiculous to cause divisions in the church by arguing over who is the most honoured servant.

2. The wrong way of viewing God’s ministers (4:6-13). In contrast to the humility of God’s faithful servants, the Corinthians were full of worldly, carnal pride. They had gone far beyond scriptural respect for ministers (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12, 1 Tim. 5:17) and had developed factions that were virtually sects. Such pride deceived them into thinking that they had everything in themselves. Yet there are no good thing that they did not receive (cf. James 1:17).

3. The godly example of God’s ministers (4:14-21). The apostle has been stern in rebuking the Corinthians’ sins. Yet, he is harsh to them because he loves them as a father loves his children. As their spiritual father, he was responsible for their spiritual welfare and could not bear for them to be straying from God’s Word and the fullness of Christian life (cf. 3 John 4, Gal. 4:19, Phil. 1:23-27). Therefore, he admonishes (v.14a), loves (v.14b), fathers (v.15), sets an example (v.16-17a), teaches (v.17b) and disciplines them (v.18-21) for an effective discipleship relation.

Praying the Scripture

1. A popular game played by many Christians is that of evaluating pastors. All kinds of criteria are used to determine who are the most successful, the most influential, the most gifted, the most effective. However, servants of God should not be ranked at all, by others or by themselves because no human being is qualified to examine and evaluate God’s servants. Only God alone is the judge of their spiritual service and will give them their commendation in the last days (cf. 1 Pet. 5:4). Nevertheless, God’s faithful servants are to receive proper honor and respect (1 Thess. 5:12, 1 Tim. 5:17). Let’s pray that we will be submissive to our leaders within the bound of Scripture and also pray that our leaders will be obedient to God’s Word and faithful in feeding His flock.

2. The whole foundation of the Corinthians’ boasting was nothing more than a fabrication of their pride. Like the Laodiceans, they considered themselves rich and in need of nothing. Also like the Laodiceans, however, they were really “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Rev. 3:17) The life of discipleship is the life of servanthood, and the life of servanthood is the life of humility. Therefore, no one has reason to boast in himself. That which the Lord loves in His servants, and that which eventually will bring them reward and glory, is a humble and obedient spirit (1 Pet. 5:6). Let’s pray that we will not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think with sober judgment (Rom. 12:3).

经文：哥林多前书4

主题：基督属实的仆人     

这是对哥林多教会因各别事工而起的分歧的总结段落。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 7

Theme                            : Marriage and Singleness   

Chapter 7-11 comprise Paul’s answer to practical questions which the believers in Corinth had written him (7:1), the first of which had to do with marriage and singleness.

1. Of marriage and singleness (7:1-7). Paul acknowledges that singleness is good, but does not support the claim that it is a more spiritual state than marriage. Unfulfilled sexual desires can be very strong, which pose the danger of fornication for those who are single. However, marriage cannot be reduced simply to being an escape valve for the sex drive as there is a much higher view of marriage than that (Gen. 1:28, Eph. 5:22-23).

2. Divine guidelines for marriage (7:8-28). Paul advised believers to remain as they were when they came to Christ. Staying single was not wrong; becoming or staying married was not wrong. Married Christians are not to divorce their believing partners; if they do (except for adultery), neither is free to marry another. If an unbelieving spouse is willing to stay, the believer is not to seek divorce; a believer can sanctify an unbelieving home. However, when an unbelieving spouse is determined to go, the Christian should not insist on the marriage and is free to remarry.

3. Reasons for Remaining Single (7:29-40). Being married or single has nothing to do with spirituality. However, there are many practical advantages of remaining single. It is easier for a single person to be more devoted to the Lord’s work because of fewer family demands and obligations. The married person has no choice. His interest must be divided and he cannot be faithful to the Lord if he is unfaithful to his family (1 Tim. 5:8).

Praying the Scripture

1. Scripture gives numerous reasons for marriage. First, marriage is for procreation (Gen. 1:28). Secondly, marriage is for pleasure (Prov. 5:18-19). Thirdly, marriage is a partnership (Gen. 2:18) and fourthly, marriage is for purity. In all, marriage is a picture of the church. Husbands are to have authority over and to love their wives as Christ has authority over and loves the church (Eph. 5:23-32). Let’s pray that the married couples in our church to have a godly marriage which testifies of our Lord’s saving grace towards us.

2. Though a Christian single may want very much to be married, he or she should be careful. It is never God’s will for Christians to marry unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14) nor is it right just to marry the first believer who say yes. Strong feelings of any sort tend to dull judgment and make one vulnerable and careless. There are several things that Christians in this dilemma ought to do. First, they should not simply seek to be married, but should seek a person they can love, trust and respect, letting marriage come as a response to that commitment of love. Second, it is fine to be on the lookout for the “right person”, but the best way to find the right person is to be the right person. If believers are right with God and it is His will for them to be married, He will send the right person, and never too late. Third, until the right person is found, their energy should be redirected in ways that will be the most helpful in keeping their minds off any temptations. Two of the best ways are spiritual service and physical activity. Fourth, they should realize that until God gives the right person, He will provide strength to resist the temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). Finally, they should give thanks to the Lord for their situation and be content in it.

经文：哥林多前书7

主题：结婚与单身

在7-11章中，保罗对哥林多教会所提问（7:1）的一些实际生活问题给予答案；首要的是与婚姻和单身相关。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 6

Theme                            : Following the Old Ways    

The Corinthians believers were so taken with human philosophy and insistent in doing what they wanted that they had allowed their old ways of thinking and acting to reinvade their lives, as seen in this passage.

1. Old way #1: Lawsuits against one another (6:1-11). Paul’s grief and concern for the Corinthians believers who were bringing lawsuit against one another before unbelievers was not that believers will get an unfair hearing in the public courts, but that they had so little respect for the church’s authority and ability to settle its own disputes. In doing so, they had become more concerned with revenge and gain than with the unity of the Body and the glory of Jesus Christ. Hence, disputes between Christians must be settled by and among Christians. Besides, these Christians had already lost spiritually before the case is heard. Hence if a brother has wronged us in any way, it is better to lose financially and forgive him (cf. Matt. 18:21-22) in order to protect our relationship with our Lord and with our fellow believers.

2. Old way #2: Sexual immorality (6:12-20). A Christian has freedom in Christ (cf. Gal. 5:1, 13; Rom. 8:21) and can commit no sin that is not already covered by God’s grace. Yet the Corinthians had perverted this truth to justify their sexual sins, that sex is just a biological function like eating, just as food was used to satisfy their appetites. Here, Paul shows the three evils of sexual sin: it is harmful to everyone involved; it gains control over those who indulge in it; and it perverts God’s purpose for the body. Therefore, Christians are to flee sexual immorality continually rather than rationalising it, and to use our body to bring honor to God, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Praying the Scripture

1. When Jesus Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom, believers from throughout all of history will be His coregents, sitting with Him on His throne (cf. Rev. 3:21, Dan. 7:22). Therefore, if we are to judge and rule over the world and over angels in the age to come, we are surely able, under the guidance of Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, to settle any matters of disagreements among ourselves today. As long as we are faithful to seek the counsel of God’s Word and Spirit, the poorest equipped believer is much more competent to settle disagreements between fellow believers than is the most highly trained and experienced unbelieving judge devoid of divine truth. Let us learn to settle our own disputes and give testimony of our resources, unity and harmony before the world.

2. Sexual allurement is extremely enticing and powerful, promising pleasure and satisfaction. Yet there is no sin that has more destructiveness than sexual sin. God is not against sex. He created and blessed it when used exclusively within marriage as He intends. Therefore God looks on sexual immorality with extreme seriousness and severely judges all who commit it (cf. 1 Cor. 10:8, 2 Sam. 12:10-11, 14). Let pray that we will be sanctified by abstaining from sexual immorality and learn to possess our own body in sanctification and honor (1 Thess. 4:3-5).

经文：哥林多前书6

主题：跟从旧形式

哥林多信徒对人类哲学如此着迷，如此执意做他们想做的事，以致容许他们过去的行为思想再次占据了自己的生命。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 5

Theme                            : Immorality in the Church

Paul now moves on to the next issue of sexual immorality. This is not directed at the “so-called” believers who were committing it, but at the rest of the church who stood by simply watching. Paul wanted to confront such tolerance of sins, which is as serious as the sins itself.

1. The need for discipline (5:1-2a). The first thing that the Corinthians needed to see was the need for discipline because they apparently had rationalized or minimised the immorality in their midst. Paul’s first step was to show them that the immorality was serious and should not be tolerated (Eph. 5:3, 11), especially when such sin was not even tolerated by pagans.

2. The mode of discipline (5:2b-8). To the man who refused to repent of his blatant immorality, Paul makes it clear that he should be excommunicated (cf. Matt. 18:15-17). Discipline sometimes must be severe because the consequences of not doing so are much worse. Unless removed, sin will spread its infection until the whole fellowship of believers is diseased. Not only that, discipline is also done in hope that the pain of isolation will drive a true believer to repentance. And when they do, we should gladly welcomed them back into the fellowship (2 Cor. 2:7).

3. The sphere of discipline (5:9-13). The Corinthians had apparently misinterpreted Paul’s previous advice about not associating with immoral people, thus they stopped having contact with unbelievers instead of with unrepentant believers. Discipline must be administered to any who professed to be a Christian, not the unbelievers. They have no responsibility to judge the outsider, rather, they are to witness to them.

Praying the Scripture

1. Instead of mourning over sin, many churches today have become tolerant of immorality in the name of Christian liberty and Christian love. Such tolerance can be seen in the increasing acceptance of homosexuality within the evangelical circles. Yet, a church that does not mourn over sin, especially sin within its own fellowship, is on the edge of spiritual disaster and severely hindered its testimony. Alexander Pope wrote: “Vice is a monster so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” When we cease to be shocked by sin, we lose a strong defense against it. God takes the purity of His church seriously and He commands His children to take it equally seriously. Let’s pray that we will be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16) and not tolerate sin within the church nor in our own lives.

2. Discipline is difficult, painful and often heartrending. It is not that we should not love the offenders, but that we should love Christ, His church and His Word even more. Our love to the offenders is not to be sentimental tolerance, but correcting love (cf. Prov. 27:6). It is essential to realise that in a true believer, the flow of sin will not be uninterrupted, as in one who is unredeemed. Church discipline is hence done in the hope of restoring a straying brother. Let’s pray that we will continue to love a sinning brother and pray that he will return to a pure life. Let us learn to bear one another’s burdens and restore a sinning brother in a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1-2).

经文：哥林多前书5

主题：教会中的淫乱

保罗现在要针对下一个问题：淫乱。他所指责的人并不是犯这罪而宣称自己是信徒的人，而是其余袖手旁观的信徒。保罗想指责的是这容忍罪的态度，因为这与犯罪一样严重。

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 3

Theme                            : The Cure for Division        

In the previous passage, Paul points out that the Corinthians were divided because of worldliness (i.e. their love for human wisdom). In this passage, he shows that they were also divided because of the flesh. 

1. Identifying the root of division (3:1-4). Division can only occur where there is selfishness. Fleshly, immature people cooperate only with those leaders and fellow believers whom they agree or are pleasing to them. As self-centeredness is at the heart of fleshly behaviour, jealously and strife are always found in an immature congregation.

2. Prescribing the cure for division (3:5-17). The cure for division is turning away from self and setting our eyes on the one God whom we all glorify. All of God’s workers are one in Him and to Him all glory should go. However, God does not fail to recognize the faithful work of His servants (cf. Rev. 11:18). When Christ returns, every believer’s work will be tested by fire and receive reward corresponding to the quality of his building material.

3. Administering the remedy for division (3:18-23). To gain and maintain unity in the church, believers must have the proper view of themselves, of others, of their possessions and of their Possessor. Firstly, a Christian must recognize that his own human wisdom is foolishness. Secondly, Christians should rejoice and profit in all faithful leaders God sends rather than giving honour to one over the other. Thirdly, not only are all godly leaders theirs, everything else from God is theirs as well (cf. Rom. 8:17, John 17:22). Finally, Christians need to turn our eyes unto Christ, the same Lord of all, and know that they are thus one with each other.

Praying the Scripture

1. The Lord’s coming to reward His own was one of Paul’s greatest motivations (cf. Phil 3:13-14). He wanted the Lord’s highest reward because that would be the most pleasing to the Lord Himself and would most graphically demonstrate his grateful love. In speaking about believers’ rewards, Paul was not talking about our judging works or about God’s judging sin. The “judgment seat” before which all believers will one day stand (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10) is the reward for good works. Every individual life that pleases God must be carefully built on the foundation of God’s kingdom which is Jesus Christ. Let’s pray that we will be careful in representing the Lord and His Word by what we say and do which is a reflection of the gospel.

2. Ancient buildings were often built with precious metals and jewels. Similarly, whatever we build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, we build with the best of materials. The building materials mentioned in verse 12 are in two categories. The first category, gold, silver and precious stones, represents high quality materials (i.e. the greatest faithfulness, the most skillful and careful work done for the Lord) while the second category, wood, hay and straw, represents inferior materials. We build for the Lord and use the various materials for the Lord in three basic ways: by our motives, by our conduct and by our service. It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking that anything we do in the Lord’s name is in His service, but only believers who have the right motives, proper conduct and effective service build with gold, silver and precious stones. Let’s pray that we will seek for the greatest reward in our work with pure motives, holy conduct and selfless service.

经文：哥林多前书3

主题：治疗分歧的方案     

在上一段经文中，保罗指出哥林多人之所以会有分歧，是因为他们爱世界（即对人类智慧的爱）。在这段经文中，他向我们显示他们也是因着肉体而起争执的。